Care Guides
Expert advice from an experienced UK fishkeeper. Every guide is backed by cited sources — peer-reviewed papers, FishBase, IUCN, SeriouslyFish, and trusted expert videos — so you know exactly where every claim comes from.
Expert Care, Cited Sources
Every guide is backed by FishBase, peer-reviewed papers, and real-world experience
How to Set Up a Tropical Fish Tank: UK Beginner's Guide (2026)
Setting up your first tropical aquarium is exciting — and doing it right from the start saves you from the mistakes we see every week at the shop. This guide walks you through the shopping list, fishless cycling, first stocking, and the first 30 days of maintenance.
Best Aquarium Plants for Beginners: Complete UK Guide (2026)
Live plants transform a fish tank from a box of water into a working ecosystem — they oxygenate, absorb nitrates, provide shelter, reduce algae, and lower fish stress. This guide covers the easiest plants for beginners, planting technique, lighting, and how plants make every fish you buy from us thrive.
Freshwater Shrimp Keeping: Complete UK Guide (2026)
Freshwater shrimp are the most rewarding invertebrates you can keep — low-bioload, colourful, and genuinely active. This guide covers the three main shrimp groups (Neocaridina, Caridina, Amano), UK water compatibility, and the copper warning every keeper needs to know.
Aquarium Water Parameters: Complete UK Guide (2026)
Water quality is the single biggest factor in fishkeeping success — more important than tank size, lighting, or filtration. This guide explains every parameter that matters (pH, GH, KH, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, TDS, temperature), the UK regional water map, and why stable beats perfect every time.
EasyAmano Shrimp Care Guide: Caridina multidentata for UK Aquarists
Add the hobby's best algae-eating shrimp to your aquarium with Amano Shrimp. Peaceful, hardy, and larger than cherries — ideal for planted community tanks. Order now for UK delivery.
ModerateAngelfish Care Guide: Pterophyllum scalare for UK Aquarists
The graceful freshwater angelfish is a centrepiece fish for mid-to-large community tanks. Striking finnage, easy to moderate care. UK delivery available.
EasyBetta Fish Care Guide: Betta splendens for UK Aquarists
The betta fish is one of the most popular and most misunderstood freshwater species. This guide covers everything from proper tank size to the truth about tank mates.
EasyBristlenose Pleco Care Guide: Ancistrus sp. for UK Aquarists
Peaceful algae-grazing catfish ideal for UK community tanks. Stays small (12-15 cm), loves driftwood, easy to breed. Order now for tracked UK delivery.
IntermediateCardinal Tetra Care Guide: Paracheirodon axelrodi for UK Aquarists
Cardinal tetras bring the deepest red-and-blue colour of any small community fish — a schooling centrepiece for soft, warm, planted aquariums. UK delivery available.
EasyCelestial Pearl Danio Care Guide: Danio margaritatus for UK Aquarists
Celestial pearl danios — also called galaxy rasboras — are one of the most beautiful nano fish in the hobby. Stunning spotted pattern, easy care, shrimp-safe.
EasyCherry Shrimp Care Guide: Neocaridina davidi for UK Aquarists
Add vibrant red colour and natural algae control to your aquarium with Cherry Shrimp. Peaceful, hardy Neocaridina ideal for planted nano tanks. Order today for UK delivery.
ModerateCichlid Care Guide: A UK Aquarist's Introduction to the Cichlidae Family
Cichlids are one of the most diverse fish families in the hobby. From tiny apistogrammas to massive oscars, this guide covers the basics of keeping them well.
EasyCorydoras Catfish Care Guide: The Complete UK Guide to Cory Cats
Corydoras catfish are the perfect bottom-dwelling cleanup crew for any community tank. Peaceful, hardy, and endlessly entertaining to watch. Order for UK delivery.
AdvancedDiscus Fish Care Guide: Symphysodon spp. for UK Aquarists
Keep the king of the aquarium — Discus Fish are striking South American cichlids for experienced keepers. Soft warm water, group living, and patience required. UK delivery available.
EasyEmber Tetra Care Guide: Hyphessobrycon amandae for UK Aquarists
Ember tetras are tiny jewels of the planted aquarium. At just 2 cm, these fiery orange nano fish are perfect for small tanks and shrimp-safe communities.
EasyEndler Guppy Care Guide: Poecilia wingei for UK Aquarists
Endler guppies are tiny, brilliantly coloured livebearers that breed freely in community tanks. Hardy, peaceful, and stunning in planted nano setups.
EasyGuppy Care Guide: Poecilia reticulata for UK Aquarists
Bright, hardy, and perfectly suited to UK tap water — guppies are the classic livebearer for planted community tanks. Order today for tracked UK delivery.
EasyHarlequin Rasbora Care Guide: Trigonostigma heteromorpha for UK Aquarists
Harlequin rasboras are stunning copper-orange shoaling fish with a distinctive black triangle marking. Peaceful, hardy, and perfect for planted community tanks.
EasyHoney Gourami Care Guide: Trichogaster chuna for UK Aquarists
The honey gourami is a peaceful, colourful labyrinth fish perfect for small community tanks. Hardy, gentle, and stunning golden colour. UK delivery available.
EasyKuhli Loach Care Guide: Pangio kuhlii for UK Aquarists
The kuhli loach is a peaceful, eel-like bottom dweller for soft-water community tanks. Honest UK care guide covering tank size, sand substrate, hiding behaviour and group size.
EasyMolly Fish Care Guide: Poecilia sphenops and latipinna for UK Aquarists
Lively, colourful livebearers for hard UK water. Black, dalmatian, sailfin and lyretail varieties. Order now for tracked UK delivery.
EasyNeon Tetra Care Guide: Paracheirodon innesi for UK Aquarists
Add vivid blue and red colour to your aquarium with Neon Tetra. Peaceful shoaling tropical fish ideal for community tanks. Order now for UK delivery.
EasyNerite Snail Care Guide: The Best Algae-Eating Snail for UK Aquariums
Nerite snails are the ultimate algae-eating machine. They devour green algae, diatoms, and biofilm without eating your plants — and they can't breed in freshwater.
IntermediateOtocinclus Care Guide: Otocinclus spp. for UK Aquarists
The only true algae specialist in the hobby. Peaceful, tiny, perfect for mature planted tanks — but demanding about tank maturity. Order now for UK delivery.
EasyPlaty Fish Care Guide: Xiphophorus maculatus for UK Aquarists
Platies are one of the best beginner fish — hardy, colourful, peaceful, and available in dozens of colour varieties. Perfect for community tanks of all sizes.
ModeratePleco Fish Care Guide: Plecostomus for UK Aquarists
Plecos are the ultimate algae-eating catfish for freshwater aquariums. From the tiny bristlenose to the massive common pleco, there's a pleco for every tank size.