With this sixth edition, we mark a quiet but meaningful milestone. The Weekend Aquarist has grown from an idea into a thriving platform for aquarists across India—and beyond. To everyone who has read, subscribed, contributed, or shared a kind word—thank you. This magazine exists because of you.
 
This month’s issue is a celebration of diversity—of fish, of plants, of habitats, and of the people who bring them to life.
 
Our cover story features the elegant Ramirezi, also known as the Butterfly Cichlid. In Butterflies Beneath the Surface, master breeder Deepak Mistry takes us into his world of selective breeding, culminating in the stunning Black Knight strain that hobbyists now seek nationwide.
From the Americas, we head to Lake Tanganyika to meet the shimmering Leptosoma Utinta. In this instalment of his Tanganyikan cichlid series, Suneal Mendonca shares why this graceful shoaler remains a favourite among cichlid lovers and biotope aquarists.
We also explore the Marvellous Mudskipper, that fascinating amphibious oddball, brought to life by Beta Mahatvaraj and Aravind Manoj in an engaging write-up for our Native Species section.
In our Plant Spotlight, Dr. Nataraj J profiles Hygrophila pinnatifida ‘UK’—a beautifully structured plant with both foreground and midground potential. What’s special? The ‘UK’ in its name doesn’t stand for the United Kingdom—but proudly refers to Uttara Kannada, a richly biodiverse region of the Western Ghats. A reminder that some of the finest aquascaping plants are native to our very own waters.
Our Entrepreneur Spotlight introduces Amartya Ghosh, the founder of TiCi Nature Lab, whose passion for design, conservation, and live plant systems is helping redefine indoor ecosystems. Meanwhile, our Hobbyist Spotlight features Gabrial Jose—better known as theaquaamazon—whose aquascapes and lenswork are gaining a growing fan base on social media.
This issue also introduces Aquarium Glossary – Speak Like a Pro, a new section that simplifies aquarium jargon for readers at all levels. If you’ve ever wondered what a "Dark Start" or a "Frag Rack" really means, we’ve got you covered.
 
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