List of freshwater aquarium fish species
A vast number of species of fish have been successfully kept in the home aquarium. This list gives only some of the most commonly-kept species.
| Common name | Taxonomy | Picture | Size | Tank Type | Care Level | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gray bichir | Polypterus senegalus |  |
14" | Species | ||
| Reedfish | Erpetoichthys calabaricus |  |
15.7" | Species |
| Common name | Taxonomy | Picture | Size | Tank Type | Care Level | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arowanas | ||||||
| Arapaima | Arapaima gigas |  |
||||
| Asian arowana | Scleropages formosus |  |
||||
| Black arowana | Osteoglossum ferreirai | |||||
| Silver arowana | Osteoglossum bicirrhosum |  |
||||
| Featherback knifefish | ||||||
| African knifefish | Xenomystus nigri | |||||
| Clown knifefish | Notopterus ornata | |||||
| Elephantfish | ||||||
| Blunt-jawed elephantnose | Gnathonemus tamandu |  |
also called worm-jawed mormyrid | |||
| Peters' elephantnose | Gnathonemus petersii | |||||
| Butterflyfish | ||||||
| African butterflyfish | Pantodon buchholzi |  |
not related to saltwater butterflyfish | |||
.jpg){kind=small}
Characins and other characiformes
| Common name | Taxonomy | Picture | Size | Tank Type | Care Level | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tetras | ||||||
| Black phantom tetra | Hyphessobrycon megalopterus |  |
1.75" | Community | Easy | the black phantom tetra enjoy being in groups of 6 or more and a slightly shaded tank. Males may claim small territories and occasionally minor battles may occur. The Phantom tetra goes well with other tetras of similar size. They also prefer floating plants. |
| Black neon tetra | Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi |  |
1.6" | Community | Intermediate | this fish is similar to the neon tetra other than coloration. |
| Black tetra | Gymnocorymbus ternetzi |  |
2" | Community | Easy | a highly spirted fish that may occasionally chase its own species as well as harass slow moving fish with long fins. This fish is very hardy and can stand a variety of water qualities. Disease is not a big problem with the black tetra. The black tetra is also known as the black skirt tetra. The female black tetra is more robust and larger than the male. |
| Bleeding heart tetra | Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma |  |
2.5" | Community | Intermediate | the bleeding heart tetra is distinguished by the small red spot on both sides of the fish. This fish is very prone to diseases, and can grow larger than most tetra species. It is not recommended for beginners. |
| Bloodfin tetra | Aphyocharax anisitsi | File:BloodfinTetras.jpg | 2" | Community | ||
| Bucktooth tetra | Exodon paradoxus | 2" | will eat smaller fish and harrass larger fish | |||
| Buenos Aires tetra | Hyphessobrycon anisitsi | 3" | Easy | |||
| Cardinal tetra | Paracheirodon axelrodi |  |
2" | Community | ||
| Cave tetra, blind tetra | Astyanax mexicanus | 4.7" | Easy | cave tetra is the blind cave form of the Mexican tetra. The blind cave tetra is easy to care for and is hardy. The fish is born with eyes, but they quickly deteriorate leaving behind two scars where the eyes once were. The blind tetra needs to be in a shoal in order to show peaceful behavior, and to prevent fin nipping. Despite their lack of eyes, the blind cave tetra can easily avoid other fish and obstacles in the tank. This tetra prefers low to moderate lighting. | ||
| Congo tetra | Phenacogrammus interruptus | .jpg){kind=small} |
3.1" | Community | Intermediate | |
| Emperor tetra | Nematobrycon palmeri |  |
2" | Easy | ||
| Garnet tetra, pretty tetra | Hemigrammus pulcher |  |
2.5" | Community | ||
| Glowlight tetra | Hemigrammus erythrozonus |  |
1.5" | Community | Intermediate | |
| Green neon tetra | Paracheirodon simulans |  |
1" | Community | Intermediate | |
| Lemon tetra | Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis |  |
2" | |||
| Neon tetra | Paracheirodon innesi |  |
1.6" | Community | Intermediate | the neon tetra is sensitive towards water quality and is susceptible to many freshwater diseases. However, the fish is very peaceful and will not attack another member of the tank. Females are larger than the males and appear as little whales. Due to their small size, the neon tetra should not be kept with large fish. Neon tetras are also very delicate and any harassment they may receive can result in death. This can be prevented by putting them with other small community fish or fish known to ignore their tankmates. The neon tetra feels the most comfortable when in groups. |
| Penguin tetra, blackline penguinfish | Thayeria boehlkei | 2.5" | ||||
| Rummy-nose tetra | Hemigrammus rhodostomus |  |
2" | Community | Intermediate | |
| Serpae tetra | Hyphessobrycon serpae |  |
1.75" | Community | Easy | this fish may nip the fins of slow moving fish or fish smaller than it. It is best put with other large tetras or with fish of similar size or larger. |
| Hatchetfish | ||||||
| Common hatchetfish | Gasteropelecus sternicla | |||||
| Silver hatchetfish | Gasteropelecus levis | |||||
| Marbled hatchetfish | Carnegiella strigata |  |
||||
| Pencil fishes | ||||||
| Headstanders | ||||||
| Serrasalminae (pacus, piranhas, and silver dollars) | ||||||
| Silver dollar | Metynnis argenteus | File:Silver Dollar 640.jpg | 6" | The name "silver dollar" may also refer to Metynnis hypsauchen, Metynnis maculatus, or other related fishes. | ||
| Red bellied pacu | Colossoma bidens | 48" | Difficult | the red bellied pacu is a close relative of the piranhas, but without the sharp teeth and the aggression. However, care should be taken if interacting physically with the pacu as their powerful jaws can crush human bone. The Pacu is a peaceful fish that requires at least a 200 gallon tank when fully mature. It is omnivorous and can be put with large cichlids, but avoid smaller fish. Despite their similar appearance to piranhas, the pacu is not suited to eat meat very well, as their natural diet of nuts suggests. Be aware that this fish can grow to four feet and the owner must be prepared to house them in a very large tank if they wish to keep the fish (200 gal minimum). Also be aware that this fish grows very fast, and can grow as much as one foot in the first year. | ||
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
| Common name | Taxonomy | Picture | Size | Tank Type | Care Level | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barbs | ||||||
| Arulius barb | Puntius arulius | 4.7" | ||||
| Bigspot barb | Puntius dunckeri | |||||
| Black ruby barb | Puntius nigrofasciatus |  |
2.5" | |||
| Checker barb | Puntius oligolepis | 2" | ||||
| Cherry barb | Puntius titteya |  |
1.6" | |||
| Clipper barb | Barbus callipterus | 3" | ||||
| Clown barb | Puntius everetti | 6" | ||||
| Gold barb | Puntius semifasciolatus |  |
3.1" | |||
| Golden barb | Puntius gelius | |||||
| Greenstripe barb | Puntius vittatus | 2" | ||||
| Melon barb | Puntius fasciatus | 6" | ||||
| Onespot barb | Puntius terio | 6" | ||||
| Pentazona barb, fiveband barb | Puntius pentazona |  |
2" | |||
| Pool barb | Puntius sophore | 7" | ||||
| Partipentazona barb | Puntius partipentazona | this species may be confused with tiger barb due to similarities | ||||
| Red line torpedo barb | Puntius denisonii |  |
6" | |||
| Rosy barb | Puntius conchonius |  |
5" | |||
| Shortfin barb | Barbus brevipinnis | 1.8" | ||||
| Sixband barb | Puntius pentazona | 2" | ||||
| Spanner barb, t-barb | Puntius lateristriga | 7.8" | ||||
| Spotted barb, common barb | Puntius binotatus | 7.75" | ||||
| Spottedsail barb, dwarf barb | Puntius phutunio | 3.1" | ||||
| Swamp barb | Puntius chola | 6" | ||||
| Ticto barb | Barbus ticto | 4" | ||||
| Tic-tac-toe barb | Puntius stoliczkanus | 2" | ||||
| Tiger barb, sumatra barb | Puntius tetrazona |  |
3" | There are many varieties as well as hybrids with other barbs. Good community schooling fish. Make sure to keep them in groups of 5+ as they are fin nippers, but in schools they will happily chase each other, whilst leaving other fish alone. | ||
| Tinfoil barb | Barbonymus schwanenfeldii |  |
14" | |||
| Cold-water cyprinids | ||||||
| Goldfish | Carassius auratus |  |
6"+ | Goldfish Only | Easy | variations: Black Moor, Bubble Eye, Butterfly Tail, Calico, Calico fantail, Celestial Eye, Comet, Common, Crown Pearlscale, Fantail, Lionchu, Lionhead, Oranda, Panda Moor, Pearlscale, Pompom, Ranchu, Ryukin, Shubunkin, Telescope eye, Veiltail
Goldfish are very messy fish and require at least 10 gallons per fish for optimal health. They produce high levels of ammonium and are best put with other goldfish. Goldfish are also good pond pets, with the comet variety being the most suitable. Single tailed goldfish should be housed with only other single tailed goldfish, double tailed with other double tails, and telescopic with other telescopes. This is due to the fact that double tails cannot compete with single tailed goldfish for food, and the telescopic goldfish have poor vision. Goldfish are best kept with other goldfish due to their temperature preferences, but can be kept with the Chinese High-Fin Shark. |
| Koi, common carp | Cyprinus carpio |  |
12"+ | Pond | Easy | the fancy variations of common carp are known as koi. Koi are only suitable for ponds unless the owner has a large tank to house them in. |
| White Cloud Mountain minnow | Tanichthys albonubes |  |
1.5" | Pond | Easy | lutino variety can also be found in the aquarium trade |
| Common dace | Leuciscus leuciscus | 16" | ||||
| Rosy red minnow, fathead minnow | Pimephales promelas | 2"-3" | Pond/Minnow Tank | Easy | sold as feeder fish; the gold variety known as "rosy red" is very common | |
| Danios and other danionins | ||||||
| Bengal danio, Sind danio | Danio devario | |||||
| Giant danio | Devario aequipinnatus |  |
||||
| Malabar danio | Devario malabaricus |  |
||||
| Pearl danio | Danio albolineatus | File:Sc99csDanio.jpg | subspicies:blue-redstripe danio, Kedah danio | |||
| Queen danio | Devario regina | |||||
| Spotted danio | Danio nigrofasciatus | |||||
| Turquoise danio | Brachydanio kerri | |||||
| Zebra danio | Brachydanio rerio |  |
2" | Easy | there are many variations of this fish: leopard danio,the spotted colour morph, and GloFish, the genetically modified fluorescent fish. The zebra daino is a easy to maintain fish that grows no larger than two inches. Due to its smaller size, it should not be kept with fish that may find it a tasty snack. This fish must be kept in a shoal in order for the fish to show peaceful behavior. Males may chase each other around the tank, but usually no harm is done. | |
| Rasboras | ||||||
| Harlequin rasbora | Trigonostigma heteromorpha |  |
||||
| Blackline rasbora, red-tailed rasbora | Rasbora borapetensis |  |
||||
| Red-striped rasbora | Rasbora pauciperforata | |||||
| Volcano rasbora | Rasbora vulcanus | |||||
| Other cyprinids | ||||||
| Bala shark | Balantiocheilus melanopterus | .jpg){kind=small} |
||||
| Flying fox | Epalzeorhynchos kalopterus |  |
this species may be sold as Siamese algae eater | |||
| Red-tailed black shark | Epalzeorhynchos bicolor |  |
||||
| Red-finned shark | Epalzeorhynchos frenatum | albino variation available | ||||
| Cambodian log sucker, false Siamese algae eater | Garra cambodgiensis |  |
this species may be sold as Siamese algae eater | |||
| Chinese algae eater | Gyrinocheilus aymonieri | this species may be sold as Siamese algae eater | ||||
| Siamese algae eater | Crossocheilus siamensis | _by_Ark.jpg){kind=small} |
many other cyprinids are sometimes mistakenly sold under this name | |||
| Common name | Taxonomy | Picture | Size | Tank Type | Care Level | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chocolate gourami | Sphaerichthys osphromenoides |  |
||||
| Croaking gourami | Trichopsis vittata | Often confused with the pygmy gourami | ||||
| Dwarf gourami | Colisa lalia |  |
2" | Community | Intermediate | the dwarf gourami is perfect for small to mid sized aquariums as it will not grow as large as its larger relatives. |
| Giant gourami | Osphronemus goramy |  |
Occationally, some other gouramis are also referred to as "giant gouramis" | |||
| Paradise fish | Macropodus opercularis |  |
One of the few freshwater aquarium fish that survive in cold water. Most common variety is the Blue Paradise. | |||
| Pearl gourami | Trichogaster leerii |  |
It's very rare for these fish to live long enough to grow to a good size. | |||
| Pygmy gourami, Sparkling gourami | Trichopsis pumila | Often confused with the croaking gourami | ||||
| Kissing gourami | Helostoma temminckii |  |
The pink variety is more popular than the natural green one. They are called Kissing Gouramis because the seem to pucker their lips outwards. | |||
| Moonlight gourami | Trichogaster microlepis | |||||
| Snakeskin gourami | Trichogaster pectoralis | |||||
| Three spot gourami | Trichogaster trichopterus |  |
Various color varieties each given a different name (blue gourami, gold gourami, and opaline gourami) | |||
| Siamese fighting fish | Betta splendens |  |
Numerous color and fin pattern varieties. In the U.S., the fish is often called "betta", although this word is actually the name of the genus that includes more than 60 species other than the Siamese fighting fish. Multiple males in a tank will result in conflicts and possibly death. Females can be housed together in a tank, though they may attack each other. Males have long flowing fins with vibrant colors, and females have shorter fins. This fish is best put with fish that do not nip fins, as the fins of the betta are easy to attack. |
| Common name | Taxonomy | Picture | Size | Tank Type | Care Level | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guppies and mollies | ||||||
| Guppy | Poecilia reticulata |  |
Community | Easy | Many color and tail pattern varieties exist | |
| Endler's livebearer | Poecilia wingei |  |
Community | |||
| Black molly | Poecilia sphenops |  |
Community | Easy | ||
| Sailfin molly | Poecilia latipinna |  |
Community | Easy | Gold and silver varieties commonly found; also thrive in brackish water | |
| Platies and swordtails | ||||||
| Southern platy | Xiphophorus maculatus |  |
Community | Easy | Many color varieties exist | |
| Variable platy | Xiphophorus variatus |  |
Community | Many color varieties exist | ||
| Green swordtail | Xiphophorus hellerii | File:Xiphophorus helleri 02.jpg | Community | Easy | Many color varieties exist | |
Loaches and related cypriniforms
| Common name | Taxonomy | Picture | Size | Tank Type | Care Level | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loaches | ||||||
| Burmese border loach | Botia kubotai |  |
||||
| Clown loach | Botia macracantha |  |
||||
| Dwarf loach | Yasuhikotakia sidthimunki | formerly named Botia sidthimunki | ||||
| Dojo loach, weather loach | Misgurnus anguillicaudatus |  |
||||
| Horseface loach | Acantopsis choirorhynchus |  |
||||
| Kuhli loach, coolie loach | Pangio kuhlii |  |
a number of similar Pangio species are sold under the same name | |||
| Longnose loach | Acantopsis octoactinotos | |||||
| Skunk loach | Yasuhikotakia morleti | formerly named Botia morleti | ||||
| Yoyo loach | Botia almorhae |  |
||||
| Zebra loach | Botia striata |  |
||||
| Other related cypriniforms | ||||||
| Chinese high fin banded shark | Myxocyprinus asiaticus | 36"+ | Goldfish/Large Pond | Difficult | the highfin shark is a truly unique fish. At youth, the shark has a high dorsal fin, a plump body, and radiant colors. However, as the fish matures, the characteristics of the fish changes drastically. The dorsal fin becomes shorter, the fish achieves a more cylindrical shape, and the color fades to a dark brown. The fish is not suitable for fish tanks because of the size it can grow to. The highfin cannot be housed with tropical fish due to their lower temperature preferences. The highfin prefers to be in a school, so more than one should be housed together. The "shark" is a peaceful fish, and will not openly attack others. Highfins are bottom dwellers and omnivorous. They will eat invertebrates and scrape algae off rocks. | |
| Chinese hillstream loach | Beaufortia kweichowensis |  |
||||
| Common name | Taxonomy | Picture | Size | Tank Type | Care Level | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black ghost knifefish | Apteronotus albifrons |  |
Not to be confused with the featherback "knifefish" of the Bonytongue group (see above) | |||
| Brown ghost knifefish | Apteronotus leptorhynchus | |||||
| Electric eel | Electrophorus electricus |  |
Despite the name, this is not an "eel" but rather a huge knifefish; illegal to possess in some areas |
| Common name | Taxonomy | Picture | Size | Tank Type | Care Level | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Figure 8 pufferfish | Tetraodon Biocellatus |  |
2.4" | Intermediate | ||
| Green spotted puffer | Tetraodon nigrovirdis |  |
6" | Difficult | often sold as freshwater fish, but this species actually thrives in brackish water and may even requires saltwater when reaches adulthood | |
| Giant freshwater pufferfish | Tetraodon Mbu | File:MooBoo.jpg | 30" | Difficult | ||
| Dwarf pufferfish | Carinotetraodon travancoricus | 1.18" | Difficult |
| Common name | Taxonomy | Picture | Size | Tank Type | Care Level | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red rainbowfish | Glossolepis Incisus |  |
||||
| Threadfin rainbowfish | Iriatherina werneri |  |
||||
| Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish | Melanotaenia praecox | .jpg){kind=small} |
| Common name | Taxonomy | Picture | Size | Tank Type | Care Level | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fire eel | Mastacembelus erythrotaenia | |||||
| Spotfinned spiny eel | Macrognathus siamensis |  |
||||
| Tire track eel | Mastacembelus armatus |
Gallery
.png){kind=link}
See also
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Freshwater aquarium fishes.