Swimming fishes

Freshwater Fish Guide – Species By Geographical Origin

Species are grouped by continent of origin as a guide to anyone interested in the geographical origin of species and for those wishing to set up aquariums using only fish from the same continent. Those wishing to set up a true biotype aquarium of fish from the same region are encouraged to seek further information as it is beyond the scope of this guide to give the exact original location for all species.

Fish from Australia & Papua New Guinea

For more information about the species, click the info link

Common NameSpecies nameClick link for details
Yellowfin eeltail catfishNeosilurius hyrtliiinfo
Berneyi shark catfishArius berneyiinfo
Salmon catfishArius graeffeiinfo
Black eeltail catfishNeosilurius aterinfo
Tandanus catfishTandanus tandanusinfo
Murray River rainbowMelanotaenia fluviatilisinfo
Banded rainbowfishMelanotaenia trifasciatainfo
Black-band rainbowMelanotaenia nigransinfo
Boesmans rainbow (PNG)Melanotaenia boesmaniinfo
MacCullochs rainbowMelanotaenia maccullochiinfo
Neon rainbow (PNG)Melanotaenia praecoxinfo
Parkinsons rainbow (PNG)Melanotaenia parkinsoniinfo
Utchee Creek rainbowMelanotaenia utcheensisinfo
Madagascar rainbowBedotia gaeyiinfo
Ramu rainbow (PNG)Glossolepsis ramuensisinfo
Pacific blue-eyePseudomugil signiferinfo
Delicate blue-eyePseudomugil tenellusinfo
Forktailed blue-eyePseudomugil furcatusinfo
Fly-speckled hardyhead, Australian pencilfishCraterocephalus stercusmuscaruminfo
Celebes rainbowTelmatherina ladigesiinfo
Western rainbowMelanotaenia australisinfo
Eastern rainbowMelanotaenia splendida splendidainfo
Mountain galaxiasGalaxias olidusinfo
Spotted or common galaxias, jollytailGalaxias maculatusinfo
Western galaxiasGalaxias occidentalisinfo
Yellow bartail grunterAmniataba caudavittatainfo
Spangled perchLeiopotherapon unicolorinfo
Sooty grunterHephaestus fuliginosusinfo
Silver perchBidyanus bidyanusinfo
Barred grunterAmniataba percoidesinfo
Coal grunterHephaestus carboinfo
Golden perchMacquaria ambiguainfo
Murray codMaccullochella peeliiinfo
Australian BassMacquaria novemaculeatainfo
Olive glassfishAmbassis agassiziiinfo
Southern pygmy perchNannoperca australisinfo
Western pygmy perchEdelia vittatainfo
Indian glassfishParambassis rangainfo
BarramundiLates calcariferinfo
BreamAcanthopagrus berdainfo
Mangrove jackLutjanus argentimaculatusinfo
Silver monoMonodactylus argenteusinfo
Mouth almightyGlossamia aprioninfo
Gulf and Queensland SaratogaScleropages jardinii, S. leichardtiinfo
Red scatScatophagus argusinfo
Silver scatSelenotoca multifasciatusinfo
ArcherfishToxotes sppinfo
Empire gudgeonHypseleotris compressainfo
Desert gobyChlamydogobius eremiusinfo
Crazy fishButis butisinfo
Peacock gudgeonTateurndina ocellicaudainfo
Purple-spot gudgeonsMogurnda adspersa, M. mogurnda etcinfo
Sleepy codOxyleotris lineolatainfo
Spangled gudgeonOphiocara porocephalainfo

Fish from Asia and Europe

For more information about the species, click the info link

Common NameSpecies nameClick link for details
Oranda – including blue and redcapCarassius auratusinfo
Comet and ShubunkinCarassius auratusinfo
Lionhead and ranchuCarassius auratusinfo
PearlscaleCarassius auratusinfo
PompomCarassius auratusinfo
Butterfly tail and PandaCarassius auratusinfo
RyukinCarassius auratusinfo
Black moor and telescopeCarassius auratusinfo
FantailCarassius auratusinfo
Celestial and bubble-eyeCarassius auratusinfo
Clown barbPuntius everettiinfo
Odessa barbPuntius ticto var odessainfo
Silver sharkBalantiocheilus melanopterusinfo
Zebra barbPuntius lineatus, P. johorensisinfo
Tiger barbPuntius tetrazonainfo
Spanner barbPuntius lateristrigainfo
Rosy barbPuntius conchoniusinfo
Longfin barbPuntius aruliusinfo
Cumings barbPuntius cumingiiinfo
China barbPuntius semifasciolatusinfo
Cherry barbPuntius titteyainfo
Checker barbPuntius oligolepsisinfo
Black ruby barbPuntius nigrofasciatusinfo
Gold barbPuntius semifasciolatusinfo
Red-line rasboraRasbora pauciperforatainfo
Scissortail rasboraRasbora trilineatainfo
Giant danioDanio aequipinnatusinfo
Leopard danioDanio frankeiinfo
Pearl danioDanio albolineatusinfo
Zebra danioDanio rerioinfo
Dwarf rasboraBororas maculatainfo
White cloud mountain minnowTanichthys albonubesinfo
Harlequin rasboraRasbora heteromorphainfo
Albino (gold) sharkEpalzeorynchus frenatusinfo
Black sharkLabeo chrysophekadioninfo
Rainbow sharkEpalzeorynchus frenatusinfo
Redtail sharkEpalzeorynchus bicolorinfo
Variegated sharkLabeo cyclorhynchusinfo
Flying foxEpalzeorynchus kalopterusinfo
Siamese foxCrossocheilus siamensisinfo
Clown loachBotia macracanthusinfo
Kuhli loachPangio kuhliiinfo
Borneo suckerGastromyzon borneensisinfo
LizardfishHomaloptera orthogoniatainfo
Sucking catfishGyrinocheilus aymonieriinfo
BitterlingRhodeus amarusinfo
Bumblebee catfishPseudomystus siamensisinfo
Phantom glass catfishKryptopterus bicirrhisinfo
Gold medakaOzyrias latipesinfo
Ceylon killifishAplocheilus dayiinfo
Honey gouramiTrichogaster chunainfo
Kissing fishHelostoma temminckiiinfo
Paradise fishMacropodus opercularisinfo
Siamese fighter, BettaBetta splendensinfo
Thicklip gouramiTrichogaster labiosusinfo
Silver or moonlight gouramiTrichogaster microlepsisinfo
Indian banded gouramiColisa fasciatusinfo
Dwarf, flame, coral blue gouramiColisa laliainfo
Croaking gouramiTrichopsis vittatainfo
Blue, gold, opal and platinum gouramiTrichogaster trichopterusinfo
Lace or Pearl gouramiTrichogaster leeriinfo
Bumblebee gobyBrachygobius Xanthozonainfo

Fish from Africa

For more information about the species, click the info link

Common NameSpecies nameClick link for details
African red-eye tetraArnoldichthys spilopterusinfo
African longfin tetraBrycinus longipinnisinfo
Upsidedown catfishSynodontis nigriventrisinfo
Black-spotted synodontisSynodontis nigromaculatusinfo
Clown synodontisSynodontis decorusinfo
Cuckoo catfishSynodontis multipunctatusinfo
Featherfin catfishSynodontis eupterusinfo
Lyretail killifishAphyosemion australeinfo
Steel-blue killifishAphyosemion gardneriinfo
Striped killifishAphyosemion striatuminfo
Auratus and dwarf auratusMelanochromis auratus, M. dialeptosinfo
Redtop iceblue and cobalt zebraMetriaclima (aka Maylandia) greshakei, M. callanoisinfo
Red zebra, Tangerine and blue, OB zebraMetriaclima (aka Maylandia) estheraeinfo
Lombardoi, KennyiMetriaclima (aka Maylandia) lombardoiinfo
Red-cheek zebraPseudotropheus (Tropheops) macrophthalmusinfo
PindaniPseudotropheus socolofiinfo
JohanniMelanochromis johanniinfo
Electric yellowLabidochromis caeruleusinfo
Peacock cichlid varietiesAulonacara varinfo
Peacock cichlidsAulonocara sppinfo
Jacobfreiberg peacockAulonocara jacobfreibergiinfo
Grants peacockAulonocara stuartgrantiinfo
Blue dolphinCyrtocara mooriiinfo
Electra, deepwater hapPlacidochromis electrainfo
Fossochromis rostratusFossochromis rostratusinfo
Kadango red copadichromisCopadichromis borleyiinfo
Electric blue, ahliSciaenochromis fryeriinfo
Livingstones hapNimbochromis livingstoniinfo
Venustus, giraffe hapNimbochromis venustusinfo
Browns haplochromisAstatotilapia brownaeinfo
Peacock cichlid speciesAulonacara sppinfo
Shell-dwelling cichlidsLamprologus ocellatus, Neolamprologus hecqui, N. multifasciatusinfo
FrontosaCyphotilapia frontosainfo
TropheusTropheus sppinfo
Featherfins and sand-siftersCyathopharynx furcifer, Ophthalmotilapia spp etcinfo
Julies and relativesJulidochromis, Chalinochromis, Telmatochromis sppinfo
Cyprichromis speciesCyprichromis leptosoma, Paracyprichromis nigripinnisinfo
Lepidiolamprologus speciesLepidiolamprologus attenuatus, L. elongatusinfo
Fivebar and other lamprologine cichlidsNeolamprologus tretocephalus etcinfo
Princess-type cichlidsNeolamprologus pulcher etcinfo
Princess cichlidNeolamprologus brichardiinfo
Lemon cichlidNeolamprologus leleupiinfo
Altolamprologus speciesAltolamprologus calvus, A. compressicepsinfo
Jewel and redforest jewel cichlidHemichromis bimaculatus, H. lifaliliinfo
KribensisPelvicachromis pulcher, P. subocellatus, P.taeniatusinfo
African butterflyAnomalochromis thomasiinfo
Black or African monoMonodactylus sebaeinfo

Fish from Central & South America

Central America

For more information about the species, click the info link

Common NameSpecies nameClick link for details
SwordtailXiphophorus helleriinfo
Sailfin mollyPoescilia veliferainfo
PlatyXiphophorus maculatusinfo
MollyPoecilia latipinnainfo
GuppyPoecilia reticulatusinfo
OscarAstronotus occelatusinfo
T-bar cichlid or sajicaArchocentrus sajicainfo
Redhead cichlid, synspillumVieja synspilainfo
Rainbow cichlidHerotilapia multispinosainfo
FiremouthThorichthys meekiinfo
Cutter cichlidArchocentrus septemfasciatusinfo
Blue-eye cichlidArchocentrus spiluruminfo

South America

For more information about the species, click the info link

Common NameSpecies nameClick link for details
Lemon tetraHyphessobrycon pulchripinnisinfo
Yellow-tailed congo tetraHemigrammopetersius caudalisinfo
Silver-tip tetraHasemania nanainfo
Serpae tetraHyphessobrycon callipterusinfo
Rummynose tetraHemigrammus bleheriinfo
Rosy tetraHyphessobrycon rosaceusinfo
Roberts tetraHyphessobrycon “robertsi”info
Red Phantom tetraHyphessobrycon sweglesiinfo
Red-eye tetraMoenkhausia sanctafilomenaeinfo
Pristella tetraPristella maxillarisinfo
Black Neon tetraHyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodiinfo
Neon and green neonParacheirodon innesi, P. simulansinfo
Kerri tetraInpaichthys kerriinfo
Hockeystick tetraThayeria boehlkeiinfo
Head-and-tail-light tetraHemigrammus ocelliferinfo
Bloodfin tetraPrionobrama filigera, Aphyocharax anisitsiinfo
Black Phantom tetraHyphessobrycon megalopterusinfo
Black Widow tetraGymnocorymbus ternetziinfo
Pretty tetraHemigrammus pulcherinfo
Blind Cave tetraAstyanax fasciatus mexicanusinfo
Glolite tetraHemigrammus erythrozonusinfo
Buenos Aires tetraHemigrammus caudovittatusinfo
Cardinal tetraParacheirodon axelrodiinfo
Cochus blue tetraBoehlkea fredcochuiinfo
Columbian tetraHyphessobrycon ecuadoriensisinfo
Congo tetraPhenacogramma interruptusinfo
Diamond tetraMoenkhausia pittieriinfo
Emporer tetraNematobrycon palmeriinfo
Flame tetraHyphessobrycon flammeusinfo
Bleeding-heart tetraHyphessobrycon erythrostigmainfo
Dwarf pencilfishNannostomus marginatusinfo
Golden pencilfishNannostomus beckfordiinfo
Rocket-tail pencilfishNannostomus equesinfo
Three-lined pencilfishNannostomus trifasciatusinfo
Splashing characinCopella arnoldiinfo
Giant silver hatchetfishThoracocharax stellatusinfo
Black-wing hatchetfishTriportheus rotundatusinfo
Marbled hatchetfishCarnegiella strigatainfo
Silver dollarMetynnis argenteusinfo
Red hookMyleus rubripinnisinfo
Spotted pacuMetynnis maculatusinfo
Banded leporinusLeporinus fasciatus, L. desmotesinfo
Black-band anostomusAnostomus ternetziinfo
Flagtail prochilodusSemaprochilodus taeniurusinfo
Red-tail anostomusAnostomus anostomusinfo
Spotted headstanderChilodus punctatusinfo
Corydoras catfish – general infoCorydoras sppinfo
Pictus catfishPimelodus pictusinfo
Hoplo and Dianema catfishMegalechis thoracata, Dianema urostriatainfo
Emerald and Brochis catfishBrochis splendens, Brochis spp.info
Panda and arched corydorasCorydpras panda, C. arcuatus etcinfo
Leopard and spotted corydorasCorydoras julii, C. trilineatus, C. leopardus etcinfo
Other corydoras catfishCorydoras sppinfo
Bronze, Albino and Peppered corydorasCorydoras aeneus, C. paleatusinfo
Masked corydoras varietiesCorydoras spp.info
Otocinclus catfishOtocinclus affinisinfo
Whiptail and twig catfishSturisoma, Rineloricaria, Farlowella sppinfo
Bristlenose catfishAncistrus sppinfo
Plecostomus catfishHypostomus plecostomus, Glyptoperichthys gibbicepsinfo
Apistogramma borelliApistogramma borelliinfo
Blue and Gold ramMikrogeophagus ramireziinfo
Chessboard or checkerboard cichlidDicrossus filamentosusinfo
Cockatoo dwarf cichlidApistogramma cacatuoidesinfo
Golden dwarf cichlidNannacara anomolainfo
Apistogramma agassiziiApistogramma agassiziiinfo
Red-humpGeophagus steindachneriinfo
SurinamensisGeophagus surinamensisinfo
Green terror, Gold saum, RivulatusAequidens rivulatusinfo
Redbreast flag cichlidLaetacara dorsigerainfo
Keyhole cichlidCleithacara maroniiinfo
Blue acaraAequidens pulcherinfo
Curviceps or sheepshead acaraLaetacara curvicepsinfo
SeverumHeros severusinfo
AngelfishPterophyllum scalareinfo
Chocolate cichlidHyselacara coryphaenoidesinfo
Discus and Heckel discusSymphosodon aequifascata, S. discusinfo
FestivumMesonauta festivusinfo

Further Reading

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