The Americas

Hyphessobrycon rosaceus

A softly blushing schooling tetra that rewards keepers who think in groups.

Apistogramma alacrina

A pint-sized Colombian dwarf cichlid with a uniquely spotted pectoral fin base.

Sturisoma panamense

An elegant whiptail catfish that grazes algae and breathes air when needed.

Panaque nigrolineatus

A wood-rasping giant with bold racing stripes and a reclusive personality.

Sturisoma festivum

A sleek, whiskered algae grazer from the Maracaibo basin with a surprising trick up its sleeve.

Axelrodi riesei

A tiny red gem from Colombia that rewards patient, species-focused keepers.

Hemigrammus bleheri

A tight-schooling tetra whose vivid red nose blazes brightest in a large group.

Hemigrammus rhodostomus

The original rummy-nose, built for tight shoals and soft Amazon water.

Aequidens tetramerus

A wide-ranging South American cichlid with vivid locality color forms worth hunting down.

Corydoras ephippifer

A rarely-seen Amazonian cory with clear fins and a surprisingly long lifespan.

Poecilia latipinna

The male's enormous sail-like dorsal fin makes this livebearer instantly recognizable.

Poecilia velifera

The towering dorsal fin of this livebearer is a true showpiece when conditions are right.

Leiarius marmoratus

A massive schooling catfish with dramatic fins and a nocturnal personality.

Glyptoperichthys gibbiceps

A decades-long commitment: this armored giant lives longer than most pets.

Crenuchus spilurus

A solitary little predator with theatrical fin displays and devoted fathering instincts.

Scleromystax salmacis

A tiny armored catfish from Brazilian ponds, with a venomous sting to respect.

Corydoras habrosus

A pint-sized armored catfish that breathes air and blinks at you.

Cichlasoma salvini

Colorful, compact, and surprisingly ferocious. A Central American cichlid with real attitude.

Thorichthys callolepis

A lesser-known Mexican cichlid from swift, rocky headwaters worth a closer look.

Corydoras davidsandsi

A rarely exported Rio Negro cory with a bold split dorsal bar and surprising longevity.

Pygocentrus piraya

The largest piranha, and the one that earns the reputation others borrow.

Corydoras cruziensis

A tiny armored catfish from Bolivia with a gut that doubles as a lung.

Paraneetroplus bulleri

A hardy Mexican cichlid built for fast currents and long-term companionship.

Cyprinodon desquamator

A tiny Bahamian pupfish that makes its living stealing scales from other fish.

Micropoecilia picta

A pint-sized livebearer with a taste for brackish water and bold color.

Corydoras schwartzi

A long-lived, armored bottom dweller that genuinely thrives in good company.

Hyphessobrycon eques

Fiery red schooler that turns fin-nipper when kept in too-small groups.

Corydoras seussi

A long-lived Bolivian cory that breathes air and rewards patient keepers.

Heros efasciatus

A gentle giant of the Amazon that plays surprisingly well with others.

Heros severus

A large, easygoing cichlid with personality to spare and a surprisingly gentle nature.

Acnodon normani

A compact pacu with tiger stripes and a bad habit of snacking on scales.

Cyprinodon variegatus

A tough little pupfish that thrives where most fish would struggle to survive.

Nannostomus nitidus

A rarely-seen pencilfish with a glittering lateral stripe and fascinating nocturnal color shifts.

Poecilia mexicana

The wild ancestor of the molly we all know, built for tough conditions.

Pyrrhulina brevis

A compact Amazonian predator with surprising personality for its size.

Lepisosteus oculatus

A living fossil built for ambush, not the average home aquarium.