Species · Care guides

Aquarium species care guides

Care details for freshwater, brackish and saltwater fish, shrimp, snails and corals. Pick a category, or search for a species by name.

Planting the tank too? Read the plant care guides →

• 
  Freshwater→
  1,007

  Freshwater aquarium fish

  Community and species tanks, from tetras to cichlids.

• 
  Saltwater
  296

  Saltwater aquarium fish

  Marine fish for FOWLR and reef tanks.

• 
  Brackish
  38

  Brackish aquarium fish

  Scats, monos, puffers and other fish for low-salinity setups.

• 
  Freshwater
  194

  Cichlids

  From dwarf apistos to African and New World cichlids.

• 
  Freshwater
  63

  Tetras

  Classic schooling fish, from neons to Congo tetras.

• 
  Freshwater
  86

  Corydoras and armored catfish

  Peaceful bottom-sifting catfish that live in groups.

• 
  Freshwater
  44

  Plecos and suckermouth catfish

  Suckermouth catfish, from otos to gentle giants.

• 
  Freshwater
  41

  Livebearers

  Guppies, mollies, platies and their wild relatives.

• 
  Freshwater
  71

  Bettas and gouramis

  Labyrinth fish that breathe air at the surface.

• 
  Freshwater
  34

  Loaches

  Bottom-dwelling characters, from kuhlis to hillstreams.

• 
  Freshwater
  38

  Betta fish

  Show bettas and their wild Betta relatives.

• 
  Freshwater
  40

  Gouramis

  Labyrinth fish, from honey gouramis to giants.

• 
  Freshwater
  13

  Goldfish

  Common, comet and the round fancy varieties.

• 
  Freshwater
  81

  Barbs, danios and rasboras

  Active schooling cyprinids for a planted community.

• 
  Freshwater
  32

  Rainbowfish

  Shimmering schoolers, from big melanotaenias to nano blue-eyes.

• 
  Freshwater
  42

  Killifish

  Jewel-colored egg-layers, annual and non-annual.

• 
  Freshwater
  10

  Snakeheads

  Air-breathing predators, from dwarf channa to giants.

• 
  Freshwater
  13

  Aquarium eels

  Freshwater spiny eels and saltwater morays.

• 
  Freshwater
  21

  Pufferfish

  Freshwater, brackish and marine puffers with real personality.

• 
  Freshwater
  8

  Freshwater sharks

  Shark-shaped cyprinids and catfish, from rainbow sharks to balas.

• 
  Saltwater
  13

  Clownfish

  Hardy reef fish, from ocellaris to the bold maroons.

• 
  Saltwater
  37

  Saltwater angelfish

  Dwarf and large marine angels for reef and FOWLR tanks.

• 
  Saltwater
  29

  Wrasses

  Active reef fish, from fairy wrasses to cleaners.

• 
  Saltwater
  26

  Tangs and surgeonfish

  Reef grazers that need swimming room.

• 
  Saltwater
  42

  Gobies

  Small bottom-dwellers, from sand-sifters to shrimp gobies.

• 
  Saltwater
  11

  Triggerfish

  Bold FOWLR fish with big personalities.

• 
  Saltwater
  8

  Seahorses and pipefish

  Slow, specialized fish for a dedicated tank.

• 
  Freshwater
  40

  Aquarium shrimp

  Cleanup crews and colorful nano shrimp.

• 
  Freshwater
  37

  Aquarium snails

  Algae grazers and detritus cleaners.

• 
  Saltwater
  96

  Aquarium corals

  Soft corals, LPS and SPS for reef tanks.

• 
  Saltwater
  14

  Reef aquarium anemones

  Host anemones for clownfish, from bubble tips to carpets.

• 
  Saltwater
  9

  Aquarium clams

  Giant clams for the reef, from hardy derasa to vivid crocea.

• 
  Saltwater
  40

  Saltwater clean-up crew

  Snails, crabs and shrimp that keep a reef tidy.

• 
  Freshwater
  61

  Freshwater clean-up crew

  Snails, shrimp and crabs that handle algae and leftovers.

• 
  Freshwater
  62

  Freshwater aquarium invertebrates

  Shrimp, snails, crabs, crayfish and clams for freshwater tanks.

• 
  Saltwater
  88

  Marine aquarium invertebrates

  Cleaner shrimp, snails, crabs, anemones, clams and echinoderms.

• 
  Freshwater
  430

  Beginner aquarium fish

  Hardy, forgiving fish for a first tank.

• 
  Freshwater
  247

  Advanced aquarium fish

  Delicate and specialist species for experienced keepers.

• 
  Saltwater
  156

  Reef-safe aquarium fish

  Fish that leave corals and inverts alone.

• 
  Saltwater
  44

  FOWLR aquarium fish

  Not reef safe: the fish for a fish-only saltwater tank.

• 
  Freshwater
  82

  Nano aquarium fish

  Small fish for tanks around 10 gallons.

• 
  Freshwater
  364

  Schooling aquarium fish

  Fish that need a group to feel secure.

• 
  Freshwater
  422

  Peaceful community fish

  Peaceful species that mix well.

• 
  Freshwater
  386

  Bottom-dwelling aquarium fish

  Catfish, loaches and others that work the lower level.

• 
  Freshwater
  111

  Coldwater aquarium fish

  Species comfortable in an unheated tank.

• 
  Freshwater
  34

  Algae eaters

  The fish, shrimp and snails that graze algae.

• 
  Saltwater
  121

  Beginner saltwater fish

  Hardy marine fish for a first saltwater tank.

• 
  Freshwater
  128

  Monster fish

  Tank busters that reach 16 inches and up.

• Browse all1,553 species →