Foreword

Millions of people all round the world keep fish in ponds and aquaria to enjoy their beauty and their habits as they try to replicate a little piece of nature in their backyard or their living room. For some it is a chance to keep species from the four corners of the globe while for others the lure is for natives of ones own country. While Australia may have fewer species of native freshwater fishes suitable for aquarium life than the traditional tropical aquarium fish suppliers of Asia, Africa and the Americas, what we lack in numbers we make up for in quality and interest.

Currently there is world-wide enthusiasm for aquarium fish from our region – especially for the rainbowfishes and blue-eyes from Australia and New Guinea. Consequently there is a matching desire for information on these fishes from enthusiasts both here and abroad. The information sought concerns not only how to best care for them but also anything and everything about where they come from. To many the ultimate challenge is to research the species, travel to the habitat and capture the specimens, transport them home, look after them well, breed them and make them available to others.

If you want to know anything about these fishes this is the source for you – as comprehensive and authoritative as is currently possible. Adrian Tappin is an acknowledged paramount expert on the Aquariology of this group based on a lifetime of aquarium hobby experience and decades of personal involvement with all aspects of native fish interest. Not only is this the best reference I know of for these fishes, but in my opinion it sets the benchmark for the future when it comes to hobby guides. Adrian knows his stuff and is happy to share his expertise so that the hobbyist can get the most enjoyment and the fish will be cared for optimally.

Dr. Bruce Hansen Australia