India’s Premier Aquarium Magazine

Why we often miss the incredible freshwater fish right in front of us. Nature does not hide its wonders; we simply overlook what is in plain sight during our nature observation outings. This shift in perspective changes how you approach nature observation. Balaji Vijayakrishnan talks about his recent discovery and compares Osparius sp. with Barilius sp. Watch the full episode on The Weekend Aquarist podcast. Aired Live on 19th September.

Here's a gift—a complete issue of The Weekend Aquarist, complimentary, on us. India's only aquarium magazine, delivered to your inbox. No strings: watch a quick hello from the editor, drop your email, and it's yours to keep. 👉 Claim it here: https://www.weekendaquarist.in/youtube A new species described. An old identity restored. And another fascinating chapter in India’s freshwater fish story! This Saturday, join Balaji Vijaykrishnan, lead author of a newly published study in Zootaxa, as we explore Opsarius geminus—a new fish species described from the Krishna River in the Western Ghats—and the revalidation of Opsarius papillatus, originally described in 1869 from the Eastern Ghats. What does it take to recognise a new species? How do scientists distinguish fish that look so similar? And why would a species described over 150 years ago need its identity re-examined? Join us for the stories, observations and detective work behind the science—and what these findings reveal about India’s remarkable freshwater diversity. 📅 This Saturday, 19th September | 8 PM IST 📍 The Weekend Aquarist on YouTube Bring your curiosity and your questions. See you live! 🔔 #SNLwithTWA #TheWeekendAquarist #IndianNativeFish #NewSpecies #WesternGhats #EasternGhats #Opsarius

Loved this? Here's a gift — a complete issue of The Weekend Aquarist, free, with our compliments. India's only aquarium magazine, delivered to your inbox. No strings: watch a quick hello from the editor, drop your email, and it's yours to keep. 👉 Claim it here: https://www.weekendaquarist.in/youtube THE PLANT DOC RETURNS! | SNL with TWA They look like mosses. They’re often treated like mosses. But they aren’t mosses at all. This Saturday, Dr Nataraj Jagannath — The Plant Doc — returns to SNL with TWA for another fascinating conversation on the world of aquatic plants. This time, we’re going small. Very small. Our subject is Liverworts — fascinating ancient plants that can create some of the most beautiful textures in a planted aquarium. We’ll put the spotlight on two popular liverworts in the aquarium hobby — Riccardia and Riccia — and discover what makes them different from mosses, and from each other. How do you identify them? How should they be grown? What conditions help them thrive? How can you use them effectively in an aquascape? And why does that beautiful patch sometimes seem to disappear just when you thought you had it figured out? As always, this conversation brings together plant science and practical aquascaping — and take your questions LIVE. Timestamps Learn how to identify and grow aquatic plants like Riccardia and Riccia. Dr. Natarajan explains their specific care needs. They look like mosses, but they are not. In this session, Dr. Natarajan joins us to discuss the unique biology of liverworts used in the hobby. We focus on the care requirements for Riccardia and Riccia to help you maintain clean, healthy stock in your tank. Whether you are struggling to keep these plants alive or simply want to improve your aquascaping skills, this conversation offers practical advice. We cover how to identify these species and the environmental conditions that allow them to thrive in a planted aquarium. Timestamps 00:00 – Intro & Welcome back Dr. Natraj (The Plant Doc) 02:20 – What are Liverworts? (Moss vs. Liverwort Differences) 04:50 – Do Liverworts Have Roots? (Pseudo-rhizoids Explained) 06:18 – Integrating Riccardia into Aquascapes (Scape Breakdown) 08:05 – Riccardia Anatomy: Thallus Structure & Visual Scale 11:44 – Managing & Preventing Hair Algae on Riccardia 13:38 – Tissue Culture Lab Challenges with Riccardia 15:40 – Tips for Attaching & Planting Riccardia 16:18 – Introduction to Riccia (Riccia fluitans) 17:44 – The Pearling Effect & Ideal Growth Conditions 21:46 – How to Plant & Care for Tissue Culture Riccia 24:00 – Dr. Natraj’s Background in Plant Biotechnology 26:12 – Q&A: Can You Develop Variegated Riccardia In-Vitro? 27:24 – The Weekend Aquarist Magazine & Channel Updates 29:28 – Q&A: Dosing Plant Hormones & Growth Boosters 31:30 – Maintenance, Trimming & Hygiene to Stop Algae 33:10 – Q&A: The Most Challenging Plant to Grow (Bucephalandra) 34:10 – Q&A: Eriocaulon Tank Care & Substrate Requirements 35:42 – Outro & Next Episode Preview #SNLwithTWA #ThePlantDoc #TheWeekendAquarist #Riccardia #Riccia #Liverworts #AquaticPlants #PlantedTank #Aquascaping #PlantSpotlight

Watch how harlequin shrimp hunt and consume their favorite meal: the starfish. These fascinating crustaceans are famous for their monogamous pairing and specialised diet, often relying on sea stars for up to 70% of their intake. It is a striking display of marine life behaviour that every enthusiast of the aquarium hobby should witness. Watch the full interview with dr Sanjeevi Prakash on The Weekend Aquarist Podcast. Loved this? Here is a gift — a complete issue of The Weekend Aquarist, free, with our compliments: https://weekendaquarist.in/youtube

Watch a coral banded shrimp as it emerges from its coral hideout. This footage captures the fascinating cleaning shrimp emerging from its hole, offering a rare glimpse into its complex cleaning behavior. Dr Sanjeevi Prakash shares his wonderful insights on the fascinating banded coral shrimps, also known as Doctor Shrimps- know why fish trust them completely! Watch the full interview with Dr Sanjeevi Prakash on The Weekend Aquarist podcast. Loved this? Here is a gift — a complete issue of The Weekend Aquarist, free, with our compliments. Visit https://weekendaquarist.in/youtube

Dr Sanjeevi Prakash shares his experience observing the pistol shrimp in the reef and why it gets its name.

Loved this? Here's a gift — a complete issue of The Weekend Aquarist, free, with our compliments. India's only aquarium magazine, delivered to your inbox. No strings: watch a quick hello from the editor, drop your email, and it's yours to keep. 👉 Claim it here: https://www.weekendaquarist.in/youtube This week on SNL, we dive beneath the surface of India’s coral reefs with Dr. S. Prakash, marine biologist and Associate Professor at the Centre for Climate Change Studies, Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai. With over 60 research publications, books and book chapters to his credit, Dr. Prakash has spent years studying marine biodiversity, climate change, and the fascinating ecology and evolution of coral reef shrimps. A Fulbright-Nehru Postdoctoral Research Fellow and an Advanced Open Water SCUBA Diver, his research has taken him into the coral reefs of the Gulf of Mannar, Palk Bay, Lakshadweep and the USA. But what makes these tiny, often overlooked creatures so important to a coral reef? Join us as Dr. Prakash takes us into the remarkable world of coral shrimps — the tiny architects of the reef — and reveals the roles they play in one of our planet’s most complex underwater ecosystems. SNL with The Weekend Aquarist 🎙️ Coral Shrimps – Architects of the Reef Featuring Dr. S. Prakash Sept 5th, 2026 at 8PM India on YouTube Live