Tag: Types Of Fish

Most plecos outgrow most tanks. The species on this list do not. These are the plecos that actually work in standard aquariums without turning into a 12-inch problem.

If the pleco you are considering is not on this list, double check its adult size before you buy.

The “pleco problem” in the hobby is real: that little 2-inch fish at the pet store labeled “algae eater” is almost certainly a common pleco that will hit 18 to 24 inches within a few years and eat everything in sight except the algae you actually want eliminated. I’ve seen these fish abandoned in public ponds because their owners had no idea what they’d bought. The good news is that small pleco species. Bristlenoses, clown plecos, zebra plecos, and a dozen others. Stay under 5 or 6 inches, work in standard community tanks, and in many cases are better algae eaters per inch than the common pleco anyway. Bristlenose plecos, for example, are rasp-mouth machines that will clean glass and driftwood more efficiently than almost anything else their size. Here are 15 small pleco species worth knowing.

It’s not uncommon to think this since you may have heard how big some species get. In today’s blog post, I will focus on small pleco species. These plecos are some of the smallest pleco species in the hobby and will fit in many community tanks. There are many options for you to choose from, but I’m focusing on my top 15, all with key info and photos to help you pick the best one for you!

The Top 15 Small Pleco Species

Finding the perfect small pleco species for your fish tank is an enjoyable experience. Plecos are not only attractive, but also aid in preserving a healthy aquatic atmosphere. Below, we present 15 tiny pleco varieties that make suitable companions for those with limited tank size – from popular Bristlenose to eye-catching Zebra ones!

Take note of the following key states that I will provide for each pleco fish breed:

• Common Name
• L-Number
• Scientific Name
• Origin
• Adult Size
• Minimum Tank Size
• Care Level
• Temperament
• pH
• Temperature

1. Bristlenose

• Common Names: Bushynose pleco, bristlenose pleco, Bristlenose catfish
• L-Number: Ancistrus sp.3
• Scientific Name: Ancistrus cirrhosus
• Origin: Argentina
• Adult Size: 3.5. 5 inches
• Minimum Tank Size: 20 gallons
• Care Level: Easy
• Temperament: Peaceful
• pH: 5.5-7.5
• Temperature: 70-79 °F

Aquarium aficionados will love the Bristlenose Pleco, an armored catfish species known for its remarkable appearance. This Ancistrus genus member is native to South America’s Amazon River basin and features small bristles on its snout, a unique trait that sets it apart from other plecos. You can find these fish in calico, piebald, albino and super-red color variations for those who want some added diversity among their tank inhabitants.

When housing your new Bristolenese Pleco friend, you should consider at least 20 gallons of space but if possible go with a larger 30 or 40 gallon breeder Tank due to having more bottom surface space. Make sure there are plenty of places where they can hide along with heavily oxygenated water currents necessary for optimal health. They love to munch on driftwood so try adding it so they have sometime to graze on.

Their gentle nature of this suckermouth catfish makes them ideal cohabitants inside community aquariums plus they will consume any algae!

2. Clown

• Common Names: Clown Pleco, Clown Panaque
• L-Number: L-104
• Scientific Name: Panaqolus maccus
• Origin: Venezuela
• Adult Size: 3.5 inches
• Minimum Tank Size: 20 gallons
• Care Level: Easy
• Temperament: Peaceful
• pH: 6.8-7.6
• Temperature: 73-82°F

Clown Plecos, scientifically known as Panaqolus maccus and able to grow up to 3.5 inches in size, are often seen as a captivating addition for smaller tanks due to their eye-catching colorings and algae eating habits. They enjoy living with schooling fish, small cichlids, and tetras without any negative interactions because of their peaceful nature.

In order to keep them healthy, it is essential that driftwood be present within the tank, which serves not only aesthetic purposes but also nutritional benefits since they primarily feed on various types of woods found amongst underwater aquatic habitats. Vegetables such as squash or cucumber should also make additions. At the same time, frozen foods and wafers is added to their feeding schedule.

Overall, clown plecos makes these fish relatively easy long-term care companions that require very little maintenance outside careful provisioning once settled into its new environment.!

3. Zebra

• Common Names: Zebra pleco
• L-Number: L046
• Scientific Name: Hypancistrus zebra
• Origin: Brazil
• Adult Size: 3.2 inches
• Minimum Tank Size: 15 gallons
• Care Level: Moderate-advanced
• Temperament: Peaceful
• pH: 6-7.5
• Temperature: 79-86°F

The Zebra Pleco is a remarkable species of peaceful and carnivorous fish known for its black and white striped pattern. At most, these plecos grow to 3.5 inches making them an ideal size for aquariums alike! To ensure they stay comfortable, the tank should emulate their natural habitat which includes driftwood, rocks with rounded edges as well as sand-based substrate complete with strong currents and high oxygen levels.

It’s crucial that this tiny creature receives plenty of meaty foods such as bloodworms in order to feed adequately on the proteins needed due to their strict carnivore dieting habits (yes they are primarily a carnivore!). If all these prerequisites are met, you will be rewarded handsomely when your zebra pleco morphs into an attractive focal point in your aquarium! Keep in mind that zebra plecos are one of the most expensive pleco breeds you can purchase in the hobby.

4. Blue Black Beggini

• Common Names: Blue Panaque, Flyer Pleco
• L-Number: L235
• Scientific Name: Panaque sp
• Origin: Brazil, specifically found in the Rio Xingu
• Adult Size: 3.2 inches
• Minimum Tank Size: 50 gallons
• Care Level: Moderate
• Temperament: Peaceful
• pH: 5.5 to 7.5
• Temperature: 73°F to 84°F

The Blue Black Beggini, with its particular dull charcoal black shade tinged with blue hues, is a captivating species that can grow up to 3.2 inches in size when bred correctly. It makes an attractive choice for aquarists wanting something unique and simple to care for.

To look after the stunning pleco optimally one should maintain a pH level of 6.0 -6.5 (though it can adapt to a larger range) and give it an assortment of vegetation. They are a great addition to community tanks when kept with similar sized fish.

5. Pitbull

• Common Names: Pitbull Pleco
• L-Number: LDA 25
• Scientific Name: Parotocinclus jumbo
• Origin: South America, specifically found in the Rio Tocantins basin in Brazil
• Adult Size: They are relatively small, reaching about 2-2.5 inches (5-6.5 cm) in length.
• Minimum Tank Size: A minimum of 20 gallons (75 liters)
• Care Level: Easy to Moderate
• Temperament: Peaceful
• pH: 6.4 to 7.6
• Temperature: The ideal temperature range is between 68°F to 78°F.

The Pitbull Pleco, a South American species that can reach up to 2.3 inches in size, is an excellent choice for those with minimal room in their aquariums. In order to house it in the perfect environment and enough space, it’s ideal to put them into a 20-gallon tank, which should have driftwood, rounded stones, and hiding spots included.

Its diet consists of algae, but pitbull plecos can benefit from treats such as bloodworms or shrimp pellets once in a while too! In the wild they live in shallow low current waters with rocky bottoms.

6. Gold Spot Dwarf

• Common Names: Gold Spot Pleco
• L-Number: L001
• Scientific Name: Pterygoplichthys joselimaianus
• Origin: Brazil
• Adult Size: 2″
• Minimum Tank Size: 20 gallons
• Care Level: Moderate
• Temperament: Peaceful
• pH: 5.8 to 7.5
• Temperature: 71°F to 82°F

The Gold Spot Dwarf Pleco is an attractive, small species that stands out with its dark base color and yellow markings on its body. These omnivorous plecos make a great addition to community tanks as they can live in harmony alongside small tetras and other fish varieties.

To keep this gold spot dwarf healthy, it’s important to have the correct environment. Specifically maintaining pH levels between 6.4 – 7.5 (I included a larger range in the states as they can adapt) and temperatures of 68-78°F. With proper care, any tank can become more vibrant by housing one of these unique plecos!

7. Queen Arabesque Pleco

• Common Names: Queen Arabesque Pleco
• L-Number: L260
• Scientific Name: Hypancistrus sp.
• Origin: South America, specifically from the Rio Tapajós basin in Brazil
• Adult Size: 3.5 inches
• Minimum Tank Size: 20 to 30 gallons (75 to 114 liters)
• Care Level: Moderate
• Temperament: Peaceful
• pH: 6.4 to 7.6
• Temperature: Ideal temperature range is between 73°F and 82°F (25°C to 28°C).

The Queen Arabesque Pleco is an eye-catching species that will reach 3.5 inches in length at full size. Characterized by its intricate pattern and peaceful demeanour, this pleco requires strong water flow with high oxygen levels to do well in a tank setup. Hiding spots are also necessary for it to thrive so they feel safe from potential predators or disturbances from other inhabitants of the aquarium habitat.

When selecting food options, focus on providing them with meaty meals such as bloodworms, mussel pellets and shrimp flakes. They are sensitive to high nitrates so water needs to be kept extra pristine. When paired correctly with compatible tankmates they will blossom into an impressive centerpiece!

8. Alenquer Tiger

• Common Names: Alenquer Tiger Pleco, Tangerine Tiger Pleco
• L-Number: L397
• Scientific Name: Panaqolus sp.
• Origin: found in the rivers near Alenquer, Brazil.
• Adult Size: 4″ inches
• Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons (113 liters)
• Care Level: Moderate
• Temperament: Peaceful
• pH: 6.4 to 7.7
• Temperature: 75°F and 86°F

The Alenquer Tiger, also known as the Tangerine Tiger Pleco, is a captivating fish with its distinctive orange and black stripes. It grows up to 4 inches in size and has been successfully bred for aquariums, making it an attractive addition. To ensure your algae remains healthy, the aquarium needs an environment with pH 6.4 – 7.7 along with food like algae wafers intermixed with meaty items.

9. King Tiger

• Common Names: King Tiger Pleco
• L-number: L066
• Scientific Name: Hypancistrus sp
• Origin: This species is native to the rivers of Brazil, particularly in the Amazon River basin.
• Adult Size: 4-6 inches.
• Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
• Care Level: Moderate
• Temperament: Peaceful
• pH: 5.8 to 7.0
• Temperature: 77°F and 84°F

The King Tiger Pleco, a species of small plecos bigger that only get to 4-6 inches, is distinguished by its light base and tiger like dark lines with transparent fins. These curious creatures should be provided with an aquarium that features great water circulation as well as ample oxygen levels. Also, they will need a meaty diet such as bloodworms, mussels or shrimp pellets for optimal care.

This pleco is often compared to other L species, but this is the original. Other similar plecos include L333, L399, and L401

10. Rubbernose

• Common Names: Rubbernose Pleco, Rubberlip Pleco
• L-Number: L187
• Scientific Name: Chaetostoma milesi (There’s some debate on the exact scientific classification, but this is commonly accepted.)
• Origin: South America, particularly found in the Andean river systems in Colombia and Venezuela
• Adult Size: 4-5 inches
• Minimum Tank Size: 20 gallon long, otherwise 30 gallons
• Care Level: Moderate
• Temperament: Peaceful
• pH: 6.8 to 7.8
• Temperature: 66°F and 77°F

The Rubbernose Pleco (video source), also known as the Rubber Lip Pleco or Lip Pleco, is a small species that is maintained in a 20 gallon long aquarium. These fish are quite lively when searching for food and need plenty of room to swim around horizontally, adding an enjoyable element to any tank system.

Their diet should include various kinds of hair algae, and they can even eat Black Beard Algae. They is trained to eat wafers, but this species will prefer live and frozen foods.

11. Leopard Frog

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• Common Names: Leopard Frog Pleco, Imperial Tiger Pleco
• Scientific Name: Peckoltia compta
• L-Number: L134
• Origin: Amazon Basin, specifically from the lower and middle stretches of the Tapajós River in Brazil
• Adult Size: 3.5 – 4.5 inches
• Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
• Care Level: Moderate
• Temperament: Peaceful
• pH: 5.0 to 7.4
• Temperature: Ideal temperature range is between 75F and 82°F

This species of pleco is captivating, distinguishable by its starkly contrasting black and white stripes. A manageable 3.5 inches in size when fully grown, the Leopard Frog Pleco is a great addition to any tank environment that resembles their native deep river channels – with sand-filled substrate areas coupled with rocks and driftwood for them to hide among. They enjoy high protein food such as bloodworms as much as veggies like cucumber slices. They do great with small to medium sized fish.

12. Dwarf Snowball

• Common Names: Dwarf Snowball Pleco, Snowball Pleco
• Scientific Name: Hypancistrus contradens
• L-Number: L102
• Origin: South America, specifically found in the Rio Negro basin in Brazil
• Adult Size: Up to 6 inches
• Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
• Care Level: Moderate
• Temperament: Peaceful
• pH: 5.4 to 7.6
• Temperature: Ideal temperature range is between 72°F and 86°F

The Dwarf Snowball Pleco (video source) is one of the largest on this list growing to just under 6 inches in length. It stands out with a dark base coloration and spots along its fins and body. This omnivorous pleco can thrive when living alongside small tetras or other smaller fish species, making it suitable for adding to any community aquarium setup.

They prefer a strong current so they should be housed with other fish that prefer stronger water flow.

13. Angelicus Pleco

• Common Names: Angelicus Pleco
• Scientific Name: Panaque angelicus (sometimes listed under Peckoltia angelicus)
• L-Number: L004
• Origin: South America, specifically the river basins of Brazil and possibly Venezuela.
• Adult Size: 4 inches
• Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallon tank
• Care Level: Moderate
• Temperament: Peaceful
• pH: 6.6 to 7.6
• Temperature: The ideal temperature range is between 75°F and 82°F

Angelicus Pleco (video source) is a beautiful fish that can reach up to 4 inches in size and has an intriguing spot pattern on its body. It must live in water with strong currents and high levels of oxygen for optimal health, making it ideal for aquarists looking to add strong swimming fish like rainbowfish.

They don’t eat plants and aren’t large enough to uproot them. Care should be take to make sure they get enough food to eat.

14. Fine Spotted Pleco

• Common Names: Fine Spotted Pleco, Starlight Bristlenose Pleco
• Scientific Name: Hypancistrus sp.
• L-Number: L262
• Origin: South America, specifically found in the Rio Negro basin in Brazil
• Adult Size: 3.5 inches
• Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
• Care Level: Moderate
• Temperament: Peaceful
• pH: 6.0 to 7.5
• Temperature: 76°F to 82°F

The Fine Spotted Pleco is a small species that reaches no more than 3.5 inches, making it suitable for limited tank sizes and ideal to include in community tanks. This attractive fish is identified by its light base color with dark lines as well as transparent fins.

They require plenty of oxygen-rich water flow plus an omnivorous diet consisting mostly of meaty food items such as bloodworms, mussels and shrimp pellets as they are carnivores. They will do well with similar sized fish.

15. Starlight Pleco

• Common Names: Starlight Pleco, White Seam Pleco
• Scientific Name: Ancistrus dolichopterus
• L-Number: L183
• Origin: Manaus, Brazil
• Adult Size: 4.5 inches
• Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
• Care Level: Moderate
• Temperament: Peaceful
• pH: 5.0 to 6.5
• Temperature: 73°F and 83°F

The Starlight Pleco is a fascinating species that can reach up to 4.5 inches in length and boasts attractive patterning on its body with trademark white highlights on it’s dorsal and tail fins. This peaceful fish will need conditions with high oxygen levels as well as good water flow, making them ideal for any aquarist looking for something out of the ordinary!

Like most Plecos on this list, they are omnivores and appreciate vegetables from time to time. They are appropriate with most community fish as long as they aren’t very large or overly territorial.

Others

We only kept our list to 15. However, there are a lot more. If we missed anything and if you have a species you would like mentioned,, drop us a comment below, and we will add it to our list.

• Gold spot dwarf plecos
• Rubber lipped pleco
• Candy striped pleco

Frequently Asked Questions

Closing Thoughts

If you’re looking to add a touch of beauty and fascination to your aquatic life, small plecos provide the perfect option. With 15 distinct species available for aquarium enthusiasts of any level, these tiny fish come with unique characteristics and requirements that must be taken into account when creating their ideal tank setup.

Providing adequate care, environment and nutrition are crucial in order to ensure a thriving community. By understanding each species needs, we can ensure they live happily within our underwater haven!

From visually appealing specimens through to functional varieties – it’s essential careful planning is involved in setting up optimum home aquariums for these magnificent creatures so that all may benefit from their presence throughout its lifespan. After all, who doesn’t want amazing pleco friends swimming around?

Some fish are colorful, some fish are cute, and some fish look like dragons! In this post, we’ll be introducing 21 weird and wonderful fish, from little dragons just an inch or two long to massive sea monsters as long as a school bus!

Read along to learn about some great fresh and saltwater dragon fish that you can keep in an aquarium, and some that are better left out in their natural habitat.

Let’s get into it!

Fish That Looks Like A Dragon – 21 Species

Are you ready to meet 21 amazing dragon fish? This list includes freshwater species like the prehistoric bichirs, brackish fish like the eel gobies, and saltwater species like the leafy seadragon.

Many of these fish can be kept in a home aquarium, but some of them are better left to the experts. So, if you are looking for your very own dragon fish pet, be sure to check out the suggested temperatures, tank sizes, and care levels for each species to help you choose the right species.

Let’s get started!

1. Arowana

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• Scientific Name: Osteoglossum and Scleropages spp.
• Difficulty Level: Advanced
• Temperament: Aggressive
• Adult Size: Up to 4 feet
• Minimum Tank Size: 250 gallons +
• Diet: Carnivore, eats insects and small fish
• Origin: Australia, Asia, and South America
• Temperature: 75 – 82 °F

Arowanas are amazing freshwater fish with dragon-like scales and a huge mouth. In fact, the endangered Asian Arowana (Scleropages formosus) is even known as the ‘dragon fish’ due to its unique appearance.

There are several species of these large freshwater fish distributed from South America to Australia, and they can make impressive pets. However, these monster fish need a very large tank and the experience of a dedicated fishkeeper for long-term care.

2. Axolotl

• Scientific Name: Ambystoma mexicanum
• Difficulty Level: Moderate
• Temperament: Peaceful
• Adult Size: Usually 9-12 inches
• Minimum Tank Size: 20 gallons +
• Diet: Carnivore, eats invertebrates and small fish
• Origin: Mexico
• Temperature: 59 – 73 °F

The axolotl is a bizarre-looking critter that makes a wonderful aquarium pet. These dragon-like amphibians are not true fish, although they spend their entire lives under the water!

Axolotls are critically endangered in the wild due to the destruction of their native habitat in Mexico, but fortunately, these interesting animals are still common in captivity. They require cool water conditions and a healthy diet of live or frozen foods like brine shrimp and earthworms.

3. Bettas

• Scientific Name: Betta splendens
• Difficulty Level: Beginner
• Temperament: Aggressive
• Adult Size: 2.5 inches
• Minimum Tank Size: 5 gallons +
• Diet: Carnivore
• Origin: Southeast Asia
• Temperature: 76 – 81°F

Bettas, or Siamese fighting fish, are popular all over the world for their beauty and feisty personalities. These small fresh water fish make great pets, especially for fishkeepers who don’t have room for a big tank.

All bettas have a dramatic appearance, with bright colors and large flowing fins, but one breed stands out for its dragon-like appearance. Dragon scale bettas have extra large, metallic scales. Their body color is usually pearly white, and many specimens have fiery red fins.

Betta fish are easy to care for if you provide a tank of at least 5 gallons, complete with a filter and heater. Avoid overfeeding and test your water regularly to monitor nitrate, nitrite, and ammonia levels to prevent common illnesses like fin rot or ich.

4. Purple Dragon Guppy

• Scientific Name: Poecilia reticulata
• Difficulty Level: Beginner
• Temperament: Peaceful
• Adult Size: Up to 2.5 inches
• Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons
• Diet: Omnivore
• Origin: South America
• Temperature: 72 – 82 °F

Guppies are another world-famous fish that are sometimes associated with dragons. The purple dragon guppy is an awesome fancy guppy breed, with eye-catching colors and patterns. Males are smaller and more boldly marked, but even female dragon guppies have great patterning on their tails and dorsal fins.

They may be a fancy breed, but purple dragon guppies are very easy to care for. These fun tropical fish are very easy to breed in a freshwater aquarium, which is a great hobby for everyone from beginners to advanced aquarists!

5. Dragon Eye Goldfish

• Scientific Name: Carassius auratus
• Difficulty Level: Moderate
• Temperament: Peaceful
• Adult Size: Up to 8 inches
• Minimum Tank Size: 20 gallons +
• Diet: Omnivorous, feeds on invertebrates and plants
• Origin: China
• Temperature: 65 – 72 °F

Dragon eye goldfish are a strange but beautiful goldfish breed with bulging telescope eyes. These fancy goldfish have ancient origins in China, where the breed was first developed over 300 years ago!

The popular black moor goldfish is a variation of the dragon eye that is popular all over the world, and readily available online or from aquarium stores. These adorable fish should be kept in a large aquarium with cool water and a gentle current. With good care, they can live for over 20 years.

6. Senegal Bichir

• Scientific Name: Polypterus senegalus
• Difficulty Level: Moderate
• Temperament: Semi-aggressive
• Adult Size: Up to 20 inches
• Minimum Tank Size: 55 gallons +
• Diet: Carnivore
• Origin: Africa
• Temperature: 75 – 82 °F

The Senegal bichir is a prehistoric-looking fish from Africa, that is often called the dragon fish. These fish look almost like a cross between a dinosaur and an eel, so they make a really cool display animal for a big enough fish tank.

Despite their strange looks, these fish are not particularly aggressive, although they will swallow any small fish that swims in reach of their large mouths! Large and medium-sized fish with peaceful personalities make the best tank mates for these interesting fish.

These strange creatures are one of the few fish that can breathe air from the surface and can even walk across land. Check out my guide to 15 fish with legs to learn much more about walking fish!

7. Dragonface Pipefish

• Scientific Name: Corythoichthys sp.
• Difficulty Level: Advanced
• Temperament: Peaceful
• Adult Size: 7 inches
• Minimum Tank Size: 55 gallons
• Diet: Copepods
• Origin: Pacific Ocean
• Temperature: 72 – 78 °F
• Reef Safe: Yes
• Available As Tank Bred: No

The Dragonface pipefish is a unique, eel-like fish from the seahorse family that hangs out on the floor of tropical reefs, waiting for small copepods to snack on. These unique fish have very dragon-like faces, complete with big eyes and a long snout.

Dragonface pipe fish are popular in the reef aquarium hobby, although they have a specialized diet and are difficult to maintain if you don’t have a steady supply of live copepods to feed them. These tiny crustaceans are available from specialist aquarium stores, but you still need to make sure the other fish don’t eat all the food!

8. Dragon Goby/ Violet Goby

• Scientific Name: Gobioides broussonetii
• Difficulty Level: Moderate
• Temperament: Peaceful but territorial with their own kind
• Adult Size: Can reach over 15 inches
• Minimum Tank Size: 55 gallons +
• Diet: Filter-feeder
• Origin: Southern USA to South and Central America
• Temperature: 73 – 78 °F
• Reef Safe: Brackish water fish, not recommended for reef tanks
• Available As Tank Bred: No

The dragon goby is a mean-looking fish with upward-facing eyes, a strong jaw, and a row of spiky fins along its back, just like a dragon. Also known as violet gobies, these bottom dwellers are most at home in brackish waters, although they are sometimes found in fresh and saltwater habitats.

Dragon gobies can be kept in brackish water aquariums, although they prefer a thick layer of soft sand to burrow in and they are not the most exciting pets. They look very similar to Peruvian gobies and are often sold under the same name. Both of these eel gobies may look aggressive, but they actually eat algae and other small food particles, so they are safe to keep with smaller fish.

9. Dragon Moray Eel

• Scientific Name: Enchelycore pardalis
• Difficulty Level: Advanced
• Temperament: Aggressive
• Adult Size: Up to 3 feet
• Minimum Tank Size: 150 – 200 gallons
• Diet: Carnivore, eats other fish and sea creatures
• Origin: Indo-Pacific Ocean
• Temperature: 72 – 78 °F
• Reef Safe: Does not eat corals, but will eat smaller fish
• Available As Tank Bred: No

The dragon moray is a colorful tropical reef creature that looks like a dragon. These snake-like fish manage to look beautiful and scary at the same time, making them an awesome choice for a large tropical marine aquarium. However, keep in mind they are difficult to keep. You could opt for a standard moray eel which are more hardy, though aggressive.

10. Seadragons

• Scientific Name: Phycodurus & Phyllopteryx spp.
• Diet: Carnivore, eats small marine invertebrates
• Size: 9 – 18 inches
• Origin: Southern Australia
• Available in the hobby: Very rare

Seadragons are unique and delicate saltwater fish from the seahorse family. The leafy seadragon is a true master of camouflage that looks just like a drifting clump of seaweed as it forages near the sea floor. Weedy sea dragons are more colorful creatures with interesting paddle-shaped fins. Despite their different body shapes, each species has an undeniably dragon-like face!

Sea dragons are usually only kept in large public aquariums because they are rare and require specialized care.

11. Lionfish

• Scientific Name: Pterois spp.
• Difficulty Level: Moderate
• Temperament: Semi-aggressive
• Adult Size: Up to 18 inches
• Minimum Tank Size: 30 – 125 gallons, depending on the species
• Diet: Carnivore
• Origin: Tropical regions of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans
• Temperature: 72 – 78 °F
• Reef Safe: Possible, but will consume smaller fish and invertebrates
• Available As Tank Bred: No

There are several similar species of lionfish distributed in tropical waters across the globe, each with beard-like growths and huge spiky fins like a dragon’s wings.

These striking fish are usually red and white in color and are also known as firefish. Lionfish are popular aquarium pets, although they are venomous, so they should never be handled.

12. Pacific Blackdragon

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• Scientific Name: Idiacanthus antrostomus
• Diet: Carnivore
• Size: 2 feet
• Origin: West Coast of North America
• Available in the hobby: No

The Pacific Black Dragon is a deepsea fish that lives several thousand feet below the surface in the cold, dark waters of the Eastern Pacific. These sea monsters have a mouth full of sharp fangs and a beard-like growth under their jaws that gives them a real dragon-like look!

13. Blue Sea Dragon

• Scientific Name: Glaucus atlanticus
• Diet: Carnivore that feeds on jellyfish and other venomous sea creatures
• Size: about 1 inch
• Origin: Recorded off Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia, North and South America
• Available in the hobby: No

The blue sea dragon is a stunning sea animal that lives at the surface of the ocean in many parts of the world. These bright blue creatures are not actually fish but rather a type of carnivorous mollusk.

Unfortunately, these sea slugs cannot be kept in a home aquarium, but they are sometimes found washed up on beaches. If you do spot a blue sea dragon, don’t be tempted to touch it; these animals give a painful sting!

14. Dragonets

• Scientific Name: Synchiropus spp.
• Difficulty Level: Advanced
• Temperament: Peaceful
• Adult Size: usually about 3 inches, but some species grow up to 12 inches
• Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
• Diet: Carnivorous, feeds on copepods and other live invertebrates
• Origin: Indo-pacific
• Temperature: 72 – 78 °F
• Reef Safe: Yes
• Available As Tank Bred: Yes

Dragonets are small tropical reef fish with dazzling colors. Several species of these goby-like fish are available in the hobby, although they are best left to experienced and dedicated reef keepers who can provide a steady supply of live copepods.

15. Giant Oarfish

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• Scientific Name: Regalecus glesne
• Diet: Carnivorous filter feeder
• Size: Can exceed 30 feet!
• Origin: Worldwide in temperate and tropical oceans
• Available in the hobby: No

The giant oarfish is the world’s longest fish and a true sea monster of the deep. These serpent-like fish have a spiky red crest and long tassel-like fins below their heads that make them look just like a dragon!

Despite their fearsome appearance, giant oarfish are not aggressive fish and actually feed on tiny sea creatures that they filter out of the water.

16. Deep Sea Anglerfish

• Scientific Name: Melanocetus johnsonii etc.
• Diet: Carnivores
• Size: 1 – 6 inches
• Origin: Widespread in tropical and temperate oceans
• Available in the hobby: No

The humpback anglerfish is a terrifying deep-sea fish that looks like something straight out of a nightmare. These fascinating creatures grow to about 6 inches, so they’re actually just miniature monsters from the deep.

The deepsea anglerfish has impressive fangs and a huge mouth for capturing small fish and other unfortunate sea creatures. They may not breathe fire, but these deepsea dragon fish do have a glowing lure on the end of a stalk that attracts their prey within striking distance.

17. Seahorses

• Scientific Name: Hippocampus spp.
• Difficulty Level: Advanced
• Temperament: Peaceful
• Adult Size: Up to 13 inches depending on the species
• Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons for smaller species
• Diet: Carnivorous, eats live crustaceans
• Origin: Widespread in warm, shallow coastal areas
• Temperature: 72-78 °F
• Reef Safe: Yes
• Available As Tank Bred: Yes

Seahorses may be named after common farm animals, but if you look a little closer, these adorable creatures have a striking resemblance to miniature dragons! These little fish from the Syngnathidae family have spiky, elongated bodies, spiny crests, and long snouts that make them look nothing like a regular fish.

Seahorses are small and peaceful creatures that inhabit shallow coastal waters around the world where they hunt tiny crustaceans. They are slow swimmers that prefer to grasp onto seaweed and other structures with their prehensile tails than fight against strong sea currents.

Several captive-bred seahorse species are available in the aquarium hobby, and they make fascinating display animals for dedicated fishkeepers. Avoid wild-caught specimens because they are difficult to keep without live food.

18. Stoplight Loosejaw

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• Scientific Name: Malacosteus sp.
• Diet: Carnivore, feeds on marine invertebrates and other fish
• Size: Reaches 10 inches
• Origin: Worldwide in deep oceans
• Available in the hobby: No

Stoplight loosejaws are deep-sea-dwellers that live thousands of feet below the surface in total darkness. They have evolved the incredible ability to produce green and red light from special organs in their jaw, which they can use to find their prey in the darkness.

These scary dragon fish have tiny tails, long, sharp teeth, and huge jaws. However, they only live below about 1,500 feet and grow to less than a foot long, so you have nothing to fear next time you visit the beach!

19. Teugelsi Bichir

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• Scientific Name: Polypterus teugelsi
• Difficulty Level: Moderate
• Temperament: Semi-aggressive
• Adult Size: Up to 25 inches
• Minimum Tank Size: 150 gallons for full-grown specimens
• Diet: Carnivorous, feeds on invertebrates and other fish
• Origin: West Africa
• Temperature: 77-82 °F

The Teugelsi bichir is a rare but fascinating freshwater fish that looks like a dragon. These prehistoric forest-dwellers have prominent scales and a spiky dorsal fin just like a mythical fire-breathing monster!

The species is occasionally seen for sale in the aquarium trade and makes an interesting pet for fishkeepers with large tanks. Like other bichirs, these fish are carnivorous and will snack on other fish at night when they come out to feed.

20. Mottled Bichir

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• Scientific Name: Polypterus weeksii
• Difficulty Level: Moderate
• Temperament: Semi-aggressive
• Adult Size: Grows to about 23 inches
• Minimum Tank Size: 150 gallons for a full-grown specimen
• Diet: Carnivore
• Origin: Central Africa
• Temperature: 76 – 82 °F

Here’s another freshwater dragon fish for all the bichir lovers out there. The mottled bichir is a fascinating predatory species from Africa with an intimidating scaly appearance.

These rare nocturnal fish need a high-protein diet to stay healthy, so they are not recommended for a community aquarium with smaller tank mates! They are very hardy fish that can breathe air and even travel over land in moist conditions.

21. Scorpionfish

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• Scientific Name: Scorpaenidae family
• Difficulty Level: Moderate
• Temperament: Semi-aggressive
• Adult Size: 2 inches to 3 feet
• Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons + depending on species
• Diet: Carnivorous, feeds on other fish and small sea creatures
• Origin: Widespread in marine and brackish habitats
• Temperature: Species dependent
• Reef Safe: With caution
• Available As Tank Bred: No

Scorpionfish are a large group of bizarre saltwater fish with dragon-like features and a venomous spine. These carnivorous fish often have amazing camouflage, which they rely on to ambush their prey. Many species are available for marine aquariums, but be warned, some of these fish are very dangerous!

22. Koi

• Scientific Name: Cyprinus carpio
• Difficulty Level: Moderate
• Temperament: Peaceful
• Adult Size: Over 2 feet
• Minimum Tank Size: 1500 gallons
• Diet: Omnivorous
• Origin: Indonesia
• Temperature: 59 – 77 °F

The famous Koi fish is seen as a noble creature in Japan. There is a legend that states that if a Koi climbed the waterfall on the Yellow River that it would turn into a Koi Dragon.

The most similar looking Koi to be found in the hobby that looks like a dragon would be a butterfly koi. Though not considered a true koi by many purist, their fins give them that flying look.

Final Thoughts

Dragons do exist! Maybe not the flying, firebreathing kind you’ve seen in the movies, but there’s plenty of weird and wonderful dragon fish swimming around out there. Some of these amazing animals even thrive in fish tanks, so who knows, you could even keep a dragon in your own room.

Which fish do you think most resembles a real-life dragon? Share your top pick in the comments below!

Small tanks are where a lot of beginners start. and where they make their first mistakes, usually by overcrowding or picking fish that will outgrow the setup. I’ve set up tanks as small as 5 gallons and know which species genuinely thrive in tight quarters versus which ones just survive. Here are the 21 I’d actually choose for a small tank.

Are you planning a new fish tank or just looking for a new small fish species to add to an existing community? Choosing new fish is super fun, but it can be tough to make the right choice.

There are hundreds of different species in the fishkeeping hobby, so save yourself the stress and scroll through this list to help make your choice. All the fish mentioned in this guide can be kept in tanks of 15-20 gallons, and some can even live in aquariums as small as 5 gallons.

Ready? Let’s meet the 21 best small fish for freshwater aquariums!

The 21 Best Fish For Small Tanks

It’s time to learn about 21 excellent freshwater fish for small tanks! Take note of their minimum tank size, diet requirements, and other important stats before choosing your next pet. We have a video below from our YouTube Channel, so you can watch along while seeing more details below from our blog!

1. Bettas

• Scientific Name: Betta splendens
• Adult Size: 2.5 inches
• Care Level: Beginner
• Temperament: Aggressive
• Minimum Tank Size: 5 gallons
• Diet: Carnivore, feed good quality micro-pellets and live/frozen bloodworms and brine shrimp
• Origin: Thailand and other countries in Southeast Asia
• Temperature: 76-80 °F
• Swimming Level: Mid/upper layers

The betta or Siamese fighting fish is a great choice for any freshwater aquarium that holds 5 gallons or more. These popular freshwater fish can live more than three years with good care and their bright colors and fancy fins make them great centerpiece fish.

Bettas get along great with many different tank mates in community setups, just don’t make the mistake of keeping more than one male in the same tank. These guys love to fight!

2. Exclamation Point Rasbora

• Scientific Name: Boraras urophthalmoides
• Adult Size: 0.5 inches
• Care Level: Intermediate
• Temperament: Peaceful and shy
• Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons
• Diet: Carnivore, feed crushed flake fish food, baby brine shrimp and blood worms
• Origin: Thailand
• Temperature: 68 – 82°F
• Swimming Level: Middle layers

The exclamation point rasbora is an awesome little freshwater nano fish with an orange body and a black exclamation (!) symbol on each side.

These tiny fish are pretty shy (probably because they’re so small) so they need the company of at least 10 of their own kind to form a nice school. Keep these peaceful fish in a densely planted tank to enjoy all they have to offer.

3. Chili Rasbora

• Scientific Name: Boraras brigittae
• Adult Size: 0.75 inches
• Care Level: Intermediate
• Temperament: Peaceful
• Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons
• Diet: Carnivore, feed granules and live/frozen foods
• Origin: Southeast Asia
• Temperature: 68 – 82°F
• Swimming Level: Middle and upper layers

Also known as the mosquito rasbora, these peaceful schooling fish are similar to the exclamation point rasbora but have a redder body color. These are true micro fish that are perfect for small tanks.

While it is possible to keep a small school in a 5-gallon tank, they’ll do much better in a 10 gallon tank with plenty of live aquarium plants.

4. Zebra Danio

• Scientific Name: Danio/Brachydanio rerio
• Adult Size: 2 inches
• Care Level: Beginner
• Temperament: Very peaceful
• Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons
• Diet: Carnivore, feed good quality dried foods and bloodworms or other insect larvae
• Origin: South Asia
• Temperature: 66 – 77°F
• Swimming Level: Generally middle and upper layers

The zebra danio is a great beginner fish species for a small freshwater aquarium. There are many other beautiful danio species (celestial pearl, glowlight, etc.) in the hobby, but the good ol’ zebra fish tends to be the cheapest and most adaptable species.

These small fish are very peaceful and hardy, making them a great small aquarium fish species for a community tank. The minimum tank size for these fish is about 10 gallons, but they’ll be much happier in a 20-gallon tank where there’s plenty of space to swim.

5. Black Neon Tetra

• Scientific Name: Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi
• Adult Size: 1.5 inches
• Care Level: Beginner
• Temperament: Peaceful
• Minimum Tank Size: 15 gallons
• Diet: Omnivore, feed a quality pellet/flake and live/frozen food
• Origin: South America
• Temperature: 70 – 82°F
• Swimming Level: Middle and upper layers

The black neon tetra doesn’t get quite as much love as the regular neons and cardinal tetras, but black neons are actually the better choice for many aquarists because they are so easy to care for. A school of 5 or 6 of these beautiful fish will add constant motion to the open-water areas of a small tropical fish tank.

These guys are pretty hardy, and much more likely to survive some of the common beginner fishkeeping mistakes. They look great too, and they get along perfectly with other peaceful fish.

6. Cory Catfish

• Scientific Name: Corydoras spp.
• Adult Size: 1-3 inches
• Care Level: Beginner/intermediate
• Temperament: Very peaceful
• Minimum Tank Size: Species-dependent
• Diet: Omnivorous, feed sinking tablets/pellets and frozen foods
• Origin: South America
• Temperature: Species-dependent, most types can be kept in the mid-70s Fahrenheit
• Swimming Level: Bottom dweller

Looking for an interesting bottom dweller for a small community tank? Look no further than the cories, a large group of schooling catfish from South America. These fascinating freshwater fish spend most of their time searching the substrate for food scraps, but every now and then they rocket up to the surface for a gulp of air.

The smallest species (dwarf, pygmy corydoras, etc.) grow to less than an inch and can be kept in a ten-gallon tank, but most species will need an aquarium size of 20 gallons or more.

7. White Cloud Mountain Minnow

• Scientific Name: Tanichthys albonubes
• Adult Size: 1.5 inches
• Care Level: Easy
• Temperament: Peaceful
• Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons
• Diet: Carnivore, feed high-quality dried foods supplemented with frozen blood worms/ brine shrimp
• Origin: China
• Temperature: 60-72°F
• Swimming Level: Middle and upper layers

The white cloud mountain minnow is a coldwater fish, even though it offers all the bright colors of a tropical fish species.

These peaceful fish will thrive in an unheated aquarium in most homes, although they can be kept with some tropical fish that enjoy water in the low 70’s. The white cloud mountain minnow is a social fish, so you’ll need a school of at least six to keep them confident.

8. Cherry Barb

• Scientific Name: Puntius titteya
• Adult Size: 1.5 – 2 inches
• Care Level: Beginner
• Temperament: Peaceful
• Minimum Tank Size: 15 gallons
• Diet: Omnivore, feed quality fish flakes or micro pellets and live/frozen food
• Origin: Sri Lanka
• Temperature: 70 – 79°F
• Swimming Level: Middle to lower levels

The cherry barb is a beautiful freshwater schooling fish from South Asia with attractive scales and rounded fins. Males develop a beautiful cherry-red color, but the females also have a rich amber/orange shade.

Cherry barbs are great community fish that add life to the lower levels of the aquarium. They get along great with other peaceful fish but will do best in a larger tank (20 gallons+) if they need to share their space with other species. A school of 6 or more is recommended to see them at their best.

9. Endler’s Livebearers

• Scientific Name: Poecilia wingei
• Adult Size: 1 – 2 inches, males reach just one inch
• Care Level: Beginner
• Temperament: Peaceful
• Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons
• Diet: Omnivore, provide a quality flake or micro-pellet and occasional frozen/live foods
• Origin: Venezuela
• Temperature: 64 – 82°F
• Swimming Level: All levels but mostly in the upper half

The Endler’s livebearer is a colorful little fish that looks similar to a regular fancy guppy. However, this closely related fish is a smaller species and purebred specimens are much rarer. Ideally, Endlers should not be kept in the same tank as guppies because the two will readily hybridize.

Endlers are confident, active little fish that are very easy to care for. These fish breed easily, so you can expect to see some babies (fry) if you keep males and females together. They’re very peaceful too, so you can keep them with other nano community fish.

10. Honey Gourami

• Scientific Name: Trichogaster chuna
• Adult Size: up to 2 inches
• Care Level: Beginner
• Temperament: Peaceful
• Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons for a single fish, 20 gallons for a pair
• Diet: Carnivore, feed a quality micro-pellet or flake, and occasional live/frozen foods
• Origin: India and Bangladesh
• Temperature: 74-80°F
• Swimming Level: Middle and upper layers

The honey gourami is a small, peaceful fish species that can be kept as a single centerpiece fish or as a pair in a small community fish tank.

The males develop their brightest colors before the breeding season, but these peaceful nano fish are attractive and interesting at any time of the year.

11. Ember Tetra

• Scientific Name: Hyphessobrycon amandae
• Adult Size: 0.75 inches
• Care Level: Beginner
• Temperament: Peaceful
• Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons
• Diet: Carnivore, feed micro-pellets/ flakes and live/frozen foods
• Origin: Brazil
• Temperature: 72-80°F
• Swimming Level: Middle levels

The ember tetra is a nano schooling fish with a deep orange color. These tiny tetras grow to three-quarters of an inch or so, making them a good choice for tanks as small as 5 gallons. However, they will be much better off in a tank of over 10 gallons, especially in a school of 10 or more.

Ember tetras are an option for a small community tank, although they should not be kept with large or aggressive fish due to their small size.

12. Guppies

• Scientific Name: Poecilia reticulata
• Adult Size: 0.75 – 2.5 inches
• Care Level: Easy
• Temperament: Peaceful
• Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons
• Diet: Omnivorous, feed high-quality dried and live/frozen foods
• Origin: Northern South America and the Caribbean
• Temperature: 72-82°F
• Swimming Level: All levels

Fancy guppies are excellent nano fish for smaller fish tanks, especially if you have naturally hard water. These colorful livebearers are very easy to keep and super easy to breed in a home aquarium.

Guppies come in a variety of colors, and some high-quality strains are very rare and valuable. However, you can usually find some beautiful fancy guppies at your local fish store for a very reasonable price. You can keep only males or groups with three females to one male.

13. Japanese Rice Fish

• Scientific Name: Oryzias latipes
• Adult Size: 1.2 inches
• Care Level: Easy
• Temperament: Peaceful
• Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons
• Diet: Omnivore, feed a quality flake food and supplemental live/frozen foods
• Origin: Eastern Asia
• Temperature: 61 – 75°F
• Swimming Level: Middle and upper levels

The Medaka, or Japanese rice fish is becoming increasingly popular in the aquarium trade. They are available in a variety of colors, ranging from white to orange.

These nano fish prefer cool water, making them a great choice for an unheated tank. They can be kept with other peaceful fish like white cloud minnows, just avoid tropical species that need warm water temperatures.

14. Rainbow Shiner

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• Scientific Name: Notropis chrosomus
• Adult Size: 2-3 inches
• Care Level: Beginner
• Temperament: Peaceful
• Minimum Tank Size: 15 gallons
• Diet: Omnivore, provide a good quality dried food and frozen/live foods as treats
• Origin: Southeastern USA
• Temperature: 50 – 72°F
• Swimming Level: Middle and upper layers

The rainbow shiner is an awesome native fish species that hails from the United States. They are a pretty new fish species in the fish keeping hobby and difficult to find at most fish stores, but you can often pick them up online. Choose this species as the centerpiece for a cool water stream biotope tank.

In spawning colors, these guys are some of the best-looking fish out there, although not all specimens develop amazing colors, and females are not particularly colorful. Keep a school of at least 6 of these fish in a small cool water tank with good water flow.

15. Spotted Blue-Eye Rainbowfish

• Scientific Name: Pseudomugil gertrudae
• Adult Size: 1-1.5 inches
• Care Level: Beginner/intermediate
• Temperament: Peaceful but shy
• Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons
• Diet: Omnivore, feed crushed dried foods and small live/frozen foods
• Origin: Indonesia and Northern Australia
• Temperature: 72-82°F
• Swimming Level: Generally in the top and middle levels

The spotted blue-eye rainbowfish is an interesting nano species that thrives in small planted aquariums. Both sexes are very attractive, although only the males develop large and interesting anal and dorsal fins.

Spotted blue-eye rainbowfish can be pretty shy around other fish, so they’re best kept in their own planted tank. It is possible to keep this species with adult shrimp, but there’s always some risk when keeping fish and inverts together. Keep a shoal of 8 or more of these fish to see their confident natural behaviors.

16. Green Fire Tetra

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• Scientific Name: Aphyocharax rathbuni
• Adult Size: 1.5-1.75 inches
• Care Level: Beginner
• Temperament: Semi-aggressive
• Minimum Tank Size: 15 gallons
• Diet: Feed good quality dried foods and live/frozen foods
• Origin: Brazil, Uraguay, Argentina, Paraguay
• Temperature: 70 – 79°F
• Swimming Level: Midwater levels

The green fire tetra is an active little South American tetra that will add color and movement to any nano tank. You might find them for sale as Rathbun’s tetra or the redflank bloodfin, but they are all the same awesome nano species.

Unfortunately, green fire tetras have a reputation for fin nipping, so it’s safest to keep them with fast-moving fish that can hold their own, and avoid any species with long, flowing fins.

17. Clown Killifish

• Scientific Name: Epiplatys annulatus
• Adult Size: 1.25 inches
• Care Level: Beginner/intermediate
• Temperament: Peaceful
• Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons
• Diet: Carnivore, feed dried food for nano fish and live/frozen foods
• Origin: West Africa
• Temperature: 68 – 78°F
• Swimming Level: Upper levels

Also known as the banded panchax, these tiny surface dwellers are a great choice for a nano tank full of healthy green plants that mimic their natural forest habitat.

The clown killifish can be kept with other nano fish but will be most comfortable if you keep a school of at least 8 specimens.

18. Scarlet Badis

• Scientific Name: Dario dario
• Adult Size: 0.5 – 0.75 inches
• Care Level: Intermediate
• Temperament: Peaceful
• Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons
• Diet: Omnivore
• Origin: India
• Temperature: 70- 79°F
• Swimming Level: Bottom

The scarlet badis is a tiny fish species from India that looks similar to a dwarf cichlid. These colorful little fish can be kept in tanks as small as 5 gallons, although maintaining great water quality is much easier in a larger setup.

The scarlet badis is a great choice for fish keepers with a few years of experience. They can be a little fussy around meal times, so you’ll probably need a supply of live or frozen foods to keep them well-fed.

These fish should not be kept with larger, more aggressive species, although they will thrive in a planted tank with other smaller fish like celestial pearl danios (AKA Galaxy Rasbora).

19. Licorice Gourami

• Scientific Name: Parosphromenus deissneri
• Adult Size: 1.5 inches
• Care Level: Intermediate
• Temperament: Can be somewhat aggressive
• Minimum Tank Size: 5 gallons
• Diet: Carnivore, feed live foods like bloodworm and tubifex worm
• Origin: Indonesia
• Temperature: 72 – 82°F
• Swimming Level: Middle layers

The licorice gourami is a fascinating nano fish species for more experienced fish keepers. These fish do well in tanks as small as 5 gallons, but they require soft, acidic water and gentle filtration to simulate their natural habitat.

Licorice gouramis are often kept as a single centerpiece fish due to their slightly aggressive nature, although you can keep them with other small, peaceful fish in a tank with plenty of cover and live plants.

20. Otocinclus Catfish

• Scientific Name: Otocinclus spp.
• Adult Size: 1.5 inches
• Care Level: Moderate
• Temperament: Very peaceful
• Minimum Tank Size: 20 gallons
• Diet: Algae eater. Can be fed soft greens and algae wafers but requires a source of natural algae
• Origin: South America
• Temperature: 70 – 77°F
• Swimming Level: Feeds on hardscape, glass, and plants at all levels

The otocinclus catfish is one of my favorite nano fish and one of the most useful clean-up crew species in the hobby. However, these little guys have some special requirements, and they rarely survive in a new tank without a steady supply of algae.

Despite their small size, these algae eaters do best in mature tanks of 20 gallons or more that can provide enough natural food to sustain a school of 6 or more. Otos are very peaceful fish that are safe to keep with dwarf shrimp and fish fry.

21. Pea Puffer

• Scientific Name: Carinotetraodon travancoricus
• Adult Size: 1 inch
• Care Level: Intermediate
• Temperament: Aggressive
• Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons
• Diet: Carnivore, feed live snails, and live/frozen brine shrimp
• Origin: India
• Temperature: 72 – 82°F
• Swimming Level: All levels

The pea puffer is an adorable little nano fish with a real mean streak! They are a true freshwater species that can be kept in tanks as small as 5 gallons, although 15 gallons or more would be much better for long-term care.

These fish are not ideal for beginners because they prefer a heavily planted tank to feel comfortable in their environment, and they have a pretty specialized diet. A steady supply of live snails is the best food source to keep their sharp teeth worn down, but they will also take frozen bloodworms as an occasional treat.

Other Species To Consider

Fish are not the only things you can keep in a small fish tank. Read on to learn about three other options!

1. Dwarf Shrimp

Keeping freshwater shrimp is a fascinating alternative to small fish species. Sometimes, you can also add these adorable crustaceans to an existing freshwater aquarium, although most popular aquarium fish will try to eat them.

Otocinclus catfish are one of the only fish that won’t eat baby shrimp, although you may get away with keeping large adult shrimp with small nano fish like celestial pearl danios.

Generally, it’s best to keep freshwater shrimp in their own tank of 10 gallons or larger, although some aquarists have success in tanks as small as 2 gallons. Unfortunately, maintaining safe water parameters is very difficult in this volume of water.

Different shrimp species have different care requirements, but all species will do best in a temperature-controlled and filtered aquarium with good-quality shrimp food and regular maintenance.

2. Snails

Snails have really gotten a bad name in the aquarium hobby, but the truth is that these fascinating freshwater invertebrates can be great cleanup crew and some species are really good-looking creatures!

Avoid adding snails like ramshorns and pond snails to your tank if you prefer species that won’t multiply, although these ‘pest’ species tend to limit themselves in well-maintained tanks.

Nerite snails and mystery snails are better choices because they do not breed and actually make pretty interesting display animals.

Want to learn more? Check out my comprehensive aquarium snail guides for much more information on these fascinating creatures!

3. Small Hardy Plants

Have you considered growing live plants in your aquarium? Heads up, the planted tank hobby can be addictive!

There are loads of different aquatic plant species that thrive in small tanks. Many will survive without any special care, but it’s important to select low-tech species if you’re just starting out.

Epiphytes like Java Ferns and Anubias nana petit are great choices because you can grow them right in their pot without any special lighting. However, a much better way to grow these hardy plants is to attach them to a rock or a piece of driftwood using superglue or thread.

Want to learn more about growing live plants? Browse through my extensive collection of detailed guides to get started!

What is a Small Aquarium?

Aquariums in the range of 5 to 20 gallons are generally classified as small tanks. These tanks are ideal for bedrooms, offices, and busy fish rooms. You’ll also see tanks as small as 1 gallon for sale, but avoid these if you’re planning on keeping fish. Anything smaller than about 5 gallons can be very difficult to maintain.

Stocking Your Tank

Test your source water before stocking your tank. Some fish prefer naturally hard water, while others prefer soft and acidic conditions. If your tap water is hard, you may want to choose small livebearers like guppies that thrive in harder water.

Personality is also vital when choosing small fish for your tank. Avoid mixing small, shy species with more aggressive fish like tiger barbs if you want a peaceful community setup.

Many beginners try to cram as many fish into their tanks as possible, but more fish means more maintenance, and it’s easy to let your water quality slide to dangerous levels in a nano fish tank. Stock your tank lightly for a trouble-free experience.

Essential Equipment Checklist

• Heater

Apart from the Japanese ricefish and the white cloud minnow, each of the species in this list will need warm water temperatures to simulate the tropical climate of their natural habitat. Choose a heater model and wattage that fits your tank size.

• Filter

All fish need filtered water when kept in small aquariums. Choose a small sponge filter, HOB, or internal power filter that can process your aquarium water volume 4-6 times each hour.

• Lighting

Your fish will enjoy a natural day/night cycle to maintain their biological clock. Run your lights for 6-8 hours each day to avoid excess algae growth.

Other Important Supplies

• Water test kit
• Gravel vacuum
• Thermometer
• Decorations, hardscape, and Substrate
• Quality food

FAQs

Final Thoughts

You don’t need a big tank or a big budget to enjoy the fishkeeping hobby. In fact, all of the small fish species discussed in this article will be right at home in a desktop tank!

That being said, 5 gallons is the smallest size you should consider for any freshwater fish, and 15 gallons (with a good filter) is probably the ideal size for your first nano tank. Lastly, little fish can have BIG personalities, so make sure all your fish species match up in terms of personality and temperament.

Do you keep small aquarium fish? Share your favorite species in the comments below!

Striped fish make up some of the most recognizable species in the hobby. and a lot of them were regulars at the fish store where I worked for years. Angelfish, zebra danios, black neon tetras. these are fish I cared for, sold, and fielded questions about constantly. What strikes me about this group is just how diverse it is beneath the stripe pattern: some are peaceful schoolers that belong in groups, some are territorial cichlids that need space, and some get significantly larger than people expect from the display tank. This guide covers 25+ of the best, across both freshwater and saltwater.

Why Do They Have Them?

Have you ever thought about why animals look the way they do? Animals, including fish, have evolved for millions of years to develop colors and patterns that not only keep them alive but also provide the best success for passing down their genes. This is a phenomenon known as natural selection, where evolutions determine the species’ success, meaning the most opportunistic and successful traits get passed down from one generation to the next.

All this is to say that at one point in evolutionary history, stripes helped the given species survive better.

There are several reasons why fish might have evolved stripes. The first reason is that stripes aid in camouflage. Stripes break up the shape of an otherwise solid colored fish, which can make them nearly invisible to predators. Other stripes can also mimic the environment of the fish, especially if plants or coral are abundant.

Another use of stripes is for communication. This aspect is less understood, but it’s believed that fish can convey aggression, submission, or physical fitness for reproduction. In some cases, fish mimic the stripe patterns of other poisonous or venomous species to scare off potential predators, even if that specific species is harmless.

Lastly, stripes may be selectively bred within the aquarium hobby. Many species, especially freshwater fish, have been modified to express the best colors and patterns. As a result, some fish may display nearly every color and pattern combination imaginable.

Fish With Black Stripes

Here are some of the most popular freshwater and saltwater fish with stripes for the home aquarium!

⚠️ Before You Buy: The biggest mistake I see is people shopping purely based on looks. a striped fish catches their eye and they grab it without checking compatibility, adult size, or whether the species needs a group. Tiger Barbs are notorious fin nippers in the wrong setup. Clown Loaches look small in the store but grow to 12 inches. Many tetras and danios are social fish that are stressed and dull-colored alone. they need 6 or more to thrive. Always research the fish, not just the stripe.

1. Zebra Angelfish

• Scientific Name: Pterophyllum scalare
• Common Names: Zebra angelfish, Silver zebra angel
• Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
• Adult Size: 6 inches
• Temperament: Semi-aggressive
• Care Level: Easy
• Diet: Omnivore
• Origin: Selectively bred
• Temperature: 75-82° F
• Swimming Level: Middle

Zebra angels are a selectively bred type of freshwater angelfish cichlid, Pterophyllum scalare. These fish have the same care requirements as other varieties of this species but feature a perfectly curated appearance.

The zebra angel is silver with three to five black stripes that run from the dorsal fin to the stomach. These strips are usually solid but might have a misbar, or not-fully-connected, appearance. One special feature about these fish is that a stripe usually runs vertically through the eye, letting the pupil look like a part of the stripe.

2. Zebra Pleco

• Scientific Name: Hypancistrus zebra
• Common Names: Zebra pleco, Zebra altimira pleco, L-46
• Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
• Adult Size: 3-4 inches
• Temperament: Peaceful
• Care Level: Moderate
• Diet: Omnivore
• Origin: Brazil
• Temperature: 79-86° F
• Swimming Level: Bottom

The zebra pleco is one of the most sought-after species of pleco, and their price tag reflects that. These are extremely unique fish with a pure white base with black stripes across the face, body, and fins.

Though beautiful, this black-striped fish is nocturnal and might stay in the shady areas of the tank throughout the day. The zebra pleco is omnivorous and requires a diet of plant and protein-based foods, though they will not chew on driftwood, unlike other species of pleco.

3. Skunk Cory

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• Scientific Name: Corydoras aracuatus
• Common Names: Skunk cory, Sands’ cory
• Minimum Tank Size: 20 gallons
• Adult Size: 2-3 inches
• Temperament: Peaceful
• Care Level: Moderate
• Diet: Omnivore
• Origin: Brazil
• Temperature: 68-77° F
• Swimming Level: Bottom

The skunk cory is one of the lesser common species of Corydoras available in the aquarium hobby, possibly due to its oversimplicity. That isn’t to say that these aren’t great nano fish to keep though!

The skunk cory is named after the singular thin black stripe that runs along either side of the dorsal fin from the head to the end of the tail fin. The rest of the body is a light brown or grey color.

Skunk cories are relatively easy to keep, like other species of cory. They are small, somewhat shy fish that do best with a soft substrate, plenty of hiding spots, and a school of at least 6 or more.

4. Frontosa Cichlid

• Scientific Name: Cyphotilapia frontosa
• Common Names: Frontosa cichlid, Front cichlid
• Minimum Tank Size: 150+ gallons
• Adult Size: 1.0-1.5 feet
• Temperament: Semi-aggressive
• Care Level: Moderate
• Diet: Carnivore
• Origin: Lake Tanganyika, Africa
• Temperature: 72-82° F
• Swimming Level: Middle to Bottom

The frontosa cichlid is a large African cichlid that is relatively difficult to keep due to its potential adult size. These are large fish that need to be kept with other fish that are also endemic to Lake Tanganyika as pH needs to be higher, between 7.5 and 9.0.

Frontosa cichlids are labeled as semi-aggressive but are more defensive of their territories than being openly aggressive to each other. It should be noted that these carnivorous fish can eat small fish once they reach larger sizes.

These cichlids vary in appearance, especially if wild-caught from different locations within the lake. In general, frontosas feature five to seven broad black bands on top of a light or pale blue color.

5. Tiger Barb

• Scientific Name: Puntius tetrazona
• Common Names: Tiger barb, Sumatra barb
• Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
• Adult Size: 2-4 inches
• Temperament: Semi-aggressive
• Care Level: Moderate
• Diet: Omnivore
• Origin: Sumatra and Borneo
• Temperature: 74-79° F
• Swimming Level: Middle

For years, the tiger barb was one of the most popular freshwater fish available in the aquarium trade. These fish are honey-brown with red fins and four black stripes. These fish might look like a species of tetra, but they are semi-aggressive fish that can fin nip and attack other more peaceful species.

A loose schooling fish, tiger barbs must be kept in groups of at least 6 or more. These are active fish that will move together throughout the tank looking for food or possibly to terrorize other fish.

True tiger barbs are naturally colored. However, these fish have been genetically modified to exhibit bright colors by GloFish, like neon yellow, pink, and green. Some barbs keep their stripes while others are solid colors.

6. Zebra Danio

• Scientific Name: Danio rerio
• Common Names: Zebra danio, Zebrafish, Striped danio
• Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons
• Adult Size: 2-4 inches
• Temperament: Peaceful
• Care Level: Easy
• Diet: Omnivore
• Origin: Asia
• Temperature: 64-75° F
• Swimming Level: Top and Middle

Zebra danios are very active striped fish that like to swim in schools at the top of the aquarium. Unlike the other fish listed, zebra danios are a coldwater fish species that prefers subtropical water temperatures.

These fish are torpedo shaped with several horizontal black stripes that run from the end of the tail to the head. These fish are silvery-yellow underneath the stripes, though they might feature more vibrant yellow fins.

Zebra danios are one of the least-demanding fish to keep in the aquarium hobby and easily adapt to a variety of aquarium setups.

7. Siamese Algae Eater

• Scientific Name: Crossocheilus siamensis
• Common Names: Siamese algae eater, SAE, Siamese flying fox
• Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
• Adult Size: 4-6 inches
• Temperament: Peaceful
• Care Level: Moderate
• Diet: Omnivore but mainly herbivorous
• Origin: Southeast Asia
• Temperature: 75-79° F
• Swimming Level: Bottom

The Siamese algae eater, not to be confused with the more aggressive Chinese algae eater (Gyrinocheilus aymonieri), is one of the best algae eaters for the freshwater aquarium. Siamese algae eaters have a brownish-silver body with one thick black band that goes from the mouth to the base of the forked caudal fin.

These fish have an elongated body that helps them stay suctioned to rocks in their naturally fast-moving water environments. Siamese algae eaters may be present in groups as juveniles but can become slightly territorial as they age.

8. Convict Cichlid

• Scientific Name: Amatitlania nigrofasciata
• Common Names: Convict cichlid, Black convict cichlid, Zebra cichlid
• Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
• Adult Size: 4-6 inches
• Temperament: Aggressive
• Care Level: Moderate
• Diet: Omnivore
• Origin: Central America
• Temperature: 72-82° F
• Swimming Level: Middle

An aggressive species of Central American cichlid, the convict cichlid is an attractive fish with a deep blue body and mottled vertical black bands. These stripes are not neat, have rigid edges, and might not connect across the width of the fish.

Some special consideration is needed when housing these fish due to their aggressive nature. A minimum tank size of 30 gallons is recommended when keeping one or two, but at least 55 gallons is necessary when keeping other species.

9. Black Neon Tetra

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• Scientific Name: Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi
• Common Names: Black neon tetra
• Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons
• Adult Size: 1-2 inches
• Temperament: Peaceful
• Care Level: Easy
• Diet: Omnivore
• Origin: South America
• Temperature: 72-77° F
• Swimming Level: Middle

Not actually related to the famous neon tetra (Paracheirodon innesi), the black neon tetra is named after the two horizontal black and white stripes that run along the side of the fish; the white stripe is on top of the black stripe. Underneath, the fish is a yellowy-silver.

A type of schooling fish, black neon tetras need to be kept in groups of at least 6 or more. They can be timid with bigger, more active species, but excel in a community tank setting.

🏆 Mark’s Pick: If I had to pick one striped fish that consistently impresses without the drama, it’s the Black Neon Tetra. I cared for a lot of these at the fish store and they’re some of the most reliable, beautiful little fish in the freshwater hobby. peaceful, hardy, and absolutely stunning in a school of 8 or more under good lighting. Zebra Angelfish are another top pick if you want a centerpiece fish with real visual impact, though they need more space and careful tank mate selection.

10. Clown Loach

• Scientific Name: Chromobotia macracantha
• Common Names: Clown loach, Tiger botia
• Minimum Tank Size: 125+ gallons
• Adult Size: 1 foot
• Temperament: Semi-aggressive
• Care Level: Moderate
• Diet: Omnivore
• Origin: Sumatra and Borneo
• Temperature: 72-86° F
• Swimming Level: Bottom

The clown loach should not be underestimated. For a long time, these colorful fish were considered to be beginner fish due to their relatively easy care and juvenile size. It wasn’t until recently that hobbyists discovered the true adult size of these fish, which is about a foot or more. Keep in mind that clown loaches like to school and need to be kept in large groups.

Still, the clown loach is one of the most attractive bottom-dwellers for the freshwater aquarium. These are orange fish with black stripes along the sides of their body. The caudal, ventral, and anal fins are typically dark red while the dorsal fin is black.

11. Golden Mbuna

• Scientific Name: Melanochromis auratus
• Common Names: Golden mbuna
• Minimum Tank Size: 55 gallons
• Adult Size: 4-5 inches
• Temperament: Aggressive
• Care Level: Moderate
• Diet: Omnivore
• Origin: Lake Malawi, Africa
• Temperature: 75-82° F
• Swimming Level: Middle

The golden mbuna is an attractive African cichlid with varying appearances, but never without stripes! Male golden mbuna cichlids especially change colors between breeding periods. Juvenile males and females typically display a deep yellow base color with horizontal black stripes. A breeding male will invert his colors over a few days, switching to a largely black body, with a silvery dorsal and white lateral line.

Golden mbunas are some of the most aggressive cichlids available and will need appropriate tank mates. Only one male should be kept per tank.

12. Electric Blue Johanni

• Scientific Name: Melanochromis johannii
• Common Names: Electric blue johanni, Rock-dwelling mbuna
• Minimum Tank Size: 55 gallons
• Adult Size: 4-5 inches
• Temperament: Semi-aggressive
• Care Level: Moderate
• Diet: Omnivore
• Origin: Lake Malawi, Africa
• Temperature: 75-82° F
• Swimming Level: Middle

Another striped cichlid, the electric blue johanni mbuna isn’t as aggressive as the golden mbuna. This makes them more appropriate for a mbuna community aquarium as long as the tank size allows.

While male electric blue johanni cichlids are striped tropical fish, with a shocking blue base color and vertical bars across their body, females look entirely different. Female electrics are fully yellow, which can make it slightly challenging to identify this species.

13. Demasoni Cichlid

• Scientific Name: Pseudotropheus demasoni
• Common Names: Demasoni cichlid
• Minimum Tank Size: 55 gallons
• Adult Size: 3-5 inches
• Temperament: Aggressive
• Care Level: Moderate
• Diet: Omnivore
• Origin: Lake Malawi, Africa
• Temperature: 75-82° F
• Swimming Level: Middle

Specific to the Pombo Rock ecosystem in Tanzania, the Demasoni cichlid isn’t a common fish to see available. These fish stay in rocky areas, rarely swimming into open water. This means the aquarium should be filled with cracks and crevices for them to live.

At first glance, this fish might resemble a front cichlid. These fish are light blue with vertical black stripes. There is no immediately noticeable difference between males and females, though males may be slightly larger and more territorial.

14. Royal Heckel Cross Discus

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• Scientific Name: Symphysodon spp.
• Common Names: Royal heckel cross discus
• Minimum Tank Size: 55 gallons
• Adult Size: 8-12 inches
• Temperament: Generally peaceful
• Care Level: Moderate to Expert
• Diet: Omnivore
• Origin: South America
• Temperature: 84-86° F
• Swimming Level: Middle

Discus are beautiful fish that have been selectively bred to display a variety of colors and patterns. The royal heckel cross discus is a mixture of orange, red, and blue with several vertical black stripes that vary in width. These are a specific variety of discus, so they may be more difficult to find and more expensive.

Discus are challenging aquarium fish. They do best when kept in small groups in a tank of their own. They are highly sensitive to improper water conditions and usually require more maintenance than other fish.

15. Pencil Fish

• Scientific Name: Nannostomus spp.
• Common Names: Pencil fish
• Minimum Tank Size: 20 gallons
• Adult Size: 1-2 inches
• Temperament: Peaceful
• Care Level: Moderate
• Diet: Omnivore
• Origin: South America
• Temperature: 75. 80° F
• Swimming Level: Middle to Top

An unusual schooling fish to find in the average hobbyist’s tank, the pencil fish is named after its swimming behavior that allows them to swim at a 45-degree angle. Pencil fish describes a genus of fish, in which there are almost 20 different species.

Here are some that are available in the aquarium hobby:

• Three-lined pencil fish (Nannostomus trifasciatus)
• Beckford’s pencil fish (Nannostomus beckfordi)
• Purple pencil fish (Nannostomus rubrocaudatus)

These fish mostly feature natural coloration with various browns, yellows, whites, and reds. Most of the species also have one or more horizontal black stripes that trail from the head to the tail.

16. Clown Killifish

• Scientific Name: Epiplatys annulatus
• Common Names: Clown killifish, Banded panchax
• Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons
• Adult Size: 1-2 inches
• Temperament: Peaceful
• Care Level: Easy
• Diet: Omnivore
• Origin: West Africa
• Temperature: 68-80° F
• Swimming Level: Top

Killifish are an often overlooked option for the freshwater aquarium. This black and white fish with red fins looks just like a painted clown face! Sometimes, the white is replaced with a pale yellow.

Clown killis are small and easy-to-keep fish that are relatively forgiving of water parameters. They don’t school, but they like to be kept in small groups with one male and several females. Otherwise, clown killifish excel in a heavily planted aquarium with other peaceful tank mates.

17. Black Banded Leporinus

• Scientific Name: Leporinus fasciatus
• Common Names: Black banded leporinus, Banded leporinus
• Minimum Tank Size: 75 gallons
• Adult Size: 1 foot
• Temperament: Semi-aggressive
• Care Level: Moderate
• Diet: Omnivore
• Origin: South America
• Temperature: 72-82° F
• Swimming Level: Middle to Bottom

A very popular fish several years ago, the black banded leporinus is still a favorite fish with black stripes. These black and yellow fish increase stripes as they age, with juveniles having five bands and adults having ten.

These are very interesting fish that can jump high out of the water. Because of this, a tight aquarium hood is necessary. They are also large fish that are aggressive towards their own species and other similar-looking fish. Black banded leporinus originate from high-flow rivers and need similar conditions in the aquarium setting.

18. Convict Tang

• Family: Acanthuridae
• Size: 8 inches
• Origin: Indo-Pacific
• Tank Size: 125 gallons
• Reef Safe: Yes
• Available As Tank Bred: No

Convict tangs are a popular saltwater species, possibly because they don’t look like any other tang. These black and white fish have very delicate black stripes along their body. Some individuals may feature varying shades of yellow along their dorsal regions.

Regardless of their appearance, these are still tangs that require a large tank for swimming and grazing. They are one of the more peaceful species of tang available, and other related species might be overly aggressive. It should also be noted that these fish are often sick or stressed when first introduced into the aquarium.

19. Three And Four-Stripe Damselfish

• Family: Pomacentridae
• Size: 2-4 inches
• Origin: Western Pacific
• Tank Size: 10 gallons
• Reef Safe: Yes
• Available As Tank Bred: Yes

Three and four stripe damselfish are a popular addition to the novice’s saltwater aquarium. These are hardy, inexpensive fish that are almost guaranteed to survive all beginner’s mistakes. However, hobbyists quickly find out that these black and white damsel fish are overly aggressive and often need to be rehomed after a few months.

These are the most pure black and white fish available on this list, with white bodies and three or four broad black stripes accordingly. Aggression levels do not vary much between the two species. If you want a less aggressive damsels, try a yellow tail or azure.

20. Black And Gold Chromis Damsel

• Family: Pomacentridae
• Size: 3-5 inches
• Origin: Indo-West Pacific
• Tank Size: 30 gallons
• Reef Safe: Yes
• Available As Tank Bred: No

The black and gold chromis damsel can look a lot different depending on how old your fish is. As a juvenile, this fish is yellow with black stripes that run parallel along the body. As adults, these fish’s faces turn brown while the end half of their body stays yellow.

Black and gold chromis damsels aren’t commonly seen in the aquarium hobby but should be treated as another species of damsel. That means the same levels of aggression but also the same hardiness and ease of keeping.

21. Lionfish

• Family: Scorpaenidae
• Size: <18 inches
• Origin: Indian and Western Pacific Oceans
• Tank Size: 55 gallons
• Reef Safe: Yes
• Available As Tank Bred: No

There is some discussion about keeping these striped marine fish in the aquarium. The lionfish is native to the Indian and Western Pacific Oceans but has since devastated portions of the Western Atlantic Ocean. Regardless, lionfish are a popular addition to the reef tank; these fish can be kept with colorful corals, but tank mates need to be carefully selected in return.

There are many species of lionfish, but most are red and white striped. This coloration continues to the dorsal spines and other fins.

22. Banded Angelfish

• Family: Pomacanthidae
• Size: 4-5 inches
• Origin: Indo-Pacific
• Tank Size: 75 gallons
• Reef Safe: With caution
• Available As Tank Bred: No

The banded angelfish (video source) is one of the most obvious fish with black stripes on this list! These saltwater angelfish have evenly spaced black and white stripes along the sides of their body. Some individuals have shades of yellow on their bellies.

The banded angelfish is a type of angel, meaning that they may or may not be reef-safe; they may pick at corals and small crustaceans. These black and white fish can be territorial and difficult to feed. Some helpful tips suggest feeding live sponges, making this a difficult fish to keep for inexperienced hobbyists.

If you are looking for a more hardy stripped angelfish (though it’s a yellow not black stripe), you can check out the Asfur Angelfish from the red sea, it gets a lot larger, but adapts better in captivity. A Lamarck Angelfish is also another great alternative.

23. Heniochus Butterflyfish

• Family: Chaetodontidae
• Size: 8-10 inches
• Origin: Indo-Pacific
• Tank Size: 125 gallons
• Reef Safe: No
• Available As Tank Bred: Yes

The heniochus butterflyfish is an unassuming fish with some special requirements. This is a large black and white striped fish originating from the Indo-Pacific region that cannot be kept with corals. Other species should also be added alongside the heniochus butterfly fish or beforehand as these fish can become aggressive.

If you have the space, the heniochus butterflyfish is bold with a white body, two broad vertical black stripes, and yellow fins.

24. Banggai Cardinalfish

• Family: Apogonidae
• Size: 2-3 inches
• Origin: Banggai Islands, Indonesia
• Tank Size: 10 gallons
• Reef Safe: Yes
• Available As Tank Bred: Yes

An endangered species (though all fish purchased now are tank bred), the Banggai cardinal is a beautiful and easy-to-keep small fish with black stripes. These are signature fish of the reef tank and are perfectly compatible with a variety of corals and community fish. These cardinals can be paired and successfully bred at the hobbyist level.

The Banggai cardinal has two high dorsal fins that extend the appearance of their vertical stripes. These dark stripes are also outlined in a pearlescent white, which further accentuates their appearance.

25. Flame Angelfish

• Family: Pomacanthidae
• Size: 4-6 inches
• Origin: Pacific Ocean
• Tank Size: 75 gallons
• Reef Safe: With Caution
• Available As Tank Bred: No

If you’re looking for a fish with less obvious stripes, then the flame angel might spark some ideas. The flame angelfish is a fish with black stripes, but minimally. By this, we mean that the short, mottled black stripes are more like an accent than a feature of this fish’s bright red and orange coloration.

The flame angelfish is a popular reef fish, though not every individual is safe with corals. Otherwise, these saltwater fish are relatively easy to keep as long as they are added last to the aquarium.

Bonus Species

Here are species we run out of space to write but also have black stripes:

• Sergeant major
• Kribensis
• Bolivian Ram

If we miss a fish you like add it in the comments and we will include it when we update the post.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

Stripes are a great way to add interest and color to a freshwater or saltwater aquarium. While some striped fish are black and white, others feature bright colors and interesting patterns alongside defined lines. Before adding a striped fish to your aquarium, make sure that the species is compatible with the other fish in the aquarium.

Discus have a reputation as the king of freshwater fish. and honestly, it’s earned. The color variety in modern captive-bred discus is extraordinary, and the breeding programs have produced some genuinely stunning morphs over the years. That said, they’re not beginner fish. Discus need warm, soft, slightly acidic water, a mature tank, and frequent water changes to really thrive. I’ve seen too many people buy them based on looks without doing the homework and then struggle. If you’re serious about keeping them, this guide covers the major types and what distinguishes each one.

A Brief Species Overview

Discus fish are tropical freshwater fish from the cichlid family. There are three species of discus in the Symphysodon genus, namely the Heckel discus (Symphysodon discus), the green discus (S. tarzoo), and the blue discus (S. aequifasciatus).

These disc-shaped fish come in many different color forms, both natural and developed by selective breeding in captivity. Adult discus are large fish that can reach a length of about 8 inches in captivity, although adults typically reach 6 inches. Despite their flattened shape, these fish get surprisingly heavy, and adults weigh about half a pound.

Why Are They So Popular?

Discus fish are some of the world’s most beautiful fish species. They are fairly challenging to care for and come in a variety of rare and sought-after breeds, making them ideal for more experienced fish keepers and breeders.

Nothing quite beats a well-lit display tank with a group of several types of discus. With the right care, these gorgeous fish can live for an impressive ten to 15 years, so they can brighten your home for a long time too!

Where It All Started

Discus fish were first discovered by European explorers in the 1800s but it wasn’t until the 1930s that the first fish successfully survived the trip to the Old World¹.

These naturally colored fish became popular with breeders in Europe and Asia, and many new strains began to appear in the 1980s and 1990s, including color breeds completely different from their wild ancestors.

After nearly a century in captivity, the king of aquariums remains as popular as ever and is now kept in fish tanks all over the world!

Natural Habitat

Discus fish (also known as pompadour fish) are native to the tropical freshwaters of the Amazon River Basin in South America. They live in still and very slow-flowing warm water habitats near the bank of clear lakes and river courses.

These fish prefer areas with a sandy bottom among driftwood and the roots of trees. The water in their natural habitat is generally warm, soft, and slightly acidic.

The Top 21 Discus Fish Types

Discus breeding is a fascinating topic, and the amount of different types of discus fish in the hobby today is quite remarkable. We got a video from our YouTube Channel you can check out while you read along on our blog. If you like this content, but sure to subscribe as we post new videos every week!

Let’s take a look at 21 of the most discus fishes that you can keep!

1. Heckel

• Adult Size: up to 8 inches
• Color Pattern: Red, brown, blue, turquoise
• Unique Traits: Very rounded body shape and dark vertical bars

The Heckel discus (Symphysodon discus) is a wild discus species, first described by an Austrian ichthyologist in the mid-1800s. They are also known as the red discus.

These beautiful but challenging fish are native to the Rio Negro and other major tributaries of the Amazon River. This species can be identified by nine vertical stripes along its body, and the fifth stripe is particularly bold.

2. Wild

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• Adult Size: up to 8 inches
• Color Pattern: Various
• Unique Traits: Round body shape and natural coloration

Wild discus fish are simply fish that have not been selectively bred into new colors and patterns. Wild discus can be from any of the three recognized discus species.

While they may not have the impressive solid colors of some of the newer breeds, wild discus are still incredibly beautiful fish.

3. Blue Diamond

• Adult Size: 6 inches
• Color Pattern: Solid Blue
• Unique Traits: Deep oval shape and unpatterned body

The blue diamond discus is an attractive metallic blue breed first developed in Asia in the early 1990s. These oval-shaped fish have been bred to be a solid base color without vertical bars, although their eyes are typically deep red. As captive-bred fish, they are often hardier than wild-caught discus.

4. Red Turquoise

• Adult Size: 6 inches
• Color Pattern: Red and turquoise
• Unique Traits: Light blue color with beautiful red patterns

As their name suggests, the red turquoise discus is a breed that combines two striking colors. They are an early breed, first developed in Asia in the 1980s.

Their background body color is a metallic turquoise shade, covered in deep red markings that extend onto their fins. They may be predominantly blue (blue base) or mostly red (red base).

5. Brilliant Turquoise

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• Adult Size: 6 inches
• Color Pattern: Turquoise & green
• Unique Traits: Greenish tint

The brilliant turquoise discus combines bright turquoise and beautiful green shades with dark red eyes. These fish also feature fine reddish markings and may have some darker vertical stripes.

The brilliant turquoise discus is one of the most colorful breeds and is perfect for a dramatic display tank with other discus strains.

6. Tangerine

• Adult Size: 6 inches
• Color Pattern: Orange
• Unique Traits: Solid orange color

The tangerine discus (video source) features a solid pale orange color, with deeper tangerine shades just above and below their anal and dorsal fins. This bright discus breed is a truly eye-catching display fish for experienced hobbyists.

7. Cobalt

• Adult Size: 6 inches
• Color Pattern: Dark blue
• Unique Traits: Deep, metallic blue color

The cobalt discus is a solid blue discus breed, although they may still display dark vertical stripes. They may also have red-tinged fins and some red spotting or barring on their sides.

This classic ornamental breed was first developed in the 1970s and remains very popular in the modern hobby.

8. Ghost

• Adult Size: 6 inches
• Color Pattern: Gray or light blue
• Unique Traits: Pale, ghostly color

The ghost discus (video source) is an unusual and unique strain, perfect for discus keepers who want an oddball fish in their collection.

The ghost discus is a pale gray or light blue solid breed, often with transparent fins. They may also have yellow markings at the base of the tail, pectoral fins, and around the head.

9. Snakeskin

• Adult Size: 6 inches
• Color Pattern: Various
• Unique Traits: 14 stress bars/vertical stripes

The snakeskin discus was first seen in the mid-1990s when Asian breeders developed fish with 14 vertical stripes, rather than the usual 9. Today, this unique gene has been crossbred into several different color forms and patterns.

10. Marlboro

• Adult Size: 6 inches
• Color Pattern: Solid red & yellow/white
• Unique Traits: Bright red body and pale head

The red marlboro discus is a truly eye-catching fish with its bright red body color and light yellow or white head with red eyes.

Their caudal, anal, and dorsal fins are often darker, sometimes nearly black, and there may be a pale patch at the base of the tail.

11. Ring Leopard

• Adult Size: 6 inches
• Color Pattern: Red, blue, yellow, white
• Unique Traits: Spots arranged in rings form a leopard-print pattern

The ring leopard discus fish (video source) is a unique breed with ring-shaped markings on its body, just like a leopard or jaguar. These fish are available in several color combinations, and they may have faint vertical stripes on either side of their body.

12. Checkerboard

• Adult Size: 6 inches
• Color Pattern: Red/orange patterns on a whitish background
• Unique Traits: Honeycomb pattern

Checkerboard strains, like the checkerboard red map discus, have white or pale blue background colors and a complete red honeycomb pattern all over their body. Their eyes are red and they often have yellowfish markings on their face.

13. Panda

• Adult Size: 6 inches
• Color Pattern: Various
• Unique Traits: dense cluster or solid color patch on the body

The panda discus is a unique breed with a heavily patterned body. Their markings fuse to form a large orange cluster or patch, surrounded by turquoise spots. Their face tends to be yellowish, and this shade may also occur at the base of the tail.

14. Pigeon Blood

• Adult Size: 6 inches
• Color Pattern: Cream yellow background with yellow-red patterning
• Unique Traits: Black speckling/peppering

The pigeon blood discus is a hardy, man-made strain, first developed by a Thai fish breeder, Kitti Phanaitthi.

These oddly named cichlids often have fine black speckling, although selective breeding has reduced this trait in modern specimens. Pigeon blood discus have bright red eyes and many specimens have distinctive black tails.

15. Albino Golden

• Adult Size: 6 inches
• Color Pattern: Solid yellow
• Unique Traits: Golden body with contrasting red eyes

The albino golden discus fish (video source) is one of the brightest breeds, with a solid yellow color across the body like the golden light of sunrise. This color may extend onto their fins or be replaced with white or light red markings. The albino golden discus is the ideal breed to add more variety to your discus tank.

16. Brown

• Adult Size: 6 – 8 inches
• Color Pattern: Brown with dark bars and some red and turquoise
• Unique Traits: Natural wild-type fish

The brown discus fish (Symphysodon aequifasciatus) is also known as the blue discus. It is one of just three recognized discus species found in the Amazon River basin.

Brown discus fish might not have the bright colors of man-made breeds like neon blue discus, but these fish are still stunning in their natural colors!

17. Tiger Turkish

• Adult Size: 6 inches
• Color Pattern: Red & turquoise
• Unique Traits: Long vertical stripes

The tiger turkish discus fish (video from Jack Wattley Discus) is a stunning breed named for its colorful vertical stripes. These fish generally have a brilliant turquoise background color with red stripes on their sides.

Their natural dark vertical bars may also be visible which really adds to their stripey appearance. This would be a fun fish to combine with something like a ring leopard and a blue snakeskin to compare their different patterning.

18. Red Spotted Green

• Adult Size: 6 inches
• Color Pattern: Enhanced wild-type
• Unique Traits: Red spots and brighter body coloration

The red spotted green discus is the perfect choice for hobbyists who like the wild look of the brown discus but want a little more ‘pop’ in their fish.

This popular breed has a golden sunset body color, with small red spots. The dark vertical bars are clearly visible, and there is plenty of turquoise and red color, particularly around the head, shoulders, and vent areas.

19. White Butterfly

• Adult Size: 6 inches
• Color Pattern: White and yellow color
• Unique Traits: Pure white body

The white butterfly discus (video source) will stand out as the angel of your aquarium with its gleaming solid white body color. These fish typically have red eyes and some yellow markings on their face. Some specimens also have spots or stripes over their bodies.

20. Millennium Golden

• Adult Size: 6 inches
• Color Pattern: Yellow
• Unique Traits: Solid golden color

The millennium golden discus (video source) is one of the purest solid-colored discus breeds in the hobby. These stunning fish may have the same golden color on their dorsal and anal fins as on their body, or have white and transparent finnage.

21. Red Melon

• Adult Size: 6 inches
• Color Pattern: Red/orange & yellow/white
• Unique Traits: Warm, contrasting colors

The red melon discus (video source) is very similar in appearance to the red marlboro discus fish, and their names are sometimes interchanged. Red melons tend to have a bright red/orange body with paler shades of yellow or white on their face.

This breed has come so far from the natural wild type that mixing the two in the same tank could make a fascinating display of discus fish genetics!

Other Notable Breeds

• Brilliant blue discus fish
• Mercury discus fish
• White dragon discus
• Albino platinum discus
• Heckel cross discus

Tank Setup

After seeing all the amazing discus breeds, you’re probably itching to set up your own amazing discus tank! While these fish are not recommended for beginners, a fairly experienced fishkeeper can be successful if they’re prepared to put in the time and effort to research their needs and purchase all the right equipment.

In this section, we’ll take a look at the basic tank setup for keeping discus fish. Let’s get started!

Tank Size

The king of the aquarium is a large, deep-bodied fish, so you’re going to need a large tank to provide enough space. The general recommendation is to get the biggest tank you can afford and have room for.

The minimum tank size for discus is about 55 gallons, although at that size you might as well go ahead and buy a 75-gallon. Of course, bigger is always better!

Filtration

Maintaining excellent water quality is probably the biggest challenge when it comes to discus care. Regular maintenance is essential, but you can only do so many water changes in a week! The answer to this problem is high-quality filtration.

A small HOB or sponge filter is not going to be sufficient here, so focus on large filters that hold high filtration media volumes. I recommend a large canister filter with a variety of media for advanced mechanical, chemical, and biological filtration.

Discus fishes do not enjoy strong water flow, so keep that in mind when selecting a filter and positioning its outflow. Running two filters is also an option as it keeps the system going when replacing media and provides a good ‘safety net’ if one should fail.

Heating

The discus is a sensitive fish that needs warmer water than most tropical species. High temperatures keep these fish active, reduce illness, and bring out their best colors.

You will need a reliable heater that can maintain steady temperatures between 82 and 86 °F. I recommend using an aquarium temperature controller for added security, and you should also keep a spare heater in case of failures.

Many aquarists prefer to keep their discus at about 86°F or 30°C, although lower temperatures are recommended for heavily planted tanks or if you plan on adding other fish species. Be sure to keep your fish at the same temperature they were raised in and slowly acclimate them if you want to make a change.

Other Important Parameters

• pH: 6 – 7
• Hardness: 1 – 4°dKH
• Ammonia: 0 ppm
• Nitrite: 0 ppm
• Nitrate: less than 20 ppm (Ideally <10 ppm)

Plants And Decorations

Discus fish can be kept in bare-bottom freshwater aquariums, but a nicely decorated display tank looks much better and provides a more natural environment for your fish.

A thin layer of sand or smooth, fine gravel is your best option when it comes to the substrate. This doesn’t leave much room for rooted plants, so choose easy epiphytes like Java Fern and anubias that you can attach to your hardscape.

Speaking of hardscape, select some beautiful aquarium driftwood like mopani and manzanita. Dark woods like mopani may leach tannins for several weeks, so go ahead and boil it well to pull out most of the color.

Rocks are not a major feature in the discus fishes’ natural habitat, but you can incorporate them in your tank layout for an interesting look. Just be sure to avoid limestone-based rocks that will raise your pH.

Care Guidelines

The discus fish is an advanced species to care for because it has special requirements and needs excellent water quality. Let’s take a closer look at their care.

Feeding

In the wild, discus fish feed on algae and small invertebrates. You can provide a balanced diet in captivity by feeding them a high-quality prepared flake or pellet food. You should also provide a spirulina flake or other algae-based food and supplement their diet with live or frozen bloodworms and other small invertebrates. Here are some good sources to look for:

• Blackworms
• Bloodworms
• Vibra bites (pellet food)

Feed your discus fish one to three times per day, providing only what they can finish in about one minute to prevent overfeeding. Uneaten food should be removed to prevent water quality problems in your discus tank.

Tankmates

The best tank mates for the king of aquariums are other discus fish, especially if you’re just getting started with this species.

Discus fish are usually kept in a species only tank because it makes it easier to cater to their specific needs. You can keep a pair of discus for breeding, but a group of six or so is recommended for an excellent display and to encourage natural and confident behaviors.

However, it is possible to keep your discus with many other freshwater fish that enjoy the same water temperatures and parameters. Their tank mates should be peaceful species that won’t outcompete them for food. Possible options include:

• Blue Ram Cichlids
• Corydoras
• Angelfish
• Cardinal tetras

Breeding

Discus fish are difficult to breed successfully, and their fry need excellent water quality to survive. However, these egg-laying fish often spawn in home aquariums. You’ll need to keep a pair of discus in their own breeding tank if you want to successfully raise their fry.

The female lays her stick eggs on a level surface like a large leaf, rock, driftwood, or even aquarium glass. The male fertilizes the eggs in stages as they are laid. The parents will fan the eggs to keep them oxygenated, and they hatch after about 3 days.

The fry become free swimming on about the 4th day and, amazingly, they feed on the mucous coat on their parent’s skin for their first few weeks before learning to eat adult food. At that stage, you can remove the parents from the tank and focus on growing out the young fish.

Health Problems

Discus fish are sensitive creatures, most prone to health problems if kept in low water temperatures or poor water quality. It’s best to consult a veterinarian or experienced fishkeeper if you notice any problems with these fish, but your first step is to look for stressors like water parameters and address them quickly.

Look out for the following warning signs each day when observing your fish:

• Low appetite
• Clamped fins
• Buoyancy issues
• White spots or cottony growths
• Cloudy or swollen eyes

Where To Buy

Buy your discus fish from reputable and experienced breeders who can provide information on their tank conditions and the fish’s bloodlines. The king of the aquarium is not a cheap fish, so protect your investment and buy smart. You should research both local options and online options.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

Discus fish are truly the “King” of freshwater aquarium fish. Their colors are amazing, and their size makes them excellent centerpiece fish. Yes, they are difficult to care for, but for those who are up for the challenge, it is a rewarding experience.

Do you have any of these Discus fish in your setup? Did we miss one that you want to add to the list? Let us know in the comments below. We love to hear back from our readers. Thank you for reading, and see you next time.

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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.

References

• Seriously Fish — Species profiles and care data
• FishBase — Taxonomy and scientific data
• Practical Fishkeeping — Husbandry and care advice

Big lips in fish aren’t just for looks. they’re usually a highly functional adaptation tied to how that species feeds. Flowerhorn cichlids develop them as a secondary sexual trait, triggerfish use thick lips to handle spiny prey, and some wrasses use them to manipulate food with surprising precision. It’s one of those morphological features that tells you a lot about a fish’s natural behavior if you know what to look for. Here are 15 species where the lips are part of what makes them so distinctive.

Evolution Reasons

Lips might not seem like an important of evolution, but most fish are predators that use their mouths every day to catch prey. This means that the mechanism for catching these prey should be as specialized as possible! At the same time, lips can act as a way to fight off competition or attract mates.

When fish first evolved, they had a simple mouth that lacked a jaw. Today, some of those ancestors can be seen in jawless fish, like lampreys (Hyperoartia class). The development of a skeletal jaw allowed fish to diversify in both prey and lifestyle. Soon, mouth structure gave way to teeth, crushing palates, and suction cup-like structures.

Different Mouths of Fish

When looking at fish with big lips, consider the overall purpose of the mouth structure. A fish with decent-sized lips that preys on organisms in the substrate may not find it beneficial to have an upwards-pointing mouth. Because of this, we see 4 main types of mouths among freshwater and saltwater fish.

1. Terminal mouth. Terminal mouths are commonly seen on most fish, including some of the most popular fish species (like freshwater angelfish) available to a fish enthusiast. A terminal mouth means that the mouth is at the same level as the fish in the front of the head.
2. Inferior mouth. Mostly seen on bottom-dwelling fish species, inferior mouths point down. These mouths are specialized for catching prey underneath the fish.
3. Superior mouth. Opposite to the inferior mouth, the superior mouth points up. This evolution is commonly seen in fish that stay near the surface of the water, like arowana, but can be found in fish at all levels. In some cases, superior mouth fish species use their large mouths as a trap door mechanism which creates a vacuum and quickly pulls prey into their mouth.
4. Protrusible mouth. A protrusible mouth can have any of the previous features on this list, like a fish that has both a terminal and protrusible mouth. A protrusible mouth means that the fish can extend its mouth forward, oftentimes extending their lips in the process. This can be helpful for quick ambush attacks as well as for fighting with other fish.

Why does your fish have big lips and a big mouth?

There are a few reasons why the size and shape of the lips and mouth might vary across species. These are mainly due to predation, interactions, and reproductive purposes.

Predation

Predation is the main reason why fish lips look the way they do. While the mouth is the cavity that holds and processes food, the lips help catch the prey.

One of the most extreme lip adaptations to predation can be seen in parrotfish (Scaridae family) in tropical and subtropical waters around the world. Most species within this scientific community live on coral reefs where algae and coral are abundant. In response, parrotfish evolved hard beaks that can crush, break, and scrape hard surfaces for food.

As mentioned before, the overall orientation of the mouth also aids in predation. In the case of the parrotfish, their mouths are terminal, meaning straightforward. However, fish that live on the bottom of coral reefs, like saltwater blennies (Blenniiformes order), have downward-pointing inferior mouths.

Interactions

Another reason why lips might be the most notable feature of a fish is due to how they interact with one another.

One of the most popular cases of lip-to-lip interaction is from a popular fish, the kissing gourami (Helostoma temminckii). These fish have terminal, protrusible mouths that they use to extend to meet with other kissing gouramis. This lip-to-lip contact might seem romantic, but it’s actually a way that the fish are competing and asserting dominance.

If you notice this happening in your aquarium, it could be a sign that your fish are stressed or that the male-to-female ratio is imbalanced.

Reproductive Purposes

Lastly, big lips can be a way that fish use to attract mates. Reason stands that if predation is successful due to big lips, then the big-lipped fish must have good genes. This makes the fish very desirable to breed with.

However, some fish, like freshwater cichlids, also use their lips and mouths to hold and protect fertilized eggs and fry. Male bettas even use their tiny mouth to create bubble nests and to transfer fertilized eggs to the surface of the water.

Top Fish With Big Lips

Here are some amazing marine creatures with the most obvious facial features!

1. Koi Fish

• Scientific Name: Cyprinus rubrofuscus var. “koi”
• Diet: Omnivorous
• Size: 1-3 feet
• Origin: Japan (domesticated)
• Type: Protrusible mouth
• Available to Hobbyists: Yes

If you’ve ever been to a koi pond, you may have been greeted by many large mouths gasping at the surface of the water for food. Koi fish have reasonably big protrusible mouths for what they eat, which consists of mostly plants, invertebrates, algae, and even fallen fruits that have made their way onto the bottom of the substrate.

A protrusible mouth allows koi to extend their lips to quickly catch prey. These freshwater fish species do not have teeth in their mouth but have pharyngeal teeth towards the back of their mouth which help grind and break up food.

Koi also have barbels around their mouth that can help them navigate and find prey in murky waters.

2. Flowerhorn

• Scientific Name: Hybrid
• Diet: Omnivorous
• Size: 8-16 inches
• Origin: Southeast Asia (domesticated)
• Type: Large mouth, prominent lips
• Available to Hobbyists: Yes

Flowerhorn fish are a hybrid cichlid available in the aquarium hobby. These are very colorful fish with big lips and big personalities.

Flowerhorns are omnivorous fish that will willingly eat plants, insects, and small fish. They have teeth directly in their mouth as well as pharyngeal teeth further back to help process larger foods.

As cichlids, flowerhorn fish can be aggressive. They have been known to lock lips with other fish in an attempt to defend their territory or overtake other males. They often chase fish around the tank and can inflict considerable damage with their large mouth.

3. Grouper

• Scientific Name: Serranidae family
• Diet: Carnivorous
• Size: 35-90 inches
• Origin: Worldwide tropical and temperate oceans
• Type: Protrusible mouth
• Available to Hobbyists: Some

Groupers are some of the largest fish in the marine world, it only makes sense that they have the mouth to match.

Groupers are a large scientific family of fish, with some individuals, like the giant grouper or Queensland grouper (Epinephelus lanceolatus), growing upwards of 7 feet long. These saltwater fish are largely carnivores with strong jaws, preferring to eat large fish and crustaceans. Some species of grouper have teeth in their mouth to catch and devour prey, but most species swallow their prey whole.

Most grouper fish are ambush predators. A protrusible mouth allows them to keep some distance from prey while also guaranteeing a successful hunt.

4. Giant Gourami

• Scientific Name: Osphronemus goramy
• Diet: Omnivorous
• Size: <2 feet
• Origin: Southeast Asia
• Type: Protrusible mouth
• Available to Hobbyists: Yes, though not recommended

The giant gourami fish is another species with a big mouth. These gourami fish should not be confused with the smaller popular aquarium fish, the kissing gourami, which uses its protrusible lips to lock with another fish in competition and defense. This behavior is not seen in giant gourami.

While the giant gourami can also be territorial and aggressive, their mouth is a greater threat to prey. No worries though, as giant gouramis are herbivores that use pharyngeal teeth to grind plants and algae. However, they may sometimes eat smaller fish and invertebrates.

5. Largemouth Bass

• Scientific Name: Micropterus salmoides
• Diet: Carnivorous
• Size: <2.5 feet
• Origin: North America
• Type: Large mouth
• Available to Hobbyists: Yes, though not commercially

The largemouth bass is a popular fish species among anglers, but less commonly seen in the aquarium hobby. These are big game fish that need a carnivorous diet and get very large, which make it difficult to keep in aquariums.

The largemouth bass is typically the apex predator in its freshwater lake and pond ecosystems. These fish are ambush predators that capture their prey by creating a vacuum when they open their mouths. Largemouth bass use teeth in the front of their mouths as well as further back pharyngeal teeth to process their food.

Unfortunately, the largemouth bass is an invasive species in some countries, namely Canada and Japan¹.

6. Lionfish

• Scientific Name: Pterois spp.
• Diet: Carnivorous
• Size: 4-18 inches
• Origin: Worldwide tropical and temperate oceans
• Type: Protrusible mouth
• Available to Hobbyists: Yes

Lionfish are very invasive fish, and their availability as aquarium fish is regularly questioned. These fish have large protrusible mouths lined with sharp teeth to catch smaller fish and invertebrates. They may even eat other lionfish.

While hunting, lionfish will confuse their prey with jets of water until they attack. They also have specialized swim bladder muscles that help provide calculated movement for a guaranteed kill.

7. Gulper Catfish

• Scientific Name: Asterophysus batrachus
• Diet: Carnivorous
• Size: <1 foot
• Origin: South America
• Type: Inferior mouth
• Available to Hobbyists: Yes

The gulper catfish (video source), also known as the ogre catfish, is a medium-sized catfish capable of preying on fish the same size as itself. Like many other catfish species, the gulper catfish has an inferior mouth that is on the bottom of its head and pointed downwards to prey on substrate-dwelling organisms.

While the gulper catfish will generally eat whatever it finds, it uses its large mouth to strike other fish by the head. The gulper’s mouth is lined with small sharp teeth that make it almost impossible for prey to escape its hold. Then, the catfish continues to swallow its prey whole, often stretching and distending the stomach. It is well known for eating fish larger than itself!

8. Stonefish

• Scientific Name: Synanceia spp.
• Diet: Carnivorous
• Size: 14-20 inches
• Origin: Indo-Pacific (Indian Ocean)
• Type: Superior and protrusible mouth
• Available to Hobbyists: Rarely

Stonefish, a type of scorpionfish, are the most venomous fish known. These fish have deadly stings that keep them safe from predators. However, they are also adept predators with modified mouths.

As bottom-dwellers, stonefish have superior mouths that point upwards toward prey. They also have protrusible mouths that quickly open and create suction to help complete an undetected ambush. They lack teeth but have a bony palate that can easily crush prey.

9. Sarcastic Fringehead

• Scientific Name: Neoclinus blanchardi
• Diet: Carnivorous
• Size: <1 foot
• Origin: Pacific Ocean
• Type: Large and distended mouth
• Available to Hobbyists: No

Big lips are important to the sarcastic fringehead. These fish have very unique lips with a large mouth to go along with them.

When open, a sarcastic fringehead’s mouth forms a rounded pentagon with bright colors along the edges. This large mouth is often used to fend off other males and competitors through mouth wrestling and gaping displays. This is a necessary behavior as these fish inhabit coral reefs and have very specific territories around caves and tight spaces.

10. Arowana

• Scientific Name:Osteoglossidae family
• Diet: Carnivorous
• Size: 2-3 feet
• Origin: South America, Southeast Asia, and Australia
• Type: Upturned and protrusible mouth
• Available to Hobbyists: Yes

A lot can be deducted from looking at an arowana’s mouth. These freshwater fish are almost always seen in surface waters. This, in addition to their large and upturned mouth, shows that their diet consists of both aquatic and land animals, like smaller fish, insects, and even birds. In fact, these fish are capable of jumping considerable heights out of the water.

Arowana also have sensory barbels that help them detect prey along with teeth that keep prey in their mouth.

11. Oscars

• Scientific Name: Astronotus ocellatus
• Diet: Omnivorous
• Size: <1.5 feet
• Origin: South America
• Type: Protrusible mouth
• Available to Hobbyists: Yes

Oscars are the number one tropical freshwater fish for eating things they aren’t supposed to. These fish are very curious and very hungry and won’t hesitate to try eating something that isn’t food in their tank.

In the wild, these fish are just as eager to eat other fish, plants, insects, and other food-shaped items. This means that they need a large mouth with a protrusible jaw and teeth to capture prey. Oscars have great natural camouflage, which allows them to wait for their prey to come to them and then ambush attack.

12. Red Shoulder Peacock Cichlid

• Scientific Name: Aulonocara stuartgranti
• Diet: Omnivorous
• Size: <1.5 feet
• Origin: Lake Malawi
• Type: Protrusible mouth
• Available to Hobbyists: Yes

These tropical freshwater fish (video source) use their mouth a lot! The red shoulder peacock cichlid is a benthophagous fish species. This means that they find their food in and around the substrate by taking mouthfuls of it and sifting through for small organisms; they actively hunt for small invertebrates on top of the substrate as well.

In addition, red shoulder peacock cichlids are mouthbrooders, which means they raise their fry within their mouths. These African Cichlids are also naturally aggressive fish, which could lead to locking lips or gaping their mouths to warn off predators and potential competition.

13. Napoleon Wrasse

• Scientific Name: Cheilinus undulatus
• Diet: Omnivorous
• Size: 3.0-6.5 feet
• Origin: Indian and Pacific Oceans
• Type: Protrusible mouth
• Available to Hobbyists: No

Also known as the humphead wrasse, the Napoleon wrasse is undoubtedly a fish with big lips and a big head! These marine fish can be found foraging for food in and around coral reefs. While primarily carnivores, they may graze on algae and seaweed.

It is believed that part of the reason Napoleon fish have such big lips is for attracting mates; large lips indicate better fitness and a more desirable mate.

Unfortunately, Humphead wrasses are endangered due to overconsumption, habitat loss and destruction, and lack of species management.

14. Big Lip Damselfish

• Scientific Name: Cheiloprion labiatus
• Diet: Herbivorous
• Size: 2.5 inches
• Origin: Indo-Pacific
• Type: Big lips and protrusible mouth
• Available to Hobbyists: No

Not all damselfish are created equal. For some reason, the big lip damselfish (video source) has evolved, especially large lips. But why?

Unlike other damsels, the big lip damsel is primarily a herbivore. Their diet consists largely of coral, algae, and other flora growing on rocks around reefs in tropical waters. It is believed that these lips help the fish scrape fleshy coral and algae off hard surfaces. They are commonly seen during scuba diving expeditions.

15. Sweetlips

• Scientific Name: Plectorhinchus spp.
• Diet: Carnivorous
• Size: <2 feet
• Origin: Worldwide tropical and temperate oceans
• Type: Protrusible mouth
• Available to Hobbyists: Yes

Contrary to their name, sweetlips fish (video source) are predators with a big mouth. These saltwater fish likely get their name from their large, and often colorful, pouting lips. However, this mouth is used for catching small invertebrates and fish; caution is needed when keeping them in a home aquarium fish setting.

Some sweetlips commonly kept by aquarium enthusiasts are:

• Harlequin sweetlips (Plectorhinchus chaetodonoides)
• Striped sweetlips (Plectorhinchus diagrammus)
• Oriental sweetlips (Plectorhinchus vittatus)

FAQs

Closing Thoughts

From small fish to big fish, every species has unique lips and mouth. Some are pointed upwards and others down, while some are lined with sharp teeth while others are designed to crush. Most popular aquarium fish have a terminal mouth that is relative to their body size, but others need special dietary and habitat considerations.