Species Profiles
2742 articles- Blue Dolphin Cichlid (Cyrtocara moorii) Care GuideA striking metallic blue cichlid from Lake Malawi distinguished by the prominent nuchal hump that develops in mature specimens.
- Diamond Goby (Valenciennea puellaris) Care GuideA sand-sifting goby with a white body covered in orange diamond-shaped spots. Constantly scoops mouthfuls of sand, filtering out food and ke
- Purple Firefish (Nemateleotris decora) Care GuideA beautiful dartfish with a white body that transitions into rich purple and red on the fins and tail. More colorful than the standard Fire
- Helfrichi Firefish (Nemateleotris helfrichi) Care GuideA stunning and highly prized dartfish with a lavender-purple body and a bright yellow forehead. One of the most beautiful and expensive nano
- Fire Goby (Nemateleotris magnifica) Care GuideA graceful, slender fish with a white-to-yellow body grading into a vibrant fire-red tail. Hovers above the substrate, flicking its elongate
- Lined Seahorse (Hippocampus erectus) Care GuideA medium-sized seahorse reaching 15cm, one of the more commonly captive-bred species available. Needs a species-only tank with gentle flow,
- Dwarf Seahorse (Hippocampus zosterae) Care GuideOne of the smallest seahorse species at only 2.5cm. Requires a species-only nano tank with gentle water flow and live food (baby brine shrim
- Tailspot Blenny (Ecsenius stigmatura) Care GuideA tiny, adorable blenny with a distinctive dark spot at the base of the tail. Tan-brown body with subtle orange and blue markings. Perfect f
- Midas Blenny (Ecsenius midas) Care GuideA gorgeous golden-yellow blenny that mimics Anthias in both color and swimming behavior, often hovering in the water column with them. Unlik
- Bicolor Blenny (Ecsenius bicolor) Care GuideA charming small blenny with a two-toned body — dark brown-purple on the front half and orange on the back. Perches on rocks and live rock u
- Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus sp.) Care GuideA genus of incredibly colorful, peaceful reef wrasses. Males display stunning nuptial colors of pinks, purples, reds, and blues.
- Melanurus Wrasse (Halichoeres melanurus) Care GuideAn excellent reef utility wrasse with vibrant blue-green body and orange-red lines. Highly valued for eating bristle worms, flatworms, pyram
- Leopard Wrasse (Macropharyngodon meleagris) Care GuideA beautiful wrasse covered in intricate leopard-like spots that change pattern between males and females. Buries in sand at night. Requires
- Carpenter's Flasher Wrasse (Paracheilinus carpenteri) Care GuideA stunning small wrasse where males display an incredible show of flashing colors — pinks, oranges, and blues during courtship. Peaceful and
- Yellow Coris Wrasse (Halichoeres chrysus) Care GuideA bright canary-yellow wrasse that is one of the best beginner marine wrasses. Hardy, peaceful, and reef-safe. Buries itself in sand to slee
- Cleaner Wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus) Care GuideFamous for setting up 'cleaning stations' where other fish queue to have parasites removed. While fascinating, it is controversial in captiv
- Convict Tang (Acanthurus triostegus) Care GuideA distinctive tang with a pale body and six bold vertical black bars resembling a prisoner's uniform. One of the more peaceful tangs, often
- Scopas Tang (Zebrasoma scopas) Care GuideA hardy, understated tang with a mottled brown-yellow body. While not as flashy as other Zebrasoma species, it is one of the toughest and mo
- Chevron Tang (Ctenochaetus hawaiiensis) Care GuideA unique tang that dramatically changes color as it matures — juveniles are bright orange-red with chevron markings, while adults become dar
- Kole Tang (Ctenochaetus strigosus) Care GuideA hardy brown tang with a distinctive golden ring around the eye and fine horizontal lines across the body.
- Naso Tang (Naso lituratus) Care GuideA large, elegant tang with a distinctive horn-like protrusion on the forehead in adults. Features bright orange lips and two fixed 'scalpels
- Sailfin Tang (Zebrasoma veliferum) Care GuideA large tang with a dramatically tall dorsal and anal fin that can be raised like a sail. Beautiful striped pattern in brown, yellow, and wh
- Purple Tang (Zebrasoma xanthurum) Care GuideA stunning marine fish with a deep purple body and bright yellow tail. One of the most prized tangs due to its vibrant coloring and relative
- Banded Rainbowfish (Melanotaenia trifasciata) Care GuideA highly variable rainbowfish species with dramatic color differences between populations. Can display combinations of red, orange, yellow,
- Lake Kutubu Rainbowfish (Melanotaenia lacustris) Care GuideA stunningly beautiful rainbowfish with a two-toned blue body — deeper cobalt on top fading to lighter turquoise below. Endemic to Lake Kutu
- Australian Rainbowfish (Melanotaenia fluviatilis) Care GuideA hardy, adaptable rainbowfish native to Australian rivers. Males develop vibrant green-blue and yellow colors with age.
- Checkerboard Cichlid (Dicrossus filamentosus) Care GuideA beautiful dwarf cichlid with rows of dark spots creating a checkerboard pattern along the body. Males develop elongated lyretail fins.
- Festivum Cichlid (Mesonauta festivus) Care GuideA peaceful South American cichlid with a distinctive diagonal black stripe from mouth to dorsal fin, giving it a flag-like appearance.
- Neolamprologus Multifasciatus (Neolamprologus multifasciatus) Care GuideThe smallest known cichlid in the world, reaching only 4cm. Lives in colonies centered around empty snail shells on the sandy lake bottom.
- Altolamprologus Calvus (Altolamprologus calvus) Care GuideA laterally compressed Tanganyika cichlid with a distinctive high forehead and armor-like scales. Its flat body allows it to squeeze into na
- Julidochromis Marlieri (Julidochromis marlieri) Care GuideA beautiful Tanganyika cichlid with a checkerboard pattern of black and white markings. Forms strong pair bonds and defends its rocky territ
- Apistogramma Borellii (Apistogramma borellii) Care GuideOne of the hardiest dwarf cichlids, tolerating cooler and harder water than most Apistogramma species. Males display beautiful blue-yellow c
- Apistogramma Agassizii (Apistogramma agassizii) Care GuideA colorful dwarf cichlid with a spade-shaped tail and vibrant blue, gold, and red coloring in males. Thrives in soft, acidic blackwater setu
- Flame Hawkfish (Neocirrhites armatus) Care GuideA vibrant, fiery red hawkfish with black markings around its eyes and dorsal fin. Perches on rocks and corals, surveying its territory like
- Maroon Clownfish (Premnas biaculeatus) Care GuideThe largest and most aggressive clownfish species, reaching up to 17 cm. Has a deep maroon body with three distinctive white or gold bands.
- Tomato Clownfish (Amphiprion frenatus) Care GuideA bold, hardy clownfish with a deep tomato-red body and a single white headband. One of the more aggressive clownfish species, it fiercely d
- Yellow Watchman Goby (Cryptocentrus cinctus) Care GuideA bright yellow goby famous for its symbiotic relationship with pistol shrimp — the shrimp digs a burrow while the goby stands guard.
- Lawnmower Blenny (Salarias fasciatus) Care GuideA comical bottom-dwelling marine fish with a large head, expressive eyes, and a habit of perching on rocks while grazing algae.
- Pajama Cardinalfish (Sphaeramia nematoptera) Care GuideA quirky, peaceful marine fish with an unusual tricolor pattern — greenish-yellow front, bold dark central band, and polka-dotted rear secti
- Powder Blue Tang (Acanthurus leucosternon) Care GuideOne of the most beautiful tangs with a powder blue body, dark face, yellow dorsal fin, and white chest. Notorious for being prone to ich and
- Yellow Tang (Zebrasoma flavescens) Care GuideOne of the most iconic reef aquarium fish, featuring a brilliant, uniform yellow body. An excellent algae grazer that helps keep the tank cl
- Firefish Goby (Nemateleotris magnifica) Care GuideA strikingly beautiful marine fish with a white to pale yellow front body transitioning to a fiery red-orange tail. Known for its elongated
- Blue Chromis (Chromis viridis) Care GuideOne of the most popular marine fish, with a shimmering blue-green body that schools beautifully in reef tanks. Peaceful for a damselfish and
- Celebes Rainbowfish (Marosatherina ladigesi) Care GuideAn elegant, slender rainbowfish from Sulawesi with a translucent body and distinctive yellow-tipped fins. Males have elongated second dorsal
- Turquoise Rainbowfish (Melanotaenia lacustris) Care GuideA stunningly colored rainbowfish with a two-tone blue body — deep cobalt blue on top transitioning to bright turquoise below.
- Zebra Pleco (Hypancistrus zebra) Care GuideOne of the most sought-after and expensive plecos, featuring striking black and white zebra-like stripes. Unlike many plecos, it is a carniv
- Common Pleco (Hypostomus plecostomus) Care GuideOne of the most commonly sold aquarium fish, often purchased for algae control. Grows very large — up to 50 cm — and quickly outgrows most h
- Mbuna (Pseudotropheus sp.) Care GuideA group of rock-dwelling cichlids from Lake Malawi known for vibrant colors and high aggression. Includes dozens of species in blue, yellow,
- Jewel Cichlid (Hemichromis bimaculatus) Care GuideA strikingly colorful West African cichlid that turns brilliant red with iridescent blue spots during breeding. Highly territorial, especial
- Tropheus Duboisi (Tropheus duboisi) Care GuideA fascinating Tanganyikan cichlid that undergoes a dramatic color change from juvenile to adult. Juveniles are jet-black with bright white s