he Brilliant Rasbora is a study in understated beauty. Its shape is perfectly streamlined for quickly cutting through its watery home, while the black and gold lines running along the body add just enough panache to whet the appetite of any discerning aquarist.

Caves are famous for the many highly modified species that live their entire lives in perpetual darkness. Many different groups of animals have adapted to this by evolving similar features, such as a loss of pigmentation, reduced or absent eyes, heightened sensory organs and even lowered metabolism and decreased sleep.

With its sleek profile and eye­-catching silvery scales, the Tinfoil Barb (Barbonymus schwanefeldii) makes for an impressive addition to the home aquarium; however, this is one species that relatively few aquarists have the means to adequately house long­-term.

The Tiger Barb is a perennial aquarium favorite with a much maligned reputation.

Livebearing fishes, which are species that give birth directly to small juveniles rather than laying eggs, are some of the most highly recommended fishes for beginner aquarists.