Every species, one search

Amazon Swordplant

Echinodorus grisebachii · Background · Beginner

A rosette of broad sword-shaped leaves that becomes the green centrepiece of larger tanks.

Angelfishfish

Pterophyllum scalare · Cichlids · Intermediate

Tall, elegant and unmistakable — wild-form silver with black bars or dozens of line-bred patterns. A cichlid through and through: graceful, but it will eat fish

Anubias Barteriplant

Anubias barteri · Midground · Beginner

Thick, dark, almost plastic-tough leaves on a creeping rhizome. Shrugs off plant-eating fish and low light alike.

Assassin Snailfish

Clea helena · Snails · Beginner

A handsome yellow-and-brown spiral shell hiding a hitman: the natural solution to a pest-snail plague.

Black Skirt Tetrafish

Gymnocorymbus ternetzi · Tetras · Beginner

A bold, deep-bodied tetra with a fading black gradient and flowing anal fin. Active and slightly nippy, so avoid long-finned tankmates.

Blue Tangfish

Paracanthurus hepatus · Saltwater · Expert

Regal blue with a yellow tail — yes, that movie fish. A powerful, ever-swimming surgeonfish for large, mature reef systems only.

Bristlenose Plecofish

Ancistrus cirrhosus · Plecos · Beginner

Everything people want from a pleco in a sensible 12 cm package. Males sprout the signature tentacled snout.

Cardinal Tetrafish

Paracheirodon axelrodi · Tetras · Intermediate

Like the neon but the red stripe runs the full length of the body. A blackwater jewel that schools beautifully in soft, warm water.

Clownfishfish

Amphiprion ocellaris · Saltwater · Beginner

The fish that launched a million reef tanks. Tank-bred ocellaris are hardy, bold, and don't need an anemone to be happy.

Common Plecofish

Hypostomus plecostomus · Plecos · Intermediate

The famous 'sucker fish' — and the hobby's most outgrown purchase. Half a metre of armoured catfish needing a tank most homes don't have.

Cryptocoryne Wendtiiplant

Cryptocoryne wendtii · Midground · Beginner

Bronze-green ruffled leaves that thrive where fussier plants fail. Every crypt melts on arrival — then returns better.

Discusfish

Symphysodon aequifasciatus · Cichlids · Expert

The king of the aquarium — a disc-shaped Amazonian cichlid in breathtaking colour strains. Demands warmth, cleanliness and a keeper who enjoys routine.

Dwarf Gouramifish

Trichogaster lalius · Gouramis · Beginner

A vividly striped centrepiece for small tanks — powder blue and flame red in alternating bands. Males do all the showing off.

Dwarf Hairgrassplant

Eleocharis parvula · Foreground · Intermediate

Fine grassy blades that ripple in the flow — the classic iwagumi carpet.

Emerald Coryfish

Corydoras splendens · Corydoras · Beginner

A larger, metallic-green cory that gleams like polished jade. The same charming bottom-dwelling bustle, scaled up.

Firefishfish

Nemateleotris magnifica · Saltwater · Beginner

A dart goby that hovers like a living flame — cream body igniting into red-orange fins, first dorsal ray held high like a flag.

Guppyfish

Poecilia reticulata · Livebearers · Beginner

The fish that starts a thousand hobbies. Endless tail shapes and colour strains, constant activity, and famously easy breeding.

Hornwortplant

Ceratophyllum demersum · Background · Beginner

A rootless, bristly stem plant that grows almost as fast as you can trim it — floating or anchored, fry love it.

Java Fernplant

Microsorum pteropus · Mosses & Ferns · Beginner

The indestructible classic: leathery green fronds that thrive tied to wood or rock in almost any tank, lit or dim.

Java Mossplant

Taxiphyllum barbieri · Mosses & Ferns · Beginner

The hobby's universal moss: carpets, trees, breeding mops, shrimp playgrounds — it does everything, anywhere.

Mollyfish

Poecilia sphenops · Livebearers · Beginner

A sturdy, sociable livebearer that grazes algae all day. Black, dalmatian, gold — there's a molly for every palette.

Monte Carloplant

Micranthemum tweediei · Foreground · Intermediate

Round-leaved carpet that hugs the substrate like a putting green — the easier alternative to dwarf baby tears.

Mystery Snailfish

Pomacea bridgesii · Snails · Beginner

A big, friendly apple snail with a periscope siphon and gold, blue or ivory shells. Surprisingly engaging to watch.

Neon Tetrafish

Paracheirodon innesi · Tetras · Beginner

The classic community fish: an iridescent blue stripe over a red tail band that glows under aquarium lighting. Peaceful, hardy once settled, and happiest in lar

Nerite Snailfish

Neritina natalensis · Snails · Beginner

The best algae-cleaning machine in the hobby, in zebra, tiger and onion shell patterns — and it cannot overrun your tank.

Panda Coryfish

Corydoras panda · Corydoras · Beginner

A black-and-cream armoured catfish with panda eye patches. Endlessly busy on the bottom, winking at you between sand-sifting sessions.

Pearl Gouramifish

Trichopodus leerii · Gouramis · Beginner

Arguably the most beautiful gourami: pearl-spangled flanks, an orange chest in males, and thread-like feeler fins. Gentle and quietly confident.

Platyfish

Xiphophorus maculatus · Livebearers · Beginner

Chunky, cheerful and nearly indestructible. Wagtails, sunsets, mickey-mouse patterns — platies bring easy colour to any community.

Ram Cichlidfish

Mikrogeophagus ramirezi · Cichlids · Intermediate

A pocket-sized dwarf cichlid in electric blue, gold and rose. Peaceful enough for community tanks that can match its love of warmth.

Rotala Rotundifoliaplant

Rotala rotundifolia · Background · Intermediate

A stem plant that blushes pink under strong light — dense bushes of it define the back line of countless aquascapes.

Royal Grammafish

Gramma loreto · Saltwater · Beginner

Half royal purple, half sunrise yellow. A cave-loving basslet that brings impossible colour to nano and mid-size reefs.

Swordtailfish

Xiphophorus hellerii · Livebearers · Beginner

A streamlined livebearer whose males carry the namesake sword — a dramatic tail extension. Strong swimmers that appreciate room.

Vallisneriaplant

Vallisneria spiralis · Background · Beginner

Ribbon-like leaves that reach the surface and sway in the current — the easiest way to get the underwater-meadow look.