LOTS TO LOVE: Big Beauties sets the tone for this issue, where Alex Rose welcomes us from the editor’s chair with the ancient human drive behind all storytelling. She draws a line from the ancestors who first tamed fire to the earliest people painting cave walls, and shares with sincerity how fortunate she feels to write about the natural world. Reading about her presentations at Michigan aquarium clubs, the podcast she recorded, and her tours of private fish rooms full of rare species, I shared her excitement. Then she previews the issue’s “big” promise: Coptodon, Parachromis, and Tomocichla, three genera of giant cichlids less aggressive than their size suggests. With enough space, keeping these imposing beauties is worth it.
Big Beauties fill this issue, but its science column, the Aquatic Notebook, takes us in the opposite direction: underground. Alex Rose introduces a tiny, blind, colorless loach pulled from a village well in Assam, India: Gitchak nakana. At just 20 mm long, it represents both a brand-new genus and the region’s first groundwater (aquifer) fish. Its eyes have vanished beneath the skin, it has no scales or lateral line, and it relies on four pairs of barbels to navigate in total darkness. But its most astonishing feature is an anatomical first, one so unexpected it’s worth discovering in the Big Beauties / AMAZONAS Magazine issue. Even its eggs reveal how deeply it has adapted to this food-poor world.
Lots To Love: Big Beauties / AMAZONAS Magazine Feature Articles
A Tale of Two Tomocichla
Big Beauties / AMAZONAS Magazine opens its cover story with two giant cichlids from Central America: Tomocichla asfraci and T. tuba. Hans van Heusden and M.C.W. Keijman observed these species extensively, both in the wild and in the aquarium. Both live in the fast-flowing, oxygen-rich, rocky streams and rivers of Panama and Costa Rica. While T. asfraci favors open water, T. tuba stays near the bottom, foraging among the rocks. Their size is impressive: asfraci reaches 20-25 cm (8-10 inch) and tuba 25-30 cm (10-12 inch). Males are larger, more colorful, and develop a pronounced nuchal hump with age. During breeding, both turn jet-black on the head, creating a striking, high-contrast look alongside the body’s stripes.
For me, the most enjoyable part was the fishes’ parental care. Observing T. asfraci in the wild, the authors stumbled on a discovery that quietly overturns a long-held assumption about how this species reproduces; exactly what they saw, and where, is worth reading first-hand. T. tuba, by contrast, is a classic open-substrate brooder that deposits hundreds of eggs on flat stones. In both species, the parents guard their fry meticulously. There is an honest warning for anyone hoping to keep them: these fish need a tank of at least 870 L (230 gal), strong current, and regular water changes. It is not a cheap hobby, but as the authors put it, watching a Tomocichla family is always fascinating.
Two Big Beauties: Parachromis friedrichsthalii and P. multifasciatus
In the second cover story, Uwe Werner takes us into the world of guapotes; in Central America, the local name for these large cichlids already means “big beauties“. At the heart of the article lies an intriguing naming mix-up: in 2018, Rico Morgenstern’s research revealed that two species had long been going by each other’s names. Which label truly belongs to which is the thread Werner untangles, and the reveal lands better in his own telling. The editor adds a fair note: revisions based on old specimens shouldn’t be read as hard fact. The Yellow Guapote (P. friedrichsthalii) is the smallest at about 18.5 cm (7.3 inch); the Yellow Jacket (P. multifasciatus) reaches 30 cm (12 inch).
Although their name suggests “predators,” Werner stresses that both species are more reserved and calm than expected: they defend their territory but don’t chase wildly or stray far. Even so, an adult pair needs an aquarium of at least 473 L (125 gal), furnished with stones and hiding places. Since they aren’t fussy about water chemistry, most tap water will do. All Parachromis species are open-substrate brooders and often form lifelong, monogamous pairs. That’s why it’s healthiest to let the fish choose their partners while young. The female tends the eggs devotedly while the male takes on protection. Rearing the brood, which can exceed 800 fry, is not difficult; this is why guapotes are more rewarding than they seem.
The Jaguar Cichlid (Parachromis managuensis)
In the final cover piece, Jan Fioole introduces the genus’s most spectacular member: the Jaguar Cichlid (Parachromis managuensis). It owes its name to the dark spots on a yellow-gold background that recall a jaguar’s coat. It lives in the lakes, rivers, and lagoons of Nicaragua, Honduras, and Costa Rica. The part that gave me pause: some governments deliberately released this fish into local waters as a cheap protein source, and thanks to its rapid breeding and adaptability, it became a common food fish. Yet those same traits made it invasive, threatening many small native species. Failing to assess the environmental impact of a well-meant decision is a sad lesson. Adults reach 35-50 cm (14-20 inch), males larger.
Contrary to its name and predatory looks, Fioole says the species is calm when given enough space; he recommends a tank of at least 1,040 L (275 gal) with a rock layout and filtration for an adult pair. Breeding is easy: under the right conditions a female can lay 5,000, even up to 10,000 eggs depending on her size. The larvae hatch in about 72 hours at 25°C (77°F), and both parents guard the fry with care; despite their aggressive looks, they do so calmly. The author’s experience is striking too: he mentions pairs kept in enormous tanks exceeding 7,000 L. Ultimately, Fioole calls the Jaguar Cichlid the most beautiful species in the genus, and it’s hard to disagree.
Coptodon camerunensis vs. Coptodon cameronensis
The cover quartet closes with a very personal piece by M.C.W. Keijman: two West African cichlids whose names differ by a single letter, Coptodon camerunensis and C. cameronensis. Someone who came to the hobby through books, the author was hooked by this near-identical pair years ago and set out to track them down. The major 2013 revision moved most of the old giant “tilapias” into the genus Coptodon. Keijman, who has visited Cameroon regularly since 2006, explored both species’ natural habitats himself; he describes observing brood-guarding pairs in murky rivers so vividly that you feel you’re swimming beside him. The intriguing scientific twist: the Wouri River forms a natural boundary between the two species’ ranges.
What Keijman stresses most: the prejudice that these fish are “destructive, endlessly digging herbivores” simply doesn’t hold for these two species. Given enough room, they are calm, imposing, and truly beautiful. But space is essential: they need a tank at least 2 m (7 ft) long, preferably 3 m (10 ft), since they can reach 40 cm (16 inch). Both are open-substrate spawners; depending on her size, a female lays 350 to over 1,000 eggs, and both parents tend them together. You can find all of Keijman’s field notes, distribution maps, and those stunning photographs in the Big Beauties / AMAZONAS Magazine issue.
Green Horizons: Elevating Aquascapes With Less Common Plants
Jen Williams makes a fair point in this column: planted aquariums have exploded in popularity over the last two decades, yet the plant list suggested in stores and forums seems frozen in time. Instead of the same few “classics,” she highlights overlooked alternatives. First she recaps the logic of aquascaping: foreground, midground, and background plants guide the eye through the composition and create depth. For the foreground, rather than the familiar Dwarf Baby Tears, she points to more forgiving, low-light alternatives and a couple of truly whimsical carpeting plants I’d never thought to try; I’d rather you meet her picks in her own words.
Moving to the midground and background, Williams’ most striking observation: Bucephalandra has quietly dethroned Anubias, long the reigning king of aquascaping epiphytes. From there she offers alternatives to the usual Cryptocoryne and Vallisneria, each with its own reason and character; the full, layered list is hers to hand you. The real takeaway isn’t a shopping list: memorable aquascapes are built not on trends but on curiosity and a willingness to experiment. If your store keeps stocking the same plants, ask for something new; you might spark your whole community.
Nannocharax: Interesting Characins from Cameroon
This time M.C.W. Keijman takes us to the flowing waters of West Africa to meet a small, elegant characin genus: Nannocharax. Adapted to life on the bottom, these elongate fish live in fast-flowing waters, and the genus now holds 44 described species. The author introduces each species recorded in Cameroon one by one: N. fasciatus, N. reidi, N. usongo, N. zebra, and others, each tied to its own river system and water values. The most exciting part is the hidden diversity: molecular analyses reveal many cryptic species within the genus. Keijman labels a red-lipped form from the Kombone River cautiously as N. cf. rubrolabiatus ‘Kombone’ until its identity is settled, a scientific honesty I appreciated.
Most of these characins stay small, between 4-8 cm (1.5-3 inch); males are slimmer with longer fins, while females grow fuller when carrying eggs. With downward-facing mouths, they graze invertebrates and algae. Intriguingly, their breeding is almost entirely undocumented in the scientific literature; Keijman frames this as a real opportunity for hobbyists eager to break new ground. In the aquarium they want a tank at least 100 cm (40 inch) long, with sand and gravel, strong current, and good lighting. The author prefers keeping them in a species tank, the best way to observe their natural behavior. You can find the full species list, water values, and field photos in the Big Beauties / AMAZONAS Magazine issue.
Show Your Teeth! Wolf Characins from South America
This time Uwe Werner writes about the stars of many a tall tale: the wolf characins, known for the enormous, curved, saber-like teeth in their lower jaw. Scientists group these predators into three genera: Hydrolycus (“water wolf”), Rhaphiodon (“needle tooth”), and Cynodon (“dog tooth”). Werner has met these fish repeatedly in South America’s great rivers, from the Orinoco to the Xingu. Their size is intimidating: they can reach 80-120 cm (32-48 inch). A large part of the article tackles one of taxonomy’s most confusing chapters; names have been so tangled since the 1800s that Werner could only identify the species he saw by relying on comprehensive revision papers. Locals prize these firm, tasty fish as food.
The most enjoyable part is what those fearsome teeth are for. Werner found the answer not in the literature or in South America, but somewhere he never expected: his own aquarium. What he watched happen there reframes those teeth entirely, though I’ll leave the mechanism for him to reveal. Surprisingly, these fish aren’t aggressive, never touching fish of a suitable size. Still, their size makes them better suited to public aquariums than homes; strong filtration and a tight cover are essential, since they jump often. Werner’s closing line rings true: these fish are shaped not by brutality but by a perfect union of form and function.
A Time to Spawn: Seasonal Breeding in North American Freshwater Fishes
Derek Wheaton opens a whole new world for hobbyists used to tropical species breeding year-round: temperate fishes must compress their reproduction into just a few weeks, sometimes days. He focuses on three groups from the southeastern U.S.: darters, sunfishes, and minnows. The darters impressed me most; the males of these small bottom fish, 2-20 cm (1-8 inch) long, take on colors that would rival a coral reef. Their spawning strategies are astonishingly varied: some bury their eggs in sand and gravel, some attach them one by one like killifish, others tuck them under rocks like cichlids. Some males even fool females with false-egg spots on their fins, since females prefer nests that already hold eggs.
In sunfishes, males dig a pit with their tails and fiercely defend their nests; but Wheaton shows the backstage: dominant males hold nests in colonies while “sneaker” males patrol the edges for a chance. The spectacle is in the minnows. Nocomis species (18-30 cm (7-12 inch)) are true engineers, spending days carrying pebbles in their mouths to build nest mounds up to 30 cm tall. What’s more, other minnow species flock to these mounds and spawn together for mutual benefit; the more fish, the fewer eggs get eaten. The males turn fiery orange, setting the creek ablaze, then revert to plain silver within minutes. Wheaton’s invitation is heartfelt: grab a mask and snorkel and dive into your local waters.
The Aquatic Plant Genus Anubias
Rudolf Suttner takes a fresh look at the aquarium hobby’s most familiar plant. The German botanist Schott gave this genus the name of Anubis, god of the underworld, back in 1857, because they grow in the dark, “mystical” rainforests of West Africa. According to Kew, there are 8 accepted species today; most specimens in our tanks are varieties of A. barteri (nana, caladiifolia, angustifolia, and others).
The most interesting part is how Suttner challenges common clichés. These plants actually have a remarkable capacity to adapt: under low light they enlarge their leaf surface, they cling to granite rocks with their roots, and they resist strong current. Surviving where rainfall exceeds 3 m (10 ft) a year in Cameroon shows how vital that flexibility is.
The cliché Suttner stresses most: “Anubias doesn’t need CO2.” He politely but convincingly disagrees, and his reasoning quietly upends how most of us think about keeping this plant; read it and you may never look at your Anubias the same way. His care advice is to mimic the natural habitat: soft, slightly acidic water at 22-28°C (72-82°F). There’s also a crucial warning: the rhizome must never be buried in substrate; tie or glue the plant to rock or wood instead. Suttner also sincerely hopes we preserve the pure natural species amid the ever-growing flood of fancy cultivars. You can find all the details on seed-raising and rhizome division in the Big Beauties / AMAZONAS Magazine issue.
Departments: Sections That Keep the Hobby’s Pulse
The sections at the back of the magazine keep a finger on the hobby’s pulse. The Events Calendar lists aquarium shows and conventions across the U.S. from June to November; gatherings like the Bluegrass Bash or the NANFA convention carry the hobby beyond the four panes of glass at home. The LFS Locator is a directory of the outstanding shops that stock AMAZONAS; mostly U.S.-based, but with stores in Canada and South Korea too. The AMAZONAS Lexicon is a small glossary explaining the scientific terms used in this issue: follow the triangle marker in the articles to learn concepts like adventitious roots, cordate leaves, L-type eggs, and lithocysts. A truly useful guide, especially for beginners.
Species Snapshots, penned by Oliver Lucanus, introduces two demanding species: the striking pike cichlid now called Hemeraia chicha after the Crenicichla revision, an aggressive fish reaching 25 cm (10 inch), and the stout spiny eel Mastacembelus robertsi (30 cm (12 inch)) from the fast waters of the lower Congo. Both are spectacular but suited only to experienced hobbyists with large tanks. The issue closes with Hristo Hristov’s Underwater Eye, a witty nod to the tedium of taxonomic revisions. In short, this issue spans a wide range, from giant cichlids to tiny characins, aquascaping plants to North American creeks. To enjoy every article and photo, I warmly recommend picking up the Big Beauties / AMAZONAS Magazine issue.
AMAZONAS Magazine is one of the world’s leading print publications for the freshwater aquarium industry. If you’d like to subscribe and read all the content, you can start your Subscription Here. Browse more of our magazine reviews in our Publications & Literature category, and find our review of the previous issue, Fairy Tails / AMAZONAS Magazine May/June 2026 Review, Here! We’re eagerly awaiting the next issue!
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Cover Photo Credit: Reef Network
References:
- AMAZONAS Magazine: Big Beauties / Last Access Date: 07.17.2026