The following is a quick bit of information about all the fish the particular PETsMART I work at carries. I created this for new aquatics associates to use when learning about the many fish we have, so they know to keep tetras in groups of three and that a person with a 10 gallon tank can't have a pangasius catfish. I figure that for quick info, this may be useful to just about anybody so i'm preparing the list over the internet. This way, the list will be available to other PETsMARTS and pet stores as well. Hope you appreciate it.

Let me know if you disagree with any of the information on here. I can't claim to know everything about every single fish, so I may have some info wrong.

THE KEY
Fish will be listed in several groups, depending on how they are sold and that sort of thing. There will be African cichlids, Algae Eaters, Assorted Other Fish, Barbs, Catfish, Central and South American Cichlids, Danios, Eels (not nessasarily true eels), Goldfish, Knife Fish, Labyrinth Fish (Gouramis, Bettas), Livebearers (Guppies, Mollies, Platies, Sword-Tails), Loaches, Rainbowfish, Sharks, and Tetras.

Fish within the catagories will be listed in alphabetical order.

Here is an example of how the fish will be listed:
Neon Tetra: Paracheirodon innesi
PH: 6.0-7.2 Temp: 78-80 Tank: 10 Size: 1.5" Temperment: Docile/Schooling Feeding:Top, Middle/Staple: Tropical flake. Suppliment: Frozen, freeze dried, and live foods. Small tropical pellets. Sexing:Females broader and sometimes larger than the slim males. Breeding: Egglayer/Difficult Special Notes: Not a good cycling fish, reletively sensitive. Due to size, can have about one fish per gallon. Similar to cardinal tetras.

The first underlined part is the fish's common name. I will give as many common names as I know (some have several). If you are viewing this list on the Internet, you can click on the name to go to a site with more information on the fish.

The second, italicized part is the scientific name. I will list the correct scientific name, followed by alternative names.

PH: This pH is not the exact pH to simulate the fish’s natural home or breed the fish. It will be a wide range, usually, that a fish can live happily and healthily in. fish can live outside the range I list, but it’s best to keep them within their range. For more notes on pH, go here.

Temp: This stands for temperature. I only use Fahrenheit because I’m lazy. Go here for a formula to change Fahrenheit to Celsius.

Tank: This is the smallest tank size you can keep an adult fish in. Do not buy a fish unless you are prepared to keep the adult. If the fish is a schooling fish, the tank refers to what size you need to keep three. If it’s not a schooling fish, the tank size is appropriate for only one of those fish. If you want more fish, you’ll need to get a bigger tank. The tank size is in gallons, to convert to liters, go here.
Specialty Associates: Do not sell a fish unless a person has an appropriate tank to put the adult in.
Note: Tank size refers to rectangular tanks only. Many fish can not live in hex tanks less than 100 gallons. Some can not live in hex tanks at all. For more on tanks, go here.

Size: This is the adult length of the fish. Remember that in most cases, you only want an inch of fish per gallon.

Temperment: I will use the PETsMART categories for temperament of a fish: docile, semi-aggressive, aggressive, Goldfish, and African cichlid. PETsMART also used the catagory "General" but as far as I can tell, this catagory is meaningless, so i'm not using it. After a backslash you may then see one of the following categories: schooling, territorial, and pond.
Docile are your community fish. They will harm no one and usually become lunch with too aggressive fish.
Semi-Aggressive is a broad category. Some semi-aggressive fish do fine with docile, small fish, some don’t. it depends mostly on size and individual temperament. For example, tiger barbs are semi-aggressive but only get three inches long so they can be kept with docile fish such as neon tetras. A Leporinus, on the other hand, gets eight inches long and will eat neon. Other fish, such as angels, may or may not eat the neons, depending on a lot of factors.
Aggressive fish are usually large and mean. They like to eat other fish.
African Cichlid gets it’s own category because Africans can only be kept with Africans with a few exceptions. Check out the African Cichlid Webring to research this fish. Associates: make certain before you sell an African that it is going in an African only tank. Many people buy Africans for their community tanks because they are brightly colored.
Goldfish is a category much like African cichlid. Goldfish can only be kept with goldfish with a few exceptions. For more on goldfish tanks, go here.
Associates: only sell these fish if a person will buy at least three or if they have more at home. When someone asks for two, say "these fish must be kept in groups of three or more." Don’t say "it would be best" or "they’ll be happier" say "must." People tend to listen better then.
Teritorial is my way of saying that this fish fights with its own species. You must keep these fish in odd numbers: one, three, five. Be certain you have room for them all, as many of these fish get large. With some of these fish, you can only have one, such as male bettas.
Pond are fish that can only live in a pond. This refers only to koi.

Feeding: Categories include top, middle, bottom, and all feeders. Then listed will be the foods the fish eats. The first foods listed will be the staple diet which are the foods you must have. You should also have at least one of the foods listed as Suppliment.
Types of foods I’ll list:
Tropical/Goldfish/Cichlid Flake will be the staple for most fish.
Tropical/Goldfish/Cichlid Pellet is more appropriate for larger fish.
Sinking Pellets will be the staple for most bottom feeders. Sinking shrimp pellets are specified for some fish.
Live Food includes blood worms, brine shrimp, glass worms, daphnia, tubifex, and others for smaller fish. Larger fish take earthworms and feeder fish. Some need a specifiic food, which will be specified.
Vegetables refer to fresh vegetables. Cucumber, zucchini, romaine lettuce, kale, spinach, parsley, algae, and frozen peas (with the skins pealed off) will work. Never use iceberg (head) lettuce.
Frozen foods are generally things like blood worms and brine shrimp. You can use cocktail shrimp for larger fish.
Spirulina is an algae that can be found in disks, as pellets, as flake, or frozen. Good as a supplement for herbivores.
Other foods may be listed.
For more on foods and feeding, go here.

Sexing: Difference in males and females will be listed here. Livebearer sex is distinguished by anal fin shape as illustrated here.

Breeding: Will be listed as mouthbrooder, egglayer or livebearers then easy, difficult, very difficult, N/A, and unknown.
Easy refers to fish such as livebearers and bettas which readily breed in home aquariums.
Difficult refers to neons and such. Takes some time and patience to breed these.
Very Difficult usually refers o fish rarely bred in home aquariums such as plecostamus. Takes some expertise to breed these.
N/A are fish that have never been bred in an aquarium, such as arapima and clown loaches. Some are wild caught, many are bred in places like Singapore and Florida. This doesn’t mean that you can’t try to breed them.
Unknown for fish I can’t find breeding info on.

Special Notes: This is all the extra stuff. Typical notes are: not good cycling (starter) fish, can live in unheated tanks, scaleless, jumper, destroys live plants, etc.

The List

African Cichlids

The Majority of these Africans are Lake Malawi cichlids. There are a few Tanganyikan cichlids, it will be noted under Temperment if this is the case. The Malawis tend to be maternal mouthbrooders and are very good parents. Baby africans are fairly large when they become free swimming so you should be able to feed newly hatched brine shrimp and finely crushed flake or prepared baby foods. Other Africans will breed in caves or dig ditches in the gravel to spawn in, they also watch over their babies and will eat the same baby foods.

Albino Zebra Pseudotropheus zebra
See Zebra

Auratus, Malawi Golden Cichlid Melanochromis auratus
PH:7.8-8.5 Temp:78-82 Tank:29 Size:6" Temperment:African Cichlid Feeding:All/Staple:Cichlid flake or pellet, Vegie. Suppliment: spirulina, live, frozen. Sexing: Females and young are bright yellow with two black stripes on the side and a black stripe on the dorsal. Males are reverse, black with yellow stripes. Breeding: Mouthbrooder/Easy

Blue Zebra Pseudotropheus zebra
See Zebra

Brichardi Chalinochromis brichardi
PH: Temp: Tank: Size: Temperment: Feeding: Sexing: Breeding:

Bumblebee Pseudotropheus crabro
PH: Temp: Tank: Size: Temperment: Feeding: Sexing: Breeding:

Chilumba macro
PH: Temp: Tank: Size: Temperment: Feeding: Sexing: Breeding:

Cobalt Zebra Pseudotropheus zebra
See Zebra Compressiceps Lamprologus compressiceps/Dimidiochromis compressiceps
PH: Temp: Tank: Size: Temperment: Feeding: Sexing: Breeding:

Dickfeldi Julidochromis dickfeldi
PH: Temp: Tank: Size: Temperment: Feeding: Sexing: Breeding:

Duboisi Tropheus duboisi
PH: Temp: Tank: Size: Temperment: Feeding: Sexing: Breeding:

Electric Yellow Lab
PH: Temp: Tank: Size: Temperment: Feeding: Sexing: Breeding:

The Frontosa Cyphoticapia frontosa
PH: Temp: Tank: Size: Temperment: Feeding: Sexing: Breeding:

Fuelleborn's Cichlid Labeo fuelleborni
PH: Temp: Tank: Size: Temperment: Feeding: Sexing: Breeding:

Jacobfreibergi Auloncara jacobfreibergi/Trematocranus jacobfreibergi
See Lemon Jacobfreibergi

Johanni Melanochromis johanni
PH: Temp: Tank: Size: Temperment: Feeding: Sexing: Breeding:

Kenyi Pseudotropheus lombardoi
PH: Temp: Tank: Size: Temperment: Feeding: Sexing: Breeding:

Leleupi/Lemon Cichlid Lamprologus leleupi
PH: Temp: Tank: Size: Temperment: Feeding: Sexing: Breeding:

Lemon Cichlid Lamprologus leleupi

Lemon Jacobfreibergi Auloncara jacobfreibergi/Trematocranus jacobfreibergi
PH: Temp: Tank: Size: Temperment: Feeding: Sexing: Breeding:

Livingtoni Haplochromis livingstoni
PH: Temp: Tank: Size: Temperment: Feeding: Sexing: Breeding:

Malawi Blue Ciclid Pseudotropheus zebra
See Zebra

Malawi Golden Cichlid Melanochromis auratus
See Auratus

Orange Blotch Mac
PH: Temp: Tank: Size: Temperment: Feeding: Sexing: Breeding:

Orange Blotch (OB) Zebra Pseudotropheus zebra
See Zebra.

Rec Cheek Macro
PH: Temp: Tank: Size: Temperment: Feeding: Sexing: Breeding:

Red Blotch Zebra Pseudotropheus zebra
See Zebra

Red Katanga
PH: Temp: Tank: Size: Temperment: Feeding: Sexing: Breeding:

Red Top Trewarasa
PH: Temp: Tank: Size: Temperment: Feeding: Sexing: Breeding:

Red Zebra Pseudotropheus zebra
See Zebra

Rusty Cichlid Iodotropheus sprengerae
PH: Temp: Tank: Size: Temperment: Feeding: Sexing: Breeding:

Socolofi Psuedotropeus socolofi
PH: Temp: Tank: Size: Temperment: Feeding: Sexing: Breeding:

Yellow Daktari
PH: Temp: Tank: Size: Temperment: Feeding: Sexing: Breeding:

Venustus
PH: Temp: Tank: Size: Temperment: Feeding: Sexing: Breeding: Zebra, Malawi Blue Cichlid Pseudotropheus zebra
PH:7.8-8.5 Temp:78-82 Tank:29 Size:5' Temperment:African Cichlid Feeding:All/Staple: Cichlid flake or pellet, vegies. Suppliment: spirulina, live, frozen Sexing:Different for each color variety Breeding:Mouthbrooder/Easy Special Notes: Has many naturally occuring color varieties.

Algae Eaters

Chocolate Albino Plecostomus
See Choclolate Albino Plecostomus under the Catfish section.

Chinese Algae Eater
PH: Temp: Tank: Size: Temperment: Feeding: Sexing: Breeding:

Candy Stripe Plecostomus
See Candy Stripe Plecostamus under Catifsh

Flying Fox Epalzeorhynchus kalopterus
PH: Temp: Tank: Size: Temperment: Feeding: Sexing: Breeding:

Barbs
The variety of barbs, their color and patterns, wide range of shapes and sizes, make for a very interesting group of fish. One could keep nothing but barbs and still have a fascinating aquarium. j All barbs are schooling fish and many tend to be fin nippers. Most are easty to difficult egglayers who scatter their eggs among fine lieaved bunch plants, then do a very good job of eating their own eggs. Females usually are broader and males usually are more brightly colored. these are hardy fish, excellent for beginners.

Assorted Other Fish
As this list expands, these fish will probably get their own catagories. Peter's elephant nose, for example, will by listed with other mormyrids.

Catfish
From the endearing corydoras to the monstrous redtail catfish, from the graceful pictus to the reletively ugly plecosomus, catfish have something to suit everyone's tastes, whether you keep aggressive cichlids or a peaceful community tank. I personally could have tanks upon tanks with nothing but catfish.
Something should be said about the corydoras, as this is a popular group of fish. these armoured catfish msut be in groups of three or more. They are easy to difficult breeders, with the females being much larger and fatter than males. In a reverse of the usual pattern, you should have several males to each female for breeding. There are plenty of books available just about cories. these are excellent and inoffensive scavengers.

Central and South American Cichlids
These fish range from docile to extremely aggressive. Though not as brightly colored as Africans, for the most part, these fish have more than enough personality and charm to make up for it. I've known quite a few oscars who allow themselves to be pet and eat out of their ownders hands. I even knew a woman who's oscar would give her a kiss when she put her lips to the glass.
If you have a community tank, there's no reason you shouldn't have Ramerezi's dwarf cichlid, a bright blue and gold fish. If you're looking for something big and beautiful, angelfish and discus are for you. If you want a really big and challenging fish, try oscars, red devils, and managuenese.
These fish are all egglayers and dedicated parents. Some, such as discus, form strong bonds with their mate. If you enjoy the thrill of breeding or need some feeders, try convicts. You'll have plenty of babies in no time.

Danios
These tend to be small, neurotic, schooling fish. Not good companions for shy fish, these highly active fish are perfect for a child's first aquariums or as a cycling fish or dither/target fish for more aggressive fish. Many are also easy to breed and provide a good supply of feeder fish. The females are fatter and they scatter their eggs in plants. They also eat their eggs. Keep two or three females to each male for best results. The fish do well in small and unheated tanks. They don't do to well with slow, long-finned fish like bettas.

Blue Danio
PH: Temp: Tank: Size: Temperment: Feeding: Sexing: Breeding:

Giant Danio
PH: Temp: Tank: Size: Temperment: Feeding: Sexing: Breeding:

Gold Danio
PH: Temp: Tank: Size: Temperment: Feeding: Sexing: Breeding:

Gold Giant Danio
See Giant Danio

Leopard Danio
PH: Temp: Tank: Size: Temperment: Feeding: Sexing: Breeding:

Pearl Danio
PH: Temp: Tank: Size: Temperment: Feeding: Sexing: Breeding:

Zebra Danio
PH: Temp: Tank: Size: Temperment: Feeding: Sexing: Breeding:

Eels

Rubber Eel Typhlonectes Natan
PH: Temp: Tank: Size: Temperment: Feeding: Sexing: Breeding:

Peacock Eel
PH: Temp: Tank: Size: Temperment: Feeding: Sexing: Breeding:

Tiretrack Eel Mestacrmbelus armatus
PH: Temp: Tank: Size: Temperment: Feeding: Sexing: Breeding:

Goldfish
Contrary to popular belief, Goldfish are not the easiest fish to keep or start with. I started out with a few fat Orandas in a ten gallon tank and ended up with a 700+ gallon pond. Unless you are prepared to make accommodations for a foot long fish, put a heater in your tank and stick with tetras.
A full grown Goldfish needs at least 15 gallons to itself. They also need excellent filtration. Never keep a Goldfish in a bowl. If you're lucky, you may get a year or two out of your miserable, unhealthy fish, but that hardly anything compared to the 10 to 20 years a Goldfish can attain in a large, well filtered aquarium.
If you do go with Goldfish and are prepared for them, I guarantee you will be pleased with your choice n fish. Goldfish are colorful, interesting, and personable. Like cichlids, they can be pt and taught fishy tricks. My fantails and koi come to the edge of the pond when I whistle for them. They will follow you from one end of the tank to the other. Unlike cichlids, they never become mean, can't bite and will not fight with tank mates. The worst a Goldfish can do when you clean your tank is suck on your fingers.
Goldfish are also fairly easy to breed. Though it's hard to tell with big-bellied varieties, females will be fatter. When in breeding condition, males get black pimples on their gills. Goldfish spawn in plants or breeding mops, and love to eat their own eggs. Babies can be fed on brine shrimp, plants, and prepared baby foods.
Dozens of varieties of Goldfish are available and I intend to describe them and find pictures of them soon.

Chinese Fancy Goldfish Carasius Auratus
PH: Temp: Tank: Size: Temperment: Feeding: Sexing: Breeding:

Commet Carassius auratus
PH: Temp: Tank: Size: Temperment: Feeding: Sexing: Breeding:

Golden Orb, Black Orb, Rosey Red
PH: Temp: Tank: Size: Temperment: Feeding: Sexing: Breeding:

Nishkigoi, Koi
PH: Temp: Tank: Size: Temperment: Feeding: Sexing: Breeding:

Shubunkin Carasius auratus
PH: Temp: Tank: Size: Temperment: Feeding: Sexing: Breeding:

Knife Fish
Knife fishes are fascinating creatures. They create electrical impulses, making an electrical field around them. When too close to each other, the fields come in contact and cause discomfort for the fish, so it is best to only have one pre tank. The electrical field can not hurt other fish or people, but is used by these nocturnal fish to maneuver in the murky water of their home. I do not believe these fish have been bred in home aquariums.

Labyrinth Fishes
These fish all have the labyrinth organ, which allows them to breath air at the surface of the water. Generally, males are much brighter than females, but not in all species. With many of these fish, it's best to only keep on male. Male gouramis and bettas will fight against other species of labyrinth fish if not given enough space. Usually, bettas lose out against gouramis.
Dwarf gouramis and bettas make excellent community fish, as well as most other gouramis. Some, such as the blue gourami, are better suited to semi-aggressive tanks.
Many labyrinth fishes build nests out of bubbles on the surface of the water. After spawning, males put the eggs in the nests and watch over them until the fry are free swimming. Other labyrinth fishes, such as certain bettas, are paternal mouthbrooders. How ever they breed, fry are very small and need to be fed infusoria or newly hatched brine shrimp.

Albino Paradise

Betta Betta splendens
PH: Temp: Tank: Size: Temperment: Feeding: Sexing: Breeding:

Blue Gourami
PH: Temp: Tank: Size: Temperment: Feeding: Sexing: Breeding:

Blue Paradise fish
PH: Temp: Tank: Size: Temperment: Feeding: Sexing: Breeding:

Cinnamon Dwarf Gourami
PH: Temp: Tank: Size: Temperment: Feeding: Sexing: Breeding:

Dwarf Gourami
PH: Temp: Tank: Size: Temperment: Feeding: Sexing: Breeding:

Giant Gourami
PH: Temp: Tank: Size: Temperment: Feeding: Sexing: Breeding:

Gold Gourami
PH: Temp: Tank: Size: Temperment: Feeding: Sexing: Breeding:

Gold Honey Dwarf Gourami
PH: Temp: Tank: Size: Temperment: Feeding: Sexing: Breeding:

Moonlight Gourami
PH: Temp: Tank: Size: Temperment: Feeding: Sexing: Breeding:

Neon Blue Dwarf Gourami
PH: Temp: Tank: Size: Temperment: Feeding: Sexing: Breeding:

Opaline Gourami
PH: Temp: Tank: Size: Temperment: Feeding: Sexing: Breeding:

Pearl Gourami
PH: Temp: Tank: Size: Temperment: Feeding: Sexing: Breeding:

Pink Kissing Gourami
PH: Temp: Tank: Size: Temperment: Feeding: Sexing: Breeding:

Powder Blue Dwarf Gourami
PH: Temp: Tank: Size: Temperment: Feeding: Sexing: Breeding:

Red Fire Dwarf Gourami
PH: Temp: Tank: Size: Temperment: Feeding: Sexing: Breeding:

Sunset Gourami
PH: Temp: Tank: Size: Temperment: Feeding: Sexing: Breeding:

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