Over 50% of fishes (Fricke et al., 2023), only 0.3% of water these fishes can use according to the National Geographic. Should this not be enough to show how amazing freshwater is? In that vastness of the ocean still more fishes are freshwater.

Here at The Scientific Fishkeeper we aim to bridge the gap between ichthyology (fish biology) and the aquarium hobby, with a focus on fish maybe we can further our fishkeeping.

I, the editor chose to study freshwater since the beginning, having worked with marine but studying freshwater fishes, working with them they are fascinating, intelligent and diverse organisms. We have the electric Gymnotiformes and Mormyrids; we have the insane morphological diversity of Loricariidae (plecos) and Cypriniformes; there are cichlids that can handle high salinity levels and high temperatures yet others that can handle the lowest mineral/salinity content; we have some of the most primitive fishes; marine has stingray and so do we in freshwater but; at the end of the day freshwater is horrifically underrated and under studied.

I hope in this website it gives people the enthusiasm and curiosity to see freshwater in another light. This awareness and interest into them and keeping them gives them value and helps then have a future.

References

Fricke, R., Eschmeyer, W. N. & Van der Laan, R. (eds) 2023.  ESCHMEYER’S CATALOG OF FISHES: GENERA, SPECIES, REFERENCES. (http://researcharchive.calacademy.org/research/ichthyology/catalog/fishcatmain.asp). Electronic version accessed 20 August 2023.

https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/earths-fresh-water/