Fish That Start With P - Page 3 of 3
Browse all aquarium fish species with common names beginning with "P". Each profile includes care requirements, water parameters, tank size recommendations, and compatibility information for freshwater, marine, and brackish species.
Polylepis hillstream loach
Vanmanenia polylepis
Vanmanenia polylepis is one of those slim, rock-hugging hillstream loaches that wants to live right in the current, perched on smooth stones like a little suction-cup torpedo. Its natural home is subtropical southern China, so think cool-to-mild temps, high oxygen, and lots of flow - it gets stressed fast in warm, stagnant tanks. They're super fun to watch grazing and scooting around, but they do best when you set the tank up more like a river than a typical community tank.
Polynesian chromis
Pycnochromis bami
This is a tiny, reef-associated chromis from the South Pacific that stays out in the water column picking at plankton. It is kind of a sneaky-cool fish: mostly brown, but with a sharp white tail that really pops when it is moving in a little group.
Poso halfbeak
Nomorhamphus celebensis
This is a cool little Sulawesi halfbeak that spends most of its time cruising the surface and picking food right off the top. They do best in a small group with lots of surface cover (floating plants are perfect), and they really reward you if you keep the water clean and stable. Also worth knowing: a lot of info online mixes up their exact habitat, and that can lead people to keep them too warm.
Precarius dragonfish
Eustomias precarius
Eustomias precarius is a deep-sea dragonfish from the open ocean off the western central Atlantic (Caribbean area). Its whole deal is the classic dragonfish vibe - bioluminescent light organs and a mouth built for grabbing whatever drifts by in the dark. This is strictly a wild, deepwater animal, not something that can be kept alive long-term in a normal aquarium.
Productus suckermouth catfish
Chiloglanis productus
This is a tiny African suckermouth catfish from fast, clear tributary streams feeding Lake Tanganyika - think boulders, gravel, and current. Its little suction-cup mouth is built for clinging to rocks in flow, and males have a more drawn-out caudal fin shape (which is literally what productus is referring to). If you like oddball hillstream-style setups, this one fits that vibe perfectly.
Pseudomussullah barb
Hypselobarbus pseudomussullah
This is a Western Ghats river barb from India that gets to a solid hand-sized fish, built for cruising midwater in current. Its whole claim to fame is how close it looks to Hypselobarbus mussullah - it was literally described as the 'pseudo' mussullah - so it is the kind of fish that can be mis-ID'd in the trade if it ever shows up.
Pullus viviparous brotula
Nielsenichthys pullus
This is a tiny little livebearing brotula from reefy coastal waters around Bali, Indonesia, topping out at only about 3.8 cm standard length. It is basically a secretive, bottom-hugging marine fish you would expect to live tucked into cracks and crevices, and its whole genus is just this one species.
Punk pleco
Neblinichthys pilosus
This is that weirdly awesome little pleco with the punk-rock bristles - mature males get those spiky odontodes on the head and snout that make it look like it rolled out of a 1980s show. It stays pretty small for a pleco, but it is a true wild-type fish from remote Venezuela, so it does best in a clean, oxygen-rich setup with lots of flow and hiding spots.
Purple tang
Zebrasoma xanthurum
This is the deep-purple tang with the bright yellow tail - it cruises the rockwork all day picking at algae like a little lawnmower. It has that classic Zebrasoma "sailfin" shape and a real attitude if you crowd it with other tangs, so give it room and let it be the boss (or at least think it is).
Pürzl's killifish
Fundulopanchax puerzli
Fundulopanchax puerzli is a freshwater killifish from western Cameroon (Lower Wouri system), inhabiting small rainforest streams and swampy/slow-moving waters. It reaches about 8 cm TL, and is typically maintained in soft water (around 2–5 dGH) with slightly acidic to near-neutral pH (around 6.8), subdued lighting, and dense cover/spawning mops or fine plants.
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.
Pygmy filefish
Stephanolepis setifer
Stephanolepis setifer (pygmy filefish) is a Western Atlantic filefish often found over seagrass beds and sandy/muddy bottoms; juveniles commonly associate with floating seaweeds/sargassum. It has variable coloration for camouflage, reaches about 18–20 cm total length, and likely feeds on plants/algae and small invertebrates.