Remarkably few European native fishes are kept by aquarists and yet some meet all the criteria of a good aquarium fish, that is, small size, pretty colours, and interesting behaviour. The sticklebacks meet all these criteria in full and yet are very rarely even thought of when choosing aquarium fishes.
This varied selection of popular American species demonstrates the amazing adaptability of fish. For example, the Amazon Puffer, whose relatives are confined to marine and brackish waters, has changed its body chemistry to enable it to exploit salt-free environments.
One of the most challenging yet rewarding aspects of fishkeeping is to breed your own fish. Think carefully about which fish you should breed and where you will house the spawning fish, and decide how many fry you can comfortably cope with and how you will feed them. Make a record of your successes and failures so that future breeding attempts go more smoothly.
