Species Profiles
2742 articles- Bubble Tip Anemone (Entacmaea quadricolor) Care GuideThe most popular anemone for hosting clownfish in captivity, with distinctive bulb-tipped tentacles. Comes in green, rose, and rainbow varie
- Stylophora (Stylophora pistillata) Care GuideA branching SPS coral with thick, rounded branch tips resembling a cat's paw. One of the faster-growing SPS corals and more forgiving than A
- Montipora (Montipora sp.) Care GuideThe most beginner-friendly SPS coral, available in plating, encrusting, and branching growth forms. More tolerant of slightly elevated nutri
- Acropora (Acropora sp.) Care GuideThe gold standard of SPS corals, forming intricate branching structures in vibrant colors. Demands pristine water quality with undetectable
- Plate Coral (Fungia sp.) Care GuideA unique free-living solitary coral that sits on the sand bed rather than attaching to rock. Disc-shaped with radiating septa and short tent
- Bubble Coral (Plerogyra sinuosa) Care GuideA fascinating LPS coral that inflates large bubble-like vesicles during the day for photosynthesis, then deflates at night to reveal sweeper
- Hammer Coral (Euphyllia ancora) Care GuideAn LPS coral with tentacles ending in distinctive T-shaped or anchor-shaped tips. The third member of the popular Euphyllia trio (torch, ham
- Torch Coral (Euphyllia glabrescens) Care GuideAn LPS coral with long, flowing tentacles ending in bulbous tips. One of the most popular Euphyllia species. Has powerful sweeper tentacles
- Frogspawn Coral (Euphyllia divisa) Care GuideAn LPS coral with flowing tentacles ending in split tips resembling frog eggs. Mesmerizing movement in the current.
- Kenya Tree Coral (Capnella sp.) Care GuideA tree-like soft coral that reproduces prolifically by dropping branches that reattach to nearby surfaces. Very hardy and tolerant of varyin
- Green Star Polyp (Pachyclavularia viridis) Care GuideAn encrusting soft coral forming a mat of bright green star-shaped polyps on a purple base. Extremely hardy and fast-growing — can cover roc
- Xenia Coral (Xenia sp.) Care GuideA mesmerizing soft coral known for its rhythmic pulsing movement — polyps open and close continuously. Grows rapidly and can become invasive
- Toadstool Leather Coral (Sarcophyton sp.) Care GuideA hardy soft coral resembling a mushroom with a thick stalk and broad cap covered in tiny pulsing polyps. Can grow very large in aquariums.
- Mushroom Coral (Discosoma sp.) Care GuideOne of the easiest corals for beginners, featuring flat disc-shaped polyps in a rainbow of colors including red, blue, green, and purple. To
- Lyretail Anthias (Pseudanthias squamipinnis) Care GuideA stunning schooling reef fish where males are vivid magenta-purple and females bright orange. Protogynous hermaphrodites — if the dominant
- Pinktail Triggerfish (Melichthys vidua) Care GuideOne of the most peaceful triggerfish with a dark green-black body and a distinctive white or pink tail. Planktivorous in nature, making it l
- Blue-jaw Triggerfish (Xanthichthys auromarginatus) Care GuideThe most reef-safe triggerfish available, with males sporting a stunning blue chin and golden-edged fins. Planktivorous rather than benthic,
- Picasso Triggerfish (Rhinecanthus aculeatus) Care GuideAn iconic marine fish with an artistic pattern of blue, yellow, and black stripes and lines — earning its name from the painter Picasso. Haw
- Iridescent Shark (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) Care GuideA massive catfish that grows to 130cm and is absolutely NOT suitable for home aquariums despite being commonly sold as a juvenile. A nervous
- American Flagfish (Jordanella floridae) Care GuideA small killifish-relative with males displaying a pattern resembling the American flag — red stripes on an iridescent blue-green body.
- African Dwarf Frog (Hymenochirus boettgeri) Care GuideA tiny fully aquatic frog that never needs to leave the water. Peaceful and entertaining to watch as it swims with a characteristic breastst
- Axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) Care GuideA neotenic salamander that retains its larval features throughout life, including feathery external gills. Critically endangered in the wild
- Half-Banded Spiny Eel (Macrognathus circumcinctus) Care GuideA small, peaceful spiny eel with distinctive dark vertical bands on the upper body. One of the best spiny eels for community aquariums due t
- Fire Eel (Mastacembelus erythrotaenia) Care GuideThe largest freshwater spiny eel, reaching over 60cm with striking red-orange lateral markings on a dark body.
- Peacock Eel (Macrognathus siamensis) Care GuideA peaceful, slender eel-like fish with beautiful eye-spots along its dorsal fin. Loves to burrow in sand substrate with only its head visibl
- Bala Shark (Balantiocheilus melanopterus) Care GuideA large, active schooling fish with a silver body and black-edged fins resembling a shark silhouette. Despite its intimidating name, it is p
- Red-tail Black Shark (Epalzeorhynchos bicolor) Care GuideA stunning fish with a jet-black body contrasted by a vivid red tail. Highly territorial, especially towards other bottom-dwelling and simil
- Shubunkin Goldfish (Carassius auratus var. Shubunkin) Care GuideA single-tail goldfish variety with a distinctive calico pattern of blue, red, orange, black, and white patches.
- Bubble Eye Goldfish (Carassius auratus var. Bubble Eye) Care GuideOne of the most unusual fancy goldfish, featuring large fluid-filled sacs beneath upward-pointing eyes.
- Lionhead Goldfish (Carassius auratus var. Lionhead) Care GuideA fancy goldfish lacking a dorsal fin, with a prominent raspberry-like wen covering the entire head. Similar to Ranchu but with a straighter
- Black Moor Goldfish (Carassius auratus var. Black Moor) Care GuideA fancy goldfish famous for its velvety black coloration and protruding telescope eyes. Gentle and slow-moving, with poor eyesight that make
- Ranchu Goldfish (Carassius auratus var. Ranchu) Care GuideConsidered the king of goldfish in Japan, the Ranchu has no dorsal fin, a deeply curved back, and a prominent wen (head growth). Slow swimme
- Ryukin Goldfish (Carassius auratus var. Ryukin) Care GuideA fancy goldfish with a short, deep body and a distinctive high dorsal hump behind the head. Known for its tall dorsal fin and double tail.
- Oranda Goldfish (Carassius auratus var. Oranda) Care GuideA fancy goldfish variety distinguished by a prominent raspberry-like growth (wen) on the head. Egg-shaped body with flowing fins.
- Peppermint Shrimp (Lysmata wurdemanni) Care GuideA small, translucent shrimp with distinctive red stripes, prized for its appetite for aiptasia pest anemones. Shy and nocturnal, it often hi
- Emerald Crab (Mithraculus sculptus) Care GuideA small, bright green crab valued for its appetite for bubble algae (Valonia), a common pest in reef tanks.
- Blue Leg Hermit Crab (Clibanarius tricolor) Care GuideA tiny, industrious hermit crab with bright blue legs that is one of the most popular cleanup crew members in reef tanks. Constantly grazes
- Nassarius Snail (Nassarius vibex) Care GuideA small, burrowing snail that lives beneath the sand substrate, emerging to feed on detritus and uneaten food. An essential sand-bed cleaner
- Turbo Snail (Turbo fluctuosa) Care GuideA large, powerful marine algae grazer that can clear significant amounts of nuisance algae from rocks and glass. One of the best cleanup cre
- Banded Coral Shrimp (Stenopus hispidus) Care GuideA striking shrimp with bold red and white banded body and extremely long white antennae. Known for its boxing stance with the third pair of
- Cleaner Shrimp (Lysmata amboinensis) Care GuideA quintessential reef cleanup crew member with a red and white striped body and long white antennae. Actively sets up cleaning stations wher
- Fire Shrimp (Lysmata debelius) Care GuideA stunningly vivid blood-red shrimp with bright white antennae and walking legs, often considered the most beautiful marine shrimp. Shy and
- Wrestling Halfbeak (Dermogenys pusilla) Care GuideA surface-dwelling livebearer with a distinctive elongated lower jaw. Named for the males' habit of locking jaws and 'wrestling' each other.
- Peacock Gudgeon (Tateurndina ocellicauda) Care GuideA gorgeous small goby with vivid red, blue, and yellow markings and a distinctive eyespot on the tail base. Males develop a prominent nuchal
- Freshwater Stingray (Potamotrygon motoro) Care GuideA mesmerizing disc-shaped ray with beautiful eye-spot patterns on its dorsal surface. Has a venomous tail barb that can cause painful stings
- Archer Fish (Toxotes jaculatrix) Care GuideFamous for its ability to shoot jets of water at insects perched on branches above the water surface. A brackish water species with a sleek
- African Butterfly Fish (Pantodon buchholzi) Care GuideA unique surface-dwelling fish with large, wing-like pectoral fins that allow it to glide above the water. A living fossil unchanged for mil
- Elephant Nose Fish (Gnathonemus petersii) Care GuideA unique fish with a distinctive elongated chin appendage used for probing the substrate for food via weak electrical impulses. Has exceptio
- Rope Fish (Erpetoichthys calabaricus) Care GuideA fascinating snake-like fish with a long, flexible body covered in ganoid scales. Has primitive lungs and must breathe air at the surface.
- Spotted Blue-Eye (Pseudomugil gertrudae) Care GuideA delicate, tiny rainbowfish with spotted fins and striking blue eyes. Males develop spectacular fan-shaped pectoral fins with black spots.