Common names change from country to country, and even from shop to shop. The scientific name doesn’t. That’s one small lesson from my book in progress, Biotope – an utopia? Not at all! (Swedish original: Biotop en utopi? Inte alls!), and it’s why I ask for the Latin name, such as Paracheirodon axelrodi rather than just “cardinal tetra”, when buying, researching or asking for advice.

It’s a habit shaped by decades in the aquarium trade, including my years at Skogslyckans Zoologiska in Uddevalla (1989–1995).

The same thinking is built into InternetZoo™, which works like Airbnb or Uber for the ornamental fish and plant trade: it connects buyers and sellers directly, and lets you browse and compare listings by Latin species name, so you know exactly what you’re getting.

Book update: the manuscript is in draft and still being refined. More news on when it’s available to come.

Ready to look around? Browse the marketplace or join as a seller at internetzoo.org.