Collecting Taxonomy...
💡 Tip: Contribute to species pages to earn XP!
The Living Encyclopedia
Explore our comprehensive database of reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates. Discover detailed care guides, morph varieties, and community setups.
fish
Goldfish
Carassius auratus
The goldfish is a freshwater fish in the family Cyprinidae of the order Cypriniformes. It is commonly kept as a pet in indoor aquariums, and is one of the most popular aquarium fish. Goldfish released into the wild have become an invasive pest in parts of North America and Australia.
View Profile →
fish
Betta Fish
Betta splendens
The Siamese fighting fish, commonly known as the Siamese fighter, or locally as the betta, is a freshwater fish native to Southeast Asia, namely Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. It is one of 76 species of the genus Betta, but the only one eponymously called "betta", owing to its global popularity as a pet; Betta splendens are among the most popular aquarium fish in the world, due to their diverse and colorful morphology and relatively low maintenance.
View Profile →
fish
Guppy
Poecilia reticulata
The guppy, also known as the millionfish or rainbow fish, is a member of the family Poeciliidae and, akin to most New World members of the family, is considered a livebearer. Male guppies, which are smaller than females, have ornamental caudal and dorsal fins. Wild guppies generally feed on a variety of food sources, including benthic algae and the larvae of aquatic insects.
View Profile →
M
fish
Molly
Poecilia sphenops
Molly or mollies may refer to:
View Profile →
fish
Platy
Xiphophorus maculatus
The southern platyfish, common platy, or moonfish is a species of freshwater fish in family Poeciliidae of order Cyprinodontiformes. A live-bearer, it is closely related to the green swordtail and can interbreed with it. It is native to an area of North and Central America stretching from Veracruz, Mexico, to northern Belize.
View Profile →
fish
Swordtail
Xiphophorus hellerii
The green swordtail is a species of freshwater/brackish fish in family Poeciliidae of order Cyprinodontiformes. A live-bearer, it is closely related to the southern platyfish or 'platy' (X. maculatus) and can crossbreed with it. It is native to an area of North and Central America stretching from Veracruz, Mexico, to northwestern Honduras.
View Profile →
fish
Tetra
Paracheirodon innesi
The neon tetra is a species of freshwater fish belonging to the family Acestrorhamphidae, the American characins, of the order Characiformes. The type species of its genus, it is native to blackwater and clearwater streams in the Amazon basin of South America. Its bright colouring makes the fish visible to conspecifics in the dark blackwater streams, and is also the main reason for its popularity among freshwater fish hobbyists, with neon tetras being one of the most widely kept tropical fish in the world.
View Profile →
fish
Angelfish
Pterophyllum scalare
Pterophyllum is a small genus of freshwater fish from the family Cichlidae known to most aquarists as angelfish. All Pterophyllum species originate in the Amazon Basin, Orinoco Basin and various rivers in the Guiana Shield in tropical South America. The three species of Pterophyllum are unusually shaped for cichlids, being greatly laterally compressed, with round bodies and elongated triangular dorsal and anal fins. This body shape allows them to hide among roots and plants, often on a vertical surface. Naturally occurring angelfish are frequently striped transversely, colouration which provides additional camouflage. Angelfish are ambush predators and prey on small fish and macroinvertebrates. All Pterophyllum species form monogamous pairs. Eggs are generally laid on a submerged log or a flattened leaf but can also be laid on filter piping when kept in an aquarium setting. As is the case for other cichlids, brood care is highly developed.
View Profile →
fish
Discus
Symphysodon aequifasciatus
The discus throw, also known as disc throw, is a track and field event in which the participant athlete throws an oblate spheroid weight – called a discus – in an attempt to mark a further distance than other competitors. It is an ancient sport, as demonstrated by the fifth-century-BC Myron statue Discobolus. Although not part of the current pentathlon, it was one of the events of the ancient Greek pentathlon, which can be dated back to at least 708 BC, and it is part of the modern decathlon.
View Profile →
O
fish
Oscar
Astronotus ocellatus
Oscar, OSCAR, or The Oscar may refer to:
View Profile →
fish
Cichlid
Maylandia zebra
The zebra mbuna is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi in Africa. This species can reach a length of 11.3 cm (4.4 in). It feeds on aufwuchs, a surface layer of mostly algal material that grows on rocks. This cichlid is a mouthbrooder and the female broods the eggs in her mouth for about three weeks. This fish can sometimes be found in the aquarium trade.
View Profile →
fish
Gourami
Trichogaster trichopterus
The three spot gourami, also known as the opaline gourami, blue gourami, and gold gourami, is a species of fish native to southeastern Asia, but also introduced elsewhere. This gourami gets its name from the two spots along each side of its body in line with the eye, considered the third spot. This species is of minor commercial importance as a food fish in its native range and is also farmed. It is also popular in the aquarium trade. The species reaches 15 cm in standard length.
View Profile →
fish
Barb
Puntius tetrazona
The tiger barb or Sumatra barb, is a species of tropical cyprinid fish.
View Profile →
fish
Danio
Danio rerio
The zebrafish is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the family Danionidae of the order Cypriniformes. Native to South Asia, it is a popular aquarium fish, frequently sold under the trade name zebra danio.
View Profile →
fish
Rasbora
Trigonostigma heteromorpha
The harlequin rasbora is a small fish in the family Cyprinidae. The species became an instant favorite among aquarists after its introduction in the early 1900s and is the best known and most widely kept species among the rasboras. In 1935, an image of a trio of harlequin rasboras, stamped in 14k gold, graced the cover of the first edition of William T. Innes's classic Exotic Aquarium Fishes, and remained through all 19 editions.
View Profile →
fish
Loach
Botia macracantha
The clown loach, or tiger botia, is a tropical freshwater fish belonging to the botiid loach family. It is the sole member of the genus Chromobotia. It originates in inland waters in Indonesia on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo. The fish is called ulanguli by the locals in Sentarum, West Borneo. It is a popular fish in the freshwater aquarium trade and is sold worldwide.
View Profile →
fish
Catfish
Corydoras aeneus
The bronze corydoras, also known as the green corydoras, bronze catfish, lightspot corydoras or wavy catfish, is a species of freshwater fish in the armored catfish family, Callichthyidae, often kept as an aquarium fish. It is widely distributed in South America on the eastern side of the Andes, from Colombia and Trinidad to the Río de la Plata basin; however, as presently defined it is a species complex and a taxonomic review is necessary. It was originally described as Hoplosoma aeneum by Theodore Gill in 1858 and has historically also been referred to as Corydoras aeneus.
View Profile →
P
fish
Plecostomus
Hypostomus plecostomus
Suckermouth catfish may refer to:Any species of armored catfish, most notably: Hypostomus plecostomus, and Hypostomus punctatus, two species of armored catfish popular with aquarists Any similar species marketed under the name "plecostomus" or "pleco" Sailfin suckermouth, usually Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps
View Profile →
fish
Koi
Cyprinus carpio
Koi , or more specifically nishikigoi , are colored varieties of carp that are kept for decorative purposes in outdoor koi ponds or water gardens.
View Profile →
fish
Clownfish
Amphiprion ocellaris
The ocellaris clownfish, also known as the false percula clownfish or common clownfish, is a marine fish belonging to the family Pomacentridae, which includes clownfishes and damselfishes. A. ocellaris are found in different colors, depending on where they are located. For example, black A. ocellaris with white bands can be found near northern Hawaii, USA, North America, Australia, Southeast Asia, and Japan. Orange or red-brown A. ocellaris also exist with three similar white bands on the body and head. A. ocellaris can be distinguished from other Amphiprion species based on the number of pectoral rays and dorsal spines. A. ocellaris are known to grow about 11 cm long. Like many other fish species, females are, however, larger than males. The life cycle of A. ocellaris varies in whether they reside at the surface or bottom of the ocean. When they initially hatch, they reside near the surface. However, when A. ocellaris enter into the juvenile stage of life, they travel down to the bottom to find shelter in a host anemone. Once they find their anemone, they form a symbiotic relationship with them.
View Profile →