Butterflyfish
Butterflyfish are a family of saltwater fish made up of over 100 distinct species. They resemble angelfish and have compressed, disk shaped bodies.
Fish Breeds
There are plenty of fish in the sea, but how do you know which type to choose for your aquarium? Whether you’re a beginner, intermediate or advanced aquarist, you need to know all about the new inhabitants you’re welcoming in your tank. Do you have a freshwater, brackish or saltwater tank? Choosing the right breed will largely depend on the type of water in your aquarium. Of course, when it comes to fish breeds, you’ll also need to know what do they eat, what types of fish will they get along with, how big will they grow – and we cover all of these important points in our Fish Breed section.
Instead of endlessly scrolling through pages and pages of breed characteristics, use Petguide.com’s Fish Breeds research tool for quick results. Choose the desired size and friendliness level of the species, as well as the type of aquarium you have, and instantly get a list of breeds that match your preferences. Need a saltwater species, that is large and non-aggressive? Or a small, feisty one that loves freshwater aquariums? Tick all the boxes and pick the breed you like best of the ones that are offered. Simple as that!
When you get the results, you can easily access all the main information about the species with just one click. Check if the breed you like is easy to care for, what to feed them, how to breed them, and which fishy friends they like spending time with. Petguide.com ensures that everything you need to know about the species is right at your fingertips!
Petguide.com’s Fish Breeds tool will help you create a thriving, beautiful ecosystem by choosing the right fauna for your tank. In case you need more information about fish care and aquarium maintenance, take a look at our Fish blog.
Tetra
Tetra are a species of tropical fish extremely popular in the aquarium trade. There are over 150 different species of tetras, most have small bodies.
Platies
Platies are fairly small fish, growing no more than 3 inches long, and they are very peaceful and non-aggressive. These fish are usually drab in color.
Ram Cichlids
Ram Cichlids (Mikrogeophagus ramirezi) are a species of freshwater cichlid that can be found in slow-moving waters throughout the Orinoco River basin.
Freshwater Gobies
Freshwater gobies are generally peaceful community fish that can be kept with other community species. They belong to the family Gobiidae group of Goby.
Mbuna Cichlids
Mbuna cichlids are some of the most brightly colored freshwater fishes in the world, exhibiting a wide range of colors and patterns.
Parrotfish
Parrotfish are a marine fish with over 90 distinct species. They are characterized by their parrot-like beaks that are made of tightly compressed teeth.
Drum Fish
There are several species of fish that carry the "drum" name. With more than 250 species, drum fish exhibit a wide range of colors and patterns.
Gobies
Gobies are one of the largest families of fish comprised of over 2000 separate species. Most species rarely grow more than a couple of inches in length.
Darters
Darters are a type of small freshwater fish similar to perch that can be found in freshwater streams throughout North America.
Hap Cichlids
Hap cichlids exhibit a wide variety of colorations and patterns ranging from solid blue to multicolored combinations of red, orange, and purple.
Swordtail
A relatively hardy and easy to care for livebearer, the swordtail is one of the most popular aquarium fish species among beginner aquarists.
African Tiger Fish
African Tiger Fish are a large and predatory species of fish. Their bodies are powerful and streamlined, enabling them to move with fast bursts of speed.
Pencilfish
Pencilfish are named for their slender, pencil-like shape and they generally grow no more than 2 inches long. They are peaceful by nature.
Hogfish
Hogfish are a reef-dwelling species of wrasse popular in the modern aquarium trade. They possess a long, pig-like snout they use to search for food.
Snappers
Snappers are generally non-aggressive fish that do well in very large saltwater community tanks. Most live in rocky or coral reefs, and come in many colors.
Lionfish
Lionfish are a species of fish belonging to the scorpionfish family. They are known for their bright colorations, flowing fins and venomous tentacles.
Piranha
Piranha are a family of extremely aggressive freshwater fish. They are characterized by two rows of extremely sharp, triangular shaped teeth.
Jawfish
Jawfish are species of saltwater fish very similar in appearance to blennies. They are characterized by their comparatively larger mouths and heads.
Blennies
Blennies are a species of marine fish made up of 6 distinct families. They are characteristically small in size and are similar to gobies in appearance.
Reedfish
Also referred to as Rope Fish, Dragon Fish and Snake Fish, reedfish are a curious species of fish characterized by their long, snake-like bodies.
Goldfish
Goldfish are one of the first species of fish to be domesticated and are also one of the most commonly kept aquarium pets. Peaceful and hardy fish breed.
Freshwater Sharks
Freshwater sharks are a group of freshwater fish belonging to the minnow family. Freshwater sharks have long, powerful bodies and large dorsal fins,
Gar
Characterized by their long bodies and similarly elongated jaws, gar are kept in large aquariums and require very specialized care by experienced aquarists.
Damselfish
Damselfish are a colorful species of saltwater fish popular in the modern saltwater aquarium hobby. They come from tropical coral reefs around the world.
Corydoras Catfish
Also known as cories or cory catfish, Corydoras catfish are bottom feeders and generally docile fish that do well in a community setting.
Neon Tetra
The Neon tetra is an incredibly beautiful species of tropical freshwater aquarium fish. Neon tetras usually grow up to around 1.2 inches in length.
Dragonets
Dragonets are a family of small, vibrantly colored saltwater fish. There are over 130 species of dragonets identified and similar in appearance to gobies.
Danios
Danios are a popular species of freshwater fish in the aquarium hobby. They are characterized by two pairs of long barbells that hang from their mouth.
Ray Fish
Rays are a large group of fish closely related to sharks. Ray fish are characterized by their flat bodies and a tough, elastic skeleton made of cartilage.
Tigerfish
The Tigerfish is a type of freshwater fish belonging to the genus Datnioides (Datnoids). It's named for the vertical stripes that run all along its body.
Loaches
Loaches are a large family of highly intelligent freshwater fish. There are over 200 different species and they are characterized by their eel-like bodies.
Mollies – Freshwater
Mollies are a freshwater fish commonly known as the Molly. They are a hardy species of fish that adapts well to a variety of different water conditions.
Cardinalfish
Cardinalfish are a large family of saltwater fish made up of over 200 sub-species. Most species are extremely colorful and are a couple of inches in length.
Rasbora
Rasboras are a family of minnow-type freshwater fish characterized by their small bodies and vibrant colorations. They are an extremely peaceful fish.
Scat
Also known as argus fish and spotted scats, scats are one of the most popular species of brackish water aquarium fish. They have square shaped bodies.
Pufferfish – Saltwater
Pufferfish are a large family of saltwater fish. It can fill its elastic stomach with water until it expands to a large, almost globe-like shape.
Bichirs
Bichirs are a species of freshwater fish. They are characterized by their long, eel-like bodies and unique dorsal finlets. Capable of breathing surface air.
Triggerfish
Triggerfish are a fish comprised of roughly 40 distinct species. They are characterized by their laterally compressed bodies and comparatively large heads.
Pacu
Pacu fish are a large family of freshwater fish related to the piranha. While some species look like piranhas, they are herbivores and are peaceful fish.
Angelfish
Angelfish are one of the most popular species of freshwater fish in the aquarium hobby. They are characterized by their vertically compressed bodies.
Mandarinfish
Sometimes referred to as dragonets or mandarinfish, mandarins are small, brightly colored saltwater fish belonging to the Synchiropus genus.
Filefish
Filefish are a curious species of saltwater fish. They are characterized by their rhomboid shaped bodies, thick, sandpaper-like skin and small, fleshy fins.
Hatchetfish
Freshwater hatchetfish are a type of ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Gasteropelecidae. There are three genera, with nine different species.
Flounder
The flounder is also known as a flatfish; a fitting name because its body is laterally compressed and it lays on its side, burrowing into the substrate.
Acara Cichlids
Most acara cichlids are somewhat aggressive and territorial and they have a tendency to eat smaller fish. Acaras come in a wide range of colors.
Plecostomus
The Plecostomus is a type of armored catfish that is found throughout the tropical regions of northeastern South America.
Arowana
Sometimes referred to as the dragon fish, arowana fish are one of the most beautiful and most fascinating species of fish in the aquarium trade.
Gourami
Gourami are a relatively hardy species of freshwater aquarium fish and are thus suitable for most intermediate aquarists. Square shaped, compressed body.
Minnow
The name Minnow is given to freshwater fish belonging to the family Cyprinidae. These fish are fairly small and they are generally very peaceful.
Sweetlips
Sweetlips are a species of fish belonging to the grunt family. They are characterized by their big, luscious lips and come in a variety of colorations.
Grouper
Grouper are a large family of saltwater fish characterized by their stout bodies and over-sized mouths. They are hardy, colorful and fascinating species.
Goatfish
Saltwater Goatfish are members of the family Mullidae. These fish have the ability to change color quickly to blend in with their surroundings.
Paradise Fish
Paradise fish are a colorful species of freshwater fish belonging to the gourami family. They were the first tropical fish to be imported 150 years ago.
Surgeonfish
The species known as surgeonfish belong to the Acanthuridae family. Surgeonfish vary greatly in size from one species to another.
Snakeheads
Snakeheads are a species of tropical fish popular among experienced aquarists. They get their name from their flattened shape and the scales on their head.
Wrasse
Wrasse are large family of saltwater fish made up of over 600 different species. They are also one of the most popular species of marine aquarium fish.
Moorish Idol
The Moorish idol is closely related to surgeonfish. These fish are characterized by their vertically compressed, disk-like bodies and bold colorations.
Trunkfish
A unique fact about Trunkfish: they secrete a poisonous material from their skin which acts as a chemical defense mechanism against predators.
Ray Fish – Saltwater
The ray fish's skeleton is made up entirely of cartilage and it is characterized by its flattened body and large pectoral fins which are fused to its head.