Fish Species Starting with D
Browse all aquarium fish species with scientific names beginning with "D". Each profile includes care requirements, water parameters, tank size recommendations, and compatibility information for freshwater, marine, and brackish species.
The letter 'D' features a diverse range of aquarium species, from popular community fish to intriguing predators. Notable examples include the vibrant Celestial Pearl Danio (Danio margaritatus) and the hardy Zebra Danio (Danio rerio), alongside unique pufferfish like the Green Spotted Puffer (Dichotomyctere nigroviridis). This variety ensures that aquarists can find suitable options for various tank setups.
10 species found
Celestial Pearl Danio
Danio margaritatus
This is the little "galaxy fish" everyone stops to stare at-dark bluish body sprinkled with pearly spots and those punchy orange/red fins. They're peaceful but kinda shy, and you'll see the best color and the cutest little male sparring displays when you keep a proper group in a heavily planted tank with gentle flow.
Zebra Danio
Danio rerio
Zebra danios are those nonstop little stripey rockets that zip around the top and middle of the tank like they've had three espressos. They're super fun in a group because they chase, spar, and "race" each other without really meaning harm, and that constant motion makes the whole tank feel alive.
Silver Tiger Perch
Datnioides polota
Datnioides polota is that big, bold tiger-striped fish that just owns the whole tank-thick-bodied, shiny silver, and those dark bands look like someone painted them on. The fun part is watching it stalk around like a little underwater predator, especially at feeding time, but it's also one of those fish that'll make you plan the whole setup around it.
Wrestling halfbeak
Dermogenys pusilla
This is that quirky little surface-dweller with the long lower "beak" that's always cruising the top and snapping at food. The males do these goofy jaw-locking sparring matches (that's where the "wrestling" name comes from), so you'll want space and lots of floaters to keep everyone chill. They're also famous jumpers-tight lid is non‑negotiable.
Green Spotted Puffer
Dichotomyctere nigroviridis
Green spotted puffers are little water puppies with fins-super curious, always watching you, and they'll beg like they've never been fed in their life. The bright green-and-black spotting stays eye-catching, and they've got that classic puffer "I'm plotting something" face. Just know they're not a true freshwater fish long-term, and they really do need crunchy foods to keep their teeth worn down.
Spotted green pufferfish
Dichotomyctere nigroviridis
This is the classic green spotted puffer: bright lime-green with bold black spots and a ton of attitude packed into a football-shaped body. They're crazy interactive and will beg like a puppy, but they're also little beaked predators that need crunchy foods to keep their teeth worn down. The big "gotcha" is water: they're not a lifelong freshwater fish-brackish (and often more marine-leaning as they mature) is where they thrive.
Eyespot pufferfish (Figure-8 puffer)
Dichotomyctere ocellatus
This is the little "figure-8" puffer with the yellow-green squiggles and the two bold eyespots near the tail-tons of personality in a small body. They're basically snail-hunting machines with a curious, interactive vibe, but they can be spicy with their own kind, so you plan the tank around that.
-1771033122.jpg)
Figure 8 Puffer (Eyespot puffer)
Dichotomyctere ocellatus (syn. Tetraodon biocellatus)
This is the small "Figure 8"/eyespot puffer with two bold eyespots and a yellow-green maze-like pattern. They're interactive and can be fin-nippy and territorial, especially toward other puffers. Husbandry advice on salinity varies by source: FishBase lists it as a freshwater species, while many aquarium references recommend low-end brackish (often around SG ~1.005-1.008) for long-term keeping, with very clean, stable water.
Chessboard cichlid
Dicrossus filamentosus
Dicrossus filamentosus is that classy little blackwater dwarf cichlid with the crisp "chessboard" pattern and, in mature males, a super cool lyretail with streamers. It's generally mellow and shy, but when a female is guarding eggs/fry she turns into a tiny, fearless bulldozer (and it's honestly awesome to watch). Give them soft, clean water, leaf litter, and calm tankmates and they really settle in and show their best colors.
Fat sleeper
Dormitator maculatus
Dormitator maculatus is that chunky "sleeper goby" type fish with the bulldog head and the attitude of a little vacuum cleaner-always sifting and nosing around the bottom. It'll do freshwater or brackish and it can get way bigger than most people expect, so it's one of those fish that's awesome... as long as you plan the tank around the adult size, not the baby you bought.