Aquarium Fish Species Guide
This page is educational reference material for preparing questions. A licensed veterinarian examines the animal, makes the diagnosis, and sets the treatment.
Browse freshwater and saltwater fish profiles with tank size, water targets, diet, compatibility, and ongoing care notes.
Using the freshwater list
This directory is freshwater fish. Marine animals live on the other hub because the equipment and the failure modes are different. Here, the useful filters are adult size and whether a new keeper can keep the species alive through a normal learning curve. A fish who stays under a few inches can still be a terrible beginner if it needs soft acid water you cannot provide.
Lifespan is easy to ignore because a fish does not sit on the couch. Some of these species are a decade-long tank commitment. The filter that says long is there so a goldfish is not purchased as a disposable carnival prize. Beginner-friendly means the species tolerates a range of ordinary, dechlorinated tap water and does not require a species-only setup on day one. It still means a cycled tank. New water in a new bowl is not cycled.
Search matches the common name printed on each species tile. Open the profile for temperature, adult size, and tank mates before you trust a store label. Gasping at the surface is a water emergency more often than a personality. The gasping guide walks through the partial water change and the tests to write down. Do not dump medication into a tank you have not tested.
Freshwater Fish
Freshwater aquarium fish are popular for beginners and experienced aquarists alike. They require less equipment than saltwater setups and offer incredible variety.
Community Fish
Guppy
Colorful, hardy, and prolific breeders. Perfect for beginners with minimal tank requirements.
Neon Tetra
Iconic iridescent blue and red stripes. Best kept in schools of 6+ for stunning displays.
Cardinal Tetra
Similar to neons but with fuller red coloring. Slightly more demanding but stunning in groups.
Molly
Adaptable livebearers available in many colors. Tolerant of various water conditions.
Platy
Hardy, colorful livebearers. Easy to breed and great for community tanks.
Swordtail
Males have distinctive sword-like tail extension. Active swimmers needing longer tanks.
Harlequin Rasbora
Copper-colored schooling fish with distinctive black triangle. Hardy and peaceful.
Zebra Danio
Fast-swimming striped fish. Extremely hardy and great for cycling new tanks.
White Cloud Mountain Minnow
Tolerates cool water temperatures. Perfect for unheated tanks and outdoor ponds.
Corydoras Catfish
Armored catfish that clean the substrate. Social fish best kept in groups of 6+.
Otocinclus
Small algae-eating catfish. Excellent for planted tanks, keep in groups.
Bettas & Gouramis
Betta Fish
Stunning fins and colors. Males must be kept alone; can live in smaller tanks with proper care.
Dwarf Gourami
Colorful labyrinth fish with peaceful temperament. Keep one male per tank.
Pearl Gourami
Beautiful pearl-like spots with lace-like fins. Peaceful community fish.
Honey Gourami
Smaller and more peaceful than dwarf gouramis. Golden-honey coloration.
Goldfish & Koi
Approach this with patience and a willingness to adapt as you learn what works best in your specific situation.
Cichlids
Get the core routine reliable before layering on supplements, gadgets, or specialty products.
Angelfish
Elegant triangular shape with long fins. Can be territorial, need tall tanks.
Discus
King of the aquarium with stunning patterns. Demanding water quality requirements.
German Blue Ram
Colorful dwarf cichlid suitable for community tanks. Prefers warmer water.
Apistogramma
Diverse genus of colorful dwarf cichlids. Many species available for planted tanks.
African Cichlids
Vibrant colors rivaling saltwater fish. Require specific water conditions and tank setup.
Oscar
Intelligent and personable. Grows large (12-14 inches) and needs 75+ gallon tanks.
Plecos & Catfish
Each case deserves individual attention — what applies broadly may need adjustment for specific circumstances.
Bristlenose Pleco
Stays smaller than common plecos (4-6 inches). Excellent algae control for most tanks.
Common Pleco
Grows very large (12-24 inches). Often outgrows home aquariums - consider carefully.
Clown Pleco
Stays small (3-4 inches) with attractive striped pattern. Needs driftwood in tank.
Pictus Catfish
Spotted catfish with long barbels. Active swimmers, may eat small tankmates.
Shrimp & Invertebrates
Experience refines judgment over time — start with established practices and develop your own insights as you go.
Cherry Shrimp
Hardy red dwarf shrimp. Excellent algae cleaners and easy to breed.
Amano Shrimp
Best algae-eating shrimp available. Larger and more visible than cherry shrimp.
Mystery Snail
Colorful apple snails that won't overpopulate. Great algae and debris cleaners.
Nerite Snail
Best snail for algae control. Won't breed in freshwater, many shell patterns available.
Saltwater Fish
Marine aquariums require more equipment and expertise but offer access to some of the world's most spectacular fish. Many species also require live rock and proper reef conditions.
Clownfish & Damsels
Building confidence in pet care comes from doing the research, asking the right questions, and learning from direct experience.
The famous "Nemo" fish. Hardy, captive-bred specimens available. Host to anemones.
Largest clownfish species with deep maroon color. Can be territorial and aggressive.
Brilliant blue coloring and extremely hardy. Can be aggressive toward tankmates.
Green Chromis
Peaceful schooling damsel with iridescent green color. Great for reef tanks.
Tangs & Surgeonfish
Apply this knowledge with flexibility, recognizing that individual variation is normal and expected.
The famous "Dory" fish. Requires large tanks (100+ gallons) and pristine water quality.
Bright yellow coloring, excellent algae grazer. Needs 75+ gallon tank minimum.
Brown with gold spots, excellent hair algae eater. More peaceful than other tangs.
Stunning but challenging. Prone to ich and requires experienced care.
Marine Angelfish
The learning curve is real but manageable: most owners find their stride within the first few months of consistent effort.
Vibrant red-orange dwarf angel. May nip at corals, semi-reef safe.
Purple and orange coloring. One of the hardier dwarf angels for beginners.
Stunning blue and yellow stripes. Large species needing 200+ gallon tanks.
French Angelfish
Dramatic color change from juvenile to adult. Requires very large aquariums.
Wrasses
A thoughtful approach here pays dividends in better outcomes and fewer unexpected complications.
Colorful and active pest controller. Eats flatworms and small parasites.
Brilliant colors and reef safe. Many species available, all peaceful.
Removes parasites from other fish. Difficult to keep, requires varied diet.
Excellent pest controller for pyramidellid snails. Hardy and colorful.
Gobies & Blennies
Staying informed and observant gives you the best chance of making sound decisions as situations evolve.
Forms symbiotic relationships with pistol shrimp. Great sand-sifting behavior.
Elegant long dorsal fin with fire-like coloring. Timid, needs hiding places.
Mandarin Dragonet
Psychedelic colors but difficult to feed. Requires established tanks with copepods.
Tailspot Blenny
Great personality and algae grazer. Perches on rocks and corals.
Corals & Invertebrates
There is always more to learn, and the best pet owners stay curious and open to refining their approach over time.
Cleaner Shrimp
Removes parasites from fish. Active and visible, great reef tank addition.
Peppermint Shrimp
Eats aiptasia anemones. Useful pest controller for reef tanks.
Hermit Crabs
Essential cleanup crew members. Various species for different tank sizes.
Turbo Snails
Voracious algae eaters for saltwater tanks. Part of essential cleanup crew.
More Aquarium Species
Discover more freshwater and saltwater species including barbs, invertebrates, and specialized fish for experienced aquarists.
Arowana
Majestic predatory fish prized for their metallic scales, requiring very large tanks and experienced care.
Assassin Snail
Carnivorous snail that hunts and eats pest snails, making it a natural solution for snail overpopulation.
Bamboo Shrimp
Fascinating filter-feeding shrimp that fans the water current to catch microscopic food particles.
Blue-Green Chromis
Hardy and peaceful schooling fish with shimmering blue-green coloration, ideal for reef tanks.
Blue Velvet Shrimp
Striking blue dwarf shrimp selectively bred for vivid coloration, great for planted nano tanks.
Bolivian Ram Cichlid
Hardier cousin of the German Blue Ram. Peaceful dwarf cichlid for community tanks.
Celestial Pearl Danio (Galaxy Rasbora)
Stunning galaxy-like spotted pattern. Tiny schooling fish perfect for planted nano tanks.
Cherry Barb
Peaceful and hardy barb with vibrant cherry-red males, perfect for planted community tanks.
Chili Rasbora
Tiny, brilliantly red nano fish. Best in species tanks with soft, acidic water.
Clown Loach
Colorful, playful bottom dwellers that grow large. Social fish needing groups of 5+.
Congo Tetra
Large, iridescent tetra with flowing fins. Peaceful schooling fish needing spacious tanks.
Convict Cichlid
Tough and easy-to-breed cichlid with bold black-and-white stripes and strong parental instincts.
Crystal Red Shrimp
Highly sought-after ornamental shrimp with striking red and white banding, requiring precise water parameters.
Brilliantly colored small reef fish available in vivid purples, magentas, and yellows.
Dwarf Crayfish
Miniature crayfish species that stay small enough for community tanks and display entertaining behavior.
Electric Blue Acara
Brilliant blue coloring with peaceful temperament for a cichlid. Great for community setups.
Electric Blue Crayfish
Vividly colored cobalt-blue crayfish that serves as a bold centerpiece in freshwater aquariums.
Electric Yellow Cichlid (Labidochromis)
Bright yellow African cichlid from Lake Malawi. Hardy and less aggressive than many cichlids.
Ember Tetra
Tiny, fiery orange schooling fish. Perfect for planted nano and community tanks.
Endler's Livebearer
Tiny, brilliantly colored livebearers closely related to guppies, thriving in nano and planted tanks.
Fiddler Crab
Charming semi-aquatic crab with one oversized claw, needing a paludarium with land and brackish water.
Flowerhorn Cichlid
Hybrid cichlid famous for its prominent head hump and interactive personality with owners.
Frontosa Cichlid
Majestic Lake Tanganyika cichlid with distinctive head hump. Slow-growing and long-lived.
German Blue Ram
Brilliantly colored dwarf cichlid. Peaceful but needs warm, soft water. Beautiful in pairs.
Ghost Shrimp
Nearly transparent and inexpensive shrimp that serve as effective scavengers and tank cleaners.
Glass Catfish
Nearly transparent body showing internal skeleton. Peaceful schooling fish needing pristine water.
Goby
Diverse group of small bottom-dwelling reef fish with fascinating behaviors and vivid patterns.
Gold Barb
Cheerful golden-yellow schooling fish that is hardy, peaceful, and great for community setups.
Gourami
Diverse group of labyrinth fish that breathe atmospheric air, available in many sizes and colors.
Green Terror Cichlid
Striking iridescent green and blue cichlid. Can be territorial but stunning display fish.
Hatchetfish
Uniquely shaped surface-dwelling fish with a deep, hatchet-like body that can glide above water.
Charismatic reef fish that perches on corals and rocks, actively watching its surroundings like a hawk.
Hillstream Loach
Unique flat-bodied loach adapted to fast-flowing streams. Excellent algae grazer needing high flow.
Jack Dempsey Cichlid
Robust cichlid with electric blue spangles that intensify with age, named for the famous boxer.
Killifish
Incredibly diverse group of colorful fish with hundreds of species suited for nano and species tanks.
Kuhli Loach
Eel-like, striped bottom dweller that hides during the day and scavenges actively at night.
Pacu
Massive relative of the piranha that can exceed 30 inches, requiring pond-sized aquariums.
Peacock Bass
Powerful predatory cichlid with a distinctive eyespot on the tail, demanding very large tanks.
Pencilfish
Slender, peaceful nano fish that swim at an upward angle and thrive in planted blackwater setups.
Pleco (Plecostomus)
Popular armored catfish family with hundreds of species ranging from tiny to massive algae eaters.
Rabbit Snail
Elegant Sulawesi snail with a rabbit-like face and elongated shell, slow-moving and peaceful.
Rainbowfish
Shimmering, active schooling fish from Australia and New Guinea. Many species available.
Ramshorn Snail
Flat-coiled snail available in red, blue, and pink varieties that efficiently cleans algae and detritus.
Red Claw Crab
Bold semi-aquatic crab with vivid red claws, requiring a paludarium with both land and water areas.
Rosy Barb
Hardy, active schooling fish with rosy-pink coloring that tolerates cooler water temperatures.
Rummy-Nose Tetra
Tight-schooling tetra with red nose and striped tail. Red coloring indicates water quality.
Severum Cichlid
Large, peaceful South American cichlid. Often called "poor man's discus" for their beauty.
Siamese Algae Eater
One of the best algae eaters available. Active swimmer that tackles black beard algae.
Silver Dollar Fish
Peaceful, disc-shaped schooling fish related to piranhas but herbivorous, needing spacious tanks.
Tiger Barb
Bold, striped schooling fish known for energetic swimming and fin-nipping if not kept in large groups.
Upside-Down Catfish
Swims upside down to feed from water surface. Hardy, peaceful, and fascinating behavior.
Vampire Crab
Stunningly colorful small crab with bright purple or orange claws, ideal for paludarium setups.
White Cloud Mountain Minnow
Extremely hardy cold-water nano fish that thrives in unheated tanks and beginner setups.
Wrasse
Diverse family of colorful reef fish. Many species from small to large, mostly reef-safe.
Zebra Danio
Energetic, striped schooling fish that is one of the hardiest species for beginning aquarists.
Set Up Your Perfect Aquarium
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