The Americas

Hypselecara coryphaenoides

A peaceful giant from blackwater rivers that transforms dramatically when spawning.

Hypselecara temporalis

A gentle giant cichlid that plays well with others. Mostly.

Hyphessobrycon vilmae

A tiny Amazonian tetra sold as the chocolate neon, rarely seen but worth seeking out.

Acanthodoras cataphractus

A armored, sound-making catfish that genuinely prefers company of its own kind.

Holacanthus clarionensis

A rare Pacific angel from remote Mexican islands, seldom seen in the trade.

Pristobrycon calmoni

A lesser-known piranha relative with serious teeth and surprising longevity.

Panaqolus maccus

A compact, cave-loving pleco with bold patterns and a feisty streak toward its own kind.

Hypostomus cochliodon

A hefty South American pleco with a surprisingly specialized wood-scraping bite.

Apistogramma cacatuoides

A pocket-sized cichlid with big personality and remarkable parental dedication.

Pseudauchenipterus nodosus

A schooling brackish catfish that thrives where rivers meet the sea.

Hyphessobrycon takasei

A quietly charming little tetra with a distinctive coffee-dark body spot.

Hyphessobrycon columbianus

A bold Colombian tetra with vivid red fins and a peaceful, social nature.

Sphyraena barracuda

A true apex predator that grows to nearly six feet long.

Hypostomus plecostomus

The classic algae-scrubbing catfish that outgrows almost every tank it's sold for.

Rineloricaria eigenmanni

A slender, stick-like catfish that breeds readily and welcomes community life.

Amatitlania nigrofasciata

Fearless, easy to breed, and absolutely not a community fish.

Acanthurus triostegus

A reef grazer wearing prison stripes, and surprisingly easy to get along with.

Pyrrhulina spilota

A slender Peruvian gem with surprisingly complex spawning behavior for its size.

Platynematichthys notatus

A bold Amazonian catfish that grows large enough to demand serious space.

Corydoras aurofrenatus

A compact armored catfish from Paraguay with distinctive flank markings and an unusual breathing trick.

Apistogramma commbrae

A cool-water dwarf cichlid with a tell-tale double spot and surprising monogamy.

A tiny, sociable armored catfish that occasionally breathes air.

A rare Peruvian armored catfish that breathes air and lives for decades.

A tiny, long-lived catfish with a fascinating natural mimicry story.

A tiny rock-dwelling catfish from the Argentine Andes, rarely if ever seen in aquariums.

A tiny armored catfish with a surprisingly versatile respiratory trick up its sleeve.

Lamontichthys llanero

A rare South American whiptail that rewards patient keepers with unusual character.

Girardinus creolus

A rare Cuban livebearer that occupies the middle of the water column.

Trochilocharax ornatus

A scaleless micro-tetra with internal fertilization and serious personality for its size.

Hyphessobrycon haraldschultzi

A rare Araguaia gem that rewards patient schooling setups with vivid red coloring.

Nandopsis tetracanthus

Cuba's only native cichlid: territorial, long-lived, and surprisingly personable.

Atractosteus tristoechus

A living fossil from Cuba that outgrows almost any home aquarium.

Bodianus pulchellus

A reef-safe wrasse relative that moonlights as a cleaner fish when young.

Biotodoma cupido

A peaceful community cichlid that rewards keepers who buy a proper group.

Archocentrus septemfasciatus

A feisty Costa Rican cichlid that punches well above its weight at spawning time.

Acanthurus xanthopterus

A wide-ranging giant surgeonfish that breaks the herbivore rules.