List of freshwater aquarium fish species


A vast number of aquatic species have successfully adapted to live in the freshwater aquarium. This list gives some examples of the most common species found in home aquariums
Angelfish
Common nameTaxonomyLife spanLevel of aggressionAboutImageSizeRemarksTemperature rangePh range
Angelfish'Pterophyllum scalareseveral color varieties; this species is the common angelfish in the aquarium trade. Angelfish can grow up to fifteen centimetres, and therefore should be housed in a large aquarium. Angelfish should be kept alone, or kept with three or more. This is because that if two are kept together, the larger fish will pick on the smaller fish. Angelfish are not as hardy as other cichlids and should not be kept with small fish such as neon tetras. However, just the opposite is true: Angelfish should not be kept with fish that may nip and annoy it such as some large tetras. They are good fish for beginners but only if you pay attention to their tankmates and temperaments. They work well with other fish but should be kept in a school of 3 or more if you want more than 1.
Altum AngelfishPterophyllum altum
Spotted AngelfishPterophyllum leopoldi

Catfish">Siluriformes">Catfish

Characins">Characidae">Characins and other [characiformes]

Cichlids">Cichlidae">Cichlids

South American cichlids

Cyprinids">Cyprinidae">Cyprinids

[Loaches] and related [cypriniformes]

Live-bearers">Live-bearing aquarium fish">Live-bearers and [killifish]

Platies and swordtails

Labyrinth fish">Anabantoidei">Labyrinth fish

Common nameTaxonomyPictureSizeRemarksTemperature rangepH range
Dwarf gouramiTrichogaster laliusSuitable for small to mid-sized aquariums but cannot compete with more aggressive fish and males kept together may fight. Several color varieties available. Massive inbreeding has led to high rates of Dwarf gourami iridovirus in pet store fish. Beautiful but short-lived at best.
Paradise fishMacropodus opercularisOne of the few freshwater aquarium fish that survive in cold water. Can live without aeration. Most common variety is the Blue Paradise.
Pygmy gourami, Sparkling gouramiTrichopsis pumilaOften confused with the croaking gourami. Does not compete well with larger fish. Hunts and eats small shrimp.
Moonlight gouramiTrichopodus microlepis
Snakeskin gouramiTrichopodus pectoralis
Siamese fighting fish Betta splendensNumerous color and fin pattern varieties. Betta is 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 groups of 5+ in a tank, though they may become territorial and 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. They should also not be housed with other fish with long, flowing fins as the Betta may confuse it with another male, and attack. Minimum tank size for one male or female and maybe a few shrimp or snails is 5 gallons. Minimum tank size for a female betta sorority is 20 gallons.
Malay combtailBelontia hasselti
Slender bettaBetta bellica
Betta burdigala-
Scarlet bettaBetta coccina
Crescent bettaBetta imbellis
Betta miniopinna-
Toba bettaBetta rubra
Betta simorum-
Giant PikeheadLuciocephalus pulcher
Parosphromenus phoenicurus-
Chocolate gouramiSphaerichthys osphromenoides
Pearl gouramiTrichopodus leerii
Three spot gouramiTrichopodus trichopterusVarious color varieties each given a different name
Croaking gouramiTrichopsis vittataOften confused with the pygmy gourami, but larger. May hunt and eat aquarium shrimp.
Giant gouramiOsphronemus goramyOccasionally, some other gouramis are also referred to as "giant gouramis"

Rainbowfish">Melanotaeniidae">Rainbowfish

Common nameTaxonomyPictureSizeRemarksTemperature rangepH range
Red rainbowfishGlossolepis incisusAlmost all rainbowfish species are bred in captivity and wild populations may be protected.
Lake Wanam rainbowfishGlossolepis wanamensis
Threadfin rainbowfishIriatherina werneriThreadfins have very tiny mouths and cannot compete well with other fish for food. Keep in species only tanks or with small Pseudomugil
New Guinea rainbowfishMelanotaenia affinis
Western rainbowfishMelanotaenia australis
Boeseman's rainbowfishMelanotaenia boesemani
Duboulayi's rainbowfishMelanotaenia duboulayia.k.a. Crimson-Spotted rainbowfish
Australian rainbowfishMelanotaenia fluviatilis
Lake Tebera rainbowfishMelanotaenia herbertaxelrodi
Lake Kutubu rainbowfishMelanotaenia lacustris
Lake Kurumoi rainbowfishMelanotaenia parvaa.k.a. Flame rainbowfish
Neon rainbowfishMelanotaenia praecoxA good beginner fish, but sensitive to water quality. Peaceful and very bold; for example it is unafraid of gravel cleaners and algae scrubbers. It is relatively tolerant of other fish chasing and/or bulling it.
Eastern rainbowfishMelanotaenia splendida splendida
Banded rainbowfishMelanotaenia trifasciata
Celebes rainbowMarosatherina ladigesi
Forktail blue-eyePseudomugil furcatusAn active species. Requires space to swim; not suitable for nano tanks in spite of its small size.
Spotted blue-eyePseudomugil gertrudaeOften recommended for nano tanks. A schooling fish. Males do spectacular displays with their expanded dorsal and anal fins.
Pacific blue-eyePseudomugil signifer
Delicate blue-eyePseudomugil tenellus
Madagascar rainbowfishBedotia madagascariensis

[Gobies] and sleepers">Eleotridae">sleepers

Sunfish">Centrarchidae">Sunfish and relatives

Common nameTaxonomyPictureSizeRemarksTemperature rangepH range-
Pygmy sunfishElassomatidaeRequire small tanks 1 gallon or more. Can only be fed live or frozen foods.
Blackbanded sunfishEnneacanthus chaetodonRelatively peaceful, small sunfish.
Blue-spotted sunfishEnneacanthus gloriosusRelatively peaceful, small sunfish.
Redbreast sunfishLepomis auritus
Green sunfishLepomis cyanellusLikely the most aggressive sunfish. Difficult to keep with other green sunfishes, other sunfishes, or even other perciform fishes in general unless kept in very spacious aquaria or ponds. Like many fishes, more tolerant of distantly related species, if too large to be eaten. Very aware of environment outside of aquarium, making it an engaging "wet pet." Accepts a variety of foods.
Orangespotted sunfishLepomis humilisAmong the less aggressive of the sunfishes.
PumpkinseedLepomis gibbosusOne of the more aggressive sunfishes. Good at preying on snails.
WarmouthLepomis gulosus
BluegillLepomis macrochirusFairly aggressive, but prefers to live in shoals.
Dollar sunfishLepomis marginatus
Longear sunfishLepomis megalotis
Redear sunfishLepomis microlophusAlso known as shellcracker for its ability to prey on snails.
Redspotted sunfishLepomis miniatusFormerly considered conspecific with the spotted sunfish.
Northern sunfishLepomis peltastesUntil recently considered conspecific with the longear sunfish.
Spotted sunfishLepomis punctatusA fairly peaceable sunfish.

Other fish