Search Species
Search for fish species by common or scientific name, or use filters to browse by water type, size, temperament, and difficulty.
Found 555 species
Vitiaz wolf-eelpout
Lycenchelys vitiazi
Lycenchelys vitiazi is a tiny deep-sea wolf-eelpout from the Kuril-Kamchatka Trench, and it is one of those weird, super-elongate trench fishes that basically never shows up in the hobby. It has only been recorded from very deep water near Paramushir Island, so its real "care" is more of a science/lab thing than an aquarium fish situation.
Wallace's dwarf pike cichlid
Wallaciia wallacii
A small "dwarf" pike cichlid (genus Wallaciia) from South America. Maximum recorded size is about 8.5 cm standard length; provide ample cover/structure and expect territorial behavior, especially around spawning.
Water hyacinth pencil catfish
Ituglanis eichhorniarum
Ituglanis eichorniarum is a tiny, secretive trichomycterid (pencil catfish) from the Paraguay-Parana system, the kind of fish that spends its time nosing through plants and leaf litter instead of cruising the open water. The species name comes from Eichhornia (water hyacinth), which is a fun clue to the sort of weedy habitat it was found in.
Wave Striped Oto
Otocinclus caxarari
Otocinclus caxarari is a very small Loricariid catfish from South America, recorded from the upper Madeira River basin (including the Guaporé area). In aquaria it is typically kept like other Otocinclus species: in mature, well-oxygenated tanks with abundant biofilm/algae and supplemental foods.
Wavyband sole
Zebrias japonicus
This subtropical western Pacific sole lives on sandy-mud bottoms. In aquaria it should be provided with appropriate soft substrate and be fed meaty, benthic-appropriate foods; use caution with tankmates due to its predatory nature.
Weed cardinalfish
Foa brachygramma
This is a tiny Hawaiian cardinalfish that hangs around sheltered shallows - think seagrass, algae, and rubble - and it even wanders into brackish and sometimes fresh water. Its vibe is classic cardinalfish: mellow, a little shy, and way more interesting once the lights go down. Also cool trivia: the males mouthbrood the eggs.
Weedy cardinalfish
Foa fo
Foa fo is a tiny little Indo-Pacific cardinalfish that hangs around sheltered reefy areas and weedy/mucky spots, usually staying pretty low-key and unobtrusive. Like other cardinalfish, the really cool bit is the breeding behavior - the male mouthbroods the eggs, so you will sometimes see a chunky-looking jaw when he is holding a clutch.
Western roeboides (scale-eating characin)
Roeboides occidentalis
Roeboides occidentalis is a wild characin from the Pacific-slope rivers of Panama down through Colombia into northern Ecuador, topping out around 13 cm (about 5 inches). The really interesting (and kinda spicy) thing about Roeboides as a group is the scale-eating tendency, so its tankmate choices need to be made with that in mind.
Whiptail catfish
Rineloricaria henselii
Rineloricaria henselii is a small loricariid (whiptail) catfish from southern Brazil (reported from the Cubatão River, Santa Catarina) reaching about 7.5 cm standard length.
Whiptail catfish (Twig catfish)
Farlowella acus
Farlowella acus is that classic twig-looking whiptail that can sit on wood and basically disappear - it really does look like a little stick with fins. It is super chill and spends most of its time grazing and picking at surfaces, so it does best in a mature tank with stable water and plenty of stuff to cling to.
White Cloud Mountain Minnow
Tanichthys albonubes
White Clouds are tiny little stream minnows with that neat glowing stripe and red-tipped fins, and they look way better the cooler you keep them. They're super active in a group and do this constant "busy schooling" thing in the top/middle of the tank-really fun fish when you give them space to zip around.
Whitebanded sharpnose wrasse
Wetmorella albofasciata
This is one of those tiny, cryptic wrasses that spends a lot of time weaving through rockwork and poking into little cracks like it is on a constant scavenger hunt. The big eyes and sharp snout give it a weird-cute "mini predator" look, and it really shines in a peaceful reef where it feels safe enough to come out and cruise.