We stock an array of aquatic life in the shop. These can be categorized to help you find the right fish for you :
- Cold Water
- Tropical Community
- American Cichlids
- African Rift Valley Cichlids
- Oddballs
Please see below
1. Cold Water
Cold water is often a starting point with a lot of customers. Brightly coloured and very hardy goldfish i.e. Comets & Shubunkins, can be a safe first option. Though, you could try your hand at the more fancy varieties of goldfish like Orandas, Ryukins and Moors to name a few. With either type you could mix some shoaling fish like Danios or White Cloud Mountain Minnows.
Other fish you could add are Siamese Fighting Fish/Betta (only one per aquarium) or some vibrant live bearers that come in the shape of Guppy’s, Endlers, Platy’s, Sword Tails and Molly’s.
2. Tropical Community
We have a huge choice when it comes to a tropical community tank. Most of
which mix with each other comfortably. The main groups are:
- Live bearers – Guppy, Endler, Platy, Sword Tail, Molly.
- Shoaling – Tetra, Rasbora, Danio, Barb.
- Bottom feeders & catfish – Corydoras, Loach, Plecostomus, Otocinclus, Snail, Shrimp.
- Others – Gourami, Dwarf Cichlid
3. American Cichlids
These can be small additions to a community such as Apistogrammas and other Dwarf Cichlids or big loveable characters like Oscars, Severums, Geophagus and Angels that are best kept with other larger fish. Discus are a stunning American Cichlid that can grow to the size of a dinner plate. Though these are best suited in calm environments with nice shoaling fish like Cardinals and Rummy-nose etc.
Cichlids are territorial by nature so no matter how big or small there is always potential for ‘banter’ when they are present.
4. African Rift Lake Cichlids
We deal mainly in F1 varieties (offspring of wild) and can be some of the most easy and stunning fish to keep. They are often compared to marine fish in terms of their colour and vibrancy.
These very hardy and beautiful Cichlids are best kept in large numbers to help neutralize aggression. Also, because of their large numbers and keen appetites, large filtration is required.
There are three main lakes from which these Cichlids come from; Malawi, Victoria and Tanganyika.
We stock heavily on Lake Malawi’s such as Aulonocara, Psudotropheus, Protomelas and Labidochromis. Lake Tanganyika’s like Tropheus (a particular favourite & we hold some rare varieties) Frontosa (big boys…and girls) and Neolamprologus (dwarf varieties). Some stunning Lake Victorians are the Haplochromis species.
5. Oddballs
You can find some more unusual and interesting species at CVA. Some of these are:
- Piranha
- Knife Fish
- Lobster
- Crabs
- Puffers
- Sole
- Newts
- Axolotl
