Blog
From the fish room
Species guides, breeding updates, water chemistry notes, and what's actually happening behind the scenes at Aqua Nest.
2 September 2026
Sexing Cichlids: Why It Matters When Buying a Pair
"Just buy two and hope" is a common way to end up with two fighting males or two fish that never spawn. Here's what actually goes into confirming a genuine pair.
2 September 2026
Frontosa Care Guide: Australia's Gentle Giant Cichlid
Cyphotilapia frontosa is slow-growing, genuinely large at maturity, and unusually peaceful for its size — here's what to actually plan for before bringing one home.
2 September 2026
Setting Up a Colony Tank for Shell-Dwelling Cichlids (Multifasciatus & Similis)
Shell-dwellers like Neolamprologus multifasciatus and similis need a completely different setup to a typical cichlid tank — here's how to get the substrate, shells and stocking right.
2 September 2026
How to Set Up a Tank for Lake Tanganyika Cichlids: Water Chemistry Basics
Lake Tanganyika cichlids need the opposite of what most beginner fishkeeping guides teach — hard, alkaline water rather than soft and neutral. Here's what that actually means for setting up your first tank.
2 September 2026
Why Many Lake Tanganyika Cichlids Can't Be Legally Imported Into Australia (And Why Captive-Bred Matters)
Australia's biosecurity rules mean many Lake Tanganyika cichlid species simply can't be brought in from overseas — here's why that's the case, and why captive-bred lines like ours matter more than most buyers realise.