Fish Species Starting with P
Browse all aquarium fish species with scientific names beginning with "P". Each profile includes care requirements, water parameters, tank size recommendations, and compatibility information for freshwater, marine, and brackish species.
The 'P' species index showcases a diverse range of aquarium fish, from popular community favorites to unique and captivating specimens. Notable species include the vibrant Cardinal Tetra (Paracheirodon axelrodi) and the colorful Guppy (Poecilia reticulata), alongside intriguing options like the Striped Krib (Pelvicachromis taeniatus). Whether you are looking for schooling fish, hardy livebearers, or beautiful cichlids, this selection provides ample choices for aquarists of all levels.
34 species found
Half-banded kuhli loach
Pangio semicincta
Pangio semicincta is one of those classic "striped kuhli" loaches that spends the day wedged in plants and caves, then comes out at lights-down to wiggle around like a tiny eel. They're super social once you keep a proper group, and they're famous for piling into the same hidey-hole together. Also: they're one of the species that gets mixed up/mislabeled in the trade a lot, so buying from a shop that IDs them carefully is a win.
Arrowhead puffer
Pao suvattii
Pao suvattii is that sneaky Mekong puffer that likes to sit low and ambush food, and it has that super recognizable arrow/V pattern on its back. Gorgeous fish with tons of personality, but it is absolutely not a community guy - plan on a solo, species-only setup if you want everybody to stay in one piece.
Cardinal Tetra
Paracheirodon axelrodi
The Cardinal Tetra is a small, vibrant freshwater fish known for its striking iridescent blue and red coloring. It is closely related to the Neon Tetra but can be distinguished by the extended red stripe that runs the entire length of its body. Cardinal Tetras are popular in home aquariums due to their peaceful nature and schooling behavior.
Neon Tetra
Paracheirodon innesi
The Neon Tetra is a small, brightly colored fish known for its vibrant blue and red stripes that run the length of its body. It is a favorite among aquarists due to its striking appearance and peaceful nature. Neon Tetras are schooling fish that thrive in groups, adding a lively and colorful presence to any aquarium.
Indian glassy fish
Parambassis ranga
This is the classic see-through "glassfish" where you can literally see the bones and organs-super cool in a planted tank with calm tankmates. They're happiest when you keep a little crew of them (they get braver and way more active in a group). Also: skip any dyed/painted ones-those fish are usually in rough shape from the process.
Linke’s Licorice Gourami
Parosphromenus linkei
This is one of those tiny, dark little gouramis that looks kind of understated in a store tank... until it settles in and the male starts flashing those deep reds and blues with the fancy fin edging. They're shy and a bit secretive, but when you keep them the way they like (soft, acidic, calm), they turn into these surprisingly bold little show-offs around spawning time.
Kribensis
Pelvicachromis pulcher
Kribensis are one of those dwarf cichlids that pack a ton of personality into a small fish-especially once they pick a cave and start acting like proud homeowners. The female's purple/red belly when she's in breeding mode is the real show-stealer, and the pair will do seriously impressive parent-care if they spawn.
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.
European Perch
Perca fluviatilis
The European Perch is a predatory freshwater fish recognized by its olive-green body, dark vertical bars, and bright red/orange pelvic and anal fins. It is an active hunter that can grow quite large and is best suited to coolwater, spacious aquariums with strong filtration and plenty of cover.
Barred mudskipper
Periophthalmus argentilineatus
This is one of those classic "walks around like it owns the place" mudskippers-big goofy eyes, climbs, hops, and spends a ton of time out on the mud when it's humid. In the wild it lives on intertidal mangrove/nipa mudflats and even shuttles between little pools and open air, hunting worms, insects, and small crustaceans. It's super fun to watch, but it really wants a brackish paludarium setup (not a normal aquarium).
Atlantic Mudskipper
Periophthalmus barbarus
This is that wild little amphibious goby that straight-up climbs around on land like it forgot it was a fish. They've got big googly eyes, tons of personality, and they'll perch, hop, and patrol their territory-honestly more like a tiny crabby lizard than a "regular" aquarium fish.
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Brilliant rummy-nose tetra
Petitella bleheri (syn. Hemigrammus bleheri)
This is the rummy-nose with the really "full-face" red that runs back past the gill plate, plus that crisp black-and-white tail that flashes when the whole group turns together. When they're happy and the water's clean, they school tight and look like one living fish-when they're stressed, that red head fades fast, so they're basically your tank's mood ring.
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Rummy-nose tetra
Petitella rhodostoma (Ahl, 1924) (formerly Hemigrammus rhodostomus)
This is the classic rummy-nose tetra-the one with the bright red "nose" and the crisp black-and-white tail that flashes when the whole group turns together. They're tight-schoolers, so a bigger group in a longer tank is where you really get that synchronized, hypnotic swimming. The red face also doubles as a little "health meter" since it tends to fade when they're stressed or water quality slips.
Eurasian Minnow (Common Minnow)
Phoxinus phoxinus
Phoxinus phoxinus is a small, fast-swimming minnow associated with cool, well-oxygenated waters. It is a gregarious shoaling fish; males intensify in colour during breeding. Note: the name P. phoxinus has historically been applied broadly across Eurasia, but the group is now treated as a species complex in which true P. phoxinus may be restricted to parts of Western Europe.
Guppy
Poecilia reticulata
The Guppy is one of the most popular freshwater fish among aquarium enthusiasts due to its colorful appearance and lively nature. These fish have a wide range of vibrant colors and tail shapes, making them a visual delight in any aquarium. Guppies are known for their peaceful temperament and ease of care, making them ideal for both beginner and experienced fishkeepers.
Endler's livebearer
Poecilia wingei
Endlers are basically tiny little firecrackers-males stay small but flash a ton of neon color and never stop cruising the tank. They're super social and active, and if you keep males and females together you'll have babies before you've even finished tweaking the aquascape.
Black morpho tetra
Poecilocharax weitzmani
Poecilocharax weitzmani is one of those tiny blackwater oddballs that acts more like a little darter than a typical tetra - it hangs low, darts between cover, and the males can get pretty showy with fin-flares. The really cool part is they are cave breeders with male brood care, which is not what most people expect from a small characin. Give them very soft, acidic, super-clean water and lots of leaf litter and hidey holes, and they settle in and start showing their best colors.
X-ray tetra
Pristella maxillaris
This is that little see-through tetra where you can kinda make out the spine inside the body, and then it tops it off with those sharp black/yellow/white fin markings and a reddish tail. Super chill schooling fish, and it's one of those rare tetras that doesn't freak out if your water isn't "perfect Amazon blackwater" 24/7.
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Elongate mudskipper (pointed-tailed goby)
Pseudapocryptes elongatus (syn. Pseudapocryptes lanceolatus)
This is that super-cool "mudskipper-ish" goby that mostly stays in the water, but will park itself in the shallows and periscope its eyes above the surface like it's keeping watch. It's an obligate air-breather from tidal rivers/estuaries, so it really appreciates shallow, brackish setups with soft mud/sand and gentle flow-more of a mangrove vibe than a typical community tank.
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Orange chromide
Pseudetroplus maculatus (syn. Etroplus maculatus)
This is that cute little Indian/Sri Lankan cichlid with the big black "shoulder" spot and a warm gold/orange glow when it's happy. It'll do the classic cichlid thing where it gets a bit pushy when breeding, but most of the time it's pretty chill-especially if you keep a small group. Super cool bonus: the parents actively tend the eggs and fry, and the babies even graze on the parents' skin mucus for a bit.
Sixline Wrasse
Pseudocheilinus hexataenia
The Sixline Wrasse is that nonstop little reef torpedo that weaves through rockwork all day hunting tiny critters. It's awesome for picking at pests like small worms/flatworms, but once it settles in it can get pretty territorial-especially in smaller tanks or with similar-shaped fish.
Whitebarred pink wrasse
Pseudocheilinus ocellatus
This is the fish most of us know as the Mystery Wrasse - a shy little reef wrasse with a bright yellow face, faint-to-bold white bars, and that signature eyespot back by the tail. It spends a lot of time weaving through rockwork and popping out to hunt tiny critters, and it can get surprisingly bossy once it feels settled in. Give it caves, a tight lid, and a steady meaty diet and it turns into a really fun, personable showpiece.
Forktail blue-eye (Forktail rainbowfish)
Pseudomugil furcatus
Pseudomugil furcatus is one of those little fish that never sits still-in a good way. When you keep a proper group, the males do these harmless fin-flaring "showdowns" and the forked tail + blue eyes really pop, especially in a planted tank with some open swimming room. It's a peaceful, small schooling fish from Papua New Guinea rainforest streams, and it's an easy way to add constant movement to a tank.
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.
Red Neon Blue-eye (Luminatus Blue-eye)
Pseudomugil luminatus
This little blue-eye is basically a tiny fireworks show-males flash electric blue eyes and red/orange fins and spend half the day showing off to each other. Keep them in a nice-sized group and you'll see constant "dancing" and fin-flaring in the open water, especially over dark substrate and plants.
Pacific blue-eye
Pseudomugil signifer
Pacific blue-eyes are tiny Aussie "blue-eye" fish with those unreal electric-blue eyes and a nice little shimmer when they're in a group. Give them plants, gentle flow, and a proper shoal, and the males will posture and flare at each other in this super cool, non-lethal (usually) displayy way. They'll also tolerate a bit of salt (brackish), which is handy if you're doing an estuary-style setup.
Banggai Cardinalfish
Pterapogon kauderni
Banggai cardinals just sort of hover like little underwater satellites, and the bold black bars with those long, polka-dotted fins look unreal under reef lighting. They're super chill most of the time, but once a pair forms you'll see real "fish drama," and the male will even mouthbrood the babies like a champ.
Chinese zebra goby
Ptereleotris zebra
Ptereleotris zebra is one of those slick, torpedo-shaped dartfish that likes to hover in the water column, then instantly zip back into a bolt-hole when it gets spooked. In the wild it hangs out on exposed seaward reefs in groups, often in current, and in a tank the big thing is giving it open swim room plus tight cover because it is absolutely a jumper.
Broadbarred firefish
Pterois antennata
This is the lionfish with the long "antennae" (those banded tentacles above the eyes) and the ragged, spotty fins that make it look extra dramatic under reef lighting. It'll spend the day tucked under ledges and then cruise out at dusk to ambush shrimp, crabs, and any small fish it can fit in its mouth-also worth remembering it's venomous, so you treat it with respect when you're in the tank.
Freshwater angelfish
Pterophyllum scalare
Pterophyllum scalare is that classic tall, triangle-shaped cichlid that just glides around like it owns the midwater. Give it some vertical space, plants/wood to weave through, and it'll reward you with tons of personality-especially once a pair forms and starts guarding a spawn site.
Sailfin Pleco
Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps
The Sailfin Pleco is a large South American armored catfish known for its tall, sail-like dorsal fin and leopard/reticulated patterning over a dark body. It is a hardy algae grazer when young but quickly becomes a very large, heavy-bodied fish that produces significant waste and requires substantial filtration and space.
Ninespine Stickleback
Pungitius pungitius
The ninespine stickleback is a small, slender stickleback with multiple short dorsal spines and a silvery to brownish body that often shows subtle mottling. Males can develop darker coloration and enhanced contrast during breeding and may become more territorial while guarding a nest. It is adaptable to cool, well-oxygenated water and is best kept with similarly temperate species rather than tropical community fish.
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.
Cherry barb
Puntius titteya
Cherry barbs are little Sri Lankan barbs where the males go full deep-red (especially when they're feeling spicy and courting), and they look incredible in a planted tank with darker substrate. They're calm, a bit shy at first, and they really come alive when you keep them in a proper little group.