The Americas

Mussismilia harttii

A robust Brazilian brain coral that tolerates turbid, low-clarity reef conditions.

Pseudodiploria strigosa

A classic reef-builder with those unmistakable brain-like grooves, right from Caribbean waters.

Porites furcata

A compact Atlantic reef-builder with daytime-feeding polyps and a no-fuss silhouette.

Serrasalmus brandtii

A golden-bronze loner from Brazil's São Francisco basin, rarely seen in the trade.

Dekeyseria pulchra

A small, algae-grazing loricariid from the blackwater rivers of South America.

Gramma brasiliensis

A cave-dwelling Brazilian basslet that happily swims upside down along rocky ceilings.

Zungaro jahu

A giant South American catfish with serious attitude and nocturnal habits.

Hippocampus reidi

A slow-moving, sociable seahorse with a famously elongated snout built for precision hunting.

Siderastrea stellata

A tough, reddish reef builder that thrives where few corals dare to go.

Corydoras breei

A tiny armored catfish from Suriname that breathes air and blinks at you.

Apistogramma brevis

A cave-spawning dwarf cichlid from a surprisingly small corner of the Amazon.

Ancistrus macrophthalmus

A compact Venezuelan bushynose with the rare ability to breathe air directly.

Ancistrus sp.

The algae-scrubbing workhorse that actually stays a manageable size.

Ancistrus dolichopterus

The classic bristlenose pleco, with a face full of tentacles and a big personality.

Ancistrus hoplogenys

A peaceful, algae-grazing bristlenose from the Amazon with an unusual breathing trick.

Brochis britskii

A deep-bodied armored catfish with an unusually tall dorsal fin and peaceful nature.

Corydoras britskii

A big-dorsal Cory with armored charm, best kept in a lively group.

Corydoras duplicareus

A long-lived armored catfish with a bold nape patch and a tricky look-alike

Geophagus brokopondo

A rare Surinamese eartheater that's calmer than its 'aggressive' label suggests.

Corydoras aeneus

The beginner-friendly bottom dweller that breathes air and blinks at you.

Peckoltia oligospila

A compact, cave-breeding pleco with a subtle spotted pattern and a territorial streak.

Muricea fruticosa

A branching Pacific gorgonian that thrives in strong flow and moderate light.

Bodianus eclancheri

A bold, reef-prowling wrasse from the cold currents of the Galápagos.

Nannostomus beckfordi

A hardy little pencilfish that actually forgives beginner mistakes.

Nannostomus eques

A pencilfish that swims nose-up and thrives in a well-planted, peaceful tank.

Paracyathus stearnsii

A solitary Pacific stony coral for the dedicated cold-water or temperate reef keeper.

Laetacara araguaiae

A tiny dwarf cichlid from central Brazil with surprisingly devoted parenting instincts.

Exodon paradoxus

A scale-ripping tetra that's best kept in massive, single-species shoals.

Hyphessobrycon anisitsi

A rock-solid beginner tetra with a feisty streak that rewards keeping in big groups.

Sphoeroides annulatus

A large, noise-making Pacific puffer that's surprisingly approachable for beginners.

Batrochoglanis raninus

A compact, cave-hoarding ambush predator with serious attitude for its size.

Pseudopimelodus bufonius

A boldly patterned South American catfish that's surprisingly easy to keep.

Scarus perrico

A reef-scraping giant from the Eastern Pacific that rewrites your idea of 'beginner fish'.

Orbicella franksi

A rugged, mounding reef builder with a pleasingly irregular, textured surface.

Corydoras burgessi

A long-lived armored catfish with a bold black saddle and surprising air-breathing ability.

Ellisella schmitti

A branching sea whip from North Atlantic waters, suited to reef tanks with steady flow.