🌙Nocturnal

Ancistomus feldbergae

A rock-dwelling Xingu pleco that grazes algae by night and hides by day.

Bagrichthys macracanthus

A nocturnal lancer catfish with territorial attitude and a dramatic dorsal spine.

Bagrichthys majusculus

A secretive Thai catfish with territorial attitude and a spine worth respecting.

Peckoltia compta

A compact Brazilian pleco with a bold pattern and a useful breathing trick.

Macropharyngodon meleagris

A boldly patterned reef wrasse that rewards patient, experienced keepers.

Cryptocentrus leptocephalus

A burrow-sharing goby that stands guard while its pistol shrimp partner digs.

Pterois volitans

A venomous reef predator that rules its corner of the tank with quiet authority.

Zoramia leptacantha

A tiny reef cardinalfish that gathers in shimmering clouds above branching coral.

Diadema antillarum

A bold, spiny reef grazer that keeps algae in check around Caribbean reefs.

Diadema setosum

A reef-grazing urchin with impressively long spines and a sharp sense of self-defense.

Cleidopus gloriamaris

A living lantern: the fish that carries its own lights on its jaw.

Synodontis njassae

Lake Malawi's only squeaker, built for cichlid tanks and rocky hideouts.

Pangio semicincta

The fish sold as kuhli loach is almost certainly this one instead.

Melanoides tuberculata

The tireless substrate burrower that aerates your gravel while you sleep.

Ageneiosus inermis

A giant, predatory catfish with one of the most unusual reproductive strategies in freshwater.

Oxyeleotris marmorata

A motionless giant that eats anything fitting in its enormous mouth.

Saron marmoratus

A boldly patterned reef shrimp that hides by day and roams by night.

Calloplesiops altivelis

A cave-dwelling mimic that fools predators by impersonating a moray eel.

Ancistrus ranunculus

A flat-headed, rock-hugging pleco from Brazil's wild river rapids.

Macrognathus meklongensis

A secretive Thai spiny eel that comes out of hiding when hunger calls.

Polypterus mokelembembe

An ancient, armored predator from the Congo's murky depths.

Hara jerdoni

A moth-like micro catfish from Indian hill streams, best kept in groups.

Polypterus weeksii

A living fossil from the Congo with a swim bladder that doubles as a lung.

Auchenipterus nuchalis

A surface-roaming catfish with bizarre ossified barbels and secretive nocturnal habits.

Synodontis albolineata

A small, community-friendly squeaker from Cameroon and Gabon that rarely reaches the trade.

Channa argus

A true apex predator that can survive days out of water. And is banned in many countries.

Dendrochirus biocellatus

A shy, venomous reef dweller that hides by day and hunts by night.

Potamotrygon motoro

A disc-shaped apex predator that can learn to recognize its keeper.

Galaxea alta

A bold, spreading coral with dramatic polyp extension that commands attention.

Galaxea astreata

A sprawling, tentacled coral with surprisingly sharp defensive reach.

Macrognathus aculeatus

A serpentine burrower with a single bold stripe and a secretive personality.

Pseudocorynactis caribbeorum

A nocturnal Caribbean predator with sticky orange-tipped tentacles that can snag small fish.

Pterygoplichthys multiradiatus

A dinosaur-sized algae grazer built for decades of service in large tanks.

Polypterus ornatipinnis

An ancient, armored predator that breathes air and prowls the night.

Macrotocinclus affinis

Tiny Brazilian algae-eater with a habit of resting right on the front glass.

Sphaeramia nematoptera

Polka dots, bold racing stripe, and calm enough for any peaceful community reef.