Africa
The Great Rift Lakes drive the African hobby — Malawi and Tanganyika host some of the most diverse cichlid radiations on Earth. West Africa and Madagascar add further biodiversity.
401 species
Lemaire's Lamprologus
FishLamprologus lemairii
A Lake Tanganyika ambush predator that plays dead to lure its prey.
Lemon Cichlid
FishNeolamprologus leleupi
A bold, canary-yellow cave dweller from the rocky shores of Lake Tanganyika.
Lemon Jake
FishAulonocara jacobfreibergi
A peacock cichlid with bold fin margins and a long history in the hobby.
Leopard Bushfish
FishCtenopoma acutirostre
A patient ambush predator that disguises itself as a drifting leaf.
Leptura Cichlid
FishXenotilapia leptura
A schooling Tanganyikan sand-dweller that grazes algae in peaceful, flowing groups.
Lifalili Cichlid
FishHemichromis lifalili
A jewel cichlid that transforms into something else entirely when spawning season hits.
Line-spotted Barb
FishBarbus lineomaculatus
A sleek African barb that migrates into flooded grasslands to spawn.
Long-finned Characin
FishBrycinus longipinnis
A lively West African schooler that needs space and confident tankmates.
Longsnout Distichodus
FishDistichodus lusosso
A boldly patterned Congo river fish that quietly outgrows its youthful looks.
Lonnberg's Aphyosemion
FishAphyosemion loennbergii
A rare Cameroonian killifish from shaded rainforest streams, worth the extra effort.
Maclear Cichlid
FishAlticorpus macrocleithrum
A rarely kept deep-water cichlid from the mysterious depths of Lake Malawi.
Maingano
FishMelanochromis cyaneorhabdos
An all-blue Malawi mbuna with serious attitude and a mouthbrooding twist.
Malawi Eyebiter
FishDimidiochromis compressiceps
The Lake Malawi ambush hunter famous for a truly unsettling feeding habit.
Malawi Hawk Cichlid
FishAristochromis christyi
Lake Malawi's sneaky ambush predator that rolls sideways to fool its prey.
Malawi Squeaker
FishSynodontis njassae
Lake Malawi's only squeaker, built for cichlid tanks and rocky hideouts.
Malawi Thick-lipped Cichlid
FishAbactochromis labrosus
A rock-dwelling Malawi cichlid with an unusually approachable temperament for the genus.
Malaysian Trumpet Snail
InvertMelanoides tuberculata
The tireless substrate burrower that aerates your gravel while you sleep.
Many Barred Distichodus
FishDistichodus fasciolatus
A boldly barred Congo giant that stays surprisingly peaceful for its size.
Marakely
FishParatilapia polleni
Madagascar's endangered black cichlid, bold in personality and beautiful in the biotope
Marbled Climbing Perch
FishCtenopoma weeksii
A cryptic Congo predator that vanishes into leaf litter before your eyes.
Marbled Crayfish
InvertProcambarus virginalis
The only known parthenogenetic crayfish. Every individual is female and a perfect clone.
Marbled Lungfish
FishProtopterus aethiopicus aethiopicus
An ancient African lungfish that breathes air and can outlast a drought.
Marbled Lyretail
FishFundulopanchax marmoratus
A rare Cameroonian killifish with detailed marbled patterning and a preference for cool water.
Marbled Synodontis
FishSynodontis schoutedeni
A beginner-friendly Congo catfish with bold marbled patterning that deepens with age.
Masked Julie
FishJulidochromis transcriptus
A bold little rock-dweller from Lake Tanganyika with sharp black-and-white contrast.
Mbu Puffer
FishTetraodon mbu
A Congo giant that demands respect, space, and a very sturdy tank.
Mokele-mbembe Bichir
FishPolypterus mokelembembe
An ancient, armored predator from the Congo's murky depths.
Monkey Bay Cichlid
FishAlticorpus mentale
A deep-water Malawi cichlid from sandy depths rarely seen in the hobby.
Moore's Lamprologus
FishVariabilichromis moorii
A Lake Tanganyika rockdweller with a fascinating family life and devious brood tactics.
Mottled Bichir
FishPolypterus weeksii
A living fossil from the Congo with a swim bladder that doubles as a lung.
Mottled Catfish
FishAmarginops ornatus
A sleek Congo predator with ornate markings and serious attitude toward tankmates.
Mountain Barbel
FishAmphilius platychir
A sleek African stream catfish built for life in fast, rocky currents.
Mozambique tilapia
FishOreochromis mossambicus
One of the world's most invasive fish, sold as food and kept as a curiosity.
Multifasciatus
FishNeolamprologus multifasciatus
Possibly the world's smallest cichlid, big attitude packed into a tiny shell.
Mustard Squeaker
FishSynodontis albolineata
A small, community-friendly squeaker from Cameroon and Gabon that rarely reaches the trade.
Ndobhoi Cichlid
FishChalinochromis sp. "Ndobhoi"
A blotch-patterned Tanganyikan rock dweller with fascinating colony breeding behavior.