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(25–41)
© Holger Krisp / CC BY 3.0Neon Tetra
Paracheirodon innesi
The quintessential tropical fish. Beautiful neon blue and red coloring. Stunning when kept in schools. Hardy and beginner-friendly.
Nerite Snail
Neritidae spp.
The aquarium's premier algae-eating snail. It scrapes off even tough algae and, since its eggs do not hatch in freshwater, never overpopulates. Hardy and beginner-friendly.
Norman's Lampeye
Poropanchax normani
A tiny fish whose upper eye glows jewel-like blue. The luminous blue eye against a modest silvery body and its schooling shimmer make this hardy killifish relative a lovely beginner nano fish.
© CHUCAO / CC BY-SA 3.0Otocinclus
Small catfish that eats algae on glass and plants. Peaceful and essential for planted tanks. More secure in groups.
© Redspider / CC BY-SA 3.0Peacock Gudgeon
Tateurndina ocellicauda
A small gudgeon with beautiful peacock-like blue dot pattern. Peaceful, breeding enjoyable.
Pearl Gourami
Trichopodus leerii
An elegant gourami speckled all over with pearl-like white dots; males flush fiery red on the breast. Peaceful, hardy, and able to breathe air.
© Marrabbio2 / CC BY-SA 3.0Platy
Xiphophorus maculatus
Colorful and hardy livebearing fish. Perfect for beginners and easy to breed. Highly adaptable to various water conditions.
Pleco
Catfish with sucker mouth known as tank cleaners. Huge variety from small to large. Highly collectible.
© Lerdsuwa / CC BY-SA 3.0Pygmy Corydoras
Corydoras pygmaeus
An ultra-small corydoras. Unusual habit of mid-water schooling, perfect for nano tanks.
© Eileen Kortright ( Roan Art ) / CC BY 2.5Rainbowfish
Beautiful fish from Australia/New Guinea that shine rainbow colors in morning light. Spectacular in schools.
Rasbora
Small schooling fish from Southeast Asia. Espei and harlequin rasbora most popular. Perfect for planted tanks.
© User:Ark pl wiki / CC BY 3.0Siamese Algae Eater
One of few fish that eats black beard algae. Valued for planted tank algae control. Becomes somewhat aggressive when mature.
Sparkling Gourami
Trichopsis pumila
A small gourami with jewel-like sparkle. Unusual fish that makes croaking sounds.
© Usien / CC0Swordtail
Xiphophorus hellerii
A livebearer where male tail extends like a sword. Active swimmer adding movement to the tank.
White Cloud Mountain Minnow
Tanichthys albonubes
An extremely hardy small fish from China. Can be kept without a heater, a classic first fish for beginners.
© Sascha Biedermann / CC BY-SA 2.5Zebra Danio
Danio rerio
A hardy small fish with beautiful stripes that adds energy to the aquarium.
© Zikamoi / CC BY-SA 3.0Zebra Loach
Zebra loach
A loach with beautiful black-white stripes. Bottom-dweller also useful for snail control.
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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.