Flora & Fauna
673 entries β care guides, placement tips, and notes from the community
Mudskipper
Periophthalmus barbarus
Extraordinary amphibious goby that spends most of its time out of water, breathing through moist skin and skipping across mud. Requires a paludarium (half water, half land) setup.
Mystery Wrasse
Pseudocheilinus ocellatus
Rare and stunning β white with bold yellow-outlined spots and red-tipped fins. A cryptic wrasse that stays hidden in the rockwork. Highly sought-after collector fish that commands a premium.
Narcissus Corydoras
Corydoras narcissus
Narcissus corydoras is a large, long-snouted species with a pale body and subtle spot patterning. It belongs to the long-nosed group of corydoras and commands premium prices among collectors. It prefers soft, acidic water and cooler temperatures.
Naso Tang
Naso lituratus
Elegant tang with a characteristic orange-tipped rostrum, blue-trimmed fins, and long tail streamers in mature males. A graceful, active swimmer that needs a large tank. Excellent algae control.
Nattereri Corydoras
Corydoras nattereri
Neon Blue Stiphodon Goby
Stiphodon atropurpureus
Males develop a stunning neon blue sheen. Grazes biofilm from rock surfaces in fast-flowing streams. Needs strong flow, high oxygen, and a mature tank with algae growth to thrive.
Neon Goby
Elacatinus oceanops
Tiny electric-blue-striped goby renowned as a cleaner fish β will pick parasites from larger tank mates. Ideal for nano reefs. The Caribbean's answer to the cleaner wrasse.
Neon Green Rasbora
Microdevario kubotai
Microdevario kubotai, the Neon Green Rasbora, is a tiny danionin from Thailand and Myanmar that glows with electric lime-green to yellow-green iridescence along its translucent body. At just 2β2.5 cm it ranks among the smallest vertebrates kept in aquariums. It needs soft to moderately hard, slightly acidic water and does best in large groups of 15+ where the collective shimmering effect is most visible against dark substrates and fine-leaved plants.
Neon Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia praecox
The neon rainbowfish is the smallest and most popular of the Melanotaenia rainbowfish. Males display vivid neon-blue bodies with striking red fins. A large school in a planted tank is a spectacular sight. Peaceful and easy to breed.
Neon Rasbora
Sundadanio axelrodi
Sundadanio axelrodi, the Neon Rasbora (also called Axelrod's Rasbora), is a stunning nano fish from Borneo and Sumatra whose body radiates intense neon-blue to blue-green iridescence along its flanks. At just 2 cm it ranks among the smallest cyprinids, requiring soft blackwater conditions similar to its peat swamp habitat. Its striking colour and active schooling behaviour make it a prized centrepiece in nano planted aquariums.
Neon Tetra
Paracheirodon innesi
One of the most popular aquarium fish, the neon tetra is recognised by its vivid iridescent blue stripe and red tail. It thrives in schools of six or more in soft, slightly acidic water with dense planting. Peaceful and hardy once acclimated, making it ideal for community tanks.
Neon Yellow Rasbora
Microdevario kubotai
Incredibly vivid lime-yellow nano fish with neon intensity that rivals neon tetras. Peaceful, active schooler. Looks stunning in large groups in a Nature-style aquascape. One of the best nano fish available.
Nijssen's Corydoras
Corydoras nijsseni
Nijssen's corydoras, sometimes called the panda cory's wilder cousin, has a bold pattern of large dark patches on a pale pink-white body with a distinctive black band through the eye. It is a stunning and sought-after species that requires soft, acidic water and a pristine, densely planted aquarium.
Norman's Lampeye
Poropanchax normani
Tiny schooling fish with luminous iridescent blue eyes that catch the light beautifully. Excellent for nano planted tanks. Peaceful and undemanding. Looks spectacular in groups of 20+.
Ocellaris Clownfish
Amphiprion ocellaris
The iconic clownfish made famous by Finding Nemo. Hardy, peaceful, and symbiotic with anemones. Excellent beginner saltwater fish.
Odessa Barb
Pethia padamya
Males develop a striking iridescent red flame along the flanks. Hardy and adaptable β one of the most underrated aquascaping barbs. Groups create a stunning display of colour in midwater.
Orange-Finned Danio
Danio kyathit
Orchid Dottyback
Pseudochromis fridmani
Vivid orchid-purple throughout β one of the most coveted nano reef fish. A Red Sea endemic that is now tank-bred widely. Bold personality for its size; can be aggressive to smaller fish.
Orchid Endler
Poecilia wingei
Oscar
Astronotus ocellatus
Oscars are large, bold cichlids known for their personality and intelligence. They recognise their owners and can be hand-fed, but they are destructive tank inhabitants that will uproot plants and rearrange dΓ©cor. They need very large tanks with robust filtration.
Otocinclus
Otocinclus vittatus
The otocinclus, or 'oto cat', is a diminutive algae-eating catfish prized for keeping plant leaves spotless without disturbing the aquascape. It requires a mature, well-established tank with existing algae film as a primary food source. Keep in groups of five or more as they are social fish that suffer in isolation.
Pacific Blue Eye
Pseudomugil signifer
The Pacific blue eye is a small, hardy Australian native with striking yellow fins tipped in black and white, and the characteristic brilliant blue eyes of the genus. It is more adaptable than many pseudomugil, tolerating a range of salinities from fresh to brackish. An ideal nano fish for those wanting an unusual Australian species.
Pajama Cardinalfish
Sphaeramia nematoptera
Unmistakable with its yellow head, dark mid-band and polka-dotted orange rear β like a fish in pyjamas. Nocturnal schooler that hovers in groups near branching corals. Very peaceful and reef-safe.
Panda Corydoras
Corydoras panda
Named for their black-and-white colouration reminiscent of giant pandas, panda corydoras are a popular and peaceful bottom-dwelling catfish. They are active during the day and thrive in groups of 6 or more over fine sand substrate.
Panda Tetra
Aphyocharax paraguayensis
Small, hardy tetra with a clean silver body and distinctive black patches on the eye and tail base. Peaceful schooling fish suitable for community tanks and beginners.
Paradise Fish
Macropodus opercularis
One of the first tropical fish kept in Europe β records date to the 1860s. Stunning blue-and-red banding with flowing fins. Tolerates cold water well. Aggressive toward other males.
Parkinsoni Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia parkinsoni
Parkinson's rainbowfish is a large, spectacular species with males displaying a golden-yellow to orange anterior transitioning into a blue-grey posterior, with vivid yellow fins edged in black. One of the most colourful and striking of all rainbowfish. It is a hardy, active species best kept in a long, spacious aquarium.
Pea Puffer
Carinotetraodon travancoricus
World's smallest puffer fish at just 1 inch. Full of personality and intelligence. Fin nipper β best kept in a species-only tank or with fast, short-finned tankmates.
Peaceful Betta
Betta imbellis
Betta imbellis is aptly named β unlike the highly aggressive Betta splendens, this species is notably peaceful toward conspecifics and can sometimes be kept in pairs or even small groups in heavily planted, well-structured tanks. Males display subtle but attractive blue-green iridescent scales and red fin edging. It prefers very soft, peat-filtered water replicating its native blackwater rice paddy habitat in Malaysia.
Peacock Bass
Cichla ocellaris
Powerful, predatory cichlid with stunning gold and green patterning. Grows large and requires a big tank. Will eat any fish small enough to fit in its mouth.
Peacock Cichlid
Aulonocara spp.
Peacock cichlids are among the most colourful freshwater fish, with males displaying brilliant blues, yellows, and reds. They are relatively peaceful for cichlids and suited to species tanks or Malawi community setups with similar temperament fish.
Peacock Endler
Poecilia wingei
Peacock Gudgeon
Tateurndina ocellicauda
Gem-like small fish with iridescent blue, red, and yellow markings and an eyespot on the tail. One of the most beautiful small freshwater fish. Easy to breed in caves.
Pearl Danio
Danio albolineatus
Pearl danios have an iridescent, pearlescent sheen with subtle pink-orange highlights along the flanks. They are extremely hardy, cold-tolerant, and make excellent dither fish for livebearers and other community species. Fast and peaceful.
Pearl Gourami
Trichopodus leerii
The pearl gourami is one of the most elegant community fish, adorned with a pearlescent spotted pattern and a dark lateral stripe. It is a labyrinth fish that breathes surface air, so a tight-fitting lid is recommended. Males can be mildly aggressive toward each other, but generally coexist peacefully in larger tanks.
Pearlscale Angelfish
Pterophyllum scalare
A captive-bred variety expressing the pearlscale gene, which causes each scale to have a raised, pearlescent centre giving the fish a textured, almost jewelled appearance. Often combined with other colour genes (gold, marble, koi) to produce striking show specimens.