Search Species
Search for fish species by common or scientific name, or use filters to browse by water type, size, temperament, and difficulty.
Found 528 species
Twoarm humpback anglerfish
Dibrachichthys melanurus
This is a tiny, uncommon little anglerfish relative from northern Australia/Indonesia that hangs out on sandy-mud and rubble bottoms. Think of it like a mini ambush predator that spends its time sitting still and blending in, not cruising around the tank. It is super cool in a nerdy way, but it is absolutely not a normal aquarium species you will see in the trade.
Two-spined yellow-tail stargazer
Uranoscopus cognatus
Uranoscopus cognatus is a chunky little stargazer that spends its life on the bottom, often buried with just the eyes and mouth peeking up like a grumpy sand-trap. It is a marine ambush predator from the Indo-west Pacific, and while it is super cool to look at, it is really not a practical aquarium fish unless you are set up for a specialized predator tank.
Vanuatu goatfish
Upeneus vanuatu
Upeneus vanuatu is a small deep-water goatfish from off Vanuatu that lives way down around 191-321 m, so its natural water is cooler and darker than typical reef goatfish. Like other goatfish it has the little chin barbels for rooting around for food, but honestly this one is more of a scientific oddball than a realistic aquarium fish because of the depth it comes from.
Variable blenny
Starksia variabilis
Tiny Caribbean blenny that hangs out right on the rock, peeking from little cracks like a curious periscope. The lips have neat black bars and the patterning shifts a bit, which is where the whole variable thing comes from. Give it lots of nooks and it will put on fun perch-and-dart antics all day.
Variegated cardinalfish
Fowleria variegata
This is a small, mottled reddish-brown cardinalfish that likes to hang around rockwork and rubble and really comes into its own once the lights dim. In a calm reef tank its a super chill, slow swimmer, and if you keep a small group they tend to hover together and look way more natural.
Vaubans gurnard
Lepidotrigla vaubani
Lepidotrigla vaubani is a small, bottom-dwelling marine gurnard (sea robin) from the western Pacific. Like other gurnards its "walking" pectoral fin rays are the fun part - it creeps along the seafloor poking around for little crustaceans and worms, way more personality than you would expect from a bycatch-type fish.
Vermiculated croaker
Ophioscion vermicularis
Eastern Pacific marine demersal croaker found over sandy and muddy bottoms in shallow waters; feeds on benthic invertebrates and is common in local markets. Aquarium care information is limited compared with typical ornamental marine species.
Vermiculated puffer
Takifugu snyderi
Takifugu snyderi (vermiculated puffer; Japanese: shōsai-fugu) is a demersal coastal puffer native to Japan and nearby northwest Pacific waters (including the Yellow Sea and South China Sea). It reaches about 30 cm standard length and feeds on hard-shelled prey such as crustaceans; like other fugu, certain organs (notably liver/ovaries) can be highly toxic (tetrodotoxin).
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.
Vivaldi's catshark
Bythaelurus vivaldii
This is a small deep-water catshark from off Somalia, named after the composer Antonio Vivaldi. It tops out around a foot long but lives down hundreds of meters where the water is cold and dim, so it is a look-don't-keep species for hobbyists.
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.
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.