The Americas

Zoogoneticus tequila

A fish kept in aquariums that may no longer exist anywhere in the wild.

Ariopsis seemanni

A venomous, migratory catfish that's far more demanding than its juvenile looks suggest.

Hyphessobrycon acaciae

A tiny Orinoco tetra with a bold dark lateral stripe and beginner-friendly nature.

Tucanoichthys tucano

A pint-sized Amazonian rarity that rewards patient, specialist keepers.

Herichthys cyanoguttatus

The only cichlid native to the United States, and it has the attitude to prove it.

Corydoras pantanalensis

A long-lived Bolivian cory with a quirky air-gulping habit worth watching for.

Hassar orestis

A sound-producing doradid catfish that rewards patient keepers with bold group behavior.

Anadoras grypus

A compact Amazonian thorny catfish with surprising personality for its small size.

Nemadoras leporhinus

A schooling thorny catfish from South America, rarely seen but worth seeking out.

Oxydoras niger

A school-forming gentle giant that outgrows almost every home aquarium.

Rhinodoras dorbignyi

A gentle giant of the Paraná, this armored catfish needs serious space to roam.

Acarichthys heckelii

A cichlid with elaborate burrowing spawning behavior unlike almost anything else in the hobby.

Geophagus altifrons

A sand-sifting Amazon cichlid that's gentler than its reputation suggests.

Leporacanthicus triactis

The vampire plec with vivid fin markings that actually stay as it grows.

Ancistrus triradiatus

A compact, cave-breeding Bristlenose with a surprisingly complex social life.

Cichlasoma trimaculatum

A bold, territorial Central American cichlid with legendary parenting instincts.

Satanoperca daemon

A sand-sifting cichlid with bold markings and surprisingly complex social needs.

Leporinus friderici

A large, fruit-eating South American fish that swims with serious personality.

Pseudanos trimaculatus

A schooling headstander with a Jekyll-and-Hyde personality in smaller groups.

Apistogramma trifasciata

A tiny cichlid packing bold stripes, bright color, and real personality into a small frame.

Nannostomus trifasciatus

A pencilfish with real attitude. Best kept in big groups with broken sightlines.

Pseudoplatystoma tigrinum

A true river giant that outgrows almost every home aquarium.

Hoplias malabaricus

A nocturnal ambush predator with jaws that mean serious business.

Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum

A river giant that outgrows almost every home aquarium faster than you'd expect.

Brachyplatystoma tigrinum

A boldly barred Amazonian predator that demands a truly massive tank.

Aguarunichthys tocantinsensis

A powerful Amazonian predator built for fast water and rocky riverbeds.

Hyphessobrycon stegemanni

A tiny Tocantins tetra often mistaken for its look-alike neighbor.

Uaru amphiacanthoides

A surprisingly gentle giant that raises fry just like discus do.

Atractosteus tropicus

A living fossil from Central America that grows to canoe-like proportions.

Cichla monoculus

A river predator built for size, speed, and a 20-year commitment.

Chalceus erythrurus

A bold, active surface cruiser with a brilliantly colored tail to match its attitude.

Farlowella mariaelenae

A living twig that grazes algae and barely moves. Until it does.

Farlowella vittata

A living twig that vanishes in plain sight among branches and leaves.

Vieja bifasciata

Two bold facial stripes mark this colorful, feisty Central American cichlid.

Nannostomus bifasciatus

A schooling pencilfish that tilts nose-up and swims in tight, lively groups.

Amaralia hypsiura

A flat, leaf-litter specialist with a peculiar silhouette and peaceful disposition.