This month has turned out to be an exploration of niches in the hobby — which is saying something, given how niche a hobby fishkeeping is to start with! Rather than standing in the middle of the road, we’ve gone all out exploring the deeper recesses of the hobby (literally, in the case of Tai Strietman exploring the space behind a waterfall), grappled with some biology (such as those fishes that are totally transparent, or those that use electricity to ‘see’), as well as dabbled with a little unusual water chemistry (as in the water conditions demanded by the delicate Sulawesi shrimps). It’s not all just small stuff, either.

An interview with tankbuster owner Mick Booth sheds light on caring for aquarium giants, while Steve Grant’s exploration of Pangasius will hopefully come as a warning for those looking to buy a cute, juvenile ‘shark’. Throw in a feature on marine sponges for good measure, and we have an eclectic issue!