Tropical Fish Encyclopedia — 71 Species Directory
Encyclopedia of popular tropical fish species with care guides, traits, and water parameters.
Featured Tropical Fish
Showing 41 of 71 species(1–24)
Amano Shrimp
Caridina multidentata
A translucent freshwater shrimp famed as the top algae-eater and an indispensable cleanup animal for planted aquariums. Hardy and long-lasting, it rarely breeds in pure freshwater.
Beckford's Pencilfish
Nannostomus beckfordi
Small tetra with characteristic thin pencil-like body. Beautiful gold and black longitudinal stripes running along the body, with mature males developing red coloration on the belly. Peaceful and popular for community tanks.
Betta
Betta splendens
Stunning fins and endless color varieties. Can breathe air via labyrinth organ, allowing small container keeping. Males must be kept separately.
Bristlenose Pleco
A small pleco with distinctive bristle-like growths around the mouth. Popular tank cleaner with strong algae-eating ability.
© CHUCAO / CC BY-SA 3.0Cardinal Tetra
Cardinal tetra
Similar to neon tetra but red band extends full length for more vibrant color. Stunning in large groups. Prefers soft water.
Cherry Barb
Cherry barb
A small cyprinid where males turn vivid cherry red. Also valued for controlling pest snails.
© TheJammingYam ( talk ) / CC BY-SA 3.0Cherry Shrimp
Neocaridina davidi
Small bright red freshwater shrimp. Excellent algae cleaner. Easy to breed and popular in planted tanks.
Corydoras
Cute small catfish that sifts through substrate. More active in groups. Peaceful for community tanks. Many collectors.
Corydoras Sterbai
Corydoras sterbai
Popular Corydoras variety with beautiful white dot pattern and orange belly. Known as a bottom-dwelling fish that eats leftover food from substrate, valued as a tank cleaner. Relatively tolerant of higher temperatures and easy to keep.
Diamond Tetra
Makunaima pittieri
A tetra with scales sparkling like diamonds. Mature males have elegantly elongated fins.
© Felix Gertz / CC BY-SA 4.0Dwarf Gourami
Dwarf gourami
Beautiful small anabantid with red and blue stripes. Breathes air with labyrinth organ. Builds bubble nests. Peaceful and popular.
© Pascal Wolterman / CC BY-SA 3.0Ember Tetra
Hyphessobrycon amandae
Tiny tetra that glows ember-orange. Beautiful contrast against green plants. Perfect for small tanks.
© Emilio17 / CC BY-SA 3.0Endlers Livebearer
Poecilia wingei
Close relative of guppy with wild beauty. Small body with metallic coloring. Purists dedicated to maintaining bloodlines.
Fire Tetra
Hyphessobrycon flammeus
Small tetra with vivid flame-like red rear half. Hardy and easy to keep, prefers slightly acidic water. Particularly beautiful in schools, popular beginner species that looks stunning in planted tanks.
Glowlight Tetra
Hemigrammus erythrozonus
A small tetra whose translucent body is crossed by a single glowing orange line. Hardy, peaceful, and beautiful in a school, it is an easy entry-level characin.
Golden Honey Gourami
Trichogaster chuna var.
Improved variety of Honey Gourami with vivid golden color throughout the body. More vivid coloration than the original species, popular for adding color to aquariums. Peaceful temperament suitable for community tanks.
© Dirk Godlinski / CC BY-SA 3.0Green Neon Tetra
Paracheirodon simulans
Similar to neon tetra but blue-green line runs entire body. Ultra-small, most beautiful in large schools.
Guppy
Poecilia reticulata
The fish that 'begins and ends' the tropical fish hobby. Livebearing makes breeding easy. Endless tail color and shape varieties.
© Birger A / CC BY-SA 3.0Harlequin Rasbora
Harlequin rasbora
A beautiful small fish with orange body and black triangle mark. Schooling looks best in planted tanks.
© Antoondommerholt at Dutch Wikipedia / CC BY-SA 3.0Honey Gourami
Honey gourami
A small gourami with warm honey-colored body. Gentle temperament ideal for community tanks.
© User:Louie / CC BY-SA 3.0Kuhli Loach
Kuhli loach
Cute eel-like banded loach. Shy and hides often but active in groups. Fun to watch wriggling through substrate.
Minami Numa-ebi (Neocaridina)
Neocaridina denticulata
A native Japanese freshwater shrimp, hardy and easy to breed entirely in freshwater. Plain in color but beloved for the fun of breeding and its algae-eating help.
© (c) James-LaFontaine, some rights reserved (CC BY) / CC BY 4.0Molly
Livebearing fish like platy but slightly larger. Many varieties including balloon and black molly. Tolerates brackish water.
Neon Dwarf Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia praecox
A small rainbowfish shining in neon blue. Male morning flashing display is spectacular.
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Tropical Fish FAQ
- Can beginners keep tropical fish?
- Guppies, neon tetras, and corydoras are hardy and perfect for beginners. They can be kept in small tanks, and as long as you manage water temperature, it's relatively easy to get started.
- How much do tropical fish cost?
- Neon tetras cost 100-300 yen each, guppies 300-2,000 yen, bettas 1,000-10,000 yen, and premium discus 5,000-50,000+ yen depending on the species.
- How long do tropical fish live?
- Small tetras live 2-5 years, guppies 1-2 years, corydoras 5-10 years, and discus 10+ years, varying greatly by species.
- What's the minimum equipment needed?
- You'll need a tank, heater, filter, light, and water conditioner at minimum. A 30cm tank can house 5-10 small fish and doesn't take much space.
- What should I check when buying tropical fish?
- Check for vivid coloring, active swimming, and no signs of disease like ich. After purchase, acclimate carefully and avoid sudden temperature changes.