Popular Freshwater Aquarium Fish

The Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens), also known as the "betta fish" or just "betta", is one of the most popular species of freshwater aquarium fish. It is native to the rice paddies of Thailand and Cambodia and called pla-kad or trey krem ("Fighting Fish") in its native [Thai/Khmer].

Discus (Symphysodon spp.) are a genus of three species of cichlid freshwater fishes native to the Amazon River basin. Discus are popular as aquarium fish and their aquaculture in several countries in Asia is a major industry.

Goldfish (Carassius auratus) are small ornamental freshwater fish that are commonly kept as pets. Goldfish were one of the earliest breeds of fish to be domesticated and are still one of the most commonly kept fish in aquariums and outdoor water gardens.

The guppy (Poecilia reticulata), also known as the millionfish, is one of the most popular freshwater aquarium fish species in the world. It is a small adaegus member of the Poecilidae family (females 4-6 centimetres long, males 2½–3½ centimetres long) and like all other members of the fa…

The paradise fish or paradise gouramis (Macropodus opercularis), are small freshwater labyrinth fish found in ditches and paddy fields in East Asia, ranging from the Korean Peninsula to Northern Vietnam.

The dwarf gourami, Colisa lalia, has an almost translucent blue color, with vertical red to dark orange stripes. In its native range, it is dried for food and kept as an aquarium fish. It has become highly popular for aquaria.

The Green swordtail (Xiphophorus hellerii) is a species of freshwater fish in family Poecilidae of order Cyprinodontiformes. It is also called Red swordtail. A live-bearer, it is closely related to the southern platyfish or "platy" (X. maculatus) and can interbreed with it. It is native to an area o…

The Green Barb or Chinese Barb (Puntius semifasciolatus) is a subtropical freshwater fish belonging to the minnow family (Cyprinidae). Its native habitat is the Red River basin in southeast China. This species was originally named Barbus semifasciolatus, and is also referred to as Capoeta semifascio…

The Red-bellied piranha (Pygocentrus nattereri) is a species of piranha. This species lives in the Amazon River Basin, coastal rivers of north-eastern Brazil, and the basin of the Paraguay, Paraná and Essequibo Rivers. The red-bellied piranha has the reputation for being one of the most ferocious…

Poecilia sphenops is a species of fish, of the genus Poecilia, known under the common name Molly; to distinguish it from its congeners, it is sometimes called Short-finned Molly or Common Molly. They inhabit fresh water streams, coastal brackish and marine waters of Mexico. The wild-type fish are a …

The Southern Platyfish, Common Platy or Moonfish (Xiphophorus maculatus) is a species of freshwater fish in family Poecilidae of order Cyprinodontiformes. A live-bearer, it is closely related to the green swordtail (X. helleri) and can interbreed with it. It is native to an area of North and Central…

Pterophyllum is a small genus of freshwater fish from the family Cichlidae known to most aquarists as "Angelfish". All Pterophyllum species originate from the Amazon River, Orinoco River and Essequibo River basins in tropical South America. The three species of Pterophyllum are unusually shaped for …

The asian arowana is referred to several varieties of freshwater fish all in the genus Scleropages. Some sources differentiate these varieties into multiple species, while others consider the different strains to belong to a single species, Scleropages formosus. They have several other common names,…

Maylandia lombardoi, is a 13 cm (5 in) freshwater fish from the family Cichlidae, the species is popular in the aquarium hobby where it is sold under a variety of common names including: lombardoi, kenyi or kennyi. It is endemic to the rocky shores of Mbenji Island, Lake Malawi in east Africa. The s…

Pelvicachromis pulcher is a freshwater fish of the cichlid family, endemic to Nigeria and Cameroon. The species is popular amongst aquarium hobbyists, and is most commonly sold under the name kribensis, although the species has other common names, including various derivatives …

The Flame Tetra (Hyphessobrycon flammeus), also known as the Red Tetra or Von Rio Tetra, is a small freshwater fish of the characin family Characidae of order Characiformes. The species was first introduced as aquarium fish in 1920 by C. Bruening, Hamburg, Germany, and formally described in 1924 by …

Corydoras paleatus is a species of catfish (order Siluriformes) of the family Callichthyidae. Its common names include peppered cat, pepper cory or salt & pepper cory. It originates from the lower Paraná River basin and coastal rivers in Uruguay and Brazil.

The Asian glass catfish or ghost fish, Kryptopterus minor, is a transparent freshwater aquarium fish. Body lengths can range up to 8 centimetres in nature, but are usually less in aquarium specimens and average around 6.8 centimetres. This species is often misidentified as Kryptopterus bicirrhis, bu…

The spotted barb or common barb, Puntius binotatus, is a tropical freshwater fish belonging to the Cyprininae sub-family of the (Cyprinidae) family. It originates in Asia, in Myanmar and the Mekong of Thailand through Indonesia. It is has also become established as an exotic species in Palau. It was…

Discus (Symphysodon spp.) are a genus of three species of cichlid freshwater fishes native to the Amazon River basin. Discus are popular as aquarium fish and their aquaculture in several countries in Asia is a major industry.

The cardinal tetra, Paracheirodon axelrodi, is a freshwaterfish of the characin family (familyCharacidae) of order Characiformes. It is nativeto the upper Orinoco and Negro Rivers in South America.

Cyphotilapia frontosa is a fish from the cichlid family native to Lake Tanganyika in East Africa. C. frontosa is endemic to Lake Tanganyika and is widespread in the northern half of the lake, whereas the closely related Cyphotilapia gibberosa inhabits the southern half of the lake. Unlike many cichl…

The three spot gourami, Trichogaster trichopterus, is a labyrinth fish. The natural coloration of this fish gets its name from the two spots along each side of its body in line with the eye, considered the third spot. Marketed fresh or salted and pickled, they are also popular in …

Astronotus ocellatus is a species of fish from the cichlid family known under a variety of common names including oscar, tiger oscar, velvet cichlid, or marble cichlid. In South America, where the species naturally resides, A. ocellatus are often found for sale as a food fish in the local markets.

The silver arowana, Osteoglossum bicirrhosum, sometimes spelled arawana, is a freshwater bony fish of the family Osteoglossidae, commonly kept in aquaria. The term "Osteoglossum" means "bone-tongued" and "bicirrhosum" means "two barbels" (from the Greek language).