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.
Bichirs and reedfish
| Common name | Taxonomy | Picture | Size | Tank Type | Care Level | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gray bichir | Polypterus senegalus |  |
14" | Species | ||
| Reedfish | Erpetoichthys calabaricus |  |
15.7" | Species |
| Common name | Taxonomy | Picture | Size | Tank Type | Care Level | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arowanas | ||||||
| Arapaima | Arapaima gigas |  |
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| Asian arowana | Scleropages formosus |  |
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| Black arowana | Osteoglossum ferreirai | |||||
| Silver arowana | Osteoglossum bicirrhosum |  |
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| Australian Arowana | Scleropages jardini | |||||
| Featherback knifefish | ||||||
| African knifefish | Xenomystus nigri | |||||
| Clown knifefish | Chitala ornata | |||||
| Elephantfish | ||||||
| Blunt-jawed elephantnose | Gnathonemus tamandu |  |
9"+ | Difficult | Also called worm-jawed mormyrid, the elephantnose is nocturnal, but may learn to come out during the day. The elephantnose fish is a carnivore and will accept all types of meaty foods. Only one elephantnose or more than five should be kept per tank because aggression can build up if two to four are together. The probe in front of the fish is a sensitive electrical organ that it uses to find food. An elephantnose does best with a home which can be a cave or cave like structure. | |
| Peters' elephantnose | Gnathonemus petersii | |||||
| Butterflyfish | ||||||
| Freshwater butterflyfish | Pantodon buchholzi |  |
not related to saltwater butterflyfish | |||
Catfish
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Characins and other characiformes
Harlequin tetra| Common name | Taxonomy | Picture | Size | Tank Type | Care Level | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tetras | ||||||
| Black phantom tetra | Hyphessobrycon megalopterus |  |
1.75" (4.5cm) | 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" (4cm) | Community | Intermediate | this fish is similar to the neon tetra other than coloration. |
| Black tetra | Gymnocorymbus ternetzi |  |
2" (5cm) | 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" (6.5 cm) | 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:Bloodfin dec20 2006.jpg | 2" (5cm) | Community | ||
| Bucktooth tetra | Exodon paradoxus | 2" (5cm) | will eat smaller fish and harass larger fish | |||
| Buenos Aires tetra | Hyphessobrycon anisitsi | 3" (7.5cm) | Easy | |||
| Cardinal tetra | Paracheirodon axelrodi |  |
2" (5cm) | Community | ||
| Cave tetra, blind tetra | Astyanax mexicanus | 4.7" (12cm) | 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, Lufundi (native name) | Phenacogrammus interruptus | .jpg){kind=small} |
3" (7.5cm) | Community | Intermediate | Sufficiently peaceful for home aquariums, though it may bite fishes smaller than its size. It is more comfortable in indirect light. Over-head lighting is preferred and under no circumstances should light be directed at the front or rear glass. |
| Emperor tetra | Nematobrycon palmeri |  |
2" (5cm) | Easy | ||
| Garnet tetra, pretty tetra | Hemigrammus pulcher |  |
2.5" (6.5cm) | Community | ||
| Glowlight tetra | Hemigrammus erythrozonus |  |
1.5" (3.75cm) | Community | Intermediate | |
| Green neon tetra | Paracheirodon simulans |  |
1" (2.5cm) | Community | Intermediate | |
| Lemon tetra | Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis |  |
2" (5cm) | |||
| Neon tetra | Paracheirodon innesi |  |
1.6" (3.75cm) | 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" (6.5cm) | ||||
| Rummy-nose tetra | Hemigrammus rhodostomus |  |
2" (5cm) | Community | Intermediate | |
| Serpae tetra | Hyphessobrycon serpae |  |
1.75" (4.5cm) | 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 |  |
2" (5cm) | Community | Intermediate | Peaceful and dwells at the top of the tank in schools. Rarely breeds in captivity. This powerful leaper can easily jump out of an aquarium, so keep only in a fully-covered tank. |
| Black-winged hatchetfish | Carnegiella marthae |  |
1.5" (4cm) | Community | Intermediate | Peaceful and dwells at the top of the tank in schools. The most hardy of all the hatchetfish, but not the most plentiful. Does not breed in captivity. This powerful leaper can easily jump out of an aquarium, so keep only in a fully-covered tank. |
| Pencil fishes | ||||||
| Headstanders | ||||||
| Serrasalminae (pacus, piranhas, and silver dollars) | ||||||
| Silver dollar | Metynnis argenteus | File:Silver Dollar 640.jpg | 6" (15cm) | 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. | ||
Cichlids
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Cyprinids
| Common name | Taxonomy | Picture | Size | Tank Type | Care Level | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barbs | ||||||
| Arulius barb | Puntius arulius | 4.7" | ||||
| Bigspot barb, Duncker's barb | Puntius dunckeri | 5" | Peaceful when small but should not be kept with other species at adulthood. | |||
| Black ruby barb | Puntius nigrofasciatus |  |
2.5" | |||
| Checker barb | Puntius oligolepis | 2" | ||||
| Cherry barb | Puntius titteya |  |
1.6" | Community | Easy | |
| Clipper barb | Barbus callipterus | 3" | ||||
| Clown barb | Puntius everetti | 6" | ||||
| Gold barb | Puntius semifasciolatus |  |
3.1" | Community | Easy | |
| Golden barb | Puntius gelius | 2" | ||||
| Greenstripe barb | Puntius vittatus | 2" | ||||
| Melon barb | Puntius fasciatus | 6" | ||||
| Onespot barb | Puntius terio | 6" | ||||
| Pentazona barb, fiveband barb | Puntius pentazona |  |
2" | this species may be confused with tiger barb due to similarities | ||
| Pool barb | Puntius sophore | 7" | ||||
| Partipentazona barb | Puntius partipentazona | 1.5" | ||||
| Red line torpedo barb | Puntius denisonii |  |
6" | |||
| Rosy barb | Puntius conchonius |  |
5" | Community | Easy | |
| 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" | Community | Easy | There are many varieties as well as hybrids with other barbs. Good community schooling fish. They are fin nippers. |
| Tinfoil barb | Barbonymus schwanenfeldii |  |
14" | |||
| Cold-water cyprinids | ||||||
| Goldfish | Carassius auratus |  |
6"+ | Community | Easy | variations: Black Moor, Bubble Eye, Butterfly Tail, Calico, Celestial Eye, Comet, Common, Fantail, Lionchu, Lionhead, Oranda, Panda Moor, Pearlscale, Pompom, Ranchu, Ryukin, Shubunkin, Telescope eye, Veiltail |
| Koi, common carp | Cyprinus carpio |  |
12"+ | Community | Easy | the fancy variations of common carp are known as koi. |
| 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 | |
| Southern redbelly dace | Phoxinus erythrogaster | File:Southernredbellydace.jpg | 3"-4" | Pond/Minnow Tank | Easy | |
| Danios and other danionins | ||||||
| Bengal danio, Sind danio | Danio devario | |||||
| Giant danio | Devario aequipinnatus |  |
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| Malabar danio | Devario malabaricus |  |
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| 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. | |
| Rasboras | ||||||
| Harlequin rasbora | Trigonostigma heteromorpha |  |
Also known as Harlequin tetra | |||
| Blackline rasbora, red-tailed rasbora | Rasbora borapetensis |  |
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| Red-striped rasbora | Rasbora pauciperforata | 3" | Community | Range: Sumatra; Temperature: 22 - 29 °C (72 - 85 °F) | ||
| Volcano rasbora | Rasbora vulcanus | |||||
| Other cyprinids | ||||||
| Bala shark | Balantiocheilus melanopterus | .jpg){kind=small} |
Community | |||
| Flying fox | Epalzeorhynchos kalopterus |  |
this species may be sold as Siamese algae eater | |||
| Red-tailed black shark | Epalzeorhynchos bicolor |  |
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| 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 | |||
Labyrinth fish
| Common name | Taxonomy | Picture | Size | Tank Type | Care Level | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chocolate gourami | Sphaerichthys osphromenoides |  |
2.75" | |||
| Croaking gourami | Trichopsis vittata | 2.5" | 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 |  |
4" | Occasionally, some other gouramis are also referred to as "giant gouramis" | ||
| Paradise fish | Macropodus opercularis |  |
3" | One of the few freshwater aquarium fish that survive in cold water. Most common variety is the Blue Paradise. | ||
| Pearl gourami | Trichogaster leerii |  |
4.5" | |||
| Pygmy gourami, Sparkling gourami | Trichopsis pumila | 1.5" | Often confused with the croaking gourami | |||
| Kissing gourami | Helostoma temminckii |  |
6" | 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 | 6" | ||||
| Snakeskin gourami | Trichogaster pectoralis | 8" | ||||
| Three spot gourami | Trichogaster trichopterus |  |
4" | 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. |
Live-bearers
| Common name | Taxonomy | Picture | Size | Tank Type | Care Level | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| Common name | Taxonomy | Picture | Size | Tank Type | Care Level | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loaches | ||||||
| Burmese border loach | Botia kubotai |  |
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| Clown loach | Botia macracantha |  |
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| Dwarf loach | Yasuhikotakia sidthimunki | formerly named Botia sidthimunki | ||||
| Dojo loach, weather loach | Misgurnus anguillicaudatus |  |
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| Horseface loach | Acantopsis choirorhynchus |  |
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| 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 |  |
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| Zebra loach | Botia striata |  |
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| 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 |  |
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Neotropical electric fish
| Common name | Taxonomy | Picture | Size | Tank Type | Care Level | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Pufferfish
| Common name | Taxonomy | Picture | Size | Tank Type | Care Level | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Figure 8 pufferfish | Tetraodon biocellatus |  |
2.4" | Intermediate | ||
| Green spotted puffer | Tetraodon nigroviridis |  |
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 | This fish also occurs in estuaries. | |
| Dwarf pufferfish | Carinotetraodon travancoricus | 1.18" | Difficult |
Rainbowfish
| Common name | Taxonomy | Picture | Size | Tank Type | Care Level | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salmon-red rainbowfish | Glossolepis incisus |  |
5-6" | aka Red rainbowfish | ||
| Tami River rainbowfish | Glossolepis pseudoincisus | 3" | aka Millennium rainbowfish | |||
| Lake Wanam rainbowfish | Glossolepis wanamensis | File:Wanam male 5.jpg | 5-6" | aka Emerald rainbowfish | ||
| Threadfin rainbowfish | Iriatherina werneri |  |
Difficult | Threadfins have very tiny mouths and cannot compete well with other fish for food. Keep in species only tanks or with small pseudomugil (ie: gertrudae) | ||
| New Guinea rainbowfish | Melanotaenia affinis | 5" | ||||
| Boeseman's rainbowfish | Melanotaenia boesemani |  |
4-5" | |||
| Duboulayi's rainbowfish | Melanotaenia duboulayi |  |
5-6" | aka Crimson-Spotted rainbowfish | ||
| Lake Kurumoi rainbowfish | Melanotaenia parva | 3-3.25" | aka Flame rainbowfish | |||
| Neon rainbowfish | Melanotaenia praecox | .jpg){kind=small} |
2.5-3" | |||
| Eastern rainbowfish | Melanotaenia splendida splendida |  |
5-6" |
Spiny eels
| Common name | Taxonomy | Picture | Size | Tank Type | Care Level | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fire eel | Mastacembelus erythrotaenia | |||||
| Spotfinned spiny eel | Macrognathus siamensis |  |
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| Tire track eel | Mastacembelus armatus | |||||
| Lesser spiny eel | Macrognathus aculeatus |
Gallery
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See also
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Freshwater aquarium fishes.