Asia
The rivers and rice paddies of Southeast and South Asia give us rasboras, barbs, gouramis, danios, loaches, and a whole world of community fish.
643 species · freshwater · fish
Sub-regions
Indawgyi Stream Catfish
FishAkysis prashadi
A pint-sized Myanmar catfish that vanishes into the sand, barbels first.
Indian Chaca
FishChaca chaca
A living lure: the ambush catfish that fishes for its own dinner.
Indian Glass Perch
FishParambassis ranga
A living x-ray fish whose transparent body reveals its skeleton and organs.
Indian Hatchet Fish
FishLaubuka laubuca
A schooling surface-dweller with a genuinely tangled identity across Asia.
Indian Hill Trout
FishBarilius bendelisis
A fast-moving hill stream fish that needs bold tankmates and plenty of room.
Indian Maharaja Barb
FishPuntius sahyadriensis
A rare Indian hill-stream barb that truly shines when kept in a proper school.
Indian Ricefish
FishOryzias dancena
A tiny, peaceful ricefish that carries its eggs like a living clutch before planting them.
Indigo Barb
FishPethia setnai
A peaceful, school-loving barb from Goa's clear streams, perfect for community tanks.
Indochinese Needlefish
FishXenentodon canciloides
A freshwater needlefish that's calmer than its needle-filled grin suggests.
Indonesian Snakehead
FishChanna micropeltes
A genuinely massive predator that outgrows most home aquariums before you know it.
Irian Rainbowfish
FishMelanotaenia irianjaya
A rarely seen rainbowfish with an unusual fin shape that sets it apart from its cousins.
Irrawaddy Danio
FishDevario apogon
A tiny Irrawaddy danionin that hobbyists have barely had a chance to meet yet.
Jaguar Loach
FishYasuhikotakia splendida
A rare Mekong loach with bold spots, yellow fins, and fascinating social rituals.
Jaintia Hills
FishDario kajal
Tiny scarlet predator from India's hill streams, big on attitude.
Japanese medaka
FishOryzias latipes
The first vertebrate to mate in space, now a rewarding nano fish for patient keepers.
Java Barb
FishBarbonymus gonionotus
A large, active schooling barb that needs space and robust tank companions.
Java Combtail
FishBelontia hasselti
A large, territorial labyrinth fish that rewards patient, experienced keepers.
Javaen Barb
FishSystomus orphoides
A boisterous, patterned barb that needs bold tankmates and room to roam.
Java Fightingfish
FishBetta picta
A mild-mannered mouthbrooding betta that makes the whole genus look bad by comparison.
Javan Ricefish
FishOryzias javanicus
A surface-dwelling ricefish with surprisingly complex spawning behavior, rarely seen for sale.
Jerdon's Baril
FishBarilius canarensis
A bold, fast-moving schooler from Indian hill streams that needs equally spirited tankmates.
Jerdon's carp
FishHypselobarbus jerdoni
A rare, river-schooling giant from the Western Ghats, seldom seen in the hobby.
Jonklaas's Loach
FishLepidocephalichthys jonklaasi
A rare Sri Lankan loach hidden beneath leaf litter, seldom seen in the hobby.
Kabili Bumblebee Goby
FishBrachygobius kabiliensis
Tiny bumblebee-patterned goby from Borneo's mangroves, surprisingly manageable for new keepers.
Kapuas Betta
FishBetta krataios
A tiny mouthbrooding betta from Borneo's blackwater streams, best kept in quiet company.
Karnataka Labeo
FishLabeo calbasu
A large, algae-grazing river fish best appreciated outside the home aquarium.
Kissing Gourami
FishHelostoma temminkii
The infamous 'kissing fish' hides a complicated personality behind its pucker.
Knight's Snakehead
FishChanna pardalis
A leopard-patterned snakehead from India's misty Khasi Hills.
Kooli Barb
FishPuntius vittatus
A peaceful little barb from rice fields and streams, best kept in lively groups.
Korean Bitterling
FishAcheilognathus signifer
A Korean bitterling with one of the most bizarre spawning strategies in freshwater fish
Korean Doty Barbel
FishHemibarbus mylodon
A hefty Korean river barb that rewards simple, spacious setups.
Krabi Mouth Brooding Betta
FishBetta simplex
A rare mouth-brooding betta from Thailand's limestone streams, peaceful by betta standards.
Kubuna Hardyhead
FishCraterocephalus randi
A slender, active schooler from the clear streams of New Guinea.
Kuhli Loach
FishPangio kuhlii
The eel-like bottom dweller that disappears for weeks and reappears at midnight.
Kuhli Loach
FishPangio cuneovirgata
A rare kuhli lookalike from blackwater peat swamps, seldom seen outside expert collections.
Kuhli Loach
FishPangio filinaris
A slender, plain-bodied eel loach from the forested streams of peninsular Malaysia.