Search Species
Search for fish species by common or scientific name, or use filters to browse by water type, size, temperament, and difficulty.
Found 456 species
Spindle Yunnan loach
Yunnanilus elakatis
Yunnanilus elakatis is a nemacheilid (stone loach) endemic to Yunnan, China (type locality: Yiliang County). Aquarium-specific husbandry data for this exact species is scarce in major references; when kept, it should be maintained like other small stream-associated stone loaches: high water quality, good oxygenation, and a fine, smooth substrate with cover.
Spotfin betta
Betta macrostoma
This is the famous "Brunei beauty" wild betta - a chunky, orange-red fish with an awesome little eyespot on the dorsal fin and a big attitude-free personality (until you put two males together). The really cool part is breeding: the male is a paternal mouthbrooder, and the pair does that weird "kiss" egg transfer behavior people geek out over.
Spotted blue-eye
Pseudomugil gertrudae
This little blue-eye is one of those fish that looks "cute" at first glance, then you notice the electric-blue eyes and the males flashing those spotted fins at each other all day. They're happiest in a planted, kind of shady tank with gentle flow, where they'll cruise in a loose group and do constant mini courtship displays.
Spotted Vanmanenia (hillstream loach)
Vanmanenia maculata
This is one of those true hillstream loaches that lives in fast, clean river flow, and it is built like a little suction-cup torpedo for clinging to rocks. The patterning is the fun part - you get those pale-centered dark spots/bars that break up the body and help it vanish on stone. It does best in a "river tank" with lots of oxygen and current, where it spends the day grazing biofilm and generally minding its own business.
Spottedfin sand cichlid
Xenotilapia spiloptera
Xenotilapia spilopterus is a Lake Tanganyika sand-sifter that spends its day cruising over open sand, scooping mouthfuls and filtering out tasty bits like insect larvae. They are at their best in a small group where you get to watch the schooling vibe, then pairs peel off to mouthbrood when they are ready. Give them fine sand and stable, hard alkaline water and they really settle in.
Starhead topminnow
Fundulus dispar
Fundulus dispar is a small native U.S. topminnow associated with vegetated standing waters and quiet pools/backwaters. It is known for reflective "star" spots on the head, and FishBase notes it can be difficult to maintain in aquaria long-term.
Stippled studfish
Fundulus bifax
Fundulus bifax is a native Alabama-Georgia studfish with a really slick stippled (spotty) pattern, and breeding males can get some wild blue and red-orange tones. Its also a serious jumper and an absolute rocket when it spooks, so a tight lid is non-negotiable.
Stream catfish
Pseudobagarius macronemus
This is a tiny little akysid stream catfish from eastern Sumatra that spends its time down low, poking around the bottom (benthopelagic). The weird part with this one is the name - a lot of sources treat it as Pseudobagarius macronema, and you will see it sold or listed under either spelling.
Striped chub
Squalius kottelati
This is a Turkish river chub that gets a pretty solid size and shows a bold dark stripe along the upper flank. Its natural home is flowing freshwater in the Orontes, Ceyhan, and Seyhan drainages, so think cool, oxygen-rich water and lots of swimming room.
Striped Krib / Nigerian Red Krib
Pelvicachromis taeniatus
P. taeniatus is one of those West African dwarf cichlids that'll act totally chill most of the time, then flip the switch into "serious cave owner" the moment it wants to spawn. The fun part is the local color forms ("Nigeria Red", "Moliwe", etc.) and the pair-bonding-when they settle in, you really get to watch a little cichlid soap opera play out around their cave.
Sumatra barb (Tiger barb)
Puntigrus tetrazona
Tiger barbs are little chaos nuggets in the best way-super active, always zipping around, and they look awesome with those four bold black bars and orange fins. The big trick is keeping them in a proper-sized group so they roughhouse with each other instead of shredding a slow, long-finned tank mate's fins.
Sundolyra catfish
Sundolyra latebrosa
This is a super obscure little bagrid catfish from northwestern Sumatra, and its whole vibe is "hidden" - the species name latebrosa literally points at how cryptic and rarely seen it is. In the wild it is known from a very limited drainage, and in the hobby it is basically unicorn-level rare, so most "care" advice you see online is going to be educated guesswork rather than proven aquarium experience.