Aquatic_Focus


To find out about our latest news, peruse the summary below.  To find out more about any item, click on the link provided.
Aquatic Focus  (view archive news)  

Search for news
News category
News Type
Keywords

Blagdon reveals new-design Minipond
Water garden expert Blagdon has unveiled its new design of the Minipond pumps range. Designed specifically for small ponds with fountains, the new pump design incorporates several improved features.

Coral ripped out for Thai tourists
A boat belonging to a sea-walking operation has been expelled from Thai waters after the company had ripped out 300 square metres of coral and installed underwater handrails for clients.

Heissner spreads its net with Certikin
Certikin International has signed an exclusive distribution agreement to supply Germany’s  Heissner brand of pond, Koi and decorative products to the UK.

Fish food manufacturer exports to China
BCUK Aquatics is now exporting its products to China. The UK manufacturer and supplier of tropical and marine foods, which includes the brands Mysis RS, Calanus and First Bite, already exports to 15 countries.

Live fish importers hit with steep licence price hike
Importers of live fish face a six-fold price hike per import CVED licence, up from £6.60 to £40, rising to £74 next April.  The new charges come into force on June 24 after a long consultation by the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratory Agency (AHVLA).

TMC launches dedicated pond UV lamps
TMC has just launched a range of UV lamps, aimed specifically at the replacement pond UV lamp market rather than being a general UV lamp.

Hozelock Cyprio showcases Bioforce Revolution filter
Hozelock Cyprio has launched the Bioforce Revolution pressurised pond filter, which has an efficient and mess-free cleaning system.

New lighting from Giesemann Aquaristic
New light units have just been released from Giesemann Aquaristic, exclusive to Reef-Eden. The MATRIXX-II T5 light units are suitable for tropical and marine tanks.

OATA welcomes jail sentence for coral smuggler
Aquatic trade association OATA has welcomed a jail sentence handed out to a Manchester man found guilty of illegally importing endangered corals and clams into the UK.

Man jailed for smuggling corals and clams into UK
A Manchester man has been jailed after he was caught trying to smuggle endangered corals and clams into the UK.

Hagen launches energy-efficient Fluval FX6 filter
Fluval has launched the FX6, a canister filter with advanced motor technology, energy-efficient motor and quiet operation.

Maidenhead Aquatics now sells on-line
UK aquatics chain store Maidenhead Aquatics has opened an e-commerce site.

Letting reptiles see more clearly
Ever wondered how a reptile really sees the world? “It’s a lot different to how a human does,” says an Exo-Terra spokesman.

Can you help find mate for endangered fish?
The London Zoo is appealing to fishkeepers to hopefully find a mate for a critically endangered species.

Seven 'smuggled bladders of endangered fish'
Seven people have been charged with smuggling bladders from an endangered fish in what US authorities said may be a growing international practice in which the bladders are sold for up to $20,000 each to be used in soup.

R2D2 to the rescue
UK scientists developing a robot to repair coral reefs around the world have turned to crowd-sourcing website Kickstarter to raise funds.

Aquatics Live postponed to 2014
The consumer show Aquatics Live 2013 has been postponed until next year.

Eheim external filters hit 50th milestone
Eheim is celebrating 50 years of manufacturing external filters with the message ‘Revolution through Evolution’.

Hagen's Fluval SEA range hits the shelves
Hagen’s long-awaited Fluval SEA range of marine pumps, lighting, salt, supplements, hydrometer and protein skimmer has been launched.

Seized corals on display at The Deep
The Deep aquarium in Hull is the new home to a collection of coral and clams that were confiscated by the UK Border Agency.

Bermuda expands pre-formed ponds range
Solus’ leading water gardening brand, Bermuda, has launched a new range of superior pre-formed ponds.

Eliminate blanketweed with Colombo Algisin
Colombo Algisin is a treatment against blanketweed, with monolinuron as its active ingredient.

OASE acquires Eden
Water gardening specialist OASE has acquired Italian aquarium manufacturer Eden SRL. 

Herring apocalypse
Millions of herring have died in an Icelandic lake after building work starved them of oxygen.

Sea wrasse culled after VHS outbreak
Almost 10,000 Sea wrasse were culled at a Shetland hatchery to help contain an outbreak of a common virus in the species.

Mackerel 'over-exploited'
The Marine Conservation Society says the North-east Atlantic mackerel has been over-exploited, and has since taken it off its ethical ‘fish to eat’ list.

New aquatics retailer for Inverness garden centre
Fishkeeper Scotland will open its third outlet in Simpsons Garden Centre in Inshes, Inverness, in July.

Pufferfish soar as predators vanish
Populations of pufferfish have soared in the Arabian sea off Kerala, possibly due to a sharp decline in its natural predators, reports a study by the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute in Current Science.

The science is in - fish don't feel pain
A team of scientists has concluded that fish do not experience conscious feelings or pain when hooked.

CITES lists manta rays as 'Vulnerable'
International body CITES has listed manta rays as a ‘Vulnerable Species’, providing a framework for its increased protection by restricting unsustainable international trade.

DEFRA MP thanks OATA member over plant campaign
OATA member Anglo Aquatic Plant Co has been personally thanked by a government minister for its continued support of the Be Plant Wise campaign.

Loo firm fined £25k for dumping waste into river
A portable toilet firm has been ordered to pay more than £25,000 after 300 fish were killed by river pollution after the Bulldog Bash near Stratford.

Sites go live
BCUK Aquatics has launched two new websites.

Record levels of radiation found in fish
Record levels of radiation have been found in fish near Japan’s tsunami-damaged nuclear power plant, reports the Telegraph.

New venue for FBAS Festival of Fishkeeping
The Festival of Fishkeeping will this year be held at Hounslow Urban Farm in Middlesex.

Shark egg joy over Easter
A shark egg, rather than Easter’s traditional chocolate variety, caused much excitement at Hunstanton Sea Life Sanctuary over Easter.

Aquatic frogs linked to salmonella in US
Small aquatic frogs sold as pets have been linked to an outbreak of Salmonella between 2008 and 2011, says a report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Marine store opens in Warrington market
A marine aquatics store has opened in Warrington Market, Warrington. The Coral Reef Aquatics opened in early March thanks to a £2,500 government grant, and sells corals and marine fish.

All-female farmed fish
A Yukon fish farm is researching the breeding of only female Arctic char, a practice common with some other farmed fish, cattle and pig farms.

Tanked up
Eheim was the main sponsor of the XL category in ‘The Art of the Planted Aquarium’ competition at Hannover’s consumer pet show. The German all-pet show attracted 50,000 visitors over the three days.

Singapore opens world's largest freshwater aquarium
The world’s largest freshwater aquarium has opened in Singapore. With a volume of 2,000 cubic meters (2,000,000 litres!) and a viewing window measuring 22m by 4m, the tank is part of River Safari’s Amazon Flooded Forest exhibit

Lady Gaga splashes out over £40,000 on Koi
Singer Lady Gaga has installed a large fish tank in her home and stocked it with 27 Koi carp following hip surgery.

OASE introduces online water gardening training
OASE has launched an online training course for retailers selling water gardening products. The new course replaces the previous yearly seminars and aims to reach more people.

CASCO Europe launches into America
Matthew Bubear, CEO of pet and aquatic shopfitting specialist CASCO Europe, has announced its launch into North America with CASCO America.

OATA polls non-members for views
Aquatics companies – from shop owners to dry goods manufacturers and importers – who are not members of OATA are being asked to share their thoughts on the trade association.

Smaller fishes will cripple food chain
As fish get smaller under man’s environmental impact, they will become more prone to predators and a crucial food source will become more endangered than thought obvious, warn scientists.

Seneye nabs product award
Seneye’s water monitor has been voted Best New Koi Product of 2012 by Koi Carp Magazine.

Fish removed from lock undergoing repair
Hundreds of fish were removed from part of the Kennet and Avon Canal for repairs to be carried out.

Ornamental fish to be fed to fry
A popular ornamental fish has bred so successfully in a Philippines lake that it is endangering local fish. Authorities have given the nod for the knifefish to be collected and processed into fishmeal for sea bass fry and fingerlings.

Midland Reefs in administration
Aquatics wholesaler Midland Reefs went into voluntary administration in February. Founded in December 2001 by marine aquarium writer Tim Hayes, the company specialised in reef and marine aquarium supplies.

Yet another winner on Saki-Hikari!
A Kohaku fed on Saki Hikari has been crowned All Japan Grand Champion at Japan’s 2013 Nishikigoi show. This is the 10th consecutive All Japan Grand Champion to be raised on the Saki Hikari Koi food.

Fijian reef dependent on four fish species
According to a recent study, just four species of fish are responsible for keeping a reef inside a Fijian marine reserve healthy, reports Wildlife News.

Shop fish survives six hours without water
A fish has survived for nearly six hours without water after a burglar broke into a Massachusetts pet shop and smashed its 180-gallon reef tank.

King British sponsors Writtle College
King British is sponsoring the Fish Room at Writtle College, ‘a great place to learn about all things under the water’, said a spokesperson.

Council workers kill fish after storing them in skip
Forty fish have died in the cold after a council stored them in an old skip while repairing a pond.

Evolution Aqua wins top award
Evolution Aqua has been named Best Manufacturer in the 2012 Koi Carp Magazine Awards, and its Nexus filtration system has been voted the Best Pond Filter.

Seahorses mate better in private tanks
Zookeepers have discovered that the secret to a seahorse’s mating success lies in creating private ‘honeymoon suites’ for breeding.

Guppy blind dating
Male guppies strategically elect to hang out with ugly friends to increase their chances of finding a mate, a new study shows.

Special thanks for backing 'Be Plant Wise'
Retailers who put their weight behind the Be Plant Wise campaign by ordering posters and leaflets to display in their shops will receive a special note of thanks from the GB Non-Native Species Secretariat.

Aquarama moves to new venue
Singapore’s Aquarama 2013 has been forced to move from its traditional Suntec City venue because of delays to renovation works.

Aquatics industry in firing line of draft EU legislation
OATA is calling on all aquatic retailers and manufacturers to actively spread the Be Plant Wise message as it awaits draft Invasives legislation from the European Union.

New Era lands order for Singapore oceanarium
New Era Aquaculture, the South Yorkshire-based fish diets expert, has landed its largest order yet for the world’s newest and largest oceanarium.

HSE seeks consultation on Biocides pricing
A popular product sold to control algae growth in ponds will have to be taken off the shelves this autumn if OATA’s fight to get it removed from the new Biocides Regulation is not successful, because it will prove too costly for manufacturers to gain approval.

Teen sentenced for flushing goldfish
A teenager who flushed a school’s goldfish down the toilet has been ordered to carry out 100 hours unpaid community service.

Ban on dumping fish catch to be phased in
European Union fisheries ministers have agreed to phase out the controversial practice of dumping unwanted fish.

Saki-Hikari voted 'Best Koi Food'
Saki-Hikari has been voted ‘Best Koi Food’ in Koi Carp magazine’s Koi Awards 2012. The awards give readers the chance to vote for their favourite products.

Reef Eden brings jellyfish tanks to the UK
Specialist distributor Reef Eden International is reporting strong demand for its high-end, purpose-built jellyfish tanks, first launched in the UK last November.

Eheim founder dies aged 93
Gunther Eheim, founder of German manufacturer of aquarium accessories Eheim, has died aged 93, on February 2 in his home town of Deizisau, east of Stuttgart.

Bluefin tuna sells for £1 million
A bluefin tuna has sold for a record £1.09million at a Tokyo auction, nearly three times the previous high set last year.

Otter eats £10,000 worth of pond fish
An otter has eaten most of the fish in an elderly couple’s pond, estimated to be worth around £10,000.

TMC to launch new-style Pro Clear UV pond clarifier
TMC first introduced its range of UV pond clarifiers in the late 1980s, and in 1996, launched the Pro Clear Advantage professional UV clarifier for larger ponds.

Eliminating micro-organisms
Eheim’s reeflexUV reduces micro-organisms and eliminates torpidity in the water. Due to its built-in reflector, the micro-organism-killing UV-C radiation is significantly increased.

Going for gold
A Michigan fisherman has caught a three-pound, 15-inch long goldfish from Lake Clair.

Get ready for the pond season
Aquarium water treatment manufacturer Colombo has a range of products to help get a pond’s biological filter up to speed, as well as decomposing sludge and organic waste.

Conservation bid for two fish species
Marine biologists and conservation groups have launched a petition urging the Taiwanese government to add two endangered bulbous-head fish species to the protected species list.

Antibiotic risk to ornamental fish
The widespread use of antibiotics within the ornamental fish industry is contributing to antibiotic resistance, according to new research.

Hozelock Cyprio launches Bioforce filter
Hozelock Cyprio has launched the Bioforce Revolution pressurised pond filter, which boasts an efficient and mess-free cleaning system.

Aquadip supplies thousands of plants to London aquarium
Aquatic plant exporter Aquadip has supplied thousands of plants, helping to create Europe’s largest planted tank in a London aquarium.

Pet shop egg is a shark
A mystery egg which was bought in a pet shop and hatched into a tropical shark has been donated to a Cornish attraction.

Fish thief given community service
A man who stole a huge bass from an aquarium and then used it to win a fishing competition has been given 100 hours of community work and been put on probation, reports the Guardian.

OATA fish videos on Facebook
OATA’s seven YouTube videos designed to give helpful advice to aspiring fish keepers have now been viewed more than 600,000 times.

Hagen takes major presence at AQUA 2013
International brand Rolf C Hagen will make its debut at AQUA 2013, October 9-10, at the International Centre in Telford, and has booked the largest stand. As a result, Hagen has decided not to hold its annual trade exhibition this year.

Zombie fish!
A beheaded and gutted fish on display in a fishmonger’s window ‘came back to life’ and was caught on video by a passer-by, reports the Evening Standard.

Pope's pond inspires children's book
A children’s book that details the relationship between Pope Benedict XVI and his fish pond has been described as ‘a window into his soul’.

Sunfish washing up in East Anglia
Weather conditions have been blamed for an unusual number of monster sunfish being washed up on the east coast of England, including Norfolk, according to Eastern Daily Press.

Welcome to the world, Nemo!
Two babies were last year named after the Walt Disney cartoon character Nemo, a study revealed.

Marine fish killed in NZ vandal attack
Vandals have poisoned dozens of rare and exotic fish at a New Zealand marine centre.

Mystery of external filter flow rates solved
Following some customer comments about a loss of output in external filters, the JBL Research Department conducted an investigation.

'Twas a windy Christmas at Sea Life Centre
Staff at Great Yarmouth Sea Life Centre had to lower the water level in their ocean tank by six inches to counter a wind problem!

Marine treatments from Colombo
A new range of water treatments for marine tanks is now available under the Colombo brand from Aquadistri UK. Easy to use, the products deal with all elements of marine aquarium water quality. A range of marine water testing kits are also available.

World's largest marine aquarium opens
The world’s largest marine public aquarium has been opened in Singapore. The S.E.A. Aquarium contains over 800 species of marine animals in almost 12 million gallons of water.

Illegal fishing damaging Cambs rivers
Illegal fishing is causing ‘significant damage’ in Cambridgeshire rivers and could wipe out stocks within two years, an angling group has claimed.

Mini Tropical Grazer for tropicals
New Era has launched a Mini Tropical Grazer for tropical fish, complementing its Mini Marine Grazer.

Risk of disease from ornamental fish 'rare'
In response to recent press reports about the risk of humans catching disease from ornamental fish, OATA has said this is ‘rare’ and that ‘following good hygiene practises should further minimise the risk’.

New blind catfish found in India
A new species of blind catfish has been discovered by scientists in an old deep well in Kerala, south India.

Marine tank explodes in China centre
Sixteen people were hurt after an aquarium burst at a shopping centre in Shanghai.

CAWC looks into selective breeding of fish
The Companion Animal Welfare Council (CAWC) is looking into issues caused by selective breeding in fish and is expected to publish its findings later this year.

Pet shop refuses to sell three guppies
A fishkeeper with 20 years’ fishkeeping experience was taken aback when a Fenland pet store refused to sell him three guppies for his new tank on New Year’s Eve.

New Era nets business award
New Era Aquaculture has won its first business award – the Excellence in Overseas Trade in Doncaster Chamber of Commerce’s 2012 Business Awards.

Fukushima fish 'may be inedible for a decade'
A marine scientist has revealed that levels of radioactivity in fish near Japan’s damaged Fukushima nuclear plant are higher than expected. He warns the fish could be too radioactive to eat for a decade, as samples show that radioactivity levels remain elevated and show little sign of coming down.

Fish thought extinct found in Colorado River
Researchers in Grand Canyon National Park have discovered a prehistoric-looking suckerfish once thought to be extinct from the area.

Eheim shows small is powerful
Eheim has introduced two mini filters and a micro skimmer.

Solved! How archerfish spit water jets
Italian scientists say they have solved the mystery of how archerfish can spit powerful jets of water. Archerfish shoot water jets with enough force to knock prey into the water from overhanging vegetation from up to 2m away.

Sri Lanka aims to grow global export share
Sri Lanka’s ornamental fish industry, which accounts for approximately 3% of global market share, needs to adopt industry-related research and development activities to increase its market share in the world market.

Fossil pushes history back 10 million years
Chinese scientists have unearthed a 409-million-year-old fishlike tetrapod in the Yunnan province, south-western China. The discovery extends the history of this group by 10 million years, and provides novel fossil evidence on the origin of the tetrapod brain, says China Daily.

Fingers crossed for Eddy's arrival
Great Yarmouth Sea Life Centre staff have welcomed a third Green sea turtle.

Aquarama promises packed trade seminars
Trade seminars at next year’s international Aquarama, to be held in Singapore from May 30-June 2, will explore the theme ‘Current Aquatics – Future Perspectives’.

Battery power for glass cleaning
Eheim has a new battery-operated glass cleaner that can clean stained or calcified glass panes quickly and easily, including green spot or brush algae.

Taiwan breeds fluorescent pink angelfish
Taiwanese researchers have bred the world’s first fluorescent pink ornamental fish, reports Taiwan Today.

Fishy RIP
A Californian woman is asking the authorities to erect a memorial at a street corner where close to 730kg of live saltwater bass died as a result of a three-vehicle crash involving a truck that was delivering them to an Asian supermarket, reports the Chicago Tribune.

Could £1 Fish Man be Christmas No. 1?
A market stall holder, better known as the £1 Fish Man, is in the race for the Christmas No. 1 spot in the UK singles chart, which will pit him against this year’s X Factor winner.

Evolution Aqua adds Pure Marine to range
Evolution Aqua has launched Pure Marine into its range of Pure products, where it joins Pure Pond and Pure Aquarium. The Pure range, it says, helps aquarists maintain crystal clear and healthy water.

Canadian retailer jailed for dealing illegal fish shipments
A Canadian pet retailer has been jailed in New York after being found guilty of illegally shipping invasive fish to undercover agents in the United States.

'Absurd situation' over barley straw
The new Biocides Directive was introduced in September this year, requiring the active ingredient in barley straw to be identified and other information to be supplied for even small pouches that are placed in garden ponds to control algae.

A fish named Obama
A new freshwater darter species has been named after US President Barack Obama, Etheostoma obama.

New-look website for OATA
The Ornamental Aquatic Trade Association (OATA) has relaunched its website.

eBay bans seahorse sales from EU sites
eBay has banned the sale of dead and live seahorses from its website following pressure from an animal charity.

Indian ornamental fish on 'brink of extinction'
An ornamental fish species, Puntius denisonii, is on the brink of extinction as a result of illegal exports, warns the Conservation Research Group of St Albert’s College in Kochi, in the Indian state of Kerala.

Jellyfish 007
The US Office of Naval Research is researching marine animals in its bid to create a new arsenal in intelligence gathering. For example, a robotic eel could be used to check for mines, while a robo-jellyfish could capture surveillance images, reports the Associated Press.

Eheim shows small is powerful!
Eheim has introduced two mini filters and a micro skimmer.

Import of Apple snails banned
Despite vigorous lobbying by OATA, as of the end of November, it is illegal for aquatic retailers, wholesalers, importers or hobbyists to bring in Apple snails, Pomacea spp., to the UK.

Fingers crossed for Eddy's arrival
Great Yarmouth Sea Life Centre staff have welcomed a third Green sea turtle.

Safe passage for fish
An innovative fish pass system, the first of its kind in the UK, has been launched on the banks of the River Wissey at Stoke Ferry, Norfolk.

Close shave!
A British photographer has spoken of his shock after a 16ft great white shark came within an inch of his camera lens.

Postcard bid to save Britain's seas
Great Yarmouth Sea Life Centre is asking its visitors to help make sure the Government approves 127 proposed safe havens for coastal marine life.

Consultation on CITES permits
The Ornamental Aquatic Association has submitted a response to a consultation on a proposal by Animal Health to increase charges for CITES permits and veterinary checks at border inspection posts.

Over 80% of AQUA 2013 floor space booked
With 11 months to go to AQUA 2013’s opening in Telford, 87% of the total space occupied by the last show in 2011 has already been booked by more than 40 exhibitors.

Eheim's new battery-operated glass cleaner
Eheim has brought out a battery-operated glass cleaner so that any stained or calcified glass panes can be quickly and easily cleaned.

Joey joins Aquadip directors
Joey Abrahams has joined the board of directors of Aquadip and is looking forward to developing the business further and introducing more ‘green’ working practices.

Shocked angler finds severed finger in trout
A human finger found inside a fish in the US has been traced – to a man who had lost four fingers wakeboarding three months earlier.

EU strikes EUS from disease list
After more than five years lobbying by OATA – in co-operation with groups like Ornamental Fish International (OFI) and the German pet trade association ZZF –the EU is to take the disease epizootic ulcerative syndrome (EUS) off its list of exotic diseases.

Strong crowd turn out to visit Aquatics Live
The second Aquatics Live consumer show ended on a high with 4,500 visitors passing through its doors – up on its first year of about 4,000 visitors. The show took place at London Olympia over the weekend of November 10-11.

Aqua Pacific hosts product launch event
About 150 customers enjoyed Aqua Pacific’s first new product launch event at its HQ in Southampton.

Temporary fishing ban would 'generate billions' in profit
A temporary halt to fishing to allow some European stocks to recover could generate billions of pounds of profit within a decade, says a report from the New Economics Foundation (NEF).

API launches pond treatment range for 2013
API has launched its range of pond treatments for 2013. A spokesman said: “The range has been developed with the key needs of pond owners in mind, and is the right size range to successfully start and maintain most ponds from the beginner to the experienced pond owner.”

Blue whale treat for Irish spotters
Two Blue whales were spotted off the coast of Dursey Ireland, Co Cork; the second in Irish waters on record.

Portuguese men o'war wash up in Cornwall
A surge in the numbers of deadly Portuguese men o’war off the coast of British beaches led to warnings being issued to beachgoers this summer.

Mud poses 'no obstacle' to coral reef growth
Until now, scientists believed that sediment-rich marine environments are detrimental to the growth of coral reefs.  But according to a new study, the muddy, sediment-filled Middle Reef, part of the vast Great Barrier Reef in Australia, has grown more rapidly than other segments.

Aquarium dealt a bad hand
A Florida casino was forced to shut suddenly when a massive floor-to-ceiling fish tank burst, causing a deluge that closed two gambling floors.

Aussie fish develop skin cancer
Wild fish along Australia’s Great Barrier Reef are now reported to be developing skin cancer.

Aquarium installs CCTV after theft attempt
An aquarium in Weston-super-Mare has installed CCTV after someone reportedly tried to steal a baby stingray, the BBC reported.

Fish stunned in rescue op
Fish in the Erewash Canal in Nottingham were stunned with electricity to rescue them from water polluted by a major fire.

Tetra launches Medica range
Tetra has launched its Tetra Medica range, offering eight simple treatments for aquarium fish – Tetra Goldfish GoldMed; Medica GeneralTonic; Medica TremaEx; Medica Lifeguard; Medica HexaEx; Medica FungiStop; Medica Contralck and Medica CestoNemaEx.

600 species could shrink by a quarter by 2050
Fish are likely to get smaller on average by 2050 because global warming will cut the amount of oxygen in the oceans, according to a study.

Switchboxes to control all electrical devices
Evolution Aqua has introduced three high-performance, easy-to-use switchboxes that manage all the electrical needs required in the pond and garden environment.

Otter alert!
Pond keepers have been warned stay vigilant after a Grimsby garden centre lost a dozen koi carp in a suspected otter attack.

Pixies and fairies at Glee!
Bermuda launched two pond spitter ranges at Glee last month – Pond Pixies and Pond Fairies.

Moby Sick!
A schoolboy has stumbled upon a rare piece of whale vomit on a beach, and could sell it for as much as £40,000.

You would not even know it's on!
The new JBL ProSilent air pump is said to be so silent that sound meters are more likely to detect a room’s ambient noise than any from the pump.

'Trouble' arrives at Great Yarmouth's Sea Life Centre
A giant Green Sea Turtle with a reputation for being a bit of a troublemaker has been sent to Great Yarmouth Sea Life Centre from Belgium’s Sea Life Centre. After hearing about the success of Great Yarmouth’s shark training, it was decided that this was the best place for him.

Exhibitors up at Aquatics Live
Next month’s Aquatics Live show has attracted more exhibitors than its first year, and organisers are confident that higher numbers of visitors will flock to London’s Olympia, now that word has spread throughout the fishkeeping community and beyond.

New Optiwhite glass aquariums from TMC
TMC’s ‘Signature’ range of aquariums has just been launched, offering aquarists quality combined with affordability.

UK fish demand exceeds limits
UK fish consumption in 2012 has already matched what UK seas can supply for the year, leaving the country now reliant on imported cod and haddock for fish and chips, campaigners have warned.

Keep ponds clean and safe with Superfish
Now that autumn is around the corner, retailers are advised to stock pond nets so customers can prevent leaves from falling into ponds. Leaves in a pond can cause water quality problems as they decompose, which can adversely affect the health of fish.

Chinese fisherman hooks £300,000 fish
A Chinese fisherman has netted a fortune after catching a critically endangered, but hugely prized, fish. The bahaba, or Giant Yellow Croaker, is listed as an endangered fish as it has been fished almost to extinction, but its high market price is down to its value in Chinese medicine as its bladder is said to cure diseases related to the lungs and heart.

Is it a fish... or is it a crocodile?
A fish with the face of a crocodile has taken up residence at Great Yarmouth Sea Life Centre.

Tetra GoldfishPRO - premium nutrition for goldfish
Tetra has added Tetra GoldfishPRO to its winning TetraPRO range, offering goldfish keepers a nutritionally balanced premium food for all goldfish.  The highly nutritious crisp is produced through Tetra’s patented low-heat production process, which ensures high vitamin stability.

New Hikari website
Hikari has a new UK website for its range of aquarium and pond fish foods, www.hikari.uk.com.

Failed smuggling operation
Around 500 ornamental fish were seized by Tamil Nadu Customs officials at an Indian airport after a passenger arrived from Singapore.

Campaigners oppose Manchester aquarium plans
Animal welfare campaigners are opposing plans to build a huge aquarium near the Trafford Centre in Manchester.

Charity rehomes 900 fish in its first six months
Within six months of opening, a Sunderland-based national charity has re-homed 900 fish – a third of which were tankbusters – in 248 rescue operations across Britain. Fish Rescue and Welfare founder Phil Brennan told Aquatic Trader: “It’s a very big problem. We set up in January, and literally took off like a rocket.”

Concern over burgeoning marine trade
Marine scientists have voiced concerns over the burgeoning marine aquarium trade.

Sinking Cichlid Excel from Hikari
A new diet is available from Hikari for herbivorous cichlids and tropical fish that need a diet rich in vegetable matter.

New public aquarium in Cornwall
A new public aquarium has opened in Falmouth’s town centre. Falmouth Aquarium features 14 tanks with marine life, from local to the more exotic; tropical fish; as well as displays and interactive videos, marine mammal skeletons, fossils and other artefacts.

Tetra launches new-generation website
Tetra has re-launched its website to improve navigation and access to information, helping fish-lovers and retailers more easily get up-to-date information on caring for fish and details of how Tetra products can support the hobby.

Third powercut at The Deep in two months
Hull’s premier visitor attraction The Deep has hit out at its electricity supplier after a power cut put some of its most valuable animals at risk.  The aquarium was one of 1,331 Northern Powergrid customers hit by a six-hour blackout in early August, which stretched its back-up supply to its limits.

Chinese city wages war on piranha
A southern Chinese city is on the alert for piranhas after two people were attacked in a river, and is offering a 1,000 yuan (£101) reward for every fish caught, dead or alive.

Over 1,500 fish and corals seized in the Philippines
Authorities in the Philippines seized 1,500 live aquarium fish and 150 brain coral at a Manila pier just as they were about to be shipped to Japan.

Crowds witness sharks' record triumph
Spectators were packed shoulder to shoulder to witness Great Yarmouth Sea Life centre sharks set a new record.

Free insurance review for OATA members
OATA has extended an arrangement with specialist insurance broker Bluefin to offer members a free and confidential review of their current business insurance.

Fish in space!
The Japanese Space Agency (Jaxa) has sent an aquarium to the International Space Station to study how microgravity impacts the Oryzias latipes, also known as Medaka or Japanese killifish.

Seaweed diet for marine herbivores
A new complete daily diet for all types of marine herbivores has been launched by Hikari, called Seaweed Extreme. Available in both wafer and pellet formats, Hikari Seaweed Extreme contains 67% natural seaweed, making it instantly attractive to herbivorous species.

Sri Lankans name new fish after Richard Dawkins
Sri Lankan scientists have identified a new genus of freshwater fish and named it after the evolutionary biologist and renowned atheist Richard Dawkins.

A contemporary look for tanks
The Qubie is a contemporary new stylish aquarium from Superfish, which comes complete with a range of accessories. With its curved glass creating an unbroken wide panoramic view, the Qubie is an attractive addition to any room, whether at home or in the office.

Animal welfare protestors oppose Manchester aquarium plans
Animal welfare campaigners are opposing ambitious plans to build a huge aquarium near the Trafford Centre.

Fan gives Cher a goldfish in a bag
Pop star Cher Lloyd says she was stunned when a fan gave her a goldfish as a gift.

Skulking around with reptiles
Out in the remote deserts of Nevada, the weathered skull of a long dead buffalo lays on the hot red sand. The skull has fed countless birds and insects and now provides a cool, secure hiding place for snakes, lizards and any other small creatures that happen by; offering respite from the desert sun and protection from predators.

£20,000 worth of fish stolen from shop
Hundreds of fish thought to be worth more than £20,000 were stolen from a Bradford pet shop.

Shark stud Zorro goes home
A whirlwind romance for a pair of tropical zebra sharks has come to an end. Super stud Zorro headed back from Great Yarmouth Sea Life Centre to his London Aquarium home in late June, with the outcome of his brief fling with female Athena still uncertain.

Nishikoi takes on Python Products
Nishikoi has been appointed sole distributors of Python Products, a quality range of aquarium cleaning products made in the US.

EU to ban binning of excess fish catch
EU ministers have agreed to ban fishing ships from throwing away their excess catch, a controversial practice that has seen millions of tonnes of edible fish thrown away since the introduction of strict EU fishing quotas 40 years ago.

Add pizzazz with Marina LED Air Curtain
The Marina flexible LED Air Curtain provides “an excellent way of adding visual pizzazz to aquascapes” while improving water circulation and oxygenation, says Hagen.

Nishikoi distributes Continuum Aquatics
Nishikoi have been appointed sole European distributors of US-made Continuum Aquatics products.

Tickets to go on sale for Aquatics Live
Tickets will go on sale later this month for Aquatics Live, Britain’s largest event for the fishkeeping hobby.

Arcadia launches marine LED bar
Arcadia has launched a new LED bar for marine aquariums, which comes complete with everything that marine keepers need to generate a professional marine system, including a programmable computerised control unit.

V2Bio React 500 Pellet Reactor now available
The new V2Bio React 500 Pellet Reactor from TMC has just been launched.  This pellet reactor has a unique patented design incorporating a specially-designed flow inductor which maximises the media-to-water contact time within the reactor, ensuring efficient fluidisation of media even when using lower flow rate pumps.

Singapore looks elsewhere for ornamental exports
After supplying European customers for more than 40 years, Shirley Lim is now looking elsewhere for sales. Shirley, whose business in Singapore and Malaysia grows aquatic plants and breeds tropical ornamental fish, said orders from Europe are down by a fifth this year.

API Quick Start to the rescue!
When a private tropical zoo in Brentford, Middlesex, closed in March, SEA LIFE London Aquarium stepped in to help re-home all the tropical fish, including some incredibly large Pacu, Redtail catfish, Giant gouramis, Giraffenose catfish and a Tiger shovelnose.

So that's how they got there!
Marine scientists studying life around deep-sea vents have discovered that some hardy species can survive the extreme change in pressure that occurs when a research submersible rises to the surface.

Kusuri launches into reptiles
Kusuri launched a reptile range at Germany’s Interzoo, with seven new products for the retailer.

Lockerbie koi carp 'theft' blamed on otter
Police have withdrawn an appeal for information over an ornamental fish theft from a pond - after discovering an otter was probably to blame.

Get Clicking with King British
King British has introduced the new Goldfish and Tropical Fish Easy Clicker Feeders, which dispense a pre-measured amount of high-quality food pellets with every click.

Keep pond surfaces free from debris
The Superfish Pond Skim 2000 keeps surfaces of ponds clean and free from floating debris such as dirt, leaves and algae.

US could ban trade in Dwarf seahorse
The National Marine Fisheries Service is considering adding the dwarf seahorse (Hippocampus zosterae) to the threatened or endangered species lists after receiving a petition from the non-profit Center for Biological Diversity.

Sleeping with the fish
Plans are afoot to build a half-submerged hotel in Dubai, complete with underwater rooms offering views of life below the surface of the sea.

TradeMarkaquatics appointed TECO distributor
TradeMarkaquatics will now distribute TECO chillers across the UK and Ireland.

Inclement weather fails to dampen pond hopes
Anyone watching the flotilla to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee will realise one thing – us Brits will never let something as trifling as ‘a bit of rain’ get in the way of a good party. Similarly with the pond market; the unpredictable weather will never act as a deterrent to manufacturers bringing new products to the market. And this year, there seem to be even more products being launched to mark the season’s start.

Golden snapper sold for £24,000 in Bangladesh
A Chinese businessman has paid US$38,000 (£24,000) for a rare golden snapper fish in the port city of Chittagong.

New TetraPro stands offer added value
New TetraPro display stands are now available from Tetra to help retailers encourage customers to take the step up to this premium product.  The stand will allow retailers to offer a focused display of the full TetraPro range, making the product stand out in-store, and offering 20% added value through the 300ml TetraPro tins that have been designed to fit on the stand.

Pelleted silkworm for Koi
Hikari Silkworm Selects contains over 50% natural whole silkworms and is ideal for Koi and other pond fish that require an omnivorous diet. Silkworm is traditionally used as a growth supplement by Japanese Koi breeders.

Waterlife's new-look pond range
Waterlife has re-launched its pond products for the 2012 season – a 250ml size has been introduced across the range.  The new-look design label was driven by feedback from customers who wanted the product use to be the main focal point of the packs. 

Radioactive Bluefin tuna caught off California
Bluefin tuna caught off California contains radiation from Japan’s crippled Fukushima nuclear plant 6,000 miles away.

Improve bulb life with the Exo Terra Light Bracket
The Exo Terra Light Bracket is designed to securely suspend the Exo Terra Light Dome or any other domes or wire fixtures above any Exo Terra Natural Terrarium or other glass terrarium.

Sawfish not the gentle bottom dwellers previously thought
Sawfish are vicious predators which use their saws to skewer and maim their prey, hitting victims hard enough to cut them in half.

A tank for the kids
A fish tank has been set up at a US police station to help reduce the stress on children of domestic abuse victims.

Avoiding the tragedy of overfishing
Management of fisheries at community level can help curb overfishing, according to new research from an international scientific team including the University of East Anglia.

Keeping an eye on water parameters
Seneye produces a range of low-cost aquatic sensors for consumer and in-store monitoring – they are designed to be easy to use, reliable in application and low cost.

Singapore's Qian Hu sees profits drop
Singapore’s ornamental fish supplier Qian Hu Corporation has posted a 48.1% decline in its first quarter net profit to S$523,000 (£260,600) from the previous year. Group revenue for the quarter ended March 31 also fell 14.8% to S$20.6 million from a year ago.

Cleaning the Edge made easy
The recent addition of a taller, 46-litre Fluval Edge aquarium allows aquarists even more options for creative aquascaping and fish choices. Fluval has introduced two new maintenance tools specifically designed for use with either the 23 or 46 litre models.

GM zebrafish light up to show affected organs
Scientists from the University of Exeter have created a breed of glow-in-the-dark fish to learn more about how pollution affects humans and animals.

King British re-launch holiday feeders
King British has re-launched its Holiday Food Blocks and Weekend Feeders, which are suitable for both coldwater and tropical fish. Both products are designed to slowly release small particles of food.

Now that's a big aquarium!
Berlin’s AquaDom, located at the Radisson Blue Hotel, is the world’s largest and most expensive cylindrical acrylic glass reef aquarium in the world.

From fountains to waterfalls and filter
Blagdon’s new Pressure Filter Kit is an all-in-one solution able to run fountains and waterfalls as well as a filter.

Aquarian Goes for Gold!
Aquarian has launched a massive year-long consumer promotion to help mark the London Olympics and the Queen’s Jubilee.

RSPCA investigate after man eats live goldfish
The RSPCA is investigating after a man posted a YouTube clip showing himself eating his live goldfish.

Why we've joined OATA
Three specialist aquatic centres in the south-west have joined the Ornamental Aquatic Trade Association as their owner believes that in addition to giving his business enhanced credibility, the future of his business and that of the aquatic industry is assured by the continuous work and support provided by OATA.

Aquarium sector shows slight growth
The aquarium and vivarium sector was worth an estimated £37 million in 2010, a slight nudge up from its 2008 figure of £36 million, according to AMA Research.

New range of algae treatments
Colombo has been manufacturing pond and aquarium water treatments and fish medications for over 30 years.

Aquatics Live to include Trade Lounge
Aquatics Live, the expo for fish and reptile keepers that launched successfully last November, will this year include a Trade Lounge.

King British launches Barley Straw products
King British Barley Straw Extract is a naturally derived, eco-friendly product suitable for use in ponds, which does not affect wildlife or aquatic animals. The no-mess extract is effective against green water (unicellular algae) and filamentous algae (including blanket weed), and is also suitable for use in water features.

ProfiClear intelligent filter cleans itself
OASE has released a new, intelligent, high-quality filter system, the ProfiClear Premium. 

Manchester retailer wins £400 Tetra giveaway
Lucky retailer Michelle Jo Lawler is the winner of our recent Tetra gieaway.  Michelle, of Goldfish Gala, in Audenshaw, Manchester, wins stock worth more than £400 at trade prices.

Aquarama confirms dates for 2013 show
Singapore’s biennial Aquarama show has now been confirmed for May 30-June 2, 2013, and will next year include for the first time a Marine Nano Cube competition.

Tetra launches indoor anti-algae treatment
Tetra is launching its first indoor anti-algae treatment for the UK market, Tetra AlguMin.  It contains a low-concentrated biocide with natural peat extract, making it safe for fish and plants, but highly effective against algae.

Fish-in-a-clock tank
California-based Aquavista, the company behind the wall-mounted aquarium and tabletop aquariums, has introduced a new product – a round wall clock that doubles as an aquarium for fish.

£11,000 for solar panels to keep Koi
A Koi enthusiast from Staffordshire has spent £11,000 on solar panels to power the equipment for his pond.

Aquarium shark released back into the wild
A shark called Osbourne has been released into the sea by the Bermuda Aquarium and Zoo. The seven-year-old, 6.5-foot-long male Galapagos shark had been a star attraction at the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo along with a Black grouper, writes the Bermuda Sun.

BCUK Aquatics distributes LED system
BCUK Aquatics is now distributing the Maxspect Mazzara LED lighting system.

Lower energy consumption for pond pumps
The AquaMax Eco Premium range is a new pond pump range, introduced by OASE.

Environment Agency clears Devon lakes of invasive fish
The Environment Agency has launched an investigation at an “anglers’ paradise” in Devon after prohibited foreign fish, which represent a severe threat to native species, were discovered in the lakes.

Goldfish overrun Highbury nature reserve pond
In a bid to clear a nature reserve pond of goldfish, people are being allowed to net them and take them home.

Duo plead guilty to cruelty for mailing terrapins
Two aquatic pet dealers have admitted animal cruelty after posting live terrapins to customers throughout the UK.

Retailer investigated for illegal sale of fish
CEFAS is investigating a retailer for having in the shop premises controlled fish and crayfish species. The retailer is alleged to have had Myxocyprinus asiaticus, the Asian hi-fin shark, and Cambarellus, the Orange crayfish, for sale. Both species have been illegal to sell for years.

Blanketweed treatment with money-back guarantee
A new blanketweed fighting product from Nishikoi, Clear Waters, is not only said to be 100% effective against blanketweed, but is said to be able to clear the unsightly algae within two weeks.

Sustainably caught marines from Papua New Guinea
EcoreefUK is the first European supplier of sustainably collected Papua New Guinean marine fish. The first shipment has gone on sale, and corals will be available later this year.

Take part in Tetra national trial and win an iPad
Tetra is giving away to retailers 1,300 trial boxes of Tetra SafeStart to involve them in a national trial and the chance to win an iPad.

The Deep harnesses tidal energy
Hull’s The Deep aquarium has gone green with the installation of a tidal energy plant to help power the popular tourist attraction and research centre.

Judge throws out whale slavery challenge
A US judge has thrown out a case filed by an animal rights group alleging that the killer whales kept at SeaWorld are “slaves”.

Keep an eye out for sea turtles, urges MCS
The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) is urging beach users to keep an eye out for marine turtles after one was washed up dead near Bude, on the north Cornwall coast.

Prodibio water treatments available from Pedigree Wholesale
Prodibio designs, develops and manufactures water treatments for use when setting up and maintaining freshwater and marine aquariums, and its products are now distributed exclusively by Pedigree Wholesale.

Bluefin tuna sale smashes records
A bluefin tuna has been sold for three-quarters of a million dollars in Tokyo, a price almost double last year’s record sale.