The Americas
From the Amazon's blackwater basins to Caribbean reefs — the Americas hold the most popular freshwater biotopes and a wealth of Atlantic and Pacific saltwater life.
739 species · freshwater · fish
Sub-regions
Wimple Piranha
FishCatoprion mento
A scale-eating specialist with a dramatic banner-like dorsal fin rarely seen in the hobby.
Winemiller's Eartheater
FishGeophagus winemilleri
A rare Venezuelan eartheater with vivid spotted fins and fascinating mouthbrooding parental care.
Wolf Cichlid
FishParachromis dovii
A barrel-chested Central American predator that will eat almost anything it can fit in its mouth.
Wood-cat Catfish
FishAuchenipterichthys thoracatus
A secretive Amazonian catfish that wedges itself into hiding spots with specialized fins.
Wood Catfish
FishCentromochlus schultzi
A shy but charming Brazilian wood catfish that rewards patient, attentive keepers.
Wood Catfish
FishGlanidium leopardum
A leopard-spotted catfish from Guiana's leaf-littered creek systems.
Xingu Freshwater Stingray
FishPotamotrygon leopoldi
A bold black disc covered in white spots. And a venomous spine to match.
X-Ray Tetra
FishPristella maxillaris
The see-through tetra whose bold dorsal fin pattern makes a school unforgettable.
Yellow Acara
FishAequidens metae
A compact Colombian cichlid from blackwater streams, rarely seen but worth seeking out.
Yellow-banded Moenkhausia
FishMoenkhausia sanctaefilomenae
A lively, adaptable tetra that rewards you for keeping it in a proper group.
Yellow Convict
FishCryptoheros nanoluteus
A compact, rarely seen Panamanian cichlid that turns vivid yellow when breeding.
Yellowjacket Cichlid
FishParachromis friedrichsthalii
A bold Central American predator that can handle a touch of salt.
Yellow rabbit characin
FishLeporellus vittatus
A bottom-hugging herbivore from South America's major river systems, best kept in groups.
Yellow Tetra
FishHyphessobrycon bifasciatus
A Brazilian tetra with a mysterious golden shimmer that baffles even scientists.
Zamora Woodcat
FishAuchenipterichthys coracoideus
A secretive Amazonian catfish with an unusually intimate approach to reproduction.
Zebra Acara
FishNannacara adoketa
A dwarf cichlid from blackwater forest streams, built for soft acidic conditions.
Zebra Catfish
FishBrachyplatystoma juruense
A boldly banded Amazonian predator that rests on the bottom by day and hunts by night.
Zebra Plec
FishHypancistrus zebra
The boldly striped zebra plec: rare, sought-after, and worth every effort.
Zygatus Cory
FishCorydoras zygatus
A peaceful armored catfish that literally breathes through its gut.