AQUA is the UK’s only dedicated aquatic trade show. Here are some of the tropical and marine fish that were on display.
Cichlids
Cichlids featured in many show tanks and varied from Malawi and Tanganyikans, to South and Central American, Victorian, Discus, and Parrots. There were some large King Kong parrots and Flowerhorns on display, the size and quality of which aren’t usually seen outside of the UK.
For Malawis, Aulonocara dominated one display with lots of different species and man made colour morphs, all adult males, and all in full colour. For Tanganyikans, some Black Widow Frontosa made their debut on the Neil Hardy stand, along with some Lake Victoria cichlids.
Man made cichlid sports put in the biggest appearance, although for display tanks at large shows, big, bold colours that can’t be turned off or toned down are often the order of the day.
Some nice natural stuff all made a show though including Thorichthys maculipinnis, Caquetaia myersi, Amphilophus citrinellus and Ivanacara adoketa.
King Kong parrot cichlid Image copyright Fishkeeping News Limited
Flowerhorn cichlid Image copyright Fishkeeping News Limited
Thorichthys maculipinnis Image copyright Fishkeeping News Limited
Caquetaia myersi Copyright Fishkeeping News Limited
Midas cichlid, Amphilophus citrinellus Copyright Fishkeeping News Limited
Cyphotilapia frontosa “Black Widow” Copyright Fishkeeping News Limited
Lake Victoria cichlids, Haplochromis/Astatotilapia spp. Copyright Fishkeeping News Limited
Aulonocara hybrid Copyright Fishkeeping News Limited
Dimidiochromis compressiceps “albino” Copyright Fishkeeping News Limited
Aulonocara stuartgranti Copyright Fishkeeping News Limited
Red man-made Aulonocara colour variant Copyright Fishkeeping News Limited
Aulonocara hybrid, copyright Sira Studios/Impact Exhibitions
Man-made Aulonocara colour variant Copyright Fishkeeping News Limited
King Kong parrot cichlid Copyright Fishkeeping News Limited
Calico aulonocara Copyright Fishkeeping News Limited
Discus display tank, copyright Sira Studios/Impact Exhibitions
Parrot cichlid, copyright Sira Studios/Impact Exhibitions
Flowerhorn cichlid, copyright Sira Studios/Impact Exhibitions
Cichlid display tank, copyright Sira Studios/Impact Exhibitions
Oddballs
Some lovely stingrays were on show, as were some albino rays, and an Asian arowana. Neil Hardy Aquatica showed off dwarf snakeheads, puffers, piranha, disc characins and archerfish as well as some unusual freshwater inverts like Panther crabs, Parathelphusa pantherina.
Freshwater stingrays at AQUA Telford 2019. Image copyright Fishkeeping News Limited.
Asian arowana, Dragonfish, Scleropages spp. Image copyright Fishkeeping News Limited.
Tiger scat, Scatophagus tetracanthus Image copyright Fishkeeping News Limited
Silver arowana, white variant, Osteoglossum bicirrhosum Image copyright Fishkeeping News Limited
Pufferfish, Tetraodon fluviatilis Image copyright Fishkeeping News Limited
Red rainbowfish, Glossolepis incisus, line bred variant with red eyes Copyright Fishkeeping News Limited
Piranha, Serrasalmus sp. Copyright Fishkeeping News Limited
Synodontis granulosus Copyright Fishkeeping News Limited
Clouded archerfish, Toxotes blythii Copyright Fishkeeping News Limited
Corydoras Copyright Fishkeeping News Limited
Tiger silver dollar, Metynnis fasciatus Copyright Fishkeeping News Limited
Stingray, line bred colour variant Copyright Fishkeeping News Limited
Freshwater stingray, line bred colour morph Copyright Fishkeeping News Limited
Parodon caliensis, copyright Sira Studios/Impact Exhibitions
Marines
Although rare marines are often on display at Interzoo, they don’t often make an appearance at AQUA. This year though a lovely young Bandit angelfish was on show, courtesy of Burscough Aquatics, and the Evolution Aqua stand.
All images copyright either Sira Studios, courtesy of AQUA 2019, or Fishkeeping News Ltd. Images may not be used or reproduced without prior written permission.
