Catfish

Armored catfish including Aspidoras, Brochis, Callichthys, and Corydoras


Brown-point shield skin longirostris
Aspidoras fuscoguttatus is a tropical freshwater fish belonging to the Corydoradinae sub-family of the Callichthyidae family. It originates in inland waters in South America, and is found in the upper Paraná River basin in Brazil and Peru.

Brown-point shield skin longirostris
Brown-point shield skin longirostris





Characins and Other Characiformes

Tetras


Black phantom tetra
The black phantom tetra (Hyphessobrycon megalopterus) is a freshwater fish of the characin family (family Characidae) of order Characiformes. It is native to the Paraguay, Guaporé, and Mamore river basins in Brazil and Bolivia.

This fish is of roughly tetragonal shape, light grey in coloring, with a black patch, surrounded by iridescent silver edging, posterior of the gills on each side. The male's fins are black, as is the female's dorsal fin; the female's pelvic, anal, and adipose fins are reddish in color. A long-finned variety, apparently developed by captive breeders, is sometimes sold (the male has elongated dorsal and anal fins even in the wild form). The black phantom tetra reaches a maximum overall length of approximately 4.5 cm (1.8 in).

The black phantom tetra's natural diet consist of small crustaceans, insects, and worms.

H. megalopterus is one of the more popular tetras sold in the aquarium trade. Megalomphodus megalopterus and Megalamphodus rogoaguae are obsolete synonyms for this species. While it is not particularly colorful, it makes up for this by its display behavior: the males are territorial and defend their space against their neighbors by presenting themselves in profile with the dorsal and anal fins fully extended, and the dark color intensified, making the edging of the body patch stand out prominently. Sometimes they exchange blows which can tear the fins, but this damage heals quickly. Unlike other tetra who prefer to live in large shoals, they will also do fine when kept in a group of four or five individuals, making them suitable for smaller aquaria. There should still be enough space for the males to stake territories and present themselves to best effort, however.

Black phantom tetra
Black phantom tetra



Cichlids

Lake Malawi cichlids


Red fin hap
Copadichromis borleyi is a species of cichlid fish endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa. The species is popular in the fishkeeping hobby where it is frequently kept in aquariums. The species has numerous common names, including redfin hap and goldfin hap.

Red fin hap
Red fin hap



Cyprinids

Barbs


Cherry barb
The cherry barb (Puntius titteya) is a tropical fish belonging to the spotted barb genus of the Cyprinidae family. It is native to Sri Lanka, and introduced populations have become established in Mexico and Colombia. The cherry barb was named Puntius titteya by Paules Edward Pieris Deraniyagala in 1929. Synonyms include Barbus titteya and Capoeta titteya.

The species is commercially important in the aquarium trade, and it is in danger of being overfished for this industry. It was listed as a least-concern species in 1996.

Cherry barb
Cherry barb




Darters

Gilt darter
The gilt darter (Percina evides) is a small freshwater fish in the genus Percina, a ray-finned fish in the perch family. It can be found in a number of states in the Mississippi River drainage of the United States although it has been extirpated from some river systems in which it was at one time present, mostly due to siltation and pollution problems. Males are more colorful than females and can grow to a length of about 9 cm (3.5 in). It is a benthic fish that feeds primarily on small aquatic insect larvae. Males form territories during the breeding season in late spring and early summer. Spawning typically takes place at the upper ends of riffles with sandy and gravelly bottoms interspersed with larger cobbles. Some organisations are endeavouring to conserve populations of the gilt darter and re-introduce it to states where the fish has been extirpated but suitable habitat still exists.

Gilt darter
Gilt darter



Gobies Fish

Bumblebee Goby
Brachygobius doriae (bumblebee goby) is a species of goby native to fresh and brackish waters of Indonesia, Brunei and Singapore, Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam. This species can reach a length of 4.2 centimetres (1.7 in) TL. It is listed as Least Concern as no threats are known and it is popular in the aquarium trade.

Bumblebee Goby
Bumblebee Goby



Killifish

American Flagfish

The flagfish or American flagfish (Jordanella floridae) is a pupfish native to Florida. It received its name because the male fish resembles the American flag, with a large black/blue dot and alternating red and black/blue stripes on its body. It is a common, native fish in Florida that is occasionally found in fish stores. They make quick work of hair algae and they may also eat plants in a planted aquarium.

American Flagfish
American Flagfish