A vast number of freshwater species have successfully adapted to live in aquariums. This list gives some examples of the most common species found in home aquariums organized by phylogeny.
Rays (Batomorphi)
Stingrays (Order Myliobatiformes) Common nameScientific nameImageSizeRemarksTank sizeTemperature rangepH rangeWater hardnessOcellate river stingray Potamotrygon motoro has venomous barbs that contain a protein based poison, if you happen to accidentally get stung you should submerge the wound in as hot as water as you can as this breaks down the proteinBlack devil stingray Potamotrygon leopoldi see above Marbled whipray Fluvitrygon oxyrhynchus see above
Lungfish (Dipnoi) Common nameScientific nameImageSizeRemarksTank sizeTemperature rangepH rangeWater hardnessWest African lungfish Protopterus annectens Spotted lungfishProtopterus dolloiSouth American lungfishLepidosiren paradoxaAustralian lungfishNeoceratodus forsteri
Bichirs and Reedfish (Polypteriformes) Common nameScientific nameImageSize RemarksTank sizeTemperature rangepH rangeWater hardness Gray bichir, Senegal bichir, or dinosaur bichir Polypterus senegalus maximum length in captivityPeaceful but preys on anything smaller than its mouth 6.0-8.0Ornate bichirPolypterus ornatipinnis maximum lengthPeaceful but preys on anything smaller than its mouth6.0–8.0Retropinnis bichirPolypterus retropinnisPeaceful but preys on anything smaller than its mouth6.5–7.5Barred bichirPolypterus delheziPeaceful but preys on anything smaller than its mouth6-8Saddled bichirPolypterus endlicheriiPeaceful but preys on anything smaller than its mouth6-8ReedfishErpetoichthys calabaricus at maturity, maximum length6.0–8.0
Paddlefish and Sturgeons (Acipenseriformes) Common nameScientific nameImageSize RemarksTank sizeTemperature rangepH rangeWater hardness Sterlet Acipenser ruthenus Shovelnose SturgeonScaphirhynchus platorynchusSturddlefish(hybrid)Polyodon spathula × Huso gueldenstaedtiiAmerican paddlefishPolyodon spathula
Bowfins and gars (Holostei)
Bowfins (Order Amiiformes) Common nameScientific nameImageSize RemarksTank sizeTemperature rangepH rangeWater hardness Bowfin Amia calva
Gars (Order Lepisosteiformes) Common nameScientific nameImageSize RemarksTank sizeTemperature rangepH rangeWater hardnessSpotted GarLepisosteus oculatusLongnose GarLepisosteus osseusFlorida GarLepisosteus platyrhincusAlligator GarAtractosteus spatulaCuban GarAtractosteus tristoechusTropical GarAtractosteus tropicus
Basal freshwater fish
Osteoglossiformes Common nameScientific nameImageSizeRemarksTank sizeTemperature rangepH rangeWater HardnessBlunt-jawed elephantnose Campylomormyrus tamandua Peters' elephant nose Gnathonemus petersii African butterflyfishPantodon buchholziAba abaGymnarchus niloticusReticulated knifefishPapyrocranus afer African brown knifefishXenomystus nigriRoyal knifefishChitala blanciClown knifefishChitala ornataAsian arowanaScleropages formosusPreys on anything smaller than its mouth.Gulf saratogaScleropages jardiniiSouthern saratogaScleropages leichardtiSilver arowanaOsteoglossum bicirrhosumPreys on anything smaller than its mouth.Black arowanaOsteoglossum ferreiraiPreys on anything smaller than its mouth.PirarucuArapaima gigasAfrican arowanaHeterotis niloticus
True Eels (Anguilliformes) Common nameScientific nameImageSizeRemarksTank sizeTemperature rangepH rangeWater HardnessFreshwater morayGymnothorax polyuranodonFire eel Mastacembelus erythrotaenia Tire track eel Mastacembelus armatus Peacock eel Macrognathus siamensis They require clean water and are vulnerable to parasites, fungal diseases, and the copper-based drugs used to treat these conditions.73-82 °F (23-28 °C)6.0-8.0Zebra spiny eel Macrognathus zebrinus Half-banded spiny eel Macrognathus circumcinctus Lesser spiny eel Macrognathus tapirus
Most freshwater fish (Otocephala)
Milkfish (Gonorynchiformes) Common nameScientific nameImageSizeRemarksTank sizeTemperature rangepH rangeWater HardnessHingemouth Phractolaemus ansorgii
Cypriniformes
Tetras, hatchetfish, pencilfish, piranhas, etc (Characiformes)
Tetras Common nameScientific nameImageSizeRemarksTank sizeTemperature rangepH rangeWater HardnessArowana tetra Gnathocharax steindachneri Black phantom tetra Hyphessobrycon megalopterus The black phantom tetra enjoy being in groups of 6 or more and a slightly shaded tank. Males may claim small territories and occasionally minor battles may occur. The Phantom tetra goes well with other tetras of similar size. They also prefer floating plants.Black neon tetra Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi Black tetra, skirt tetra Gymnocorymbus ternetzi A highly spirited fish that may occasionally chase its own species as well as harass slow moving fish with long fins. This fish is very hardy and can stand a variety of water qualities. Disease is not a big problem with the black tetra. The black tetra is also known as the black skirt tetra. The female black tetra is more robust and larger than the male.Black morpho tetra Poecilocharax weitzmani Bleeding heart tetra Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma The bleeding heart tetra is distinguished by the small red spot on both sides of the fish. This fish is very prone to diseases, and can grow larger than most tetra species.Bloodfin tetra Aphyocharax anisitsi Blue tetra Knodus borki Blueberry tetra Hyphessobrycon wadai Brittanichthys axelrodi Bucktooth tetra Exodon paradoxus Buenos Aires tetra Hyphessobrycon anisitsi Cardinal tetra Paracheirodon axelrodi Similar to the Neon Tetra, but slightly larger and doesn't prefer to school as much. They need much larger tanks, although their temperament is similar.Cave tetra, blind tetra Astyanax mexicanus The cave tetra is the blind cave form of the Mexican tetra. This tetra prefers low to moderate lighting.Cochu's blue tetra Boehlkea fredcochui Colombian tetra Hyphessobrycon columbianus Diamond tetra Moenkhausia pittieri Dawn tetra Aphyocharax paraguayensis Ember tetra Hyphessobrycon amandae Ember tetras have been known to live ten years or more. May become stressed by the presence of larger fish.5 - 7 pHEmperor tetra Nematobrycon palmeri Flame tetra Hyphessobrycon flammeus Flame-back Bleeding heart tetra Hyphessobrycon pyrrhonotus Garnet tetra, pretty tetra Hemigrammus pulcher Glass bloodfin tetra Prionobrama filigera Glowlight tetra Hemigrammus erythrozonus Golden pristella tetra Pristella maxillaris Green neon tetra Paracheirodon simulans Similar to Neon Tetras and Cardinal Tetras, they are the same to Neon Tetras beside having a green tiny near their top dorsal finHead and tail light tetra Hemigrammus ocellifer Hummingbird tetra Trochilocharax ornatus January tetra Hemigrammus hyanuary Lemon tetra Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis Neon tetra Paracheirodon innesi Neon tetras must be kept in groups of at least a half-dozen, as they are a shoaling species. With peaceful dispositions, they are also able to be kept with other species of non-aggressive fish.38 L (10 gal)68 to 79 F (20 to 26 C)6.0–7.0Ornate tetra Hyphessobrycon bentosi Penguin tetra, blackline penguinfish Thayeria boehlkei Peruvian tetra Hyphessobrycon peruvianus Rainbow tetra Nematobrycon lacortei Red and Blue Peru tetra Hyphessobrycon margitae Red eye tetra Lamp eye tetra Moenkhausia sanctaefilomenae Red-line lizard tetra Iguanodectes geisleri Red phantom tetra Hyphessobrycon sweglesi Redflank bloodfin Aphyocharax rathbuni Rosy tetra Hyphessobrycon rosaceus Royal tetra Inpaichthys kerri Possesses an adipose fin allowing it to be differentiated from the Emperor tetra Ruby tetra Axelrodia riesei Rummy-nose tetra Hemigrammus rhodostomus This common name is used for three different species of schooling fish with similar patterns: Hemigrammus rhodostomus, Hemigrammus bleheri, and Petitella georgiae.False rummy-nose tetra Petitella georgiae This common name is used for three different species of schooling fish with similar patterns: Hemigrammus rhodostomus, Hemigrammus bleheri, and Petitella georgiae.Splash tetra Copella arnoldi Spotted splashing tetra Copella meinkeni Pyrrhulina spilota Serpae tetra Hyphessobrycon serpae Silvertip tetra Hasemania nana Tucanoichthys tucano X-ray tetra Pristella maxillaris Also just called the X-ray fish.Yellow phantom tetra Hyphessobrycon roseus African moon tetra Bathyaethiops caudomaculatus Congo tetra Phenacogrammus interruptus Peaceful but may scare shy species with its active swimming and large adult size. Recommended for most community tanks however. Do not keep Congo tetras with fin-nipping species as the spectacular fins of the males will be destroyed.108 L (28.5 gal)73-82 °F (23-28 °C)6.0-7.5 Phenacogrammus aurantiacus Jellybean tetra Ladigesia roloffi Long-fin tetra Brycinus longipinnis Niger tetra Arnoldichthys spilopterus Alestopetersius brichardi Yellow-tailed Congo tetra Alestopetersius caudalis
Hatchetfish Common nameScientific nameImageSizeRemarksTank sizeTemperature rangepH rangeWater HardnessCommon hatchetfish Gasteropelecus sternicla Requires a varied diet including fruit fliesMarbled hatchetfish Carnegiella strigata Requires a varied diet including fruit fliesBlack-winged hatchetfish Carnegiella marthae Pygmy hatchetfish Carnegiella myersi
Pencil fishes Common nameScientific nameImageSizeRemarksTank sizeTemperature rangepH rangeWater HardnessGolden pencilfish Nannostomus beckfordi Hockeystick pencilfish Nannostomus eques Barred pencilfish Nannostomus espei Dwarf pencilfish Nannostomus marginatus Coral-red pencilfish Nannostomus mortenthaleri Nannostomus nigrotaeniatus Three-lined pencilfish Nannostomus trifasciatus One-lined Pencilfish Nannostomus unifasciatus
Serrasalminae (pacus, piranhas, and silver dollars) Common nameScientific nameImageSizeRemarksTank sizeTemperature rangepH rangeWater HardnessSilver dollar Metynnis argenteus The name "silver dollar" may also refer to Metynnis hypsauchen, Metynnis maculatus, or other related fishes. Schreitmuller's metynnis Metynnis hypsauchen Spotted silver dollar Metynnis lippincottianus Red-bellied pacu Colossoma bidens Red piranha Pygocentrus nattereri Redeye piranha, black piranha Serrasalmus rhombeus Wimple piranha Catoprion mento Mylossoma aureum Disk tetra Myleus schomburgkii 23 °C to 27 °C5.0–7.0
Other Characins Common nameScientific nameImageSizeRemarksTank sizeTemperature rangepH rangeWater HardnessAfrican pike characin Hepsetus odoe Goliath tigerfish Hydrocynus goliath Spotted pike-characin Boulengerella maculata Hujeta gar Ctenolucius hujeta Slender hemiodus Hemiodus gracilis Kissing prochilodus, flagtail Prochilodus Semaprochilodus insignis Marbled headstander Abramites hypselonotus Banded leporinus Leporinus fasciatus Striped headstander Anostomus anostomus Synaptolaemus latofasciatus Siver distichodus Distichodus affinis Six-banded distichodus Distichodus sexfasciatus Neolebias ansorgii Payara Hydrolycus scomberoides Pink-tail chalceus Chalceus macrolepidotus Red wolf fish Erythrinus erythrinus Red tail barracuda Acestrorhynchus falcatus Spotted headstander Chilodus punctatus
Knifefish and electric eels (Gymnotiformes) Common nameScientific nameImageSizeRemarksTank sizeTemperature rangepH rangeWater hardnessBlack ghost knifefish Apteronotus albifrons Not to be confused with the featherback "knifefish" of the Bonytongue group (see above) 23-28C (73-82F)6.0-8.0Brown ghost knifefish Apteronotus leptorhynchus Glass knifefish Eigenmannia virescens Electric eel Electrophorus electricus
Catfish (Siluriformes)
Armored catfish including Aspidoras, Brochis, Callichthys, and Corydoras Common nameScientific nameImageSize RemarksTank sizeTemperature rangepH rangeWater hardness Brown-Point Shield Skin Aspidoras fuscoguttatus 3.8 cm (1.5 in) 30 Gallons 5.5–6.8 Aspidoras Cory-Cat