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.
387 species · freshwater · fish
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.
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 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.
Night Aulonocara
FishAulonocara hueseri
A sand-sifting peacock cichlid with deep blue coloration from Lake Malawi's rocky shores.
Nile Bichir
FishPolypterus bichir
A living fossil that breathes air and moves like an eel.
Nile squeaker
FishSynodontis schall
The unpredictable bruiser of the Synodontis world, not for community tanks.
Nile Tilapia
FishOreochromis niloticus niloticus
One of the world's most adaptable fish, but a challenging aquarium resident.
Nkhomo-benga Peacock
FishAulonocara baenschi
A peacock cichlid with a curved snout and brilliant gold coloration from Lake Malawi.
Norman's Lampeye
FishPoropanchax normani
Tiny West African killifish with glowing blue eyes that shimmer in low light.
Northern Purplespotted Gudgeon
FishMogurnda mogurnda
A bold Australian bottom-dweller with real personality and surprising breeding behavior.
Northern Rainbowfish
FishMelanotaenia affinis
One of the first rainbowfish in the hobby, now available in several wild forms.
Obliquidens Hap
FishHaplochromis obliquidens
A scrappy Victorian cichlid with a taste for algae and a bold personality.