The Americas

Hemigrammus unilineatus

A peaceful shoaler from South America that rewards patient keepers with easy breeding.

Potamotrygon yepezi

A venomous freshwater ray from a single lake basin, rarely seen in its true form.

Thorichthys meeki

The cichlid that turns its fiery throat into a threat display.

Sorubimichthys planiceps

A massive Amazonian predator that demands serious space and serious commitment.

Laetacara curviceps

A shy, peaceful dwarf cichlid that earns its 'smiling' nickname with gentle charm.

Mesonauta festivus

A gentle South American cichlid with a bold diagonal stripe and surprising breeding devotion.

Mesonauta guyanae

A gentle Amazonian cichlid that brings calm elegance to the community tank.

Mesonauta insignis

A shy Amazonian cichlid often hiding behind its more famous cousin's name.

Dianema urostriatum

A peaceful shoaling catfish that actually uses the midwater column

Corydoras oiapoquensis

A tiny armored catfish from a single river system, surprisingly long-lived.

Hyphessobrycon flammeus

A fiery Rio native that glows brightest when kept in a proper group.

Pinirampus pirinampu

A schooling river giant that needs serious space and serious commitment.

Amphilophus flaveolus

A rare Nicaraguan crater-lake cichlid, living proof of evolution in action.

Riccia fluitans

A floating liverwort that pearls with oxygen bubbles when truly happy.

Leporacanthicus galaxias

A spot-covered pleco with genuine fangs and a boldly territorial personality.

Ctenolucius hujeta

A surface-hunting predator that plays nicer with tankmates than its looks suggest.

Hemigrammus pulcher

A peaceful, colorful little tetra that thrives in numbers and suits most community tanks.

A compact, peaceful eartheater that's criminally overlooked in the hobby.

A sand-sifting cichlid from the Tocantins that's far calmer than its reputation suggests.

Mikrogeophagus ramirezi

A jewel-like dwarf cichlid that rewards patient, attentive keepers.

Corydoras geryi

A larger, long-lived cory from Bolivia that rewards patient, attentive keepers.

Serrasalmus geryi

A rare, violet-striped piranha relative best kept as a solo specimen.

Palaemonetes paludosus

Nearly transparent and endlessly busy, ghost shrimp are a perfect starter invertebrate.

Petenia splendida

A big-mouthed Central American predator that's surprisingly manageable for dedicated beginners.

Marisa cornuarietis

The boldly striped ramshorn that doubles as a natural plant trimmer.

Hypostomus regani

A tough, territorial pleco from the river systems of southern South America.

Brachyplatystoma rousseauxii

A true river giant that demands a seriously large commitment.

Zungaro zungaro

A river giant that grows big enough to swallow your other fish whole.

Prionobrama filigera

A peaceful, transparent schooling fish with a blood-red tail that earns its name.

Charax gibbosus

A rarely-seen South American oddity with a see-through body and a quirky head-down posture.

Hemigrammus erythrozonus

A fiery neon stripe makes this hardy little tetra a beginner's best friend.

Ilyodon furcidens

A livebearer with a quasi-placenta and fork-shaped teeth. Genuinely unlike most aquarium fish.

Thorichthys aureus

A Central American cichlid with electric blue shimmer and real personality to match.

Nannacara anomala

A tiny cichlid that punches well above its weight come breeding time.

Nannacara aureocephalus

A dwarf cichlid from blackwater French Guiana with dramatic size differences between sexes.

Baryancistrus xanthellus

A bold, boulder-dwelling pleco from Brazil's rapids that doesn't share its territory.