Species Name: Lepidarchus adonis
Origin: African streams
Size: 3cm
Temperament: Peaceful shoaling
Food: All aquarium food
Tank Areas: All
Notes: Quite easy to breed egg layer providing that they are kept in a spacies tank containing soft water. Should only be kept with small peaceful fish or they will get stressed.
AFRICAN BUTTERFLY CICHLID: Picture Required
Species Name: Anomalachromis thomasi
Origin: African streams
Size: 8cm
Temperament: Peaceful
Food: Carnivore aquarium food
Tank Areas: Middle and bottom
Notes: Fairly peaceful, but can become aggressive when spawning.
AGASSIZ'S DWARF CICHLID: Picture Required
Species Name: Apistogramma agassizi
Origin: S. American streams
Size: 7.5cm
Temperament: Peaceful
Food: Carnivore aquarium food
Tank Areas: Middle and bottom
Notes: Females are smaller and are less colourful than males. They need caves for spawning and can be aggressive when spawning occurs.
AHL'S CICHLID: Picture Required
Species Name: Cyrtocara ahli
Origin: Lake Malawi in Africa
Size: 17cm
Temperament: Aggressive
Food: Carnivore aquarium food and small fish.
Tank Areas: Middle & bottom
Notes: Loves eating any fish it can get hold of so keep it in a species tank.
ALBINO CORYDORAS:
Species Name: Corydoras aeneus
Origin: S. American waters
Size: 8cm
Temperament: Peaceful
Food: All aquarium food plus special catfish food
Tank Areas: Bottom
Notes: This fish is basically and albino version of the Bronze Corydoras. Egg depositing females are usually fatter than males. Breed quite well but tiny fry are usually eaten in community tank. Best kept in groups. Good scavengers picking up food that reaches the bottom of the tank.
AMERICAN FLAGFISH: Picture Required
Species Name: Jordanella floridae
Origin: N American Lakes
Size: 7.5cm
Temperament: Peaceful
Food: All aquarium food
Tank Areas: All
Notes: Females are less colourful than males. Fairly easy to breed with the male guarding the eggs.
AMIET'S KILLIFISH: Picture Required
Species Name: Aphyosemion amieti
Origin: Tropical African streams
Size: 7cm
Temperament: Shoaling
Food: Carnivore aquarium food
Tank Areas: Top and middle
Notes: Quite difficult to sex and to breed. Best kept with only one male and two or three females to a tank.
ANGELFISH: 
Species Name: Pterophyllum scalare
Origin: S. American streams
Size: 14cm
Temperament: Peaceful
Food: Carnivore aquarium food
Tank Areas: All
Notes: There are many different coloured Angelfish but they been created by selective breeding and are not different species. Difficult to sex but fairly easy to breed and usually make good parents although while they have young about they may be aggressive to other fish.
ARCHER FISH: Picture Required
Species Name: Toxotes jaculator
Origin: S. Asian and Australian coastal rivers
Size: 25cm
Temperament: Peaceful
Food: Carnivore aquarium food and insects
Tank Areas: Top
Notes: Difficult to sex and to breed. In the wild this fish catches insects by leaping up to 30cm out of the water so a very strong hood is required.
ARMOURED CATFISH: Picture Required
Species Name: Callichthys callichthys
Origin: S. American waters
Size: 10cm
Temperament: Peaceful, shy
Food: All aquarium food
Tank Areas: Bottom
Notes: Needs hiding places during the day. Difficult to sex but if they breed the male will guard the eggs and grunt at other fish that come near.
AUSTRALIAN FIRE GOBY: Picture Required
Species Name: Hypseleotris compressus
Origin: Australian coastal waters (brackish and fresh water)
Size: 15cm
Temperament: Peaceful
Food: All aquarium food
Tank Areas: Middle and bottom
Notes: Males are quite colourful, females are golden brown. Difficult to breed.
Species Name: Hemigrammus ocellifer
Origin: S. American rivers
Size: 5cm
Temperament: Peaceful
Food: All aquarium food
Tank Areas: All
Notes: Difficult to sex but egg laying females are slightly plumper. Do breed in the tank but usually all the eggs will be eaten. Look best when kept in groups.
BENI PYRRHULINA: Picture Required
Species Name: Pyrrhulina beni
Origin: Beni River in Bolivia
Size: 7cm
Temperament: Mostly peaceful but males can sometimes fight
Food: Carnivore aquarium food
Tank Areas: Top
Notes: Egg laying females have bigger belly and the top of their caudal (tail) fin is larger than the bottom. Still quite rare in the UK.
BITTERLING: Picture Required
Species Name: Acanthorhodeus atranalis
Origin: E Asian streams & lakes
Size: 8cm
Temperament: Peaceful
Food: All cold water aquarium food
Tank Areas: Middle & bottom
Notes: Quite colourful for a cold water fish with a pink body and slightly yellow caudal fin. Many new colours are being bred into the fish by experts in Japan in a similar way to Koi.
BLACK BELT CICHLID: Picture Required
Species Name: Cichlasoma maculicauda
Origin: C. American streams
Size: 30cm
Temperament: Aggressive
Food: Carnivore aquarium food
Tank Areas: All
Notes: Fairly easy to sex as males have pointed dorsal and anal fins. Needs a very large tank with good filtration and regular water changes.
BLACK MOLLY:
Species Name: Poecilia latipinna
Origin: Central American coastal brackish waters
Size: 10cm
Temperament: Peaceful
Food: All aquarium foods with regular vegetables
Tank Areas: All
Notes: A very easy to breed live bearer available in many colours. Males have a special anal fin (the gonopodium), females have plumper bodies with fan shaped anal fin.
BLACK MOOR: 
Species Name: Carassius auratus
Origin: Captive bred
Size: 12cm
Temperament: Peaceful
Food: All coldwater food
Tank Areas: All
Notes: Like all "Goldfish" this fish is very difficult to sex. Seems to like the company of other fish. Can be bred but adults should be removed after spawning. Not suitable for outside ponds as it's fins are easily damaged by very cold water
BLACK NEON TETRA:
Species Name: Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi
Origin: S. American streams and rivers
Size: 4.5cm
Temperament: Peaceful shoaling
Food: All aquarium food
Tank Areas: All
Notes: Prefer soft, slightly acid water. Rarely bred in the home aquarium. Difficult to sex but females are slightly wider when viewed from above. Should be kept in groups of at least six fish.
BLACK PHANTOM TETRA: Picture Required
Species Name: Megalamphodus megalopterus
Origin: S American streams
Size: 5cm
Temperament: Peaceful shoaling
Food: All aquarium food
Tank Areas: Top and Middle
Notes: Difficult to breed as they require very specific tank set up and even when they do spawn the parents often eat the eggs. Females have a reddish tint to some of their fins.
BLACK RUBY BARB: Picture Required
Species Name: Barbus nigrofasciatus
Origin: S Asian streams
Size: 6cm
Temperament: Peaceful shoaling
Food: All aquarium food
Tank Areas: Middle & bottom
Notes: Normally difficult to sex but during breeding the males change colour quite a bit turning almost pink with a purple head. Very easy to breed.
BLACK SHARK: Picture Required
Species Name: Morulius chrysophekadion
Origin: S.E. Asian waters
Size: 50cm
Temperament: Peaceful
Food: Algae and green food
Tank Areas: Bottom
Notes: Difficult to sex and to breed egg layer. Needs at least a six foot tank to thrive and bigger still is better. Young examples are speckled turning black as they grow.
BLACK WIDOW: Picture Required
Species Name: Gymnocorymbus ternetzi
Origin: S. American rivers
Size: 5cm
Temperament: Peaceful
Food: All aquarium food
Tank Areas: All
Notes: Egg laying females are plumper and have some red in their fins, males have a more pointed dorsal (top) fin. A good starter fish that is easy to breed. Prefers a lot of plant growth.
BLACK WINGED HATCHETFISH: 
Species Name: Carnegiella marthae
Origin: S. American streams
Size: 4cm
Temperament: Peaceful shoaling
Food: All aquarium food
Tank Areas: Top
Notes: Needs a tank with a good hood as these fish can jump quite high out of the water. Difficult to sex but can be bred if a group are kept together. Often kept for their unusual shape.
BLEEDING HEART TETRA: Picture Required
Species Name: Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma
Origin: S. American streams and rivers
Size: 7cm
Temperament: Peaceful
Food: All aquarium food
Tank Areas: Middle
Notes: Very popular egg layers. Males often have concave anal fin and larger dorsal fin. Difficult to breed. Need lots of swimming space.
BLIND CAVE FISH: 
Thanks to Shirlie Sharpe
Species Name: Astyanax fasciatus mexicannus
Origin: C. American cave waters
Size: 9cm
Temperament: Peaceful shoaling
Food: All aquarium food
Tank Areas: All
Notes: Easy to recognise due to it's lack of eyes. Difficult to sex and to breed.
BLUE DISCUS: 
Thanks to Becky Knapp
Species Name: Symphysodon aequifasciata haraldi
Origin: S. American rivers
Size: 15cm
Temperament: Peaceful shoaling
Food: Carnivore aquarium food
Tank Areas: Middle and bottom
Notes: A very difficult fish to keep as they need very specific water conditions to survive (soft slightly acidic and filtered through peat). They need a deep species tank, dark gravel, plenty of rocks and a few broad leaf plants to feel "at home". If these conditions can be met they spawn easily and make wonderful parents even feeding their fry with a skin mucus secretion. Should be kept in groups.
BOESMAN'S RAINBOWFISH: 
Species Name: Melanotaenia boesmani
Origin: S.E. Asian streams and lakes
Size: 10cm
Temperament: Peaceful shoaling
Food: All aquarium food
Tank Areas: Middle
Notes: Males are more colourful than females. May spawn if kept in hard and slightly alkaline water.
BRONZE CORYDORAS: 
Species Name: Corydoras aeneus
Origin: S. American waters
Size: 8cm
Temperament: Peaceful
Food: All aquarium food plus special catfish food
Tank Areas: Bottom
Notes: Egg depositing females are usually fatter than males. Breed quite well but tiny fry are usually eaten in community tank. Best kept in groups. Good scavengers picking up food that reaches the bottom of the tank.
BROWN DISCUS: 
Species Name: Symphysodon aequifasciata axelrodi
Origin: S. American rivers
Size: 15cm
Temperament: Peaceful shoaling
Food: Carnivore aquarium food
Tank Areas: Middle and bottom
Notes: A very difficult fish to keep as they need very specific water conditions to survive (soft slightly acidic and filtered through peat). They need a deep species tank, dark gravel, plenty of rocks and a few broad leaf plants to feel "at home". If these conditions can be met they spawn easily and make wonderful parents even feeding their fry with a skin mucus secretion. Should be kept in groups.
BUBBLE-EYE: 
Species Name: Carassius auratus
Origin: Captive bred
Size: 12cm
Temperament: Peaceful
Food: All coldwater food
Tank Areas: All
Notes: Am I the only person that thinks that this is fishkeeping gone mad. Why breed a fish that is so prone to damage. If you must have them, keep them away from other fish and don't have any sharp ornaments in the tank. Better still don't keep them at all.
BUENOS AIRES TETRA: Picture Required
Species Name: Hemigrammus caudovittatus
Origin: S. American waters
Size: 9cm
Temperament: Peaceful
Food: All aquarium food
Tank Areas: Middle and top
Notes: A very easy fish to keep. The female is usually larger than the male.
BUTTERFLYFISH: 
Species Name: Pantodon buchholzi
Origin: Tropical African still waters
Size: 10cm
Temperament: Aggressive
Food: Mostly carnivore aquarium food and live fish
Tank Areas: Top
Notes: These fish can jump so a good hood is required. Will eat any smaller fish in the tank.
BUTTERFLY GOODEID: Picture Required
Species Name: Ameca splendens
Origin: C. American streams and rivers
Size: 8cm
Temperament: Shoaling
Food: All aquarium food and smaller fish
Tank Areas: All
Notes: Live bearers that are not very common in the UK. Males have a rounded dorsal fin and a notch in their anal fin. Easy to breed but prepare for up to 50 young every eight weeks or so.
Species Name: Paracheirodon axelrodi
Origin: S. American slow waters
Size: 5cm
Temperament: Peaceful shoaling
Food: All aquarium food
Tank Areas: All
Notes: Egg laying females have deeper bodies. Very popular due to their colours but difficult to breed at home because the require specially set up water (soft and slightly acidic).
CHECKER BARB: Picture Required
Species Name: Barbus oligolepis
Origin: S E Asian streams & rivers
Size: 5cm
Temperament: Peaceful shoaling
Food: All aquarium food
Tank Areas: Middle and bottom
Notes: Fairly easy to sex, males usually have speckled scales beneath the dark band on their sides and black edging to their fins. Females have slightly yellow fins.
CHINESE SAILFIN SUCKER: Picture Required
Species Name: Myxocyprinus asiatica sinensis
Origin: E. Asian lakes
Size: 30cm
Temperament: Peaceful shoaling
Food: All coldwater food
Tank Areas: Bottom
Notes: Odd looking fish with a very high triangular dorsal fin. Often kept with tropical fish but seems to prefer a cold water tank. Not suitable for outside ponds though.
CHIPOKAE: Picture Required
Species Name: Melanochromis chipokae
Origin: Lake Malawi in Africa
Size: 13cm
Temperament: Aggressive
Food: Herbivore aquarium food
Tank Areas: Middle and bottom
Notes: Stupidly easy to sex as the female is yellow and the male is dark blue ( both have dark stripes running head to tail ). Best kept with one male to several females in a species tank.
CHOCOLATE GOURAMI: Picture Required
Species Name: Sphaerichthys osphromenoides
Origin: S E Asian streams
Size: 8cm
Temperament: Shy
Food: All aquarium food
Tank Areas: Middle and bottom
Notes: This mouth brooder is best if kept in a species tank.
CLOWN LOACH: 
Species Name: Botia macracantha
Origin: S.E. Asian streams
Size: 30cm
Temperament: Peaceful shoaling
Food: Carnivore aquarium food
Tank Areas: Bottom
Notes: Difficult to sex but can sometimes breed in the home tank. Need careful handling as they can be injured when netted. These fish are often kept only one to a tank which is cruel as they like the company of their own kind. Keep four or more in a large aquarium.
CLOWN RASPORA: Picture Required
Species Name: Raspora kalachroma
Origin: S. E. Asian streams & rivers
Size: 9cm
Temperament: Peaceful shoaling
Food: All aquarium food
Tank Areas: All
Notes: This quite colourful fish likes lots of big leaf plants to swim around.
COCKATOO DWARF CICHLID: Picture Required
Species Name: Apistogramma cocatuoides
Origin: S American streams and rivers
Size: 8cm
Temperament: Peaceful
Food: Carnivore aquarium food
Tank Areas: Bottom
Notes: Females have a dark bar through their eyes and have less ornate fins. Keep one male and several females for best breeding results.
COMET GOLDFISH: Picture Required
Species Name: Carassius auratus
Origin: Captive bred
Size: 20cm
Temperament: Peaceful
Food: All coldwater food
Tank Areas: All
Notes: This fish needs lots of space to flourish. Best kept in a large outside pond or a very large tank
COMMON GOLDFISH: Picture Required
Species Name: Carassius auratus
Origin: Captive bred
Size: Variable
Temperament: Peaceful
Food: All coldwater food food
Tank Areas: All
Notes: Probably the most popular fish in the world for fishkeeping. Needs a quite large tank or can be kept year round in an outside pond. Females are usually plumper and males get white spots on their gills when spawning.
CONGO DWARF CICHLID: Picture Required
Species Name: Nanochromis nudiceps
Origin: African streams
Size: 7cm
Temperament: Peaceful
Food: Carnivore aquarium food
Tank Areas: Bottom
Notes: These fish need rocks and caves to spawn in. During spawning they are territorial.
CONGO TETRA: 
Thanks to Shirlie Sharpe
Species Name: Micralestes interruptus
Origin: African Waters
Size: 11cm
Temperament: Peaceful
Food: All aquarium food
Tank Areas: Top and middle
Notes: Easy to breed egg scatterer. The males have longer dorsal fins and have longer extensions to the caudal (tail) fin.
CONVICT CICHLID: Picture Required
Species Name: Heros nigrofasciatum
Origin: C. American streams
Size: 15cm
Temperament: Aggressive
Food: Carnivore aquarium food
Tank Areas: All
Notes: Best if kept in a species tank.
COOLIE LOACH: Picture Required
Species Name: Acanthophthalmus kuhlii
Origin: S.E. Asian streams
Size: 11cm
Temperament: Peaceful
Food: Most aquarium food and carnivore food
Tank Areas: Bottom
Notes: Very difficult to sex and to breed. A colourful fish that is a real pain to catch unless you remove all tank ornaments and are good with a net.
CROAKING GOURAMI: Picture Required
Species Name: Trichopsis vittatus
Origin: S. Asian streams
Size: 6cm
Temperament: Peaceful
Food: Carnivore aquarium food
Tank Areas: All
Notes: Difficult to sex but fairly easy to breed. Makes a croaking noise during spawning. requires lots of plants to hide in.
CROSSOCHEILUS: Picture Required
Species Name: Crossocheilus oblongus
Origin: S E Asian streams
Size: 16cm
Temperament: Peaceful
Food: Mainly herbivore aquarium food
Tank Areas: Bottom
Notes: Fairly good algae eater that likes the odd bloodworm and other live treats. Not yet bred in home aquarium and difficult to sex but some males develop head tubercles when ready to breed.
CUMING'S BARB: Picture Required
Species Name: Barbus cumingi
Origin: S E Asian streams
Size: 5cm
Temperament: Peaceful shoaling
Food: All aquarium food
Tank Areas: Middle & bottom
Notes: Males are slimmer than females and are usually more colourful. Tends to eat soft leaved plants. Can be bred in the aquarium but as usual eggs will be eaten unless you remove all the adult fish.
Species Name: Moenkhausia pittieri
Origin: S. American lakes
Size: 6cm
Temperament: Peaceful
Food: All aquarium food
Tank Areas: Top & middle
Notes: Very active shoaling fish. Males usually have longer anal & dorsal fins. Difficult to breed in a community tank.
DOW'S CICHLID: Picture Required
Species Name: Cichlasoma dovii
Origin: C American streams & rivers
Size: 40cm
Temperament: Aggressive
Food: Carnivore aquarium food and small fish
Tank Areas: Middle and bottom
Notes: Needs a massive tank with very good filtration and regular cleaning as this fish will eat lots and be messy with it! Due to their size they are not a good choice for home breeding projects.
DWARF ARGENTINE PEARLFISH: Picture Required
Species Name: Cynolebias nigripinnis
Origin: S. American streams & rivers
Size: 5cm
Temperament: Peaceful
Food: Carnivore aquarium food
Tank Areas: Bottom
Notes: Females are usually blue-grey, males are darker. Males also have silver speckles on their body and fins when spawning. Difficult to breed because eggs need very special treatment to hatch.
DWARF GOURAMI:
Species Name: Colisa lalia
Origin: S. Asian sluggish waters
Size: 5cm
Temperament: Peaceful
Food: All aquarium food
Tank Areas: All
Notes: Females are usually less colourful than the males. Males build bubble nest for female to lay eggs in. Breed quite well in aquarium. Males tend to protect the nest against other fish.
DWARF SUCKER CATFISH: Picture Required
Species Name: Otocinclus affinis
Origin: S. American streams & rivers
Size: 5cm
Temperament: Peaceful
Food: Herbivore aquarium food including algae wafers
Tank Areas: Bottom
Notes: Difficult to sex & to breed. This little fish is an excellent algae eater. Good for smaller (18") tanks providing they have a few hiding places.
EIGHT-BANDED LEPORINUS: Picture Required
Species Name: Leporinus octofasciatum
Origin: S. American streams
Size: 15cm
Temperament: Peaceful shoaling
Food: All aquarium food
Tank Areas: All
Notes: Difficult to sex & to breed egg layer. Prefers quite slow water movement.
ELEGANT RASPORA: 
Species Name: Raspora elegans
Origin: S. Asian waters
Size: 13cm
Temperament: Peaceful shoaling
Food: All aquarium food
Tank Areas: Middle
Notes: Difficult to sex & breed egg layer. Needs quite a large aquarium with lots of plants and plenty of swimming space.
EMBER BARB: Picture Required
Species Name: Barbus melanympyx
Origin: S E Asian streams
Size: 10cm
Temperament: Peaceful shoaling
Food: All aquarium food
Tank Areas: All
Notes: Males tend to be a darker pink colour between the bands of black. Females are more silver in colour.
Species Name: Carassius auratus
Origin: Captive bred
Size: 20cm
Temperament: Peaceful
Food: All coldwater food
Tank Areas: All
Notes: A lovely fish that can be kept in a tank or outdoors in a pond (try to prevent freezing though)
FILAMENT BARB: Picture Required
Species Name: Barbus filamentosa
Origin: S. Asian streams and rivers
Size: 15cm
Temperament: Peaceful
Food: All aquarium food
Tank Areas: All
Notes: Males have filaments on the first few rays of the dorsal fin. Very good egglaying breeders. Can cope with tank temperatures as low as 60° F.
FIRE RASPORA: Picture Required
Species Name: Raspora vaterifloris
Origin: S. Asian streams
Size: 4cm
Temperament: Peaceful shoaling
Food: All aquarium food
Tank Areas: Top and middle
Notes: Females are often deeper bodied. Good fish for smaller aquariums but needs to be kept in groups of six or more for the best shoaling effect.
FIREMOUTH: 
Thanks to Shirlie Sharpe
Species Name: Thorichthys meeki (formally Cichlasoma meeki)
Origin: C. American streams
Size: 15cm
Temperament: Peaceful
Food: Carnivore aquarium food
Tank Areas: Middle and bottom
Notes: Although this fish is generally peaceful it can be aggressive with smaller fish and when spawning. Males have very pointed dorsal and anal fins. Requires clean sand and plenty of secure rocks as well as a few stout plants. They are good parents protecting both their eggs and newborn fry.
FOUR EYES: Picture Required
Species Name: Anableps anableps
Origin: S. American lakes & slow waters
Size: 20cm
Temperament: Quite aggressive
Food: Mainly insects
Tank Areas: Surface
Notes: This live bearer will eat any smaller fish that get too close so not good for the community tank. Males are obvious due to their gonopodium. Females give birth twice a year to young which are well developed and can be up to 5cm's long.
Species Name: Danio aequipinnatus
Origin: S. Asian streams
Size: 10cm
Temperament: Mostly peaceful shoaling but can be aggressive with smaller fish
Food: All aquarium food
Tank Areas: Middle and top
Notes: Very easy to sex egg layers. The females are plumper and the yellow lines that run along their bodies curve up at their caudal (tail) fin. The lines on males are straight. Fairly easy to breed but as with most egg layers most of the eggs will be eaten. Should be kept in shoals of at least 6 fish in a large tank.
GIANT GOURAMI: Picture Required
Species Name: Colisa fasciata
Origin: S. Asian slow moving waters
Size: 10cm
Temperament: Peaceful
Food: All aquarium food
Tank Areas: Top and middle
Notes: Females are not as brightly coloured as males. Males have a pointed anal fin, females is rounded. Can be captive bred providing females are removed after spawning.
GLASS BLOODFIN: Picture Required
Species Name: Prionobrama filigera
Origin: S. American rivers
Size: 6cm
Temperament: Peaceful shoaling
Food: All aquarium food
Tank Areas: Top and middle
Notes: Easy to sex egg layers as the male has a deep red caudal (tail) fin while females have only a reddish tint. Easy to breed if they are in quite soft water. They like swimming in flowing water so best kept in a tank with some kind of power filter or power head.
GLASS CATFISH: 
Thanks To
Species Name: Kryptopterus bicirrhis
Origin: S.E. Asian streams
Size: 10cm
temperament: Peaceful shoaling
Food: All aquarium food
Tank Areas: Middle and bottom
Notes: Difficult to sex and to breed. Should be kept in a large group. Very active fish during daytime.
GLOWLIGHT TETRA: Picture Required
Species Name: Hemigrammus erythrozonus
Origin: S. American rivers
Size: 5cm
Temperament: Peaceful shoaling
Food: All aquarium food
Tank Areas: All
Notes: Egg laying females tend to be plumper than males. Like lots of plants. They will eat their eggs given the chance.
GOLDEN BUMBLEBEE GOODEID: Picture Required
Species Name: Allotoca dugesi
Origin: Central American rivers & streams
Size: 6cm
Temperament: Aggressive, shoaling
Food: All aquarium food
Tank Areas: All
Notes: This livebearer is not as easy to sex as most as the males do not have a long gonopodium. Instead coulour is used to tell them apart with the males being gold coloured on their lower flanks and the females being more of a blue colour. All of the Goodeid family of fish need to mate for each brood as the females do not store sperm as happens in other livebearers.
GOLDEN DWARF BARB: Picture Required
Species Name: Barbus gelius
Origin: S Asian streams & rivers
Size: 4cm
Temperament: Peaceful shoaling
Food: All aquarium food
Tank Areas: All
Notes: Difficult to sex but the males sometimes have a red tint to their caudal peduncle (the part of the fish that the tail fin is attached to). This fish can survive fairly low water temperatures for short periods.
GUPPY: Male
Female
Species Name: Poecilia reticulata
Origin: Central American streams
Size: 3cm
Temperament: Peaceful
Food: All aquarium foods
Tank Areas: All
Notes: Very easy to breed live bearer. Males have a specially adapted rod like anal fin (called the gonopodium) and are available in hundreds of different colour variations, females have a fan shaped anal fin, smaller caudal fin (tail) and are larger and less colourful.
Species Name: Raspora heteromorpha
Origin: S.E. Asian streams and rivers
Size: 4cm
Temperament: Peaceful shoaling
Food: All aquarium foods
Tank Areas: All
Notes: Females are much plumper. Deposits eggs on the underside of broad leaf plants so these are required for breeding.
HUMPBACKED LIMIA: Picture Required
Species Name: Poecilia nigrofasciata
Origin: C. American streams & rivers
Size: 6cm
Temperament: Peaceful
Food: All aquarium food
Tank Areas: All
Notes: Males develop the hump back when they become mature. Females have larger bellies and the hump is not so obvious. Fairly easy to breed.
INDIAN GLASSFISH: Picture Required
Species Name: Chanda ranga
Origin: S. Asian estuarine waters
Size: 7cm
Temperament: Peaceful & shy
Food: Carnivore aquarium food
Tank Areas: Middle
Notes: Very difficult to sex & breed. Needs a species tank to thrive.
JEWEL CICHLID: Picture Required
Species Name: Hemichromis bimaculatus
Origin: African streams
Size: 15cm
Temperament: Aggressive
Food: Carnivore aquarium food
Tank Areas: All
Notes: Best if kept in a species tank consisting of a male and one or two females. Will dig up any plants in the tank so don't put any in! Well secured rocks are best with flat rocks to spawn on.
Origin: S. Asian streams and rivers
Size: 20cm
Temperament: Peaceful
Food: All aquarium food
Tank Areas: All
Notes: Difficult to sex but will breed in aquarium. Kissing action usually occurs when adult fish are fighting over territory prior to spawning.
KNIFE LIVEBEARER: Picture Required
Species Name: Alfaro cultratus
Origin: C. American streams
Size: 9cm
Temperament: Aggressive shoaling
Food: All aquarium food
Tank Areas: Top and middle
Notes: This fish is unusual for a live bearer as it is quite aggressive to other breeds and therefore is best kept in a species tank. Tank needs to be very well planted if any fry are to survive.
KOI CARP: Picture Required
Species Name: Cyprinus carpio
Origin: Captive bred
Size: Variable
Temperament: Peaceful
Food: All coldwater food
Tank Areas: Pond only
Notes: Koi can grow very large and need good filtration as they produce a lot of waste. Should only be kept in a large pond.
KRIBENSIS: 
Species Name: Pelvicachromis pulcher
Origin: African rivers
Size: 10cm
Temperament: Peaceful
Food: All aquarium food
Tank Areas: Middle and bottom
Notes: Males dorsal fin is pointed, females is rounded and has spots on it. Likes to hid away in caves or rocks when spawning.
LEMON FINNED BARB: Picture Required
Species Name: Barbus daruphani
Origin: S E Asian lakes
Size: 20cm
Temperament: Peaceful shoaling
Food: All aquarium food
Tank Areas: All
Notes: This difficult to sex fish tends to change colour as it grows from an olive colour to grey, so as with humans, if you want one to last don't get one that has gone grey
LEOPARD DANIO:
Species Name: Brachydanio frankei
Origin: S. Asian streams
Size: 5cm
Temperament: Mostly peaceful shoaling but can be a fin nipper
Food: All aquarium foods
Tank Areas: Top
Notes: Easy to sex as the egg laying females are larger and plumper than the males. Reasonably easy to breed but eggs tend to be eaten by tank inhabitants including parents. If possible, remove fry when they are seen swimming to a well matured tank. Available in long and short fin varieties.
LIONHEAD GOLDFISH: Picture Required
Species Name: Carassius auratus
Origin: Captive bred
Size: 15cm
Temperament: Peaceful shoaling
Food: All coldwater food
Tank Areas: All
Notes: This fish is unlikely to survive in a pond. Needs a peaceful environment to thrive.
LIPSTICK LEPORINUS: Picture Required
Species Name: Leporinus arcus
Origin: S American streams
Size: 40cm
Temperament: Peaceful shoaling
Food: All aquarium food
Tank Areas: All
Notes: Not a good fish for tanks without hoods as they are good jumpers. Difficult to sex.
LONGNOSED ELEPHANT FISH: Picture Required
Species Name: Gnathonemus petersi
Origin: Tropical African rivers
Size: 24cm
Temperament: Peaceful
Food: Carnivore aquarium food
Tank Areas: Bottom
Notes: A difficult fish to keep successfully in the home aquarium as it is sensitive to even slight changes in water quality. Some tank remedies are dangerous to this fish so check labels before adding them to the tank. Needs a soft substrate to search for food in. This fish is nocturnal.
MARBLED HEADSTANDER: Picture Required
Species Name: Abramites hypselonotus
Origin: S American streams & rivers
Size: 13cm
Temperament: Peaceful
Food: Herbivore aquarium food
Tank Areas: Bottom
Notes: Best if kept in a species tank although males will sometimes fight each other. Tends to eat all of the plants in the tank.
MOSQUITO FISH: Picture Required
Species Name: Heterandria formosa
Origin: N. American still waters
Size: 2cm
Temperament: Peaceful
Food: All aquarium food
Tank Areas: All
Notes: This tiny livebearer needs to be kept with other small peaceful fish or better still in a species tank. Males have a long gonopodium.
MYERS HATCHETFISH: Picture Required
Species Name: Carnegiella myersi
Origin: S. American streams and rivers
Size: 2.5cm
Temperament: Peaceful shoaling
Food: All aquarium food
Tank Areas: Top
Notes: Difficult to sex and to breed. Needs a strong tank hood as it can jump.
Species Name: Paracheirodon innesi
Origin: S. American streams
Size: 2.5cm
Temperament: Peaceful shoaling
Food: All aquarium foods
Tank Areas: All
Notes: A very hardy fish which can be found in most community tanks. Very difficult to breed in the home aquarium. The egg laying females are slightly plumper than the males. Need to be kept in groups of six or more to see them at their best.
Species Name: Carassius auratus
Origin: Captive bred
Size: 12cm
Temperament: Peaceful
Food: All coldwater food
Tank Areas: All
Notes: As with it's red capped cousin, this fish should be kept indoors and away from over zealous tank mates.
ORANGE BARB: Picture Required
Species Name: Barbus bariloides
Origin: S African waters
Size: 5cm
Temperament: Peaceful shoaling
Food: All aquarium food
Tank Areas: Middle and bottom
Notes: Difficult to sex and to breed.
ORANGE FINNED LOACH: 
Species Name: Botia modesta
Origin: S. Asian streams
Size: 10cm
Temperament: Peaceful shy
Food: Carnivore aquarium food
Tank Areas: Bottom
Notes: Also known as Blue Botia and Red Tail Botia. Difficult to sex and to breed. Tends to hide during the day but may show itself if bloodworm or similar is put in tank. Eats snails.
ORANGE SPOTTED SUNFISH: Picture Required
Species Name: Lepomis humilis
Origin: USA lakes & streams
Size: 10cm
Temperament: Peaceful, shoaling
Food: Carnivore food
Tank Areas: Middle & bottom
Notes: One of the smaller members of the Sunfish family and as such, easier to keep in the aquarium. During mating the male grunts to attract the female's attention. The spots on the female tend to be less orange and more of a brown colour.
ORNATE CTENOPOMA: Picture Required
Species Name: Ctenopoma ansorgei
Origin: African Waters
Size: 7.5cm
Temperament: Aggressive
Food: Carnivore aquarium food
Tank Areas: All
Notes: Males have a more pointed dorsal fin and become more colourful during breeding. Can be bred if they are kept alone in a well planted tank with little water movement.
OSCAR: 
Thanks to Clive John Nelson
Species Name: Astronotus ocellatus
Origin: S. American rivers
Size: 30cm
Temperament: Aggressive
Food: Carnivore aquarium food
Tank Areas: Middle and bottom
Notes: Quite intelligent for a fish and able to recognise it's owner. Can be tame enough to allow you to stroke it if bought as a juvenile and hand fed. Will eat any smaller fish in the aquarium. Tank needs to be enormous. If allowed to spawn this fish may produce thousands of fry so be careful!
PACU: 
Thanks to Shirlie Sharpe
Species Name: Colossoma bidens
Origin: S. American rivers
Size: 40cm
Temperament: Peaceful
Food: Aquarium herbivore food plus fruit and vegetables
Tank Areas: Middle
Notes: Looks like a piranha but has a smaller head. Forget about breeding unless you have and enormous tank.
PEARL DANIO: 
Thanks To
Species Name: Brachydanio albolineatus
Origin: S.E. Asian streams
Size: 5cm
Temperament: Peaceful shoaling
Food: All aquarium foods
Tank Areas: Top and middle
Notes: Egg laying females tend to have a deeper body. Often become more colourful when spawning. Best kept in a tank with a good hood as this fish can leap out of the water.
PEARLSCALE: 
Species Name: Carassius auratus
Origin: Captive bred
Size: 12cm
Temperament: Peaceful
Food: All coldwater food
Tank Areas: All
Notes: These "fancy" goldfish are not very good swimmers and should only be kept in tanks.
PENGUIN TETRA: 
Species Name: Thayeria boehlkei
Origin: S. American streams
Size: 7cm
Temperament: Peaceful shoaling
Food: All aquarium food
Tank Areas: Top and middle
Notes: Egg laying females are plumper especially when spawning. Breeds quite well in the home aquarium.
PEPPERED CORYDORAS:
Species Name: Corydoras paleatus
Origin: S. American streams and rivers
Size: 8cm
Temperament: Peaceful
Food: All aquarium food plus special catfish food
Tank Areas: Bottom
Notes: Egg depositing females are usually fatter than males. Breed quite well but tiny fry are usually eaten in community tank. Best kept in groups. Good scavengers picking up food that reaches the bottom of the tank.
PIKE CICHLID: 
Species Name: Crenicichla lepidota
Origin: S. American streams and rivers
Size: 20cm
Temperament: Aggressive
Food: Live foods including small fish
Tank Areas: All
Notes: Predatory fish that will eat any smaller ones in the tank. Needs a sand based substrate, lots of plants and hiding places plus a good tank lid.
PLATY: 
Species Name: Xiphophorus maculatus
Origin: C. American streams and rivers
Size: 4cm
Temperament: Peaceful
Food: All aquarium food
Tank Areas: All
Notes: Males are usually more colourful than females and have a rodlike anal fin (the gonopodium). Live bearing females are slightly larger. Very easy to breed in the home aquarium.
PRETTY PECKOLTIA: Picture Required
Species Name: Peckoltia pulcher
Origin: S. American rivers
Size: 10cm
Temperament: Peaceful but territorial
Food: Herbivore aquarium food that has a high algae content
Tank Areas: Bottom
Notes: Personally, I think that the name is a slight fib as this fish is quite ugly. Difficult to sex. Very good algae eater that needs a lot of space. Best to have only one to a tank.
PRETTY TETRA: 
Species Name: Hemigrammus pulcher
Origin: S. American rivers
Size: 5cm
Temperament: Peaceful
Food: All aquarium food
Tank Areas: Middle
Notes: As with most egg layers, the females tend to be plumper. Needs a very well planted tank to breed.
PUMPKINSEED: Picture Required
Species Name: Lepomis gibbosus
Origin: USA lakes & streams
Size: 22cm
Temperament: Mainly peaceful, shoaling
Food: Carnivore food
Tank Areas: Middle & bottom
Notes: A member of the Sunfish family. Quite colourful with iridescent blue spots covering it's brown skin. During spawning the male digs a pit in which the female deposits the eggs. Best kept in groups which requires a very large tank.
Species Name: Papiliochromis ramirezi
Origin: S. American streams
Size: 7cm
Temperament: Peaceful
Food: All aquarium food but prefers live food
Tank Areas: Middle and bottom
Notes: Can be territorial when spawning but otherwise quite peaceful and often kept in community tanks.
RED-BELLIED PIRANHA: 
Thanks To
Species Name: Serrasalmus nattereri
Origin: S. American rivers
Size: 30cm
Temperament: Aggressive
Food: Carnivore aquarium food with lots of live food including smaller fish
Tank Areas: Middle and bottom
Notes: Difficult to sex. Will breed in a well filtered tank. Should only be kept with their own kind. Do not put your hand in the tank. Need an enormous tank with a strong hood.
RED CAP ORANDA: 
Species Name: Carassius auratus
Origin: Captive bred
Size: 20cm
Temperament: Peaceful shoaling
Food: All coldwater food
Tank Areas: All
Notes: Should only be kept indoors in a large tank. Do not keep this fish with very active or agressive tankmates.
RED FINNED SHARK: Picture Required
Species Name: Labeo erythrurus
Origin: S. Asian streams
Size: 15cm
Temperament: Aggressive
Food: Most herbivore aquarium foods
Tank Areas: Middle and bottom
Notes: Difficult to sex. Best if only one to a tank. Needs plenty of hiding places such as flower pots.
RED PENCILFISH: Picture Required
Species Name: Nannostomus beckfordi
Origin: S. American streams and rivers
Size: 6cm
Temperament: Peaceful shoaling
Food: All aquarium food
Tank Areas: Middle
Notes: Difficult to sex egg layers. Rear of males turns red during spawning.
RED-SPOTTED COPEINA: Picture Required
Species Name: Copeina guttata
Origin: S American streams and rivers
Size: 8cm
Temperament: Peaceful
Food: All aquarium food
Tank Areas: Top and middle
Notes: Rear of males is green-blue. Females are smaller and less colourful. Easy to breed in soft water with males guarding the eggs.
RED STRIPED RASPORA: Picture Required
Species Name: Raspora pauciperforata
Origin: S.E. Asian streams and rivers
Size: 6cm
Temperament: Peaceful shoaling
Food: All aquarium food
Tank Areas: All
Notes: Egg laying females are more rounded. Needs a very well planted aquarium with good sized shoaling areas. Best if kept in large groups.
RED TAILED BLACK SHARK: 
Species Name: Labeo bicolor
Origin: S. Asian streams
Size: 15cm
Temperament: Aggressive to its own kind and smaller fish
Food: Most herbivore aquarium food
Tank Areas: Middle and bottom
Notes: A fish with a common name that describes it perfectly. Best if only one to a tank. Needs lots of hiding places or it will attack other tank inhabitants.
REEDFISH: Picture Required
Species Name: Calamoichthys calabaricus
Origin: African streams
Size: 38cm
Temperament: Shy
Food: Carnivore aquarium food and small fish
Tank Areas: All
Notes: Females have up to 12 rays in their anal fin, males can have up to 14. Not yet bred in the home aquarium.
ROLOFF'S BARB: Picture Required
Species Name: Barbus roloffi
Origin: S E Asian streams
Size: 5cm
Temperament: Peaceful shoaling
Food: All aquarium food
Tank Areas: All
Notes: Males tend to be brighter than females and they are thinner. As with most fish a good sign of health is strongly held fins
ROSY BARB: 
Species Name: Barbus conchonius
Origin: S. Asian rivers
Size: 7.5cm
Temperament: Peaceful shoaling
Food: All aquarium food
Tank Areas: All
Notes: Males have a reddish hue to their fins, females have less fin colour and are plumper. Very good first time breeder if parents and other fish can
Thanks To
Thanks To
