Bottom-dwelling aquarium fish: S
All bottom dwellers whose common name starts with S, in alphabetical order. Each card links to its care guide.
130 species
Sabanus bumblebee goby
Brachygobius sabanus
Freshwater1.2 in (3 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Sabina's dwarf cichlid
Congochromis sabinae
Freshwater2.6 in (6.5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Saddle-back loach
Homaloptera orthogoniata
Freshwater4.3 in (11 cm) · 45 gal (170 L)68–77°F (20–25°C)
Saddled bichir
Polypterus endlicherii
Freshwater25.6 in (65 cm) · 151 gal (570 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)
Sailfin cory
Scleromystax macropterus
Freshwater3.5 in (9 cm) · 44 gal (165 L)64–70°F (18–21°C)
Sailfin pim
Leiarius pictus
Freshwater23.6 in (60 cm) · 396 gal (1,500 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Sailfin pleco
Pterygoplichthys disjunctivus
Freshwater17.7 in (45 cm) · 100 gal (380 L)73–84°F (23–29°C)
Salt and pepper cory
Hoplisoma habrosum
Freshwater1.4 in (3.5 cm) · 15 gal (55 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)
Sand knifefish
Gymnorhamphichthys rondoni
Freshwater5.9 in (15 cm) · 53 gal (200 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Sands cory
Hoplisoma davidsandsi
Freshwater2.4 in (6 cm) · 21 gal (80 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Santa Cruz cory
Hoplisoma cruziense
Freshwater2 in (5 cm) · 16 gal (60 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Sarabia cichlid
Paraneetroplus bulleri
Freshwater11.8 in (30 cm) · 119 gal (450 L)75–84°F (24–29°C)
Sarare cory
Corydoras sarareensis
Freshwater2 in (5 cm) · 16 gal (60 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Savona loach
Schistura savona
Freshwater2 in (5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)64–77°F (18–25°C)
Savory's cichlid
Neolamprologus savoryi
Freshwater3.1 in (8 cm) · 42 gal (160 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Scarlet cactus pleco (L025)
Pseudacanthicus pirarara
Freshwater15.7 in (40 cm) · 119 gal (450 L)79–86°F (26–30°C)
Scarlet goby
Rhinogobius zhoui
Freshwater1.6 in (4 cm) · 12 gal (45 L)61–75°F (16–24°C)
Schultz's stone loach
Schistura schultzi
Freshwater4.3 in (11 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Schwartz's catfish
Hoplisoma schwartzi
Freshwater2.8 in (7 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Schwetzi cichlid
Cyclopharynx schwetzi
Freshwater3.9 in (10 cm) · 53 gal (200 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Scissortail squeaker
Synodontis soloni
Freshwater6.1 in (15.5 cm) · 66 gal (250 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Scrapermouth mbuna
Labeotropheus trewavasae
Freshwater4.7 in (12 cm) · 53 gal (200 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Senegal bichir
Polypterus senegalus
Freshwater13.8 in (35 cm) · 143 gal (540 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Senegal kuhli cat
Amphilius rheophilus
Freshwater4.7 in (12 cm) · 30 gal (112 L)70–79°F (21–26°C)
Serian Borneo sucker
Gastromyzon scitulus
Freshwater2.2 in (5.5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)68–77°F (20–25°C)
Serpent loach
Serpenticobitis octozona
Freshwater2.6 in (6.5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Serpentis squeaker
Synodontis serpentis
Freshwater4.9 in (12.5 cm) · 53 gal (200 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Serratus cory
Corydoras serratus
Freshwater2.4 in (6 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)
Seuss's cory
Brochis seussi
Freshwater2.6 in (6.5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Seven-band convict
Amatitlania septemfasciata
Freshwater4.7 in (12 cm) · 42 gal (160 L)75–84°F (24–29°C)
Sharphead demonfish
Satanoperca acuticeps
Freshwater7.9 in (20 cm) · 119 gal (450 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)
Sharptail goby
Oligolepis acutipennis
Freshwater5.9 in (15 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Shelford's kuhli loach
Pangio shelfordii
Freshwater3.1 in (8 cm) · 24 gal (90 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Shell mbuna
Maylandia lanisticola
Freshwater3.1 in (8 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Shell thief cichlid
Lamprologus callipterus
Freshwater5.1 in (13 cm) · 79 gal (300 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Shelldwelling clown goby
Mugilogobius adeia
Freshwater1.8 in (4.5 cm) · 14 gal (54 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Short-finned tandan
Neosilurus brevidorsalis
Freshwater9.4 in (24 cm) · 79 gal (300 L)70–82°F (21–28°C)
Shortfin baby whale
Brienomyrus brachyistius
Freshwater7.9 in (20 cm) · 53 gal (200 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Showy hillstream loach
Sewellia speciosa
Freshwater2.6 in (6.5 cm) · 24 gal (90 L)68–75°F (20–24°C)
Siamese algae eater
Crossocheilus oblongus
Freshwater6.3 in (16 cm) · 37 gal (140 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)
Sichuan golden loach
Sinibotia reevesae
Freshwater4.3 in (11 cm) · 37 gal (140 L)64–77°F (18–25°C)
Sichuan hillstream loach
Sinogastromyzon szechuanensis
Freshwater4.7 in (12 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)57–72°F (14–22°C)
Sieboldii cichlid
Talamancaheros sieboldii
Freshwater11.8 in (30 cm) · 106 gal (400 L)75–84°F (24–29°C)
Signatus shell dweller
Lamprologus signatus
Freshwater2.2 in (5.5 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Signatus wallaceochromis
Wallaceochromis signatus
Freshwater3.7 in (9.5 cm) · 42 gal (160 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Silver flying fox
Crossocheilus reticulatus
Freshwater6.3 in (16 cm) · 53 gal (200 L)64–77°F (18–25°C)
Silver maskaheros
Maskaheros argenteus
Freshwater10.6 in (27 cm) · 132 gal (500 L)75–84°F (24–29°C)
Silverbelly loach
Nemacheilus argyrogaster
Freshwater3.1 in (8 cm) · 24 gal (90 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Silverspot eartheater
Geophagus argyrostictus
Freshwater9.4 in (24 cm) · 119 gal (450 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)
Silvia's krib
Pelvicachromis silviae
Freshwater2.4 in (6 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Similis shell dweller
Neolamprologus similis
Freshwater2 in (5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Simulatus cory
Corydoras simulatus
Freshwater2.4 in (6 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Sipaliwini cory
Hoplisoma sipaliwini
Freshwater2.2 in (5.5 cm) · 16 gal (60 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Six-bar lamprologus
Neolamprologus sexfasciatus
Freshwater5.9 in (15 cm) · 79 gal (300 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Sixray cory
Aspidoras pauciradiatus
Freshwater1.4 in (3.5 cm) · 13 gal (50 L)70–81°F (21–27°C)
Skunk cory
Brochis arcuata
Freshwater2.2 in (5.5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Skunk loach
Yasuhikotakia morleti
Freshwater3.3 in (8.5 cm) · 37 gal (140 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Slender buffalohead cichlid
Steatocranus tinanti
Freshwater5.1 in (13 cm) · 24 gal (90 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Slender catfish
Pimelodella gracilis
Freshwater6.7 in (17 cm) · 40 gal (150 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Slender horseface loach
Acantopsis ioa
Freshwater6.3 in (16 cm) · 42 gal (160 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Slim zebra
Maylandia tarakiki
Freshwater5.5 in (14 cm) · 66 gal (250 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Small-eyed bee catfish
Akysis microps
Freshwater1.4 in (3.5 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Smallmouth lethrinops
Lethrinops microstoma
Freshwater5.7 in (14.5 cm) · 79 gal (300 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Smooth buffalo head
Steatocranus glaber
Freshwater2.6 in (6.5 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Smooth-belly Borneo sucker
Gastromyzon psiloetron
Freshwater3.9 in (10 cm) · 25 gal (95 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Smoothcheek eartheater
Gymnogeophagus gymnogenys
Freshwater7.1 in (18 cm) · 79 gal (300 L)61–79°F (16–26°C)
Snail-crusher hap
Chilotilapia rhoadesii
Freshwater8.9 in (22.5 cm) · 119 gal (450 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Snowball pleco (L102)
Hypancistrus inspector
Freshwater5.9 in (15 cm) · 30 gal (113 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Soft-spined tandan
Neosilurus mollespiculum
Freshwater17.3 in (44 cm) · 106 gal (400 L)70–82°F (21–28°C)
South American bumblebee catfish
Microglanis iheringi
Freshwater3.1 in (8 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Southern tandan
Neosilurus equinus
Freshwater14.6 in (37 cm) · 106 gal (400 L)70–82°F (21–28°C)
Spadetail checkerboard cichlid
Dicrossus maculatus
Freshwater3.5 in (9 cm) · 24 gal (90 L)79–86°F (26–30°C)
Sparkling loach
Schistura coruscans
Freshwater3.1 in (8 cm) · 24 gal (90 L)68–77°F (20–25°C)
Spined loach
Cobitis taenia
Freshwater4.3 in (11 cm) · 32 gal (120 L)39–68°F (4–20°C)Spiny cichlid
Rocio spinosissima
Freshwater5.1 in (13 cm) · 53 gal (200 L)75–84°F (24–29°C)
Spiny monster pleco
Pseudacanthicus spinosus
Freshwater11.8 in (30 cm) · 119 gal (450 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)
Spiny squeaker
Synodontis acanthomias
Freshwater19.7 in (50 cm) · 159 gal (600 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Splendens nanochromis
Nanochromis splendens
Freshwater2.2 in (5.5 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Splendid loach
Yasuhikotakia splendida
Freshwater4.7 in (12 cm) · 42 gal (160 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Spotfin goby cichlid
Tanganicodus irsacae
Freshwater2.8 in (7 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Spothead tyrant hap
Tyrannochromis maculiceps
Freshwater11.6 in (29.5 cm) · 159 gal (600 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Spottail loach
Yasuhikotakia caudipunctata
Freshwater4.3 in (11 cm) · 37 gal (140 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Spotted algae eater
Gyrinocheilus pennocki
Freshwater11 in (28 cm) · 53 gal (200 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Spotted badis
Badis assamensis
Freshwater2.8 in (7 cm) · 21 gal (80 L)64–77°F (18–25°C)
Spotted cory
Brochis ambiacus
Freshwater2.6 in (6.5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)70–81°F (21–27°C)
Spotted dwarf giraffe cat
Parauchenoglanis monkei
Freshwater5.9 in (15 cm) · 53 gal (200 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Spotted garra
Garra spilota
Freshwater3.5 in (9 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)
Spotted hillstream loach
Gastromyzon punctulatus
Freshwater2.6 in (6.5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)68–75°F (20–24°C)
Spotted hoplo
Megalechis thoracata
Freshwater5.9 in (15 cm) · 40 gal (150 L)64–82°F (18–28°C)
Spotted pimelodus
Pimelodus pictus
Freshwater5.5 in (14 cm) · 55 gal (210 L)72–77°F (22–25°C)
Spotted pleco
Hypostomus punctatus
Freshwater11.8 in (30 cm) · 79 gal (300 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Spotted raphael catfish
Agamyxis pectinifrons
Freshwater5.9 in (15 cm) · 40 gal (150 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Spotted tiger pleco
Peckoltia brevis
Freshwater5.1 in (13 cm) · 42 gal (160 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)
Squarehead catfish
Chaca chaca
Freshwater7.9 in (20 cm) · 40 gal (150 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Star jewel cichlid
Rubricatochromis stellifer
Freshwater4.7 in (12 cm) · 53 gal (200 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Star sapphire cichlid
Placidochromis phenochilus
Freshwater7.9 in (20 cm) · 79 gal (300 L)77–82°F (25–28°C)
Starlight bristlenose pleco (L183)
Ancistrus dolichopterus
Freshwater5.5 in (14 cm) · 30 gal (115 L)79–84°F (26–29°C)
Starry Borneo sucker
Gastromyzon stellatus
Freshwater2.4 in (6.2 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)68–77°F (20–25°C)
Starry night bristlenose pleco
Ancistrus hoplogenys
Freshwater7.1 in (18 cm) · 42 gal (160 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)
Steindachner's dwarf cichlid
Apistogramma steindachneri
Freshwater3.1 in (8 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Sterba's cory
Hoplisoma sterbai
Freshwater2.6 in (6.5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Stinging catfish
Heteropneustes fossilis
Freshwater11.8 in (30 cm) · 65 gal (245 L)70–77°F (21–25°C)
Stonelifter retroculus
Retroculus lapidifer
Freshwater9.4 in (24 cm) · 119 gal (450 L)79–86°F (26–30°C)
Stormsi cichlid
Orthochromis stormsi
Freshwater3.9 in (10 cm) · 53 gal (200 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Striped kribensis
Pelvicachromis taeniatus
Freshwater3.1 in (8 cm) · 19 gal (71 L)75–79°F (24–26°C)
Striped mystus
Mystus vittatus
Freshwater8.3 in (21 cm) · 60 gal (227 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Striped nannacara
Nannacara taenia
Freshwater2.4 in (6 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Striped raphael catfish
Platydoras armatulus
Freshwater8.7 in (22 cm) · 45 gal (170 L)75–86°F (24–30°C)
Striped sisorid catfish
Glyptothorax schmidti
Freshwater3.9 in (10 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)
Striped spined loach
Cobitis striata
Freshwater3.9 in (10 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)57–72°F (14–22°C)
Striped telmatochromis
Telmatochromis vittatus
Freshwater3.5 in (9 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Striped woodcat
Trachelyopterichthys taeniatus
Freshwater5.9 in (15 cm) · 53 gal (200 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Stripefin eartheater
Gymnogeophagus rhabdotus
Freshwater5.9 in (15 cm) · 53 gal (200 L)64–79°F (18–26°C)
Sturgeon catfish
Lamontichthys filamentosus
Freshwater6.3 in (16 cm) · 36 gal (135 L)72–86°F (22–30°C)
Sucker-belly loach
Pseudogastromyzon myersi
Freshwater2.4 in (6 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)64–75°F (18–24°C)
Sucker-head garra
Garra gotyla
Freshwater5.9 in (15 cm) · 42 gal (160 L)64–77°F (18–25°C)
Sulfurhead peacock
Aulonocara maylandi
Freshwater4.3 in (11 cm) · 66 gal (250 L)77–82°F (25–28°C)
Sulphur-head hap
Otopharynx lithobates
Freshwater6.3 in (16 cm) · 53 gal (200 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Sultan pleco (L264)
Leporacanthicus joselimai
Freshwater8.7 in (22 cm) · 66 gal (250 L)79–86°F (26–30°C)
Sumatran neon loach
Pangio bitaimac
Freshwater3.7 in (9.5 cm) · 14 gal (54 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Sumo loach
Schistura balteata
Freshwater3.1 in (8 cm) · 24 gal (90 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Sun catfish
Horabagrus brachysoma
Freshwater17.7 in (45 cm) · 170 gal (645 L)73–77°F (23–25°C)
Sun loach
Yasuhikotakia eos
Freshwater4.3 in (11 cm) · 53 gal (200 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Sunset dwarf cichlid
Apistogramma atahualpa
Freshwater2.2 in (5.5 cm) · 16 gal (60 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Sunshine pleco (L014)
Scobinancistrus aureatus
Freshwater13.8 in (35 cm) · 106 gal (400 L)79–86°F (26–30°C)
Suriname eartheater
Geophagus surinamensis
Freshwater8.3 in (21 cm) · 119 gal (450 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)
Sven's pike cichlid
Crenicichla sveni
Freshwater9.8 in (25 cm) · 119 gal (450 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Sveni eartheater
Geophagus sveni
Freshwater7.9 in (20 cm) · 119 gal (450 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)
Swamp badis
Badis laspiophilus
Freshwater1 in (2.5 cm) · 5 gal (20 L)64–75°F (18–24°C)
Sychr's catfish
Brochis sychri
Freshwater1.7 in (4.3 cm) · 16 gal (60 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
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