Author: Mark Valderrama

Guppies were one of my first fish, and decades later I still think the variety in this group is genuinely remarkable. Most hobbyists pick guppies based on color without realizing how different the tail shapes and patterns can be. After keeping many varieties over the years, I put together this visual guide to the 21 most recognizable guppy types — with notes on what makes each one stand out.

Guppies get written off as beginner fish, and while that’s fair — they’re genuinely forgiving — the variety within the species is something most hobbyists underestimate. Fancy guppies have been selectively bred for decades into dozens of distinct tail shapes and color patterns: delta tails, veil tails, sword tails, mosaic patterns, cobra patterns, and more. Serious guppy breeders treat this like a competitive show hobby, and the results are impressive. Even if you’re not getting into breeding, knowing the different types helps you pick what you actually want instead of grabbing whatever the store happens to have. Here are 21 guppy varieties worth knowing.

What Is a Guppy Fish?

Guppies are small fresh and brackish water fish from the Poeciliidae family. There are many popular aquarium fish in this group, including mollies, plays, and swordtails. They are livebearers, which means they do not lay eggs but rather give birth to live free-swimming fry.

Here is a YouTube from my YouTube channel to get you started. I’ll go into more in detail in this post. If you like videos like this, please make sure to like and subscribe!

Read on to learn all about guppies, their care, and the different types that you can keep and breed!

What Makes Them Such Great Pets?

Guppies are probably the best beginners fish in the hobby, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t excellent for experienced fishkeepers too.

Guppies are:

• Very affordable
• Highly attractive
• Easy to care for
• Easy to breed
• Active and fascinating to watch

Guppies seem to have it all!

In Their Natural Habitat

Guppies are adaptable to a variety of natural habitats in their native distribution. They prefer slow-moving or still waters and are most at home in pools of streams and rivers or ponds and swamps. These fish are mostly found in freshwater although they have been recorded in brackish water too.

Guppy fish have also established populations all over the world after being released into the wild to control mosquito larvae. They also populate local waterways when they are released from fish tanks or escape from ponds. Who knows, there could even be some wild guppies near your home!

The History Of Guppy Keeping

The guppy was first sent to Europe from the Caribbean island of Trinidad. The name of the man responsible for introducing this fish to the hobby was Robert John Lechmere Guppy, and the year was 1866. The fish was officially named Giradinus guppyi¹.

He was not the first European to discover the fish, however, that honor goes to a German man named Julius Gollmer who found these fish in the wild many years before. Guppies have been kept for over 150 years, and they are just as popular as ever!

The International Guppy Associations

Fancy guppies are bred and kept all over the world. International associations have been created to bring hobbyists together and attempt to standardize the hobby. The International Fancy Guppy Association (IGFA) is one of the best examples.

IGFA was founded in 1965 and has developed show standards for the various breeds of fancy guppy. They are also a great resource for keepers who would like to learn more about the fascinating world of guppy breeding.

The IKGH is another very important international association that was formed in 1981. They have been active in the guppy breeding hobby ever since, holding regular shows and competitions all over the world.

3 Types by Species

There are many wild guppy fish species, but the three most commonly kept types are listed below.

1. Micropoecilia picta

• Common name: Scarlet livebearer, swamp guppy, painted guppy
• Adult size: 1.2 inches
• Origin: South America, Caribbean
• Temperament: Peaceful
• Water type: Fresh/brackish
• Minimum tank size: 15 gallons

The scarlet livebearer is a brackish water species that is found in the Caribbean and Countries like Brazil and Guyana. They are also known as swamp guppies or painted guppies.

They have red or orange overall color but are also boldly marked with various other colors. Females swamp guppies are larger than males. They are a hard water species and they are at home in slightly brackish water.

2. Poecilia wingei

• Common name: Endler’s livebearer, Endler’s guppy
• Size: 1-1.8 inches
• Origin: Venezuela
• Temperament: Peaceful
• Water type: Fresh/brackish
• Minimum tank size: 10 gallons

Endler’s livebearer is an awesome nano guppy species from Venezuela in South America. Endler guppies reach a maximum size of about 1.8 inches. The males are much smaller and more colorful than the females.

3. Poecilia reticulata

• Common name: Common guppy, fancy guppy
• Size: 1.5-2.5 inches
• Origin: South America, Caribbean
• Temperament: Peaceful
• Water type: Fresh/brackish
• Minimum tank size: 10 gallons

The common guppy is one of the most popular aquarium fish on the planet. These fish are available in a huge variety of breeds known as fancy guppies.

They are native to the northeastern parts of South America and the Caribbean islands. They grow to about 2.5 inches in length, with females growing larger than males.

21 Types by Variety

Now that you know a little more about guppies and their history, it’s time to learn about some of the amazing fancy guppy varieties out there in the hobby. I’ll provide a brief explanation of the most important features of each type.

Before we get started, here are a few important terms to know:

• Dorsal fin: The fin on the back of a fish. The shape and length of this fin are important for identifying many of the fancy guppy breeds.
• Pectoral fin: The pectoral fin is located on the side of a fish’s body, just behind its head. There is a pectoral fin on either side of the body.
• Caudal fin: Caudal fin is the technical name for a fish’s tailfin. Tail shape and tail patterns vary pretty extensively between the different guppy types.

Now that we’re all up to speed on the fancy fishy words, let’s jump right in and meet some fancy guppies!

1. Fantail

The fantail guppy is a very common breed that is easy to find. The males have large, beautiful caudal fins that are about as long as the fish’s body! The standard for the breed is a long, triangular tail with straight edges.

The dorsal fin is also a distinctive feature of this breed. It should sweep back to about the first third of the tail.

2. Delta Tail

The delta tail guppy (video source) is also known as the triangle tail guppy. They are very similar to the fantail guppies but the outer edge of their tail is slightly convex (rounded outwards). Delta tail guppies come in all sorts of different colors and patterns.

3. Lyretail

Lyretail guppies have very interesting tail shapes. In case you were wondering, a lyre is an ancient U-shaped musical instrument, and that’s where these fish get their name.

This tail shape is similar to the double swordtail, but the extensions curve outwards slightly, instead of being straight and parallel.

4. Roundtail

Round tail guppies (video source) have a circular tail fin with a diameter about half the length of their body. Their dorsal fin is pretty long and has a rounded end. The round tail guppy breed is available in a huge range of different colors and patterns, so there’s a round tail to suit any fishkeeper’s eye!

5. Half-moon Tail

https://youtu.be/Ub1VsZY-0Q0

The half-moon tail guppy (video source) is similar to the round tail but has a larger, fuller caudal fin. The tail is semicircular, starting at 90 degrees (right angles) to the fish’s body.

The tail is not quite as long as the body but can be even taller than the fish is long! The dorsal fin on halfmoon tail guppies is also large and overlaps the tail a little.

6. Spear Tail

The spear tail guppy is another interesting fancy guppy breed. These fish have rounded tails that form a point in the middle, just like a spear tip.

The dorsal fin shape of this breed is also a great feature. It starts at nearly 90 degrees to the body and sweeps back to about a third of the length of the tail fin.

7. Pin Tail

The pintail or needle tail guppy (video source) has a small circular tail shape with a sharp point extending from the middle. It is very similar to the spear tail guppy in this respect, but the pointed caudal fin is even more prominent in this breed. The dorsal fin is also quite long and sharply pointed, creating a bold and dramatic-looking fancy guppy.

8. Tuxedo

Tuxedo guppies (video source) are very elegant little fish, just as their name suggests! This popular breed was first developed in Germany.

The tail half of their body is black or another solid color. The tail and dorsal fin will also be a different color to the dark half of the body, but without any spots or patterning.

9. Sword Tail

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A post shared by @goldenstandardguppy

There are a few different varieties of the swordtail fancy guppy breed. The swordtail breed of the fancy guppy should not be confused with the swordtail fish (Xiphophorus hellerii) which grows much larger.

Double swordtail guppies have both the top and bottom of their tail fins elongated to form a sword shape. They can also be found in top or bottom swordtail forms where only one end of the tail is pointed. The middle section of the tail should not be colored, and this really makes the ‘swords’ stand out.

10. Cobra

Cobra guppies come in a variety of colors, but it is their markings that set them apart. These amazing fancy guppies have a combination of reticulated markings and often have darker vertical bars too. The markings on their tails are often bolder than those on their bodies.

11. Lace

Lace guppies have incredibly intricate markings on their body and fins. They are similar to cobra guppies but lack the vertical bars on their body. Lace guppies are available in various colors, including red, gold, black, and many others.

12. Mosaic Tail

Mosaic tail guppies have amazing markings on their tails and dorsal fins. The markings are similar to those of the lace guppy, only much bolder. The tail coloration of this breed becomes darker and more intense from the start of the fin to the back.

13. Albino

Albino guppies lack pigment, which makes them pinkish-white overall. This makes for a tropical fish that really stands out in the aquarium.

Their eyes are also a pinkish color, which differentiates them from other white guppies. Albino guppies can have some color though, they often show some red, yellow, or blue markings on their bodies and fins.

14. Japanese Blue

Japanese blue guppies (video source) have a metallic dark blue to sky blue color on the tail half of their bodies. The head is often golden or reddish in this breed. The Japanese blue swordtail guppy is a particularly popular tail shape form of this breed.

15. Green

Green guppies are one of the best color schemes if you ask me. They are considered relatively rare, but available in many different patterns and tail shape types.

16. Yellow

Yellow (video source) is a very cheerful color, and a bunch of sunshine-colored guppies can make for a great display. Yellow guppies are available in various breeds including yellow tuxedos, and yellow cobra guppies.

17. Half Black Green

The half-black green guppy has a black back half of its body and a green front. There are many different half-black color combinations, but green is one of the rarest forms.

18. Koi

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A post shared by Pecinta Guppy Indonesia (@koi__guppy)

This fancy guppy fish breed is named after another popular fish. Like their larger namesake, koi guppies usually have a combination of white, red, and black colors.

19. Panda

The panda guppy (video source) is mostly black/blue and white in color. The tail half of the fish tends to be dark while the front half is a silvery color. These fish have dark pectoral fins and dark eyes too.

20. Dragon

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A post shared by Abqary’s Guppy (@abqarysguppy)

Dragon guppies have one of the most dramatic color schemes of all the breeds. These fish are known for their fiery red fins with a half-black guppy body.

21. Dumbo Ear

Dumbo ear guppies (video source) have huge pectoral fins that look almost like the ears of an elephant! Even though their name sounds kind of goofy, these fish take finnage to the extreme and they are incredibly graceful and beautiful to watch.

Other Notable Types

Just in case you’re interested in even more types of guppies, here’s a list of some other popular types that you can look for!

Color types

• Half black purple guppy
• Half black blue guppy
• Half black yellow guppy
• Half black pastel guppy
• Blue guppy
• Red guppy
• black guppy
• Neon blue guppy
• Purple guppy
• Bronze guppy
• Glass guppies

Tail types

• Flag tail guppy
• Fire tail guppy
• Leopard tail guppy
• Grass tail guppy

Keeping and Caring

After looking at all the amazing types of guppies in this article, you might have already chosen a favorite and be thinking of adding them to your collection. Read this section to learn the basics of caring for these fantastic fish!

Tank Setup

Guppies can be kept in a tank as small as 10 gallons. Such a small tank would only be appropriate for a small group of male fish, however.

The last thing you want is for these fish to start breeding and overpopulating a small tank, so I would suggest going up to a 20-gallon or larger if you plan on keeping a mixed group.

Filtration

Adequate filtration is really important for keeping tropical fish healthy, and guppies are no exception. There are many makes and models available, and any type that is rated for your aquarium size or larger will do.

You don’t need the most expensive filter to maintain healthy guppies, but I would recommend running a slightly oversized model. An even better choice is to run two filters. Not only will this provide you with a safety net should one fail, but it will also allow for the increased bioload once your fish begin breeding. A power filter is the best combo of filtration capacity and budget when it comes to guppies.

Heating

Guppies are hardy fish that are comfortable in temperatures down to the lower 70s (Fahrenheit). Pregnant female guppies have been reported to be more susceptible to ich at lower temperatures, however, so maintaining breeding fish at 78-80°F is advised. Using an aquarium heater will make this much easier!

Lighting

Guppies do not have any special lighting needs. Standard fluorescent or LED lighting will suit them just fine. You will only need to look into high-quality lighting if you wish to grow a lot of live plants.

Provide your guppies with a regular light period of 6 to 8 hours a day. Using a timer will make keeping regular timing much easier.

Live Plants

Guppies thrive in planted aquariums and the cover that plants create provides a great place for guppy fry to hang out. Plants are also very useful for increasing oxygen levels and taking up nitrates from the water column.

Although guppies will nip at decaying plant material and eat microorganisms from your plants, they generally do not damage live plants. Guppies prefer hard, alkaline water, so your choice of plants is slightly more limited.

Here are a few easy plants that you can grow in your aquarium:

• Water wisteria
• Java moss
• Java fern
• Amazon frogbit

Decor

Guppies are not fussy when it comes to ornaments and decorations. They are confident and active little fish that do not hide out too much. Choose your decorations based on the style or theme of the aquarium you are putting together, and don’t be afraid to use your creativity!

Remember though, only use aquarium-safe decorations and make sure you wash them carefully before adding them to the tank.

How To Care

Guppies are very easy fish to care for, but there are still some important things you should know before bringing them home. Read on for more information.

Tank Maintenance

Perform a partial water change at least every second week in your guppy tank to keep nitrate levels down. If your tank is heavily stocked, or you’re feeding the tank frequently because you have a lot of fry, you might want to increase this to once or even twice a week. Remember to use a water conditioner if you are using tap water in your aquarium.

The only way to know whether you’re doing enough tank maintenance is to measure your water parameters regularly. Pick up a liquid or strip test kit for this purpose.

Be very careful when performing water changes if you have a lot of fry in the aquarium. I suggest carefully inspecting the water you take out of the tank just in case any fry get sucked up!

Apart from regular water changes, all you really need to do is clean your glass with an algae scraper when necessary and follow the recommended maintenance schedule for your filter.

Important Water Parameters

• Water temperature: 72-80°F
• pH: 7-8
• Hardness: 143 – 536 ppm
• Nitrate: Less than 20 ppm
• Nitrite: 0 ppm
• Ammonia: 0 ppm

Feeding

Guppies are naturally omnivorous and the modern domestic guppy is not fussy about diet at all. A high-quality flake food is a perfect everyday food source for these fish.

For a more balanced diet, I recommend supplementing their diet with an unprocessed food source like bloodworms, daphnia, or brine shrimp. These are available frozen so they are very easy to use. A small amount of these once or twice a week will improve your fish’s health and condition.

Tankmates

One of the best things about guppies is their peaceful nature. They are confident little fish that are always active and visible in the aquarium. They get along great with many other tropical freshwater fish.

The most important factor to consider when picking guppy tankmates is their water parameter compatibility. Guppies thrive in hard, alkaline water, so their tank mates should be comfortable in the same environment.

Let’s take a look at some good guppy tank mates, and some species to avoid.

Good Tankmates

• Mollies
• Swordtails
• Platys
• Dwarf neon rainbowfish
• Least killifish
• Corydoras catfish

Tankmates to Avoid

• Tiger barbs
• Serpae tetras
• Fish that need soft acidic water
• Large cichlids

Health and Disease

Guppies are generally hardy fish, so they are not especially prone to any problems. As a rule, the best way to prevent health issues is to minimize stress. Let’s take a look at some of the best ways to prevent guppy illness:

• Perform regular aquarium maintenance for great water quality
• Avoid overfeeding your fish
• Avoid overstocking your aquarium
• Maintain appropriate water parameters
• Avoid aggressive tank mates

Unfortunately, poor health and disease can happen even when you’re doing everything right. Here are some of the most common guppy health issues to look out for:

• Ich (white spot disease)
• Columnaris (Saddleback/ cotton wool disease)
• Hexamita (Hole in the head)
• Camallanus worm

Breeding

Breeding guppies is extremely easy, so this is a great species to get started with if you’ve never bred tropical fish before. Guppies are livebearers, which means that female guppies give birth to live baby fry. Each female guppy can give birth every month, which means you’re guppy population can grow very quickly!

Female guppies can breed after just 2- 3 months, although it is better to let them grow a little older before they start breeding. Such a short generation time makes guppies an amazing species for breeding projects.

Sexing

Sexing guppies is very easy because adults are sexually dimorphic. This means there are clear physical differences between the sexes that are easy to spot. Let’s take a closer look at some of these guppy sex differences:

• Body size

Overall size is probably the most obvious difference between male and female guppies. Adult females are significantly larger than males.

• Body shape

Female guppies have a much more rounded body shape than males, especially when they are pregnant. Males have a very slender build.

• Finnage

Male guppies have much larger fins in comparison with their body size. Their fins are usually much more heavily patterned and colored too.

The anal fin of male guppies is modified into a structure known as the gonopodium. It is narrow and elongated in comparison to the triangular anal fin of the female.

• Color

Male guppies are much more boldly marked and colorful than females in general.

Pregnant female guppies do have a unique marking that easily identifies them from males, however. Look out for a dark triangular marking on the belly, just in front of the anal fin. This marking is known as the gravid spot and will confirm that the fish is a pregnant female.

• Behavior

Female guppies spend most of their time foraging while males spend a lot of time swimming around the females, trying to get their attention.

Caring for fry

Guppy fry are easy to care for. The fact that they are born live means that you don’t have to worry about egg predation from the other fish in the tank. Unfortunately, adult guppies have no problem eating guppy fry, so it is best to separate them to increase the survival rate of the babies.

Catching all the tiny fry to move them to a separate tank is not going to be easy. Moving a pregnant female over to your fry tank is a much better option! You can go ahead and move the mother fish back into the main tank once she has given birth.

Another great option, which is less stressful on the pregnant female is to add a breeder box to your tank. If you’re not too worried about some of the babies being snacked on, simply growing some floating plants in the tank will provide them with a place to hide out until they are big enough to swim out in the open. I’ve found that water wisteria works great for this, but Java moss will work just as well or even better.

Guppy fry are tiny but hardy little fish. They can be fed the same flake food as the adults, but you’re going to want to crush it up for them. You can use a pepper grinder for this or simply crush the flakes in the palm of your hand.

Preventing Breeding

While breeding guppies may be a fun and fascinating hobby, it is important to have a plan for the fry! The only reliable way to prevent guppies from breeding is to keep only male or only female fish.

Mature females are often already pregnant when you bring them home, so males are a safer bet. When buying female guppies for a breeding project, look for females without very swollen bellies and obvious gravid spots.

Where to Buy

Most local pet stores will sell mutt guppies, and sometimes also a selection of different breeds. For specific breeds, you may need to order online or contact local clubs and breeders.

FAQS

Final Thoughts

I think guppies deserve more appreciation than they get. These fish are the complete package, for all experience levels. The fact that new breeds are still being developed makes this fish even more exciting!

Do you keep guppies? Tell us about your favorite guppy types in the comments below! To learn more about guppy lifespan, check out this article here.

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📘 Want to learn more? This article is part of our complete Freshwater Fish Guide — your ultimate resource for freshwater species, care tips, tank setup, and more.

Freshwater eels are a category I find genuinely fascinating, mostly because so few of them are true eels — and that distinction matters when you’re planning a tank. I’ve kept fire eels and tire track eels over the years, and the biggest lesson I learned is that these fish need more space and hiding spots than most people expect. A tight-fitting lid is non-negotiable; I’ve seen them escape through the smallest gap.

Freshwater eels are one of those categories where the label is misleading — most of what gets sold as a “freshwater eel” is actually a spiny eel from the family Mastacembelidae (fire eels, tire track eels, peacock eels), which aren’t true eels at all. That’s not a knock on them; they’re fascinating fish with real personality. But it’s worth knowing what you’re actually buying. A few things apply across the whole group: they’re escape artists that need a tightly sealed lid, they’re mostly carnivores, and many get significantly larger than people expect. After 25 years in the hobby, these are the 11 types I’d point someone toward if they want to add an eel-like fish to their tank.

What are Freshwater Eels?

The freshwater eels are nocturnal eels, meaning they prey at night with their rather weak eyesight but an incredible sense of smell. Freshwater eels are catadromous, living their entire lives in freshwater and migrating downstream to spawn in the ocean.

True freshwater eels belong to the family Anguillidae and the genus Anguilla. Around 15 to 20 freshwater species of eels fall into the Anguilla genus, including the very popular American eels, Moray eels, Spaghetti eels, and European eels. Unlike other types of eels, Anguillidae freshwater eels have scales on their body and they are a crucial source of food in some parts of the world, especially in Europe where they’re bred on farms at large scales.

Very few species of freshwater aquarium eels acquire the aquarium hobby. Among them, the most popular is from the genus Mastacembelidae, classified as spiny eels, such as the tire track eel and fire eel.

Some Fun Facts About Freshwater Eels

Here are some fun and bizarre facts about freshwater aquarium eels.

An Eel is just elongated versions of fish

It would surprise you, but many years ago, people confused eels with snakes, because of their uncanny resemblance. However, according to their anatomy, they are just an elongated version of fish.

However, eels differ from fish in a number of ways, including the absence of pelvic fins and lack of pectoral fins in some eels. Also, the dorsal fins and anal of eels are merged with the tail, forming a single strip running along with most of the eels’ length.

Ardent Swimmers

Freshwater eel species are bottom. They prefer holes, the bottom layer of your tank, and other hidden places to bury themselves in the substrate. They love to dig deeper in the dirt and plants to take full advantage to surprise their prey with occasional attacks.

Below 41°, Eels Go Torpor

During extreme winters, when the temperature reaches below 41°F or 5°C, freshwater eel species dip themselves in the mud and enter into a stage, similar to hibernation, known as torpor.

Diverse

According to research, there are approximately 800 species of eel. 110 genera, 19 families, and four suborders that we term eels.

Favorite Treat

Some cultures such as Japanese, Korean, and Chinese feast on eels. Interesting enough?

That’s Not All.

These cultures identify eels as a popular cuisine and it costs way more expensive. In Hong Kong, only a kilogram of eels would cost you around 1000 HKD. That’s because eels are known to boost stamina and energy levels, especially some species of eel, including European eels, jellied eels, longfin eels, etc.

They Could Easily Kill You

Have you ever wondered why eel is always served cooked?

That’s because the blood of eel is highly poisonous and it could potentially kill you. The blood of eels contains a toxic protein that can cramp your body muscles, including the heart, leading to sudden death.

They Can Swim Backward

The body of the eel is attenuate shaped, starting with a long, slimy body that ends with a powerful tail. Therefore, their body shape allows freshwater eels to wiggle and swim backward after their prey.

No One Knows How They Reproduce

Humans for hundreds of years have tried to figure out how eels “do it”. Want to learn more? Check out this article!

11 Best Freshwater Varieties to keep as Pets

Now that freshwater aquarium eels have got all your attention, it’s time to dig a little more about the top 12 types of eels you can keep as pets. We have a video below from our YouTube Channel. If you like our content, be sure to subscribe as we post new videos every week! We will go into more detail in the blog post below.

Let’s revamp your aquarium with my top recommendations.

1. Freshwater Moray

• Scientific Name: Muraenidae
• Difficulty Level: Moderate
• Temperament: Shy and semi-aggressive fish
• Adult Size: 6– 150 inches in length (7.6 – 400 cm)
• Minimum Tank Size: at least 15-30 gallon tank
• Diet: Carnivore, Prefer live food, such as brine shrimp, earthworms
• Origin: Tropical and Temperate Waters
• Temperature: 24 – 28°C / 75 – 82°F
• pH: 7.0 to 9.0
• Difficulty to breed: Almost impossible in a tank
• Planted tank suitability: Possible

If I would have to name one risky freshwater aquarium eel, it has to be the freshwater moray eel (video source). Not because they are a difficult or aggressive fish, but due to their finicky nature. Moray eels are easily stressed if not provided with the right environment. Therefore, if you’re a busy fishkeeper or a novice, I suggest you look out for other options.

Habitat and Water Conditions

The origin of freshwater moray eels stems from the saltwater of tropical and subtropical regions, where there are coral reefs in abundance. Freshwater morays are secretive in nature and prefer hiding in the rocks.

Most of moray eels live in saltwater environments. However, some are found in brackish water and certain species of eel are found in freshwaters. That being said, Moray eels can be quite sensitive to freshwaters. Therefore, extensive experience is required to keep them as pets.

Appearance

Your first impression of Moray eels would be a scary one. With their snake-like appearance and a long, slender body with the absence of pectoral fins, patterned bodies, and sharp teeth, the first look of Moray eels is no good.

However, it’s still a popular choice of aquarium fish among many enthusiastic aquarists because of their behavior.

Behavior

Hobbyists adore freshwater moray eels for their peculiar behaviors such as team hunting, adaptability, snake-like swimming capability, and sneaky nature that provide an outstanding spectacle in your aquarium.

I understand it can be overwhelming to keep a moray eel in your home aquarium considering their size and extra demanding nature, but they are an absolute treat for your display tanks once their basic needs are met.

2. Fire

• Scientific Name: Mastacembelus erythrotaenia
• Difficulty Level: Moderate
• Temperament: Semi-aggressive fish
• Adult Size: 20 inches (60.8 cm)
• Minimum Tank Size: at least 80 gallons
• Diet: Carnivore
• Origin: Southeast Asia
• Temperature: 75-82° F
• pH: 6.8-7.2
• Difficulty to breed: Difficult
• Planted tank suitability: Possible with floating plants

Although not true eels, fire eels make a beautiful freshwater aquarium fish that you cannot resist. With over 20 inches in length, the fire eel is a distinctive yet huge breed that requires maximum space in your aquariums.

Origin

The fire eel is native to South Asia. They are usually found in the lowland rivers of Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, and Sumatra.

Appearance

The fire eels range from dark gray to dull black in color with striking red and yellow horizontal stripes, extending from the head to the tail. The markings on the eel are like that of fire flames painted on a hot rod. Hence, the name.

Adult Size

In the wild, the size of fire eels is much bigger than in captivity. And so, you can expect a fire eel to reach a length of around 3 feet or longer. However, in captivity, they can get about 20 inches long, making them the largest species of spiny eels in the aquarium world.

Due to their big size, they need a bigger space with at least a 55-gallon tank size and water temperature should be around 76°F with a neutral pH.

Behavior

Fire eels are usually shy and prefer to stay aloof most of the time. They are also bottom dwellers, burrowing in the sand. To cater to this behavior, I suggest using sand as a substrate in your aquarium so that they don’t harm their slender bodies.

Also, like most freshwater aquarium eels, these eels are nocturnal, meaning they are the most active during nighttime. However, you can train your interesting pets to come out during the day to feed and hunt.

A fire eel likes to feed and swim around during the night. If you keep the room and tank dimly lit, your pet fire eel might come out more often during the day.

As far as the plants are concerned, these types of eels are messy and voracious eaters. Therefore rooted plants are not suitable for their tank. Hence, keep floating plants to keep them happy.

Tankmates

Fire eel is a particularly peaceful fish that remain content in its provided space. However, eels, by nature are predatory creatures, and so your fire eel might be dangerous to other smaller freshwater fish. The best tank mates for your eels are:

1. Angelfish
2. Medium-to-large Barbs
3. Green terror
4. Oscar fish

Nutrition

Fire eels, in their natural habitat munch on live food that is accessible to them. Be it small crabs, brine shrimp, insects, snails, or worms. In captivity, things are no different. These eels enjoy live food, including bloodworms, small fish, mussels, live shrimp, and tubifex.

3. Peacock Eel

• Scientific Name: Macrognathus siamensis
• Difficulty Level: Moderate
• Temperament: Peaceful
• Adult Size: 11.8 inches (29.97 cm)
• Minimum Tank Size: at least 35 gallons
• Diet: Carnivore
• Origin:Southeast Asia
• Temperature: 73.0 to 82.0° F
• pH: 6.0-8.0
• Difficulty to breed: difficult to breed
• Planted tank suitability: Possible with floating plants

If you’re low on space, peacock eels are just for you!

Many fish stores stock peacock eels because of their increasing demand. However, if you don’t happen to find one, fret not. A peacock eel goes by many names, including striped peacock eel, Siamese spiny eel, and spot-finned spiny eels.

Origin

The peacock eels originate from slow-flowing, stagnant bodies of water in Southeast Asia, mainly in India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Sumatra, and Malaysia. However, they are commonly found in the Mekong, Chao Phraya, and Maeklong river basins. Their native environment allows them to enjoy plant and animal life in abundance. Hence, peacock eels are quite manageable, if their basic needs are met.

Appearance

Like other eel species, the peacock eels possess an elongated body with a dark brown back and light brown flanks. As compared to the entire body, the stomach of this spiny eel is much lighter. From the snout to the caudal fin, peacock eels showcase a fine yellow line that looks adds to their grace. The dorsal and caudal fins of the peacock eels feature five eyespots.

Depending on the nature of their environment, they can grow around 15 centimeters (6 inches) in captivity. However, in their natural habitat, peacock eels can grow up t0 12 inches in length (30 cm long).

Tank Setup

These small eel-like fish should be housed in an aquarium of around 21 inches in length and a 20-gallon tank. But when they grow bigger, shift them to a bigger aquarium with a capacity of around 40 gallons or more.

Peacock eels are brackish freshwater aquarium eels that prefer some salt in their aquarium. Therefore, I recommend adding one teaspoon of aquarium salt per gallon of water to the fish tank.

Behavior

Peacock eels are like your introverted friends that take some time before getting all comfy. Therefore, at first, your eel-like fish might feel distant and aloof, but over time, when their environment is well-suited, they will become very friendly.

The native environment of peacock eels is densely populated with plants. Therefore, an aquarium with plenty of plants, PVC pipes, and hidden or sheltered spots created by rocks and woods is recommended to keep this eel-like fish happy.

Food

Peacock eels are highly selective and moody when it comes to food. There are days when this small fish would take anything and days when nothing pleases it. However, these fish species are nocturnal and forage for food at night. Their favorite diet includes worms, larvae, live brine shrimp, blood worms, and mosquito larvae.

Tankmates

Peacock eels are calm creatures that mind their own business, provided the tank mates are not smaller fish that can be mistaken for food.

The compatible tank mates for peacock eels are:

1. Hatchetfish
2. Rainbowfish
3. Larger Rasboras
4. Swordtail Fish

4. Starry Night

• Scientific Name: Mastacembelus frenatus
• Difficulty Level: Moderate
• Temperament: Semi-aggressive fish
• Adult Size: at least 15 inches in length
• Minimum Tank Size: at least 60 gallons
• Diet: Carnivore, feeds on insects, small fish, and crustaceans in the wild. Will typically accept frozen foods
• Origin: Wild Central Africa
• Temperature: 76-82° F
• pH:  6.8  – 7.8
• Difficulty to breed: Difficult
• Planted tank suitability: Possible

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If you’re looking for a small, hardy fish, the African starry night eel is your go-to pet for home aquariums.

Origin

These freshwater aquarium eels are found in Central Africa, ranging from the Congo River basin to various Rift lakes in the surrounding regions, including the flowing rivers of Tanzania.

Behavior

Unlike other freshwater aquarium eels, the starry night eel is hardy and extroverted in nature, making a graceful appearance in your tanks every now and then. However, like most spiny eel species, starry nights are slow eaters. Thus, always ensure the amount of food they get is sufficient to meet their needs. In the wild, they like to munch on small fish, plant matter, and aquatic invertebrates. However, in captivity, starry night eels readily accept meaty food such as frozen krill, nightcrawlers, and frozen bloodworms.

Appearance

The starry night eels are small to medium-sized fish that grow up to 15 inches in length and possess a variable color pattern. The most common color of starry night eels is brown with a variable blotched pattern.

Tank Setup

These freshwater aquarium eels thrive in water temperatures of around 73°F to 80°F, a pH of 7.8 to 8.4, and a hardness of 7 to 30°H.

The tank capacity should be at least 30 gallons or larger to accommodate a juvenile starry night eel happily. A larger tank around 55 to 75 gallons is optimum for these eels like fish. Furthermore, the tank should be well-planted with high-quality sand substrate, and lots of hiding places. For example driftwood, rock caves, and PVC pipes.

The tank should be dimly lit and the water flow should be sluggish to motivate these bottom dwellers to venture out of their caves. Most importantly, a tight-fitting lid should be installed to avoid accidents.

Tankmates

Starry night eels make a very peaceful community, so they get along with other fish really well. However, the size of the fish should be taken into consideration. For starry night eels, larger fish make great tank mates.

1. Rainbowfish
2. Peaceful cichlids
3. Large peaceful catfish

5. Tire Track

• Scientific Name: Mastacembelus armatus
• Difficulty Level: Moderate
• Temperament: Semi-aggressive fish
• Adult Size: at least 30 inches in length
• Minimum Tank Size: at least 125 gallons
• Diet: Carnivore, Predator, feeds on insects, fish, and crustaceans in the wild. Will accept frozen foods but can be finicky at first.
• Origin: Wild Thailand
• Temperature: 76-82° F
• pH:  7.0  – 8.2
• Difficulty to breed: Difficult
• Planted tank suitability: Possible

Before getting your hands on the tire track eel, beware; these eel-like fish can get ginormous. (up to 30 inches in length)

Origin

The tire track eel are a popular species of eel that are found in river systems throughout most South Asian regions, such as Java and Sumatra in Indonesia. They originate from shallow, slow-moving waters, including rivers, South Asian swamp, and flooded forests.

Appearance

These freshwater aquarium eels are close cousins of Zig zag eels that are also from Asia. They are quite identical because of their distinct, irregular dark black markings. Therefore, the common name of tire track eel is derived from its distinctive color pattern on either side of the eel that resembles the tire.

Behavior

These eel-like fish are semi-aggressive but very personable and intelligent that recognize their owners well. They feed on live food, such as earthworms and frozen foods. Since they double in size in a short time period, it is recommended to keep them with large tank mates.

6. Yellow Tail Spiny

• Scientific Name: Macrognathus pancalus
• Difficulty Level: Moderate
• Temperament: Semi-aggressive fish
• Adult Size: at least 7.1 inches in length, 18 cm
• Minimum Tank Size: at least 125 gallons
• Diet: Carnivore, Predator, feeds on insects, fish, and crustaceans in the wild. Will accept frozen foods but can be finicky at first
• Origin: Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Pakistan
• Temperature: 73-81° F
• pH: 7.0-8.5
• Difficulty to breed: Difficult
• Planted tank suitability: Possible

If you want to keep tankmates with your eels, your search ends at yellowtail spiny eel. Only the smallest creatures can fit in the mouths of yellowtail eel, such as ornamental freshwater shrimp. Therefore, they make great community tank fish.

Originating from the heavily vegetated canals, ponds, and sluggish streams of rivers, these freshwater aquarium eels bring peace and tranquility to your tanks.

They grow only six to seven inches in length and feed on live food, such as worms, frozen, and freeze-dried food. They are very shy at first, but once they get a hold of the environment, they get comfortable and personable with their owners and tankmates.

The tank of these eel-like fish should have sand substrate so they can dig and bury themselves in the hiding places. Hence, adding secretive places such as rocky caves, PVC pipes, and driftwood is highly recommended.

7. Half Banded Spiny

• Scientific Name: Macrognathus circumcinctus
• Difficulty Level: Moderately difficult
• Temperament: Semi-aggressive fish
• Adult Size: at least 7.9 inches (19.99 cm)
• Minimum Tank Size: at least 35 gallons
• Diet: Carnivore
• Origin: Asia, Mekong and Chao Phraya basins, southeastern Thailand, Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, and Indonesia
• Temperature: 75.0 to 82.0° F
• pH:  6.0  –7.0
• Difficulty to breed: Difficult
• Planted tank suitability: Possible

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Half-banded spiny eels (video source) are found in Asia, particularly in Mekong, Chao Phraya, Thailand, Malay, Sumatra, and Indonesia. Other common names of these species are Belted spiny eels or Large eels.

Like most eels, their bodies are elongated with a pointed snout and the dorsal and anal fins extend back to the very small caudal fin. Half-banded spiny eel grows around 8 inches and can fit in a medium-sized aquarium with a lifespan of over 5-10 years. In some rare cases, half-banded eels live up to 15 years and longer, if taken care of.

8. Senegalus

• Scientific Name: Polypterus senegalus
• Difficulty Level: Moderate
• Temperament: Semi-aggressive fish
• Adult Size: at least 20 inches in length
• Minimum Tank Size: at least 90 gallons
• Diet: Carnivore
• Origin: African countries, including the major Nile River system; these countries include Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, and Senegal
• Temperature: 75-82° F
• pH:  6.2 – 7.8
• Difficulty to breed: Difficult
• Planted tank suitability: Possible

The Polypterus eels (video source), commonly called Reed fish, Dinasaur eels, Bichir, or swamp eels originate from heavily vegetated water systems in Africa and India. They are very common in the native lands that they are mostly found in ditches.

The Polypterus senegalus eels have jagged dorsal fins, protruding nostrils, and pointed teeth, it’s no wonder why they’re called the swamp dragon.

The most interesting trait of Polypterus eels is their ability to stay out of water for some time because of their primitive lungs and swim bladder.

Therefore, if you want your share of prehistoric dinosaur that is both hardy and interesting, the Polypterus eels would make great pets for you.

9. Bichir

• Scientific Name: Polypteridae
• Difficulty Level: Moderate
• Temperament: Calm
• Adult Size: at least 9.8 inches in length
• Minimum Tank Size: at least 50 gallons
• Diet: Carnivore
• Origin: Freshwater basins in Africa and India
• Temperature: 75.2-78.8 °F
• pH:  6.5 – 8.0
• Difficulty to breed: Difficult
• Planted tank suitability: Possible

Bichirs are not true eels, instead, they are a family of freshwater ray-finned fishes that resemble eels so much. Bichirs are popular, fancy aquarium fishes inhabiting our planet for a very long time. They are usually found in the freshwater basins of Africa and India, where the water is muddy and silted bottom. Bichirs have a poor sense of sight but they can navigate freely in brackish waters due to their excellent sense of smell.

The maximum length of Bichirs in the wild is around 39 inches. However, in captivity, they are much smaller fish, measuring around 9.8 inches.

The body of Bichirs is covered with flexible scales that look like diamonds. The skin is very strong, protecting the fish from predators. Also, if the skin remains moist, Bichirs can stay out of water for quite some time.

Bichirs are hardy fish with leg like appendages that doesn’t demand any attention and care. They can even live in dirty water. Therefore, the only difficulty while keeping them in home aquariums is their ability to prey. To cater to this, always place them with tank mates larger than Bichirs, and you’re good to go.

10. African Ropefish (Erpetoichthys Calabaricus)

• Scientific Name: Erpetoichthys calabaricus
• Difficulty Level: Easy
• Temperament: Peaceful
• Adult Size: at least 15 inches in length
• Minimum Tank Size: at least 45 gallons
• Diet: Carnivore
• Origin: Western Africa, Congo, Angola, Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Benin.
• Temperature: 76-82° F
• pH:  7.0  – 7.6
• Difficulty to breed: Difficult
• Planted tank suitability: Possible

African Ropefish (video from Fluval Aquatics) is a stunning eel-like fish found in Western Africa and collected in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola, Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, and Benin.

It lives in shallow, densely vegetated waters. Therefore, it is recommended to set up an aquarium with aquatic plants and a soft substrate with pieces of driftwood to form hiding places for your African ropefish.

African ropefish are not territorial. Therefore, a peaceful community fish that gets along with fish larger than their size, including Synodontis species, larger characins, and cichlids such as Severum, Angelfish, some Tilapia species, etc.

11. Snowflake (Indian Mud Moray Eel)

• Scientific Name: Echidna nebulosa
• Difficulty Level: Easy
• Temperament: Semi-Aggressive fish
• Adult Size: at least 23.6 inches in length
• Minimum Tank Size: at least 30 gallons
• Diet: Carnivore
• Origin: Coastal Indo-west-Pacific: Andaman Islands, Bangladesh, Hawaii, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Sri Lanka.
• Temperature: 75-82° F
• pH:  7.5 – 8.5
• Difficulty to breed: Difficult
• Planted tank suitability: Possible with caution

The freshwater snowflake eel is often confused with Echidna Nebulosa (Fully marine eel, colloquially known as Snowflake Moray).

Snowflakes eels (image source from webwetmedia) are found across coastal regions of the Indo-West-Pacific, starting from India to the Philippines, and then to Indonesia.

These nocturnal predators are found in muddy brackish estuaries and marine waters, only migrating into freshwater to spawn. Unfortunately, because this species is sometimes found in freshwater during the breeding season, it has been marketed erroneously in the trade for many years as the “Freshwater Moray Eel”, when actually it requires brackish or full marine conditions long-term, as it’s visits to freshwaters are only very temporary.

This large bottom-dweller requires a spacious aquarium with a soft sand substrate in which it can forage about for food and wallow. There should be a multitude of hiding places amongst rocky caves, pvc tubes, and salt-tolerant plants. Filtration should be efficient with areas of moderate water movement, and some quieter resting areas out of the current. Frequent partial water changes are essential to keep nitrate to a minimum.

Be sure to use a quality marine salt for water changes, and monitor salinity carefully with a hydrometer. Indian Mud Moray Eels are highly predatory, feeding on fish (even fairly large ones) in the wild. However, they may be kept in groups of their own kind in spacious aquaria, if all specimens are of roughly the same size, are added simultaneously, and are provided with at least one shelter each. We do not recommend housing with other fish species, as the eels will strike at them and most will soon be eaten.

Although their eyesight is rather poor, Indian Mud Moray eels have a keen sense of smell and can detect movement vibrations very well, quickly lunging at any potential prey. This includes the hands, so much care should be taken when carrying out maintenance on the aquarium – they are capable of giving a nasty bite! As with other moray eels, these fish have needle-like teeth and possess a second set of teeth in the throat, known as the pharyngeal jaws which assist in capturing and swallowing prey.

Although this species is not highly venomous, it does have a mildly toxic mucus coating to the mouth which can cause skin irritation if bitten. Ensure that the tank has tight fitting covers as these fish are accomplished escape artists, which can lead to their deaths. Kept under ideal conditions, the Indian Mud Moray Eel has been known to live in excess of 30 years; they will not survive for long in pure freshwater.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

Freshwater aquarium eels are beautiful creatures to adorn your home aquariums. Coming from freshwater rivers of South Asian regions, they are mostly peaceful and get along pretty well with tankmates of their own sizes. However, due to their finicky nature, freshwater aquarium eels might not be a great fit for novice fish keepers.

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📘 Want to learn more? This article is part of our complete Freshwater Fish Guide — your ultimate resource for freshwater species, care tips, tank setup, and more.