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SpeciesScientists Discover Mysterious New Fish in the Red Sea – and Have Never Seen It AgainOceanEye to eye with Britain's hidden sharks at SharkAdemy - OceanographicRiversIn October, biologists surveying a New York harbor for invasive fish pulled up a bright yellow one. It wasn't an invasive species at allOceanShedd Aquarium Sends Shark Eggs to Bolster Wild PopulationsSpeciesA rare fish has been found in Lake Ontario, North America, whose entire body is golden. It is a nati..OceanThe Great Sea Reef Is Fiji’s Wildest Dive, and a New Frontier for ConservationOceanEckerd College professor contributes to designating Biscayne Bay an Important Shark and Ray AreaSpeciesRio Verde Grande Survey Identifies Fifty-Three Fish Species Facing Flow ReductionsFisheriesAdams River Salmon Run in Thompson-NicolaIndiaHilsa production dropped 26% in five years, fisheries minister tells parliamentSpeciesScientists Discover Mysterious New Fish in the Red Sea – and Have Never Seen It AgainOceanEye to eye with Britain's hidden sharks at SharkAdemy - OceanographicRiversIn October, biologists surveying a New York harbor for invasive fish pulled up a bright yellow one. It wasn't an invasive species at allOceanShedd Aquarium Sends Shark Eggs to Bolster Wild PopulationsSpeciesA rare fish has been found in Lake Ontario, North America, whose entire body is golden. It is a nati..OceanThe Great Sea Reef Is Fiji’s Wildest Dive, and a New Frontier for ConservationOceanEckerd College professor contributes to designating Biscayne Bay an Important Shark and Ray AreaSpeciesRio Verde Grande Survey Identifies Fifty-Three Fish Species Facing Flow ReductionsFisheriesAdams River Salmon Run in Thompson-NicolaIndiaHilsa production dropped 26% in five years, fisheries minister tells parliament
EveryFish

Aquarium fish

Kept in home and public aquariums. 397 fish on EveryFish so far.

Fishkeeping is one of the most popular pet hobbies in the world. Home aquariums hold freshwater fish such as guppies, tetras, barbs, gouramis, cichlids and catfish, and marine tanks keep clownfish, tangs and other reef fish. Public aquariums display sharks, rays and schools of ocean fish. Hundreds of millions of ornamental fish are traded each year, from more than a thousand species.

Where aquarium fish come from

Most freshwater aquarium fish sold today are bred on farms, many in South-East Asia, Florida and in India around Kolkata and Kolathur in Chennai. Goldfish, koi, guppies, mollies, bettas, angelfish and discus have been bred for colour and fin shape for generations. Most marine aquarium fish, by contrast, are still caught from reefs in Indonesia, the Philippines and elsewhere, though clownfish and some others are now bred in captivity.

India's wild ornamentals

India's rivers, especially in the Western Ghats and the North-East, hold many fish valued by aquarists. The Denison barb of Kerala became one of India's best-known aquarium exports, and heavy collection from the wild contributed to its decline before farm breeding took over much of the supply. Releasing aquarium fish into the wild has spread invasive species, such as the Amazon sailfin catfish now found in many Indian waters.

Famous aquarium fish fish

GuppyBred into hundreds of strainsGoldfishThe first domesticated aquarium fishNeon tetraA small, bright fish of the AmazonSiamese fighting fishThe betta, bred in ThailandDiscusA prized Amazon cichlidFreshwater angelfishThe freshwater angelfishOcellaris clownfishThe clownfish of home reef tanksDenison barbAn aquarium fish from Kerala

Further reading

GroupSharkRayCarpCatfishSalmonidHerringCodTunaPerch-likeCichlidReef fishEelFlatfishLivebearerAncientOther
WaterRivers and lakesEstuaries and mangrovesCoasts and shelvesCoral reefsOpen oceanDeep seaPolar and cold seasCaves and springsBetween sea and river
OrderBest knownA to ZOldest firstNewest firstBy size
Southeast AsiaGiant snakehead A large freshwater predator from Southeast Asia known for air breathing and invasive potential.Other · Rivers and lakes 🇹🇭 Thailand and 2 moreSiamese mud carp Freshwater cyprinid native to Mekong and Chao Phraya riversCarp · Rivers and lakes WorldAphyosemion A large genus of small African killifish kept in home aquariums.Livebearer · Rivers and lakes 🇺🇸 United States and 2 moreBluegill A common North American sunfish known for its blue gill covers and popularity with anglers.Perch-like · Rivers and lakes · 1854 🇧🇷 Brazil and 4 moreArapaima Giant air-breathing freshwater fish of the AmazonOther · Rivers and lakes · 1822 🇧🇮 Burundi and 3 moreGiant cichlid The largest living cichlid species, native to Lake Tanganyika in Africa.Cichlid · Rivers and lakes · 1899 Chalakudy barb 🇮🇳 IndiaChalakudy barb Small colourful cyprinid from the Western Ghats rivers.Carp · Rivers and lakes WorldDanio A genus of small striped freshwater fish from Asia kept in aquaria.Other · Rivers and lakes · 1822 WorldRasbora A diverse genus of small freshwater fish native to South and Southeast Asia.Carp · Rivers and lakes · 1822 🇲🇽 Mexico and 3 moreXiphophorus A genus of small livebearing fish native to Mexico and Central America, known for aquarium use and genetic research.Livebearer · Rivers and lakes 🇦🇺 Australia and 2 moreRainbowfish Small colourful freshwater fish from Australia and New GuineaOther · Rivers and lakes · 1894 WorldKillifish Small egg-laying fish known for hardiness and short lifespansLivebearer · Rivers and lakes WorldArowana Freshwater bony fish with a toothed bone in the mouth and air-breathing ability.Ancient · Rivers and lakes · 1831 🇺🇸 United StatesLeast killifish A tiny North American fish that gives birth to live young and measures just two centimetres long.Livebearer · Rivers and lakes 🇯🇵 JapanJapanese rice fish Small freshwater fish native to Japan and a key model organism.Other · Rivers and lakes 🇧🇷 Brazil and 1 moreLargescale four-eyes Surface-dwelling fish with split eyes for dual vision.Livebearer · Rivers and lakes · 1758 Serpae tetra 🇧🇷 Brazil and 4 moreSerpae tetra Small red freshwater fish from South AmericaOther · Rivers and lakes · 1882 🇧🇷 Brazil and 4 moreRed-bellied piranha A widespread South American freshwater fish known for its omnivorous diet and shoaling behavior.Other · Rivers and lakes 🇧🇷 Brazil and 1 moreRed-bellied Pacu A large South American freshwater fish related to piranhas, farmed for food and kept in aquariums.Other · Rivers and lakes 🇲🇽 MexicoButterfly splitfin A critically endangered livebearing fish from Mexico.Livebearer · Rivers and lakes · 1971 WorldHeadstander South American freshwater fish known for swimming with their heads pointed downwards.Other · Rivers and lakes 🇨🇳 ChinaButterfly loach A small, flat freshwater loach from fast Chinese streams.Other · Rivers and lakes 🇰🇭 Cambodia and 4 moreGyrinocheilus aymonieri A Southeast Asian freshwater fish known for its suction-like mouth and role in the aquarium trade.Other · Rivers and lakes 🇨🇳 ChinaTelescope goldfish Fancy goldfish breed with large protruding eyesCarp · Rivers and lakes 🇯🇵 JapanRanchu A hooded goldfish breed from Japan with no dorsal fin and a rounded body.Other · Rivers and lakes WorldTetra Common name for small freshwater characiform fishes popular in aquaria.Livebearer · Rivers and lakes 🇧🇷 BrazilBlack arowana A South American freshwater fish known for its dark colour and jumping hunting style.Other · Rivers and lakes 🇮🇩 Indonesia and 4 moreAsian arowana Large freshwater fish from Southeast Asia known for its metallic scales and cultural significance.Ancient · Rivers and lakes · 1840 🇵🇦 Panama and 1 moreGlass knifefish Translucent electric fish from South American riversOther · Rivers and lakes 🇧🇷 Brazil and 1 moreSilver arowana Large South American freshwater predator with bone tongue.Other · Rivers and lakes 🇵🇪 PeruAgassiz's dwarf cichlid Small Amazonian cichlid with colourful males.Cichlid · Rivers and lakes WorldCichlid Diverse freshwater fish family known for parental care and rapid evolution.Cichlid · Rivers and lakes · 1835 Fire eel 🇹🇭 Thailand and 4 moreFire eel Large spiny eel with red markings from Southeast AsiaOther · Rivers and lakes 🇹🇭 Thailand and 3 morePeacock eel A small freshwater spiny eel from Southeast Asia.Eel · Rivers and lakes 🇸🇳 Senegal and 3 moreSenegal bichir Ancient African fish that breathes air and walks on landAncient · Rivers and lakes Sub-Saharan AfricaMbu pufferfish Large carnivorous freshwater puffer from the Congo River.Other · Rivers and lakes South AsiaGreen spotted puffer Small brackish water pufferfish with a tiny genomeOther · Rivers and lakes 🇰🇭 Cambodia and 1 moreFigure 8 puffer A small brackish water pufferfish with distinctive eye-like markings.Other · Rivers and lakes OceaniaBanded archerfish A silvery fish that spits water jets to catch prey.Perch-like · Estuaries and mangroves · 1767 Sub-Saharan AfricaFreshwater butterflyfish Surface-dwelling African fish that glides above water.Other · Rivers and lakes 🇮🇩 IndonesiaBoeseman's rainbowfish A colourful freshwater fish from West Papua lakes.Other · Rivers and lakes 🇦🇺 Australia and 1 moreThreadfin rainbowfish Small freshwater fish with long, elegant fins from Australia and New Guinea.Other · Rivers and lakes · 1974 🇵🇬 Papua New GuineaForktail blue-eye A small freshwater fish from Papua New Guinea rainforests.Livebearer · Rivers and lakes 🇮🇩 IndonesiaDwarf rainbowfish Small, iridescent freshwater fish from West Papua.Other · Rivers and lakes Bluefin notho 🇲🇿 MozambiqueBluefin notho A small annual killifish from Mozambique kept in aquaria.Livebearer · Rivers and lakes · 1926 🇬🇦 GabonLyretail panchax Small colourful freshwater killifish from GabonLivebearer · Rivers and lakes 🇮🇩 IndonesiaCelebes rainbowfish A small, transparent silverside from Sulawesi streams.Other · Rivers and lakes 🇬🇳 Guinea and 2 moreClown killi Small West African freshwater fish with ringed patternsLivebearer · Rivers and lakes · 1915
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The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

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