Central America

Roeboides guatemalensis

A scale-nibbling Central American predator with a hauntingly transparent body.

Nandopsis haitiensis

A powerhouse cichlid from Hispaniola that takes no prisoners in the aquarium.

Archocentrus multispinosus

A tough Central American cichlid with serious parenting instincts and surprising heat tolerance.

Gambusia hispaniolae

A tough livebearing minnow from Hispaniola's brackish spring habitats.

Alfaro huberi

A sleek Central American livebearer built for fast, clear currents.

Limia nigrofasciata

A livebearing oddity from Haiti with a distinctive fatty hump on mature males.

Priapella intermedia

A sleek Mexican livebearer that leaps clear of the water to catch insects.

Rocio octofasciata

A bold, brawling cichlid named after a boxing legend for good reason.

Parachromis managuensis

A bold, personable predator that owns every tank it inhabits.

Parachromis motaguensis

A bold Central American predator that holds its own against anything in the tank.

Cubanichthys pengelleyi

A rare Jamaican killifish with clear-water roots and a reputation for challenging its keeper.

Alfaro cultratus

A tough little livebearer with a blade-like keel and a feisty personality.

Poecilia salvatoris

A scrappy Central American molly with bold looks and a bold attitude.

Achirus lineatus

A master of disguise that buries itself until almost invisible.

Amphilophus lyonsi

A lesser-known Central American cichlid from Pacific-slope rivers worth seeking out.

Cichlasoma urophthalmus

A brackish-tolerant bruiser that can handle conditions few other cichlids can.

Hyphessobrycon compressus

The founding species of its entire genus, rarely seen in the hobby.

Cualac tessellatus

A rare Mexican pupfish with a conservation story worth getting behind.

Phallichthys amates

A low-key Central American livebearer that thrives where flashier fish struggle.

Girardinus metallicus

A livebearer from Cuba with a glinting metallic sheen and real historical quirks.

Acanthemblemaria macrospilus

A pint-sized reef blenny that claims abandoned barnacle shells as its castle.

Cambarellus patzcuarensis

Tiny, peaceful, and full of personality. The dwarf crayfish that plays well with others.

Astyanax mexicanus

The cave fish that lost its eyes and gained extraordinary senses.

Astyanax fasciatus

A bold, wide-ranging tetra with a predatory streak that surprises many keepers.

Amphilophus citrinellus

A bold, intelligent cichlid that recognizes its owner and demands respect in return.

Herichthys minckleyi

A rare Mexican cichlid from one of the world's most extraordinary desert springs.

Poecilia sphenops

A livebearer classic that can thrive from freshwater all the way to full marine conditions.

Vieja heterospila

A robust Central American cichlid from some of Mexico's most storied river systems.

Xiphophorus montezumae

A wild swordtail with an absurdly long tail sword that rivals its own body length.

Azolla caroliniana

A fast-spreading floating fern that doubles as a nursery roof for shrimp and fry.

Gambusia affinis

The notorious mosquitofish: tough, prolific, and not a friendly neighbor.

Vieja zonata

A rare Mexican cichlid with big personality and even bigger space requirements.

Poecilia butleri

A personable little livebearer that grazes algae and practically eats from your hand.

Geophagus crassilabris

A rare Panamanian cichlid with a reddish glow and fascinating sand-sifting habits.

Herichthys pearsei

A surprisingly gentle giant from Mexican and Guatemalan river systems.

Phallichthys fairweatheri

A gentle little livebearer from Central America's marshy backwaters.