Fish A–Z

Fish Names A to Z

A plain, complete A–Z of fish — freshwater and marine — with a clear photo for the popular ones. Use the letter bar to jump, or search a name.

1275fish, A–Z
70with pictures

Popular fish, with pictures

The most-kept and best-known fish — a real photo, and where we hold them, the tank facts that decide whether a fish suits you. The full A–Z below has the rest.

Popular freshwater fish (49)

A freshwater angelfish showing its tall, triangular finned body Angelfish Tall, triangular South American cichlid from the Amazon; peaceful but territorial when breeding. Freshwater Photo: Rjcastillo · CC BY 4.0
An Asian arowana with large metallic scales swimming near the surface Arowana Large predatory 'dragon fish' that swims near the surface and can leap for prey. Freshwater Photo: Photo taken by Fanghong · CC BY-SA 3.0
A male betta fish with long, flowing, brightly colored fins Betta Labyrinth fish from Thailand; males flare vivid fins and must be kept alone. Freshwater Photo: Nippyfish · CC BY 2.0
A bronze corydoras catfish resting on the aquarium bottom Corydoras Small, armored bottom-dwelling catfish that shoal peacefully and scavenge the aquarium floor. Freshwater Photo: Andrew Keller · CC0
A round, disc-shaped discus cichlid with patterned sides Discus Round, disc-shaped Amazon cichlid prized by hobbyists but sensitive to water quality. Freshwater Photo: Doronenko · CC BY 3.0
A classic orange goldfish with flowing fins Goldfish Domesticated East Asian carp kept for centuries; can outgrow small bowls considerably. Freshwater Photo: James St. John · CC BY 2.0
A colorful dwarf gourami with iridescent striped flanks Gourami Labyrinth fish from South Asia that gulps air and builds floating bubble nests. Freshwater Photo: Wikimedia Commons · Public domain
A male guppy displaying a colorful patterned tail Guppy Hardy livebearer; males show colorful tails and they breed readily in aquariums. Freshwater Photo: Holger Krisp · CC BY 3.0
An ornamental koi carp swimming in a pond Koi Ornamental carp bred in Japan for pond keeping; can live for decades. Freshwater Photo: Eistreter · CC BY-SA 3.0
A black molly livebearer swimming in an aquarium Molly Adaptable livebearer tolerating fresh and brackish water; popular black and orange varieties. Freshwater Photo: Hugo Torres · CC BY 2.5 es
A neon tetra with a glowing blue-and-red horizontal stripe Neon Tetra Tiny Amazon fish with a glowing blue-and-red stripe; best kept in schools. Freshwater Photo: Holger Krisp · CC BY 3.0
An oscar cichlid with dark, marbled orange markings Oscar Large, intelligent South American cichlid that recognizes owners and needs a big tank. Freshwater Photo: Jón Helgi Jónsson ( Amything ) · CC BY-SA 3.0
A small, colorful platy livebearer Platy Small, colorful Central American livebearer; peaceful, hardy, and easy for beginners. Freshwater Photo: Ude · CC BY-SA 3.0
A plecostomus suckermouth catfish showing its armored, spotted body Pleco Armored suckermouth catfish that grazes algae; many species grow surprisingly large. Freshwater Photo: Raphaël Covain, Natural History Museum of Geneva · CC BY-SA 4.0
A Boeseman's rainbowfish with a blue front and orange rear Rainbowfish Active New Guinea schooling fish whose colors intensify with age and morning light. Freshwater Photo: H. Zell · CC BY-SA 3.0
A male swordtail with an elongated, sword-like lower tail fin Swordtail Central American livebearer; males sport an extended sword-like lower tail fin. Freshwater Photo: Böhm · CC BY 2.5
A tiger barb with vertical black stripes on an orange body Tiger Barb Striped, energetic Asian barb best kept in groups to curb fin-nipping. Freshwater Photo: Ingvar-fed · CC BY-SA 3.0
A zebra danio showing its horizontal blue-and-silver stripes Zebra Danio Hardy striped minnow from South Asia; active schooler and a lab research model. Freshwater Photo: Marrabbio2 · Public domain
A cardinal tetra showing its blue-and-red horizontal stripes Cardinal Tetra A small South American characin with a full-length neon-blue stripe over a red belly, native to the upper Orinoco and Negro river basins. Freshwater Photo: Paolo Neo · Public domain
A rummy-nose tetra with a red head and striped tail Rummy-nose Tetra A slender schooling tetra known for its bright red nose and black-and-white striped tail, from the lower Amazon. Freshwater Photo: Gavinevans · CC BY-SA 3.0
A harlequin rasbora showing the black triangular flank marking Harlequin Rasbora A copper-pink Southeast Asian cyprinid marked by a black triangular patch on the rear half of the body. Freshwater Photo: NasserHalaweh · CC BY-SA 4.0
A striped eel-like kuhli loach in an aquarium Kuhli Loach An eel-shaped, banded bottom-dwelling loach from Southeast Asian streams that burrows in soft substrate. Freshwater Photo: Iidkk · CC BY-SA 4.0
A male German blue ram dwarf cichlid German Blue Ram A small, colourful dwarf cichlid from the Orinoco basin of Venezuela and Colombia. Freshwater Photo: Sven Kullander · CC BY-SA 4.0
A convict cichlid with vertical dark barring Convict Cichlid A hardy Central American cichlid named for the dark vertical bars across its pale body. Freshwater Photo: JSutton93 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Rosy barbs showing reddish body colour Rosy Barb A cyprinid from South Asia; breeding males take on a reddish or rosy flush. Freshwater Photo: Kkonstan · CC BY 3.0
A white cloud mountain minnow with a light lateral stripe White Cloud Mountain Minnow A small, cold-tolerant Chinese minnow with a bright lateral line and red-tipped fins. Freshwater Photo: Ethmostigmus · CC BY-SA 4.0
A silver bala shark with black-edged fins Bala Shark A large silver Southeast Asian cyprinid with black-edged fins; a shark only in body shape, not a true shark. Freshwater Photo: H. Zell · CC BY-SA 3.0
A round silver-dollar fish seen from the side Silver Dollar A round, silver, disc-shaped South American characin related to piranhas but largely herbivorous. Freshwater Photo: Greg Hume · CC BY-SA 4.0
A rainbow shark with a dark body and red fins Rainbow Shark A dark-bodied Southeast Asian cyprinid with red or orange fins; a bottom-oriented algae grazer, not a true shark. Freshwater Photo: MerlinSenger at German Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
A male Endler's livebearer with colourful markings Endler's Livebearer A tiny, vividly patterned livebearer closely related to the guppy, from Venezuela. Freshwater Photo: drew goodman · CC BY-SA 4.0
A pearl gourami with a spotted pearly body Pearl Gourami A labyrinth fish from Southeast Asia covered in a pearly spotted pattern with a red-orange breast in breeding males. Freshwater Photo: NasserHalaweh · CC BY-SA 4.0
A red-and-blue banded dwarf gourami Dwarf Gourami A small South Asian labyrinth fish; males show alternating red and blue-green bands. Freshwater Photo: Kennyannydenny · CC BY-SA 3.0
A bronze corydoras catfish on the substrate Bronze Corydoras A peaceful bottom-dwelling armoured catfish from South America, widely kept in aquariums. Freshwater Photo: Andrew Keller · CC0
A zebra loach with dark vertical stripes Zebra Loach A striped bottom-dwelling loach from the rivers of the Western Ghats in India. Freshwater Photo: Lerdsuwa · CC BY-SA 3.0
An otocinclus catfish clinging to driftwood Otocinclus A very small South American suckermouth catfish that grazes algae from surfaces. Freshwater Photo: Evan Baldonado · CC BY 4.0
A male paradise fish with red and blue banding Paradise Fish One of the first tropical fish kept in aquariums, an East Asian labyrinth fish with red and blue barring. Freshwater Photo: Daniella Vereeken · CC BY 2.0
A firemouth cichlid showing red throat colour Firemouth Cichlid A Central American cichlid named for the red coloration on its throat and lower jaw, shown during display. Freshwater Photo: George Chernilevsky · Public domain
A Jack Dempsey cichlid with speckled body Jack Dempsey A robust Central American cichlid with iridescent blue-green speckles across a dark body. Freshwater Photo: Bernard DUPONT · CC BY-SA 2.0
A bright yellow Labidochromis cichlid Electric Yellow Cichlid A bright yellow mbuna cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa. Freshwater Photo: NasserHalaweh · CC BY-SA 4.0
A silver tinfoil barb with reddish fins Tinfoil Barb A large, silver, deep-bodied Southeast Asian cyprinid with red-tinged fins. Freshwater Photo: Rufus46 · CC BY-SA 3.0
A Congo tetra with iridescent body and long fins Congo Tetra An African characin with iridescent blue-orange body colour and flowing fins in mature males. Freshwater Photo: NasserHalaweh · CC BY-SA 4.0
A black skirt tetra with dark rear fins Black Skirt Tetra A South American tetra with two dark vertical bars and a dusky, skirt-like rear half. Freshwater Photo: irvin calicut · CC BY-SA 3.0
A red serpae tetra with a dark shoulder mark Serpae Tetra A reddish South American tetra with a dark shoulder spot, from the Amazon and Paraguay basins. Freshwater Photo: Francesco Loda · CC BY 3.0
A glowlight tetra with an orange horizontal line Glowlight Tetra A small South American tetra crossed by a glowing orange-red line along the body. Freshwater Photo: gonzalovalenzuela; derivative work Kyknos · CC BY 2.0
A bloodfin tetra with red-tipped fins Bloodfin Tetra A silvery South American tetra with red-tinted fins, from the Paraná basin. Freshwater Photo: VGW2006 at en.wikipedia · Public domain
A Siamese algae eater with a black side stripe Siamese Algae Eater A slender Southeast Asian cyprinid with a black lateral stripe, kept for grazing algae. Freshwater Photo: aleander2137 · CC BY-SA 4.0
A bristlenose catfish resting in an aquarium Bristlenose Pleco A small South American suckermouth catfish; mature males grow fleshy tentacles on the snout. Freshwater Photo: Júlio Reis · CC BY-SA 4.0
A Denison barb with a red-and-black side stripe Denison Barb A torpedo-shaped cyprinid from the Western Ghats of India with a red-and-black lateral stripe. Freshwater Photo: H. Zell · CC BY-SA 3.0
A weather loach with a slender body Weather Loach An elongated East Asian loach said to become active before weather changes; also called the dojo loach. Freshwater Photo: Unknown · Public domain

Popular marine fish (21)

A bright blue tang with black markings and a yellow tail Blue Tang Bright blue reef surgeonfish with a scalpel-like spine near its yellow tail. Marine Photo: Holger Krisp · CC BY 3.0
A group of yellow-and-white striped butterflyfish over a reef Butterflyfish Disc-shaped reef fish with bold patterns; many pairs feed on coral polyps. Marine Photo: Charles J. Sharp · CC BY-SA 4.0
An orange-and-white clownfish nestled among sea anemone tentacles Clownfish Orange-and-white reef fish that shelters unharmed among the stinging tentacles of sea anemones. Marine Photo: Nick Hobgood · CC BY-SA 3.0
A red-and-white striped lionfish with long venomous fin spines Lionfish Striped Indo-Pacific predator with venomous spines; invasive in the western Atlantic. Marine Photo: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0
A vividly patterned mandarinfish with green and orange swirls Mandarinfish Small, vividly patterned reef dragonet from the Pacific; famously hard to feed. Marine Photo: Luc Viatour · CC BY-SA 3.0
A seahorse gripping a strand of seaweed with its tail Seahorse Upright swimmer that grips seaweed with its tail; males carry the young. Marine Photo: Hans Hillewaert · CC BY-SA 4.0
A bright yellow tang surgeonfish Yellow Tang A bright yellow surgeonfish of the Pacific reefs, common in Hawaiian waters. Marine Photo: Luc Viatour · CC BY-SA 3.0
A royal gramma, purple in front and yellow behind Royal Gramma A small Caribbean reef fish that is purple at the front and yellow at the rear. Marine Photo: H. Zell · CC BY-SA 3.0
A Banggai cardinalfish with black bars and white spots Banggai Cardinalfish A silver reef fish with bold black bars and white spots, endemic to the Banggai Islands of Indonesia. Marine Photo: Holger Krisp · CC BY 3.0
A firefish goby with a raised dorsal fin Firefish Goby A dartfish with a white-to-red gradient body and a tall first dorsal fin, from Indo-Pacific reefs. Marine Photo: Sean McGrath from Saint John, NB, Canada · CC BY 2.0
A green chromis damselfish Green Chromis A small blue-green schooling damselfish of Indo-Pacific reefs. Marine Photo: Philippe Bourjon · CC BY-SA 4.0
A six-line wrasse with blue stripes on orange Six-line Wrasse A small reef wrasse with six horizontal blue lines on an orange body, from the Indo-Pacific. Marine Photo: Rickard Zerpe · CC BY 2.0
A regal angelfish with orange and white bands Regal Angelfish A boldly striped Indo-Pacific reef angelfish with orange, white, and blue bands. Marine Photo: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0
An adult emperor angelfish with blue-yellow stripes Emperor Angelfish A large reef angelfish; adults have horizontal blue-and-yellow stripes across the body. Marine Photo: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0
A coral beauty dwarf angelfish, blue with orange Coral Beauty A small dwarf angelfish with a deep blue body flushed with orange, from Indo-Pacific reefs. Marine Photo: Rickard Zerpe · CC BY 2.0
A flame angelfish, red-orange with dark bars Flame Angelfish A bright red-orange dwarf angelfish with dark vertical bars, from central Pacific reefs. Marine Photo: Andreas März from Darmstadt, Germany · CC BY 2.0
A copperband butterflyfish with orange vertical bands Copperband Butterflyfish A white reef butterflyfish crossed by copper-orange bands and a false eyespot near the tail. Marine Photo: BS Turner Hof · Public domain
A powder blue tang with a dark face and yellow fin Powder Blue Tang An Indian Ocean surgeonfish with a pale blue body, dark face, and yellow dorsal fin. Marine Photo: H. Zell · CC BY-SA 3.0
A foxface rabbitfish with a striped face and yellow body Foxface Rabbitfish An Indo-Pacific rabbitfish with a yellow body and a black-and-white striped face; its dorsal spines are venomous. Marine Photo: Dr. Dwayne Meadows, NOAA/NMFS/OPR · Public domain
A longnose hawkfish with a crosshatched pattern Longnose Hawkfish A reef fish with a red-and-white cross-hatched pattern and an elongated snout, often perched on coral. Marine Photo: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0
A pajama cardinalfish with a dark midbody band Pajama Cardinalfish An Indo-Pacific reef fish with a yellow face, a dark midbody bar, and a spotted rear, active at dusk. Marine Photo: NasserHalaweh · CC BY-SA 4.0

A (57)

Achilles Tang Acanthurus achilles Black body with a vivid orange teardrop near the tail, from the Pacific and prone to stress.
African Glass Catfish Pareutropius debauwi
African Lungfish Protopterus
Aholehole Kuhlia
Aiptasia Filefish Acreichthys tosanus Small mottled green filefish kept for eating Aiptasia anemones, from the western Pacific.
Airbreathing Catfish Clariidae
Airsac Catfish Heteropneustes
Alaska Blackfish
Albacore
Alewife
Alfonsino
Algae Eater
Alligator Gar Atractosteus spatula freshwater aquarium
Alligatorfish Agonidae
Altum Angelfish Pterophyllum altum Taller, deeper-bodied wild angelfish from the Orinoco and upper Rio Negro.
Amberjack Seriola
American Sole Achiridae
Amur Pike
Anchovy Engraulidae
Anemonefish Amphiprioninae
Angelfish Pterophyllum scalare freshwater aquarium
Angler Lophius piscatorius
Angler Catfish Chaca
Anglerfish Lophiiformes
Antarctic Cod
Antarctic Icefish Notothenioidei
Antenna Codlet Bregmaceros atlanticus
Arapaima Arapaima
Archerfish Toxotes
Arctic Char
Armored Gurnard Peristediidae
Armored Searobin Peristediidae
Armorhead Pentacerotidae
Armorhead Catfish Cranoglanis
Armoured Catfish
Arowana Osteoglossidae
Arrowtooth Eel
Asian Carp
Asiatic Glassfish Ambassidae
Atka Mackerel
Atlantic Bonito
Atlantic Cod
Atlantic Herring
Atlantic Salmon
Atlantic Saury
Atlantic Sharpnose Shark
Atlantic Silverside
Auratus Cichlid Melanochromis auratus Mbuna with strong horizontal stripes that shift colour by sex, endemic to Lake Malawi.
Auriga Butterflyfish Chaetodon auriga White-and-yellow body with diagonal lines and a dorsal filament, a widespread Indo-Pacific threadfin butterfly.
Australasian Salmon Arripis
Australian Grayling
Australian Herring
Australian Lungfish Neoceratodus forsteri freshwater aquarium
Australian Prowfish Pataecidae
Australian Rainbowfish Melanotaenia fluviatilis Silvery rainbowfish with reddish fins, native to the Murray-Darling system in Australia.
Ayu Plecoglossus altivelis
Azure Damsel Chrysiptera hemicyanea Blue body with a yellow belly and tail, a small peaceful damsel from the western Pacific.

B (132)

Baikal Oilfish
Bala Shark Balantiocheilus melanopterus freshwater aquarium
Ballan Wrasse
Bamboo Shark
Banded Killifish
Bandfish
Banggai Cardinalfish Pterapogon kauderni
Bangus
Banjo
Banjo Catfish Bunocephalus coracoideus freshwater aquarium
Barb
Barbel
Barbel-less Catfish
Barbeled Dragonfish
Barbeled Houndshark
Barfish
Barracuda
Barracudina
Barramundi
Barred Danio Devario pathirana freshwater aquarium
Barreleye
Basking Shark
Bass
Basslet
Bat Ray Myliobatis californica marine aquarium
Batfish
Beachsalmon
Beaked Salmon
Beaked Sandfish
Beardfish
Beluga Sturgeon
Bengal Danio
Betta
Bichir
Bicolor Angelfish Centropyge bicolor Front half yellow and rear half deep blue, a dwarf angelfish from the western Pacific.
Bicolor Blenny Ecsenius bicolor Dark front and orange rear, a small perching blenny from the Indo-Pacific.
Bicolor Goat Fish
Bigeye
Bigeye Squaretail
Bighead Carp
Bigmouth Buffalo
Bigscale
Bigscale Pomfret
Billfish
Bitterling
Black Angelfish
Black Bass
Black Dragonfish
Black Mackerel
Black Neon Tetra Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi freshwater aquarium
Black Scabbardfish
Black Scalyfin
Black Sea Bass
Black Skirt Tetra Gymnocorymbus ternetzi
Black Swallower
Black Tetra Gymnocorymbus ternetzi freshwater aquarium
Black Triggerfish
Blackcap Basslet Gramma melacara Magenta body with a black cap over the head and back, from deeper Caribbean reefs.
Blackchin
Blackfin Tuna
Blackfish
Blacktip Reef Shark Carcharhinus melanopterus marine aquarium
Bleak
Bleeding Heart Tetra Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma Deep-bodied pinkish tetra with a red spot on the flank, from the upper Amazon.
Blenny
Blind Goby
Blind Shark
Blobfish
Bloodfin Tetra Aphyocharax anisitsi
Blowfish
Blue Acara Andinoacara pulcher Steel-blue cichlid with metallic facial markings, from northern South America.
Blue Catfish
Blue Danio
Blue Devil Damsel Chrysiptera cyanea Brilliant electric-blue damselfish, hardy but territorial, from the western Pacific.
Blue Eye Trevalla
Blue Gourami
Blue Ring Angelfish Pomacanthus annularis Brown body crossed by blue lines with a blue ring behind the gill, from the Indo-Pacific.
Blue Shark
Blue Tang Paracanthurus hepatus
Blue Triggerfish
Blue Whiting
Blue-redstripe Danio
Bluechin Triggerfish Xanthichthys auromarginatus Grey speckled body with a blue chin in males, a reef-safe plankton feeder from the Indo-Pacific.
Blueface Angelfish Pomacanthus xanthometopon Yellow-scaled body with a blue face and dorsal eyespot, a large angel from the Indo-Pacific.
Bluefin Tuna
Bluefish
Bluegill
Bluntnose Knifefish
Bluntnose Minnow
Boafish
Boarfish
Bobtail Snipe Eel
Bocaccio
Boeseman's Rainbowfish Melanotaenia boesemani Rainbowfish with a blue front and orange rear, endemic to lakes in West Papua.
Boga
Bolivian Ram Mikrogeophagus altispinosus Hardy dwarf cichlid in earthy gold tones, from the upper Madeira basin in Bolivia.
Bombay Duck
Bonefish
Bonito
Bonnethead Shark Sphyrna tiburo marine aquarium
Bonnetmouth
Bonytail
Bonytongue
Bowfin Amia calva freshwater aquarium
Boxfish
Bramble Shark
Bream
Brill
Bristlemouth
Bristlenose Catfish
Bristlenose Pleco Ancistrus cirrhosus
Broadband Dogfish
Bronze Corydoras Corydoras aeneus freshwater aquarium
Brook Lamprey
Brook Stickleback Culaea inconstans freshwater aquarium
Brook Trout
Brotula
Brown Trout
Buenos Aires Tetra Hyphessobrycon anisitsi Hardy silvery tetra with red-tipped fins, native to southern South America.
Buffalo Fish
Bull Shark
Bull Trout
Bullhead
Bullhead Shark
Bumblebee Goby Brachygobius doriae freshwater aquarium
Burbot
Buri
Burma Danio
Burrowing Goby
Butterfish
Butterfly Ray
Butterflyfish

C (97)

California Flyingfish
California Halibut
Canary Rockfish
Candiru
Candlefish
Capelin
Cardinal Tetra Paracheirodon axelrodi freshwater aquarium
Cardinalfish
Carp
Carpetshark
Carpsucker
Cat Shark
Catalufa
Catfish
Catla
Cavefish
Celebes Rainbowfish Marosatherina ladigesi Translucent fish with yellow-and-black extended fins, endemic to Sulawesi.
Celestial Pearl Danio Danio margaritatus Small danio with pearl spots and red-orange fins, discovered in Myanmar in 2006.
Central Mudminnow
Chain Pickerel
Chalk Bass Serranus tortugarum Small tan bass with blue speckling, a hardy shoaling fish from the Caribbean.
Channel Bass
Channel Catfish
Char
Checker Barb Oliotius oligolepis Small barb with a checkerboard pattern of dark-edged scales, native to Sumatra.
Cherry Salmon
Cherub Angelfish Centropyge argi Small deep-blue dwarf angel with a yellow-orange face, from the Caribbean and western Atlantic.
Cherubfish Centropyge argi marine aquarium
Chevron Tang Ctenochaetus hawaiiensis Juveniles orange with purple chevron lines; adults darken, a bristletooth from Hawaii and the Pacific.
Chili Rasbora Boraras brigittae Tiny red rasbora reaching about 2 cm, native to blackwater swamps in Borneo.
Chimaera
Chinese Algae Eater Gyrinocheilus aymonieri Elongated sucker-mouthed cyprinid that rasps surfaces, native to Southeast Asia.
Chinook Salmon
Chocolate Gourami Sphaerichthys osphromenoides Small brown gourami with pale bands and mouthbrooding behaviour, from Southeast Asian blackwaters.
Chub
Chubsucker
Chum Salmon
Cichlid
Cisco
Clarkii Clownfish Amphiprion clarkii Highly variable dark body with two white bars and yellow fins, one of the most widespread anemonefish.
Cleaner Wrasse Labroides dimidiatus Blue-and-black striped wrasse that removes parasites from other fish, from Indo-Pacific reefs.
Climbing Catfish
Climbing Gourami
Climbing Perch Anabas testudineus freshwater aquarium
Clingfish
Clown Loach Chromobotia macracanthus freshwater aquarium
Clown Pleco Panaqolus maccus Small wood-eating pleco with light bands, from the Orinoco basin in Venezuela.
Clown Triggerfish Balistoides conspicillum Black body with large white belly spots and a yellow mouth, a striking predator from the Indo-Pacific.
Clownfish
Cobbler
Cobia
Cockatoo Cichlid Apistogramma cacatuoides Dwarf cichlid, males showing raised spiky dorsal rays and colourful tails, from the Amazon.
Cod
Codlet
Codling
Coelacanth
Coffinfish
Coho Salmon
Coley
Collared Carpetshark
Collared Dogfish
Colorado Squawfish
Combfish
Combtail Gourami
Combtooth Blenny
Common Carp Cyprinus carpio freshwater aquarium
Common Molly Poecilia sphenops Livebearer bred widely as the black molly, native to Central America.
Common Pleco Hypostomus plecostomus Large armoured suckermouth catfish, widely sold small but growing over 40 cm, from South America.
Common Tunny
Conger Eel
Congo Tetra Phenacogrammus interruptus
Convict Blenny
Convict Cichlid Amatitlania nigrofasciata freshwater aquarium
Convict Tang Acanthurus triostegus Silvery-white with several dark vertical bars, a schooling Indo-Pacific surgeonfish reaching about 27 cm.
Cookiecutter Shark
Coolie Loach Pangio semicincta freshwater aquarium
Copperband Butterflyfish Chelmon rostratus
Coral Beauty Centropyge bispinosa
Cornetfish
Corydoras Corydoras
Cow Shark
Cowfish
Cownose Ray Rhinoptera bonasus marine aquarium
Crappie
Creek Chub
Crestfish
Crevice Kelpfish
Croaker
Crocodile Icefish
Crocodile Shark
Crucian Carp
Cuckoo Wrasse
Cusk
Cusk-eel
Cutlassfish
Cutthroat Eel
Cutthroat Trout

D (52)

Dab
Dace
Daggertooth Pike Conger
Damselfish Chromis chromis marine aquarium
Danio
Dartfish
Dealfish
Death Valley Pupfish
Deep-sea Eel
Deep-sea Smelt
Deepwater Cardinalfish
Deepwater Flathead
Deepwater Stingray
Delta Smelt
Demasoni Cichlid Chindongo demasoni Small blue-and-black barred mbuna from Lake Malawi.
Demoiselle
Denison Barb Sahyadria denisonii
Denticle Herring
Desert Pupfish
Desjardin's Sailfin Tang Zebrasoma desjardinii Red Sea and Indian Ocean sailfin with mottled bands and spotted flanks, the Indian Ocean counterpart of velifer.
Devario
Devil Ray
Dhufish
Diamond Goby Valenciennea puellaris Pale sand-sifting goby marked with orange spots and dashes, from the Indo-Pacific.
Diamond Tetra Moenkhausia pittieri Sparkling silvery tetra with iridescent scales and long dorsal fin, from Lake Valencia in Venezuela.
Discus
Dogface Pufferfish Arothron nigropunctatus Rounded grey or yellow puffer with black spots and a dog-like face, from the Indo-Pacific.
Dogfish
Dogfish Shark
Dogteeth Tetra
Dojo Loach Misgurnus anguillicaudatus Elongated cool-water loach also called weather loach, native to East Asia.
Dolly Varden Trout
Dolphin Fish
Domino Damsel Dascyllus trimaculatus Black body with three white spots when young, an Indo-Pacific damselfish that darkens with age.
Dorab Wolf-herring
Dorado
Dory
Dottyback
Dragon Goby Gobioides broussonnetii freshwater aquarium
Dragonet
Dragonfish
Driftfish
Driftwood Catfish
Drum
Duckbill
Duckbill Eel
Dusky Grouper
Dusky Shark
Dwarf Chain Loach Ambastaia sidthimunki Small loach with a chain-like pattern along the back, from the Mekong basin.
Dwarf Gourami Trichogaster lalius freshwater aquarium
Dwarf Loach
Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish Melanotaenia praecox Small silvery-blue rainbowfish with red fins, from New Guinea.

E (35)

Eagle Ray
Earthworm Eel
Eel
Eel Cod
Eel-goby
Eelpout
Eeltail Catfish
Elasmobranch
Electric Catfish Malapterurus electricus freshwater aquarium
Electric Eel Electrophorus electricus freshwater aquarium
Electric Knifefish
Electric Ray
Electric Yellow Cichlid Labidochromis caeruleus
Elephant Fish
Elephant Nose Fish Gnathonemus petersii Dark African fish with a trunk-like chin extension and weak electric sense, from the Congo basin.
Elephantnose Fish
Elver
Ember Parrotfish
Ember Tetra Hyphessobrycon amandae Tiny translucent orange-red tetra reaching about 2 cm, from the Araguaia basin in Brazil.
Emerald Catfish Corydoras splendens freshwater aquarium
Emperor
Emperor Angelfish Pomacanthus imperator marine aquarium
Emperor Bream
Emperor Tetra Nematobrycon palmeri Purplish tetra with a dark stripe and extended central tail rays, from western Colombia.
Endler's Livebearer Poecilia wingei
Engineer Goby Pholidichthys leucotaenia Eel-like fish, black with a white stripe when young, that burrows extensively, from the western Pacific.
Escolar
Eucla Cod
Eulachon
European Chub
European Eel
European Flounder
European Minnow
European Perch
Exquisite Fairy Wrasse Cirrhilabrus exquisitus Green-and-red males with a tail eyespot, a peaceful fairy wrasse from the Indo-Pacific.

F (50)

False Brotula
False Cat Shark
False Moray
False Trevally
Fangtooth
Fathead Sculpin
Featherback
Festivum Mesonauta festivus Cichlid with a diagonal dark stripe through the eye, from South American rivers.
Fierasfer
Filefish
Finback Cat Shark
Fingerfish
Fire Bar Danio
Fire Goby
Firefish Nemateleotris magnifica White-to-orange dartfish with a tall first dorsal spine that darts into holes, from the Indo-Pacific.
Firefish Goby Nemateleotris magnifica
Firemouth Cichlid Thorichthys meeki
Five-banded Barb Desmopuntius pentazona Small barb with five dark vertical bands on a coppery body, from Southeast Asia.
Flabby Whale Fish
Flagblenny
Flagfin
Flagfish
Flagtail
Flame Angelfish Centropyge loricula
Flame Hawkfish Neocirrhites armatus Bright red hawkfish with a dark back stripe that perches among coral, from the Pacific.
Flame Tetra Hyphessobrycon flammeus Reddish tetra with a silvery front, endemic to coastal rivers near Rio de Janeiro.
Flame Wrasse Cirrhilabrus jordani Males red-and-yellow striped, a fairy wrasse endemic to Hawaii and nearby islands.
Flashlight Fish
Flatfish
Flathead
Flathead Catfish
Flier
Flounder
Flying Fish
Flying Gurnard
Footballfish
Forehead Brooder
Four-eyed Fish
Foxface Rabbitfish Siganus vulpinus
French Angelfish Pomacanthus paru marine aquarium
Freshwater Eel
Freshwater Hatchetfish
Freshwater Shark
Frigate Mackerel
Frilled Shark
Frogfish
Frogmouth Catfish
Frontosa Cyphotilapia frontosa Large blue-and-white barred cichlid with a nuchal hump, endemic to Lake Tanganyika.
Fusilier Fish
Fuzzy Dwarf Lionfish Dendrochirus brachypterus Small stocky lionfish with banded fins and venomous spines, from the Indo-Pacific.

G (66)

Galjoen Fish
Ganges Shark
Gar
Garden Eel
Garibaldi
Garpike
German Blue Ram Mikrogeophagus ramirezi
Ghost Fish
Ghost Flathead
Ghost Knifefish
Ghost Pipefish
Ghost Shark
Ghoul
Giant Danio Devario aequipinnatus freshwater aquarium
Giant Gourami Osphronemus goramy freshwater aquarium
Giant Sea Bass
Gibberfish
Gila Trout
Gizzard Shad
Glass Catfish Kryptopterus vitreolus freshwater aquarium
Glass Knifefish Eigenmannia virescens freshwater aquarium
Glassfish freshwater aquarium
Glowlight Danio Danio choprae freshwater aquarium
Glowlight Tetra Hemigrammus erythrozonus
Goatfish
Goblin Shark
Goby
Gold Barb Barbodes semifasciolatus Golden-yellow barb with faint dark bars, an aquarium form of a species from southern China.
Golden Dojo
Golden Loach
Golden Shiner
Golden Trout
Goldeye
Goldfish Carassius auratus freshwater aquarium
Gombessa
Goosefish
Gopher Rockfish
Gourami freshwater aquarium
Grass Carp
Graveldiver
Gray Mullet
Gray Reef Shark
Grayling
Great White Shark
Green Chromis Chromis viridis
Green Neon Tetra Paracheirodon simulans Smaller relative of the neon with a dominant blue-green stripe and reduced red, from the upper Rio Negro.
Green Spotted Puffer Dichotomyctere nigroviridis freshwater aquarium
Green Swordtail Xiphophorus hellerii freshwater aquarium
Green Terror Andinoacara rivulatus Iridescent green-blue cichlid, males developing a nuchal hump, from Ecuador and Peru.
Greeneye
Greenling
Grenadier
Ground Shark
Grouper
Grunion
Grunt
Grunt Sculpin
Grunter
Gudgeon
Guitarfish
Gulf Menhaden
Gulper
Gulper Eel
Gunnel
Guppy freshwater aquarium
Gurnard

H (31)

Haddock
Hagfish
Hairtail
Hake
Halfbeak
Halfmoon
Halibut
Halosaur
Hamlet
Hammerhead Shark
Hammerjaw
Handfish
Hardhead Catfish
Harelip Sucker
Harlequin Rasbora Trigonostigma heteromorpha
Hatchetfish
Hawkfish
Herring
Herring Smelt
Hickory Shad
Hillstream Loach Sewellia lineolata Flattened loach adapted to fast oxygen-rich streams, native to Vietnam.
Hog Sucker
Hoki
Honey Gourami Trichogaster chuna Small gourami, breeding males turning honey-orange, from South Asia.
Horn Shark Heterodontus francisci marine aquarium
Horsefish
Houndshark
Huchen
Humbug Damsel Dascyllus aruanus White body with three black bars, a coral-dwelling damselfish from the Indo-Pacific.
Humuhumunukunukuapua'a
Hussar

I (7)

Icefish
Ide
Ilish (Hilsa)
Inanga
Inconnu
Indian Glassfish Parambassis ranga Transparent-bodied fish showing its skeleton, native to South Asia.
Iridescent Shark Pangasianodon hypophthalmus Large migratory catfish sold small but reaching over a metre, native to the Mekong basin.

J (12)

Jack
Jack Dempsey
Jackfish
Japanese Eel
Javelin
Jawfish
Jellynose Fish
Jewel Tetra
Jewelfish
Jewfish
John Dory
Julii Cory Corydoras julii Cory with a fine network of dark spots and lines, from northeastern Brazil.

K (22)

Kafue Pike
Kahawai
Kaluga
Kanyu
Kelp Perch
Kelpfish
Keyhole Cichlid Cleithracara maronii Peaceful tan cichlid with a keyhole-shaped side marking, from northeastern South America.
Killifish
King of the Herrings
King-of-the-salmon
Kingfish
Kissing Gourami Helostoma temminckii freshwater aquarium
Klein's Butterflyfish Chaetodon kleinii Yellow-brown body with faint bars and a dark eye band, a hardy Indo-Pacific butterflyfish.
Knifefish
Knifejaw
Koi Cyprinus carpio freshwater aquarium
Kokanee
Kokopu
Kole Tang Ctenochaetus strigosus Dark brown bristletooth surgeonfish with fine yellow lines and a gold eye ring, from Hawaii.
Koran Angelfish Pomacanthus semicirculatus Adults greenish with fine spots; juveniles blue with white semicircle bars, from the Indo-Pacific.
Kribensis Pelvicachromis pulcher West African dwarf cichlid, females flushing a purple-red belly when breeding.
Kuhli Loach Pangio semicincta freshwater aquarium

L (63)

Labyrinth Fish
Ladyfish
Lake Chub
Lake Trout
Lake Whitefish
Lampfish
Lamprey
Lancetfish
Lanternfish
Largemouth Bass
Lawnmower Blenny Salarias fasciatus Mottled brown algae-grazing blenny with a blunt head, from Indo-Pacific reef flats.
Leaffish
Least Killifish Heterandria formosa One of the smallest fish, a livebearer under 3 cm from the southeastern United States.
Leatherjacket
Lefteye Flounder
Lemon Shark
Lemon Sole
Lemon Tetra Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis freshwater aquarium
Lemonpeel Angelfish Centropyge flavissima Bright yellow dwarf angel with a blue eye ring and blue gill margin, from the Pacific.
Lenok
Leopard Danio
Leopard Wrasse Macropharyngodon meleagris White body densely spotted with dark-ringed orange marks, a sand-sleeping wrasse from the Pacific.
Licorice Gourami Parosphromenus deissneri Small dark gourami with red-and-blue finnage, from blackwater habitats on Bangka Island.
Lightfish
Limia
Lined Seahorse Hippocampus erectus Upright grasping seahorse of variable colour where males brood young, from the western Atlantic.
Lined Sole
Ling
Ling Cod
Lionfish
Livebearer
Lizardfish
Loach
Loach Catfish Aspidoras rochai freshwater aquarium
Loach Goby
Loach Minnow
Long-finned Char
Long-finned Pike
Long-finned Sand Diver
Long-whiskered Catfish
Longfin
Longfin Dragonfish
Longfin Escolar
Longfin Smelt
Longjaw Mudsucker
Longneck Eel
Longnose Butterflyfish Forcipiger flavissimus Bright yellow with a long tubular snout and a black eye spot, from the Indo-Pacific.
Longnose Chimaera
Longnose Dace
Longnose Hawkfish Oxycirrhites typus
Longnose Lancetfish
Longnose Sucker
Longnose Whiptail Catfish
Loosejaw
Lost River Sucker
Louvar
Loweye Catfish
Lubbock's Fairy Wrasse Cirrhilabrus lubbocki Multicoloured small fairy wrasse in yellow, pink and blue tones, from the western Pacific.
Luderick
Luminous Hake
Lumpsucker
Lungfish
Lyretail Anthias Pseudanthias squamipinnis Orange-pink plankton-feeding schooler; males more magenta, a haremic reef fish from the Indo-Pacific.

M (63)

Mackerel
Mackerel Shark
Madagascar Rainbowfish Bedotia geayi Slender silvery fish with red-and-black tail edges, endemic to eastern Madagascar.
Madtom
Mahi-mahi
Mahseer
Mail-cheeked Fish
Majestic Angelfish Pomacanthus navarchus Blue and yellow body with a bold contrasting saddle, from the western Pacific reefs.
Mako Shark
Man-of-war Fish
Mandarin Dragonet Synchiropus splendidus Ornate green body with maze-like orange and blue markings, a slow bottom-feeder from the western Pacific.
Mandarinfish Synchiropus splendidus marine aquarium
Manefish
Manta Ray
Marbled Hatchetfish Carnegiella strigata Surface fish with a deep keeled belly and marbled pattern, from the Amazon basin.
Marblefish
Marine Hatchetfish
Marlin
Maroon Clownfish Premnas biaculeatus Largest anemonefish, deep maroon with white or gold bars and a cheek spine, from the Indo-Pacific.
Masu Salmon
McCosker's Flasher Wrasse Paracheilinus mccoskeri Orange-and-blue males that flash bright colours when displaying, a small wrasse from the Indian Ocean.
Medaka Oryzias latipes freshwater aquarium
Medusafish
Megamouth Shark
Melanurus Wrasse Halichoeres melanurus Green body with pink-and-blue lines, a sand-diving wrasse from the western Pacific.
Menhaden
Merluccid Hake
Mexican Golden Trout
Midas Blenny Ecsenius midas Golden-yellow blenny that swims in the open mimicking anthias, from the Indian Ocean and Red Sea.
Midshipman Fish
Milkfish
Minnow
Minnow of the Deep
Modoc Sucker
Mojarra
Mola Mola
Molly Poecilia sphenops
Monkeyface Prickleback
Monkfish
Mooneye
Moonfish
Moonlight Gourami Trichopodus microlepis Silvery gourami with a slightly concave forehead, native to the Mekong basin.
Moorish Idol Zanclus cornutus marine aquarium
Mora
Moray Eel
Morid Cod
Morwong
Moses Sole
Mosquitofish
Mouthbrooder
Mozambique Tilapia
Mrigal
Mud Catfish
Mud Minnow
Mudfish
Mudskipper
Mudsucker
Mullet
Mummichog
Murray Cod
Muskellunge
Mustache Triggerfish
Mustard Eel

N (25)

Naked-back Knifefish
Nase
Naso Tang Naso lituratus Grey body with orange lips, a yellow-edged black face and streamer tail tips, from the Pacific.
Needlefish
Neon Goby Elacatinus oceanops Small black goby with electric-blue side stripes that cleans other fish, from the Caribbean.
Neon Tetra Paracheirodon innesi freshwater aquarium
New World Rivuline
New Zealand Sand Diver
New Zealand Smelt
Nibble Fish
Niger Triggerfish Odonus niger Blue-green body with a lyre-shaped tail and reddish teeth, a plankton-feeder from the Indo-Pacific.
Noodlefish
North American Darter
North American Freshwater Catfish
North Pacific Daggertooth
Northern Anchovy
Northern Clingfish
Northern Lampfish
Northern Pike Esox lucius freshwater aquarium
Northern Sea Robin
Northern Squawfish
Northern Stargazer
Notothen
Nurse Shark Ginglymostoma cirratum marine aquarium
Nurseryfish

O (24)

Oarfish
Ocean Perch
Ocean Sunfish
Oceanic Whitetip Shark
Ocellaris Clownfish Amphiprion ocellaris Orange with three white bars and thin black outlines, the common Indo-Pacific 'Nemo' species reaching about 8 cm.
Odessa Barb Pethia padamya Silvery barb, males showing a broad red band along the flank, from Myanmar.
Oilfish
Old World Knifefish
Oldwife
Olive Flounder
Opah
Opaleye
Orange Roughy
Orange Spotted Filefish Oxymonacanthus longirostris Blue-green body dotted with orange and a long snout, a coral-polyp feeder from the Indo-Pacific.
Orangespine Unicorn Fish
Orangestriped Triggerfish
Orbicular Batfish
Orbicular Velvetfish
Oregon Chub
Orfe
Oriental Loach
Oscar Astronotus ocellatus freshwater aquarium
Otocinclus Otocinclus
Owens Pupfish

P (96)

Pacific Albacore
Pacific Cod
Pacific Hake
Pacific Herring
Pacific Lamprey
Pacific Rudderfish
Pacific Salmon
Pacific Saury
Pacific Trout
Pacific Viperfish
Paddlefish
Pajama Cardinalfish Sphaeramia nematoptera
Pancake Batfish
Panda Cory Corydoras panda Pale cory with black eye patches and tail markings, from the Ucayali basin in Peru.
Panga
Paradise Fish Macropodus opercularis freshwater aquarium
Parasitic Catfish
Parore
Parrotfish
Pea Puffer Carinotetraodon travancoricus Tiny freshwater pufferfish under 3 cm, endemic to rivers in Kerala, India.
Peacock Cichlid Aulonocara stuartgranti Male-vivid blue-and-orange Lake Malawi cichlid that sifts sand for food.
Peacock Flounder Bothus lunatus marine aquarium
Peamouth
Pearl Danio Danio albolineatus freshwater aquarium
Pearl Gourami Trichopodus leerii
Pearl Perch
Pearleye
Pearlfish
Pearlscale Angelfish Centropyge vroliki Pale front grading to dark rear with a scalloped edge, a dwarf angel from the western Pacific.
Pelagic Cod
Pelican Eel
Pelican Gulper
Pencil Catfish
Pencilfish
Pencilsmelt
Penguin Tetra Thayeria boehlkei Silvery tetra with a black stripe running into the lower tail lobe, swims at a head-up angle.
Peppered Cory Corydoras paleatus Mottled grey-green cory, one of the oldest kept aquarium catfish, from southern South America.
Peppered Corydoras Corydoras paleatus freshwater aquarium
Perch
Percula Clownfish Amphiprion percula Similar to ocellaris but with thicker black margins around the white bars, native to the western Pacific.
Peters' Elephantnose Fish
Picasso Triggerfish Rhinecanthus aculeatus Cream body with bold angular lines and a painted face, a Hawaiian and Indo-Pacific triggerfish.
Pickerel
Pictus Catfish Pimelodus pictus Silver catfish with black spots and long barbels, from the Amazon and Orinoco basins.
Pigfish
Pike
Pike Conger
Pike Eel
Pikeblenny
Pikeperch
Pilchard
Pilot Fish Naucrates ductor marine aquarium
Pineapplefish
Pineconefish
Pink Salmon
Pink Skunk Clownfish Amphiprion perideraion Pale pink-orange with a thin white stripe along the back and one head bar, from the western Pacific.
Pipefish
Piranha
Pirarucu Arapaima gigas freshwater aquarium
Pirate Perch
Plaice
Platy
Platyfish
Pleco
Plownose Chimaera
Poacher
Pollock
Pollyfish
Pomfret
Pompano
Pompano Dolphinfish
Ponyfish
Popeye Catalufa
Porbeagle Shark
Porcupine Pufferfish Diodon holocanthus Tan puffer covered in spines that erect when it inflates, found circumtropically.
Porcupinefish
Porgy
Port Jackson Shark Heterodontus portusjacksoni marine aquarium
Potter's Angelfish Centropyge potteri Orange body overlaid with blue vermiculations, a dwarf angelfish endemic to Hawaii.
Powder Blue Tang Acanthurus leucosternon
Powder Brown Tang Acanthurus japonicus Brown body with a white cheek mark and yellow-banded fins, native to the western Pacific.
Powen
Prickleback
Pricklefish
Prickly Shark
Prowfish
Pufferfish
Pumpkinseed
Pupfish
Purple Firefish Nemateleotris decora Pale body with purple head and fins, a hover-and-dart dartfish from the western Pacific.
Purple Tang Zebrasoma xanthurum Deep purple body with a bright yellow tail, native to the Red Sea and Arabian Sea.
Pygmy Cory Corydoras pygmaeus Tiny schooling cory about 2.5 cm with a dark lateral stripe, from the Madeira basin.
Pygmy Rasbora Boraras maculatus Tiny reddish rasbora with dark blotches, from Southeast Asian blackwaters.
Pygmy Sunfish
Pyramid Butterflyfish Hemitaurichthys polylepis White triangular flank patch on a yellow-and-brown body, a plankton-feeding schooler from the Pacific.
Píntano

Q (6)

Queen Angelfish Holacanthus ciliaris Blue and yellow body with a ringed 'crown' spot on the forehead, from the western Atlantic.
Queen Danio
Queen Parrotfish
Queen Triggerfish
Quillback
Quillfish

R (75)

Rabbitfish
Raccoon Butterfly Fish
Raccoon Butterflyfish Chaetodon lunula Yellow-brown body with a black eye mask edged in white, widespread across the Indo-Pacific.
Ragfish
Rainbow Shark Epalzeorhynchos frenatum
Rainbow Trout
Rainbowfish
Randall's Goby Amblyeleotris randalli White with orange bars and a tall spotted dorsal fin, a shrimp-associated goby from the western Pacific.
Rasbora
Ratfish
Rattail
Ray
Razorback Sucker
Razorfish
Rectangular Triggerfish Rhinecanthus rectangulus Tan body with a bold dark wedge and lines, the Hawaiian humuhumu, from the Indo-Pacific.
Red Grouper
Red Rainbowfish Glossolepis incisus Deep-bodied rainbowfish, males turning brick-red, from Lake Sentani in West Papua.
Red Salmon
Red Snapper
Red Velvetfish
Red Whalefish
Red-tailed Black Shark Epalzeorhynchos bicolor Black cyprinid with a bright red tail, endemic to Thailand and rare in the wild.
Redfin Perch
Redfish
Redhorse Sucker
Redlip Blenny
Redmouth Whalefish
Redtail Catfish Phractocephalus hemioliopterus Large Amazonian catfish with a red tail and white belly, growing over a metre.
Redtooth Triggerfish
Reedfish Erpetoichthys calabaricus freshwater aquarium
Reef Triggerfish
Regal Angelfish Pygoplites diacanthus
Remora
Requiem Shark
Ribbon Eel
Ribbon Sawtail Fish
Ribbonfish
Rice Eel
Ricefish
Ridgehead
Riffle Dace
Righteye Flounder
Rio Grande Perch
River Loach
River Shark
River Stingray
Rivuline
Roach
Roanoke Bass
Rock Bass
Rock Beauty Holacanthus tricolor marine aquarium
Rock Cod
Rock Gunnel
Rocket Danio
Rockfish
Rockling
Rockweed Gunnel
Rohu
Ronquil
Roosterfish
Ropefish Erpetoichthys calabaricus Eel-like African fish with an elongated body and lung-like air breathing, from West Africa.
Rosy Barb Pethia conchonius
Rough Scad
Rough Sculpin
Roughy
Round Herring
Round Stingray Urobatis halleri marine aquarium
Round Whitefish
Roundhead
Royal Gramma Gramma loreto
Rudd
Rudderfish
Ruffe
Rummy-nose Tetra Hemigrammus rhodostomus
Russian Sturgeon

S (187)

Saber-toothed Blenny
Sabertooth
Sabertooth Fish
Sablefish
Sacramento Blackfish
Sacramento Splittail
Saddleback Clownfish Amphiprion polymnus Dark brown with a white head bar and a saddle-shaped mid-body patch, found on Indo-Pacific soft bottoms.
Sailfin Molly Poecilia latipinna Livebearer with a tall dorsal fin in males, from coastal southeastern United States and Mexico.
Sailfin Silverside
Sailfin Tang Zebrasoma velifer Tall banded body with large sail-like dorsal and anal fins, a Pacific surgeonfish reaching about 40 cm.
Sailfish
Salamanderfish
Salmon
Salmon Shark
Sand Dab
Sand Diver
Sand Eel
Sand Goby
Sand Knifefish
Sand Lance
Sand Stargazer
Sand Tiger
Sand Tilefish
Sandbar Shark
Sandburrower
Sandfish
Sandperch
Sandroller
Sarcastic Fringehead
Sardine
Sargassum Fish
Sauger
Saury
Saw Shark
Sawfish
Sawtooth Eel
Scabbard Fish
Scaly Dragonfish
Scat
Scissortail Rasbora Rasbora trilineata freshwater aquarium
Scooter Dragonet Synchiropus ocellatus Mottled brown dragonet that hops along the substrate hunting copepods, from the western Pacific.
Scopas Tang Zebrasoma scopas Brown two-toned body darkening toward the rear, a widespread Indo-Pacific surgeonfish reaching about 20 cm.
Scorpionfish
Sculpin
Scup
Sea Bass
Sea Bream
Sea Catfish
Sea Chub
Sea Devil
Sea Dragon
Sea Lamprey
Sea Raven
Sea Snail
Sea Toad
Seahorse
Seamoth
Searobin
Senegal Bichir Polypterus senegalus Primitive elongated African fish with a row of dorsal finlets, able to breathe air.
Sergeant Major
Serpae Tetra Hyphessobrycon eques
Sevan Trout
Severum Heros efasciatus Deep-bodied cichlid, often gold or green, from the Amazon basin.
Shad
Shark
Sharksucker
Sharpnose Puffer
Sheatfish
Sheepshead
Sheepshead Minnow
Shiner
Shortnose Chimaera
Shortnose Sucker
Shovelnose Sturgeon Scaphirhynchus platorynchus freshwater aquarium
Shrimpfish
Siamese Algae Eater Crossocheilus oblongus
Siamese Fighting Fish
Sillago
Silver Carp
Silver Dollar Metynnis argenteus freshwater aquarium
Silver Dory
Silver Hake
Silver Hatchetfish Gasteropelecus sternicla Silvery surface-dwelling fish with a sharply keeled chest, from northern South America.
Silver Tip Tetra Hasemania nana Small coppery tetra with white-tipped fins, native to the São Francisco basin in Brazil.
Silverside
Silvertip Tetra Hasemania nana freshwater aquarium
Sind Danio
Six-line Wrasse Pseudocheilinus hexataenia
Sixgill Ray
Sixgill Shark
Skate
Skilfish
Skipjack Tuna
Skunk Clownfish Amphiprion akallopisos Orange-pink with a single white dorsal stripe and no head bar, from the Indian Ocean.
Sleeper
Sleeper Shark
Slender Mola
Slender Snipe Eel
Slickhead
Slimehead
Slimy Mackerel
Slimy Sculpin
Slipmouth
Smalleye Squaretail
Smalltooth Sawfish
Smelt
Smelt-whiting
Smooth Dogfish
Snailfish
Snake Eel
Snake Mackerel
Snakehead
Snapper
Snipe Eel
Snipefish
Snook
Snowflake Eel Echidna nebulosa White moray patterned with black-and-yellow blotches, a hardy crustacean-eater from the Indo-Pacific.
Snubnose Eel
Snubnose Parasitic Eel
Sockeye Salmon
Soldierfish
Sole
South American Darter
South American Lungfish Lepidosiren paradoxa freshwater aquarium
Southern Dolly Varden
Southern Flounder
Southern Hake
Southern Sandfish
Southern Smelt
Spadefish
Spaghetti Eel
Spanish Mackerel
Sparkling Gourami Trichopsis pumila Tiny gourami with iridescent spots that can produce audible croaks, from Southeast Asia.
Spearfish
Speckled Trout
Spiderfish
Spikefish
Spinefoot
Spiny Basslet
Spiny Dogfish
Spiny Dwarf Catfish
Spiny Eel
Spinyfin
Splitfin
Spookfish
Spottail Pinfish
Spotted Climbing Perch
Spotted Danio Danio nigrofasciatus freshwater aquarium
Spotted Mandarin Synchiropus picturatus Green body with dark blue-ringed spots, a psychedelic dragonet from the western Pacific.
Sprat
Springfish
Squarehead Catfish
Squaretail
Squawfish
Squeaker
Squirrelfish
Staghorn Sculpin
Stargazer
Starry Flounder
Steelhead
Sterbai Cory Corydoras sterbai Dark cory patterned with white spots and orange pectoral fins, from the Guaporé basin.
Stickleback
Stingfish
Stingray
Stonecat
Stonefish
Stoneroller Minnow
Stream Catfish
Striped Bass
Striped Burrfish
Sturgeon
Sucker
Suckermouth Armored Catfish
Summer Flounder
Sundaland Noodlefish
Sunfish
Surf Sardine
Surfperch
Surgeonfish
Swallower
Swamp-eel
Swampfish
Sweeper
Swissguard Basslet Liopropoma rubre Yellow body with red-brown horizontal stripes and tail spots, a secretive fish from the Caribbean.
Swordfish
Swordtail
Sábalo

T (72)

Tadpole Cod
Tadpole Fish
Tailor
Tailspot Blenny Ecsenius stigmatura Small blenny with a dark tail-base spot and a face stripe, from the western Pacific.
Taimen
Talbot's Damsel Chrysiptera talboti Pale pinkish body with a yellow head and a dorsal fin spot, from the western Pacific.
Tang
Tapetail
Tarpon
Tarwhine
Telescopefish
Temperate Bass
Temperate Ocean-bass
Temperate Perch
Tench Tinca tinca freshwater aquarium
Tenpounder
Tenuis
Tetra
Thornfish
Thorny Catfish
Thread-tail
Threadfin
Threadfin Bream
Threadfin Rainbowfish Iriatherina werneri Small fish with elongated thread-like fin rays in males, from New Guinea and northern Australia.
Three Spot Gourami Trichopodus trichopterus freshwater aquarium
Three-spot Gourami Trichopodus trichopterus Bluish gourami with two body spots plus the eye counted as a third, from Southeast Asia.
Three-toothed Puffer
Threespine Stickleback
Thresher Shark
Tidewater Goby
Tiger Barb Puntigrus tetrazona freshwater aquarium
Tiger Shark
Tiger Shovelnose Catfish
Tigerfish
Tigerperch
Tilapia
Tilefish
Tinfoil Barb Barbonymus schwanenfeldii
Titan Triggerfish
Toadfish
Tomato Clownfish Amphiprion frenatus Deep red-orange body with a single white head bar; females darken and can reach around 14 cm.
Tommy Ruff
Tompot Blenny
Tonguefish
Tope
Topminnow
Torpedo
Torrent Catfish
Torrent Fish
Trahira
Treefish
Trevally
Triggerfish
Triplefin Blenny
Triplespine
Tripletail
Tripod Fish
Trout
Trout Cod
Trout-perch
Trumpeter
Trumpetfish
Trunkfish
Tube-eye
Tube-snout
Tubeblenny
Tubeshoulder
Tui Chub
Tuna
Turbot
Twin-Spot Goby Signigobius biocellatus Sand-sifting goby with two large dorsal eyespots, from the western Pacific.
Two Spotted Goby

U (3)

Uaru Uaru amphiacanthoides freshwater aquarium
Unicorn Fish
Upside-down Catfish Synodontis nigriventris freshwater aquarium

V (12)

Valentini Puffer Canthigaster valentini Small sharp-nosed puffer with dark saddles, from the Indo-Pacific and mimicked by a filefish.
Vanjaram
Variatus Platy Xiphophorus variatus Slightly larger, cooler-tolerant platy species from eastern Mexico.
Velvet Belly Lanternshark
Velvet Catfish
Velvetfish
Vendace
Venustus Cichlid Nimbochromis venustus Large predatory Malawi cichlid with a giraffe-like blotched pattern.
Vermilion Snapper
Vimba
Viperfish
Volitans Lionfish Pterois volitans Striped body with large fan-like pectorals and venomous dorsal spines, a predator from the Indo-Pacific.

W (36)

Wahoo
Walking Catfish Clarias batrachus freshwater aquarium
Wallago
Walleye
Walleye Pollock
Walu
Warmouth
Warty Angler
Waryfish
Waspfish
Weasel Shark
Weather Loach Misgurnus anguillicaudatus
Weatherfish
Weever
Weeverfish
Wels Catfish
Whale Catfish
Whale Shark
Whalefish
Whiff
White Cloud Mountain Minnow Tanichthys albonubes
White Croaker
White Marlin
White Shark
Whitebait
Whitefish
Whitetip Reef Shark Triaenodon obesus marine aquarium
Whiting
Wobbegong
Wolf-eel
Wolf-herring
Wolffish
Worm Eel
Wormfish
Wrasse
Wrymouth

X (1)

X-ray Tetra Pristella maxillaris Translucent tetra with black-and-yellow dorsal and anal fin markings, from coastal South America.

Y (36)

Yellow Assessor Assessor flavissimus Bright yellow basslet that often swims upside down under ledges, from the western Pacific.
Yellow Bass
Yellow Boxfish Ostracion cubicus Cube-shaped fish, bright yellow with black spots when young, from the Indo-Pacific.
Yellow Clown Goby Gobiodon okinawae Tiny bright-yellow goby that perches on coral branches, from the western Pacific.
Yellow Coris Wrasse Halichoeres chrysus Bright yellow wrasse with small dorsal eyespots that burrows in sand, from the Indo-Pacific.
Yellow Jack
Yellow Moray
Yellow Perch
Yellow Tang Zebrasoma flavescens marine aquarium
Yellow Watchman Goby Cryptocentrus cinctus Yellow goby with blue speckles that shares a burrow with pistol shrimp, from the western Pacific.
Yellow Weaver
Yellow-and-black Triplefin
Yellow-edged Moray
Yellow-eye Mullet
Yellowback Fusilier Caesio xanthonota marine aquarium
Yellowbanded Perch
Yellowedge Grouper
Yellowfin Croaker
Yellowfin Cutthroat Trout
Yellowfin Grouper
Yellowfin Pike
Yellowfin Surgeonfish
Yellowfin Tuna
Yellowhead Jawfish Opistognathus aurifrons marine aquarium
Yellowmargin Triggerfish
Yellowtail
Yellowtail Amberjack
Yellowtail Barracuda
Yellowtail Catfish
Yellowtail Clownfish
Yellowtail Coris Coris gaimard Adults blue-green with a yellow tail; juveniles orange with white saddles, from the Indo-Pacific.
Yellowtail Damsel Chrysiptera parasema Deep blue body with a bright yellow tail, a small reef damsel from the western Pacific.
Yellowtail Horse Mackerel
Yellowtail Kingfish
Yellowtail Snapper
Yoyo Loach Botia almorhae Silvery loach with a variable dark pattern resembling letters, from northern India and Nepal.

Z (15)

Zander
Zebra Bullhead Shark
Zebra Danio Danio rerio freshwater aquarium
Zebra Lionfish Dendrochirus zebra marine aquarium
Zebra Loach Botia striata freshwater aquarium
Zebra Mbuna Maylandia zebra Variable-coloured rock-dwelling cichlid from Lake Malawi.
Zebra Moray Gymnomuraena zebra Dark eel banded with many thin white rings, a docile shellfish-crusher from the Indo-Pacific.
Zebra Oto Otocinclus cocama freshwater aquarium
Zebra Pleco freshwater aquarium
Zebra Shark Stegostoma fasciatum marine aquarium
Zebra Tilapia
Zebra Turkeyfish
Zebrafish
Ziege
Zingel
No fish name matches that. Try a shorter spelling.

Fish names — common questions

Short, straight answers to what people ask about naming, keeping and telling fish apart.

How many fish are on this list?

This A–Z lists 1275 real fish by common name, grouped from A to Z, with the scientific name shown where we have it. It is a reference list of the named and commonly-kept fish, not the whole of science — more than 34,000 fish species have been described worldwide, which is more than all other backboned animals put together.

What are the best fish for beginners?

Hardy community fish are the usual first choice: guppies, platies, mollies, zebra danios, neon tetras, corydoras catfish and the betta. They forgive the small water-quality mistakes everyone makes while learning, stay a manageable size, and get along with tank-mates. The popular-fish cards above mark each one Beginner, Intermediate or Advanced so you can see at a glance what a fish will ask of you.

What is the difference between freshwater and marine fish?

Freshwater fish live in rivers, lakes and ponds; marine (saltwater) fish live in the sea and need salt mixed into their water and steadier, cleaner conditions, so a marine tank costs more and asks more of the keeper. Most people start with freshwater. Never mix the two — a marine fish cannot survive in fresh water, and a freshwater fish cannot survive in salt.

What is the most popular aquarium fish?

The betta (Siamese fighting fish) and the goldfish are among the most kept fish of all, and the guppy and neon tetra are the classic community-tank starters. Popularity comes down to colour, how hardy a fish is, and how easily it shares a tank with others.

Can all of these fish live together?

No — always match water type, temperament and adult size. A peaceful neon tetra and an aggressive Oscar do not mix, a marine clownfish cannot share a freshwater tank, and a fish that grows to 30 cm needs room a small tank cannot give. Check the water, size and temperament badges on each popular fish before you put any two together.

Are the scientific names correct?

Yes — each fish shows its binomial (genus and species) where we have it, taken from published species lists. Common names change from region to region and one fish can have several, so the scientific name is the reliable way to be certain which fish you mean.

How this list is put together

Every name here is a real fish, taken from published species lists — no invented names and no padded count. Photos are shown only where we have one under an open licence, credited to its author. We add to it in careful batches, never as a thin dump.

Animals A–Z, with picturesThe same picture-led A–Z for land animals — mammals, reptiles and more.Birds A–ZBrowse birds by name, each with a clear photo and quick facts.Pet names, by meaningChoosing a name for a pet fish, dog or cat? Browse names with real meanings.