West & Central Africa
The Congo and the rivers of Cameroon, Nigeria, and Gabon — killifish, tetras, dwarf cichlids, and specialized catfish.
252 species · freshwater
Other regions in Africa
Otjikoto Tilapia
FishTilapia guinasana
A critically endangered sinkhole cichlid with wild color variation and devoted parental care.
Palmqvist's Nothobranch
FishNothobranchius palmqvisti
A brilliantly colored killifish that lives fast in seasonal African pools.
Papuan Rainbowfish
FishMelanotaenia papuae
A compact rainbowfish from Port Moresby's jungle streams, peaceful and full of personality.
Parkinson's Rainbowfish
FishMelanotaenia parkinsoni
A Papua New Guinea gem that rewards patient keepers with spectacular adult color.
Peacock Gudgeon
FishTateurndina ocellicauda
A jewel-like bottom-dweller from Papua New Guinea with fascinating cave-spawning behavior.
Pearl Robber
FishMicralestes stormsi
A lively Congo basin shoaler that brings energy to the mid-water column.
Pearly Ocellatus
FishLamprologus stappersi
A tiny Lake Tanganyika shell-dweller with outsized territorial attitude and colony-forming charm.
Pigmy Synodontis
FishMicrosynodontis polli
A tiny, peaceful African catfish that fits where most synodontis never could.
Pindu
FishStomatepia pindu
A critically endangered Cameroonian cichlid that turns jet black when spawning.
Polkadot Squeaker
FishSynodontis angelicus
A boldly spotted Congo catfish that grows into a fierce bottom-territory defender.
Poll's Bichir
FishPolypterus palmas polli
An ancient armored predator that breathes air and prowls the riverbed.
Puffer Fish
FishTetraodon pustulatus
A rare African giant puffer from the Cross River, built for serious keepers.
Pungu
FishPungu maclareni
A critically endangered sponge-eating cichlid found nowhere else on Earth.
Rainbow Prigi
FishHypseleotris guentheri
A small Pacific stream goby comfortable in fresh, brackish, or salt water.
Red Barred Killi
FishAphyosemion elberti
A small, manageable killifish with bold markings from Central African stream systems.
Redbelly Tilapia
FishTilapia zillii
A tank-busting herbivore that will devour your plants and ask for more.
Redclaw Crayfish
InvertCherax quadricarinatus
A bold, fast-growing Australian crayfish with vivid red claw markings on the males.
Red Lyretail
FishAphyosemion bivittatum
A jewel-toned lyretail from West African rainforest streams, surprisingly compact.
Red-spotted Killi
FishAphyosemion cognatum
A compact, colorful killi that's surprisingly gentle on beginner patience.
Redspotted Panchax
FishEpiplatys lamottei
A West African surface killifish dressed in red spots and dark bars.
Red-striped Rainbowfish
FishMelanotaenia splendida rubrostriata
A slow-burning rainbowfish that rewards patient keepers with spectacular adult color.
Redtail Notho
FishNothobranchius guentheri
A jewel-bright killifish that lives fast, dies young, and leaves drought-proof eggs.
Reedfish
FishErpetoichthys calabaricus
A living fossil with an eel-like body and a lineage older than the dinosaurs.
Rocket Panchax
FishPseudepiplatys annulatus
A tiny West African killifish with bold bands and surprisingly shy habits.
Roloff's Krib
FishPelvicachromis roloffi
A cave-spawning West African dwarf cichlid with strong pair bonds and subtle charm.
Saddled Bichir
FishPolypterus endlicheri
A prehistoric African predator that breathes air and grows to impressive lengths.
Saddled Bichir
FishPolypterus endlicheri endlicheri
A living fossil that can breathe air and survive out of water.
Salmon Catfish
FishNeoarius leptaspis
A mouthbrooding giant catfish that travels from rivers to the sea.
Scaleless Killifish
FishAphanius asquamatus
A nearly scaleless relic from a single Turkish lake, built for dedicated keepers.
Scheeli Killifish
FishFundulopanchax scheeli
A gentle rainforest killifish that rewards patient, thoughtful aquascapers.
Senegal Bichir
FishPolypterus senegalus meridionalis
A living fossil that breathes air and hunts like a prehistoric predator.
Seven-spot Archerfish
FishToxotes chatareus
A sharpshooter that hunts insects by spitting jets of water at overhanging branches.
Shell-dweller
FishLamprologus meleagris
A tiny shell-brooding cichlid with a surprisingly big attitude.
Shell-dweller
FishNeolamprologus similis
Tiny shell-dwelling cichlid with a ferocious personality well above its size.
Shell Dweller
FishLamprologus kungweensis
A tiny Lake Tanganyika shell brooder that digs its own burrow network.
Short-finned Bichir
FishPolypterus palmas
An ancient, air-breathing predator that looks like it crawled out of the Devonian.