THEY looked stunning . . . and were Nicola Farrell's pride and joy.

She bought two pet fish from an aquatics shop more than two years ago - and admired them as they graced her home aquarium.

But then she decided to offer them to Bolton Aquarium - and was astonished to discover that they are Brazillian and little is known about their recently discovered breed.

Miss Farrell had no idea how unique the pair of "Red Head Tapajos" were when she bought them from Britain's Aquatic Superstore in Tonge Moor.

The 39-year-old mother of two realised their significance when she offered her collection of fish to Bolton Aquarium along with the unusual pair, one male and one female.

Staff at the aquarium believe they will be among the first to display and study the freshwater species, which was only recently discovered in the Tapajos River in Brazil.

The aquarium is now planning to breed the pair, which each have a distinctive orange colouration across their heads and are believed to be around three years old.

The behaviour, feeding and breeding patterns of the fish, which have yet to be given a scientific name, will now be studied.

Miss Farrell, a nursery nurse, of Wyndham Avenue, Daubhill, who paid £20 for the pair, said: "I had no idea what they were at the time, I just thought they looked nice.

"I had a 6ft tank of fish which I decided to offer to the aquarium because I'd just had a new baby girl Sarah.

"It takes a lot of looking after with cleaning and changing the filter and I was finding it really hard - we already have two cats, a dog and a snake as pets. But when the aquarium told me what these fish were I joked that I wanted them back."

Paul Dixon, of Bolton Aquarium, said he had been amazed to be handed the fish, which coincidentally, his friend Oliver Lucanus, a German explorer, first discovered four years ago.

"We could be the first aquarists in the world to study this fish," he said.

"I'm certainly not aware of anywhere else in Britain where it is being displayed or studied.

"Most of the commercial aquaria here and in the United States and Australasia specialise in marine fish.

"They make a stunning display fish so this is a real coup for Bolton."

Andy Taylor, manager of Britain's Aquatic Superstore, said: "This fish is not something we see very often but they do come in occasionally and command quite a high price - anything from £10 for a small one to £50 for a larger one.

"They are not believed to be particularly rare but they are quite unusual."

Bolton Aquarium, on the lower floor of the Boltom Museum in Le Mans Crescent, also kept three of Miss Farrell's catfish.

Four other fish were handed to private aquarists known to staff.