South Asia
India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and surrounding regions — danios, loaches, catfish, and a wealth of often-overlooked species.
244 species · freshwater · fish
Other regions in Asia
Horadandia
FishHoradandia atukorali
A tiny Sri Lankan schooler best kept with equally small, gentle tankmates.
Imperial White Collared Yellow Catfish
FishHorabagrus nigricollaris
A peaceful yellow catfish with a bold dark collar and a mouth to respect.
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.
Indonesian Snakehead
FishChanna micropeltes
A genuinely massive predator that outgrows most home aquariums before you know it.
Irrawaddy Danio
FishDevario apogon
A tiny Irrawaddy danionin that hobbyists have barely had a chance to meet yet.
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.
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.
Karnataka Labeo
FishLabeo calbasu
A large, algae-grazing river fish best appreciated outside the home aquarium.
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.
Ladder Loach
FishBotia rostrata
A boldly barred loach with a complex social life and real personality.
Lake Inle Red-tailed Loach
FishPetruichthys brevis
A tiny loach from Myanmar's famous Inle Lake, best kept in groups.
Lizard Loach
FishHomaloptera bilineata
A tiny torrent-dweller that crawls and hops across rocks like no other fish.
Loktak Loach
FishLepidocephalichthys irrorata
A rarely traded Indian loach with hidden spines and subtle charm.
Long-whiskered Catfish
FishSperata aor
A river giant with a shoveled snout that will outgrow almost any tank.
Long whiskers catfish
FishMystus gulio
A schooling brackish catfish that grows surprisingly large and breathes air.
Mahecola Barb
FishPuntius mahecola
A rarely traded Kerala barb best appreciated in a lively, same-species school.
Malabar Baril
FishBarilius bakeri
A fast, bold stream fish that needs equally confident tankmates to thrive.
Malabar Baril
FishBarilius gatensis
A bold, fast-moving hill stream fish that needs equally assertive tankmates.
Malabar Hatchet Chela
FishLaubuka fasciata
A peaceful Indian hill stream schooler that rewards keepers who buy in groups.
Melon Barb
FishHaludaria fasciata
An underrated Indian barb that rewards you with vivid male rivalry displays.
Micro Glassfish
FishDanionella translucida
One of the tiniest freshwater fish alive, and surprisingly easy to breed.
Mini Chocolate Gourami
FishParasphaerichthys lineatus
A tiny Burmese labyrinth fish with some of the most unpredictable breeding behavior in the hobby.
Moth Catfish
FishHara jerdoni
A moth-like micro catfish from Indian hill streams, best kept in groups.
Mottled Loach
FishAcanthocobitis botia
A peaceful, quirky bottom-dweller with a false eye that fools predators.
Mullya Garra
FishGarra mullya
A hardy Indian stream fish with a sucker disc built for fast-moving water.