Fish Species Starting with C
Browse all aquarium fish species with scientific names beginning with "C". Each profile includes care requirements, water parameters, tank size recommendations, and compatibility information for freshwater, marine, and brackish species.
The 'C' species index features a diverse array of aquarium fish, from the popular Goldfish (Carassius auratus) to the intriguing Dwarf Pufferfish (Carinotetraodon travancoricus). This section includes a variety of community-friendly species such as the striking Clown Loach (Chromobotia macracanthus) and several charming Corydoras catfish like the Bronze Corydoras (Corydoras aeneus). Whether you're looking for eye-catching displays or peaceful tank mates, the 'C' listings have something for every aquarist.
15 species found
Comet
Calloplesiops altivelis
This is the famous "Marine Betta" look-alike: jet-dark with those starry spots, and that wild fake eye near the back that makes predators bite the wrong end. It's a super shy cave-dweller by day and then turns into a sneaky night hunter, cruising out for crustaceans and small fish.
Goldfish
Carassius auratus
Goldfish are one of the most popular and recognizable freshwater fish in the aquarium hobby. They are known for their golden-orange coloration, although they can also appear in red, white, yellow, and black. Goldfish are highly adaptable and can thrive in a variety of conditions, making them a favorite among beginners.
Dwarf pufferfish (Pea puffer)
Carinotetraodon travancoricus
This is the famous pea puffer-tiny (around 3.5 cm max) but it acts like a full-size puffer, cruising around and hunting little critters with a ton of attitude. If you give it a heavily planted tank with lots of line-of-sight breaks, you'll get to watch really cool "stalking" behavior all day.
Coral Beauty Angelfish
Centropyge bispinosa
Coral Beauty is that classic little dwarf angel with the purple-blue body and orange striping that looks different from fish to fish. It spends a lot of the day weaving through rockwork and picking at algae and other bits, so a tank with mature live rock really brings out its best behavior. It can be a little bossy (especially with other dwarf angels) and some individuals will nip corals, so it is reef-safe with caution.
Redspotted snakehead
Channa andrao
Channa andrao is one of those "how is this real?" dwarf snakeheads-tiny, super colorful, and way more personable than you'd expect from a predator. It's a mouthbrooder, hangs near the surface a lot (air-breather), and it's happiest in a plant-choked, hidey-hole setup with a tight-fitting lid because, yep, it can jump.
Milkspotted puffer
Chelonodontops patoca
This is the big milk-spotted brackish puffer that cruises estuaries and mangroves and sometimes wanders a little way into fresh water. It gets chunky (over a foot) with those clean white spots, and it has that classic puffer personality - curious, food-motivated, and sometimes a bit too interested in other fish's fins. Long-term it really does best as a brackish-to-marine fish with hard, alkaline water and lots of crunchy shell-on foods to keep the beak worn down.
Milkspotted Puffer (Spotted Puffer)
Chelonodontops patoca
This is that chunky, curious puffer with the milky white spots and big "what are you doing?" eyes that follows you around the glass like a little water puppy. It's a super fun fish to watch-always cruising, inspecting everything, and begging for food-but it's also one of those puffers that really needs the right setup as it grows (and it grows a lot).
Blue Green Chromis (Green Chromis)
Chromis viridis
Blue Green Chromis are those shimmery little green-blue darts you'll see zipping around the top of a reef tank, always looking like they're catching the light just right. They're super fun in a group because they hover and cruise together, but they've got a bit of a "pecking order" thing going on if the tank's tight or the group's too small.
Clown loach
Chromobotia macracanthus
Clown loaches are those orange fish with the chunky black bands that act like total goofballs-piling into the same cave, clicking at each other, and sometimes doing that "am I dead?" sideways nap. They stay way calmer and more confident in a proper group, and once they're settled they'll spend all day cruising the bottom and sifting around for snacks.
Exquisite wrasse
Cirrhilabrus exquisitus
This is one of those fairy wrasses that looks like it was painted with highlighters - males can shift through greens, reds, blues, and purples depending on mood and whether they are showing off. In a reef tank its usually out and cruising the water column, grabbing tiny meaty foods, and doing little display flare-ups at its own reflection or other wrasses. Biggest real-world gotcha is they are jumpers, so a tight lid or mesh top is basically mandatory.
Bronze Corydoras
Corydoras aeneus
The Bronze Corydoras is a charming and highly popular freshwater fish known for its peaceful nature and striking bronze coloration. It has a stout body with barbels around its mouth, allowing it to forage effectively on the substrate. Often seen in schools, this species is well-loved for its social behavior and bottom-dwelling habits.
Salt and pepper cory (Habrosus cory)
Corydoras habrosus
This is the tiny "salt and pepper" cory that scoots around the bottom like a little wind-up toy, constantly sifting and picking through the sand. Keep them in a real group and they get way bolder-lots of quick little dashes, little pauses, and then back to foraging. They're also one of those fish that really rewards a soft sandy bottom and calm tankmates.
Panda Corydoras (Panda Cory)
Corydoras panda
Corydoras panda is a small, bottom-dwelling catfish known for its pale body with distinctive black patches over the eyes and near the tail, resembling a panda's markings. It is a peaceful, social schooling species that does best in groups and appreciates soft substrate and clean, well-oxygenated water. Like other corydoras, it forages constantly and should be offered sinking foods rather than relying on leftovers.
Pygmy corydoras
Corydoras pygmaeus
Pygmy cories are tiny little armored catfish that do this super-cool thing most cories don't: they'll cruise around in the midwater in a loose school instead of just shuffling along the bottom. Give them a soft sandy substrate, lots of plants to weave through, and a proper group, and they turn into nonstop little busybodies.
Twosaddle Corydoras
Corydoras weitzmani
Weitzman's cory is one of those super sleek Corydoras that looks like it's wearing a little mask-clean lines, subtle patterning, and that classic cory "busy little vacuum" vibe. The best part is watching a whole group cruise the bottom together, then suddenly zip to the surface for a gulp of air like tiny torpedoes.