Oddballs and unusual species
Fish that do not fit the community shelf: obligate air-breathers, electrolocating hunters, surface ambush predators and transparent perches. Most are sold small, several are wild-caught, and each poses a husbandry question the rest of the catalogue does not.
27 species, separated by adult size. Part of the freshwater fish catalogue.
Nano — under 4 cm (1)
Small enough for tanks under 60 cm, and usually needing larger groups than their size suggests.
Small — 4 to 8 cm (2)
The core of most community tanks.
Medium — 8 to 15 cm (4)
Needs real swimming length. Frequently sold as juveniles into tanks that will not suit the adult.
Large — 15 cm and above (20)
Specialist tanks. Check the adult size and the lifespan before buying.
- African knifefishXenomystus nigri30 cmModerate
- Banded archerfishToxotes jaculatrix25 cmDemandinggroup of 4+
- Barred bichirPolypterus delhezi40 cmModerategroup of 2+
- Black ghost knifefishApteronotus albifrons50 cmDemanding
- Blue dwarf snakeheadChanna andrao16 cmDemanding
- Clown knifefishChitala ornata100 cmSpecialist
- Elephantnose fishGnathonemus petersii35 cmSpecialist
- Four-eyed fishAnableps anableps30 cmSpecialistgroup of 4+
- Giant snakeheadChanna micropeltes130 cmSpecialist
- Indonesian tiger perchDatnioides microlepis45 cmSpecialist
- Ornate bichirPolypterus ornatipinnis55 cmDemandinggroup of 2+
- Peacock spiny eelMacrognathus siamensis30 cmModerategroup of 2+
- Rainbow snakeheadChanna bleheri20 cmDemanding
- Rope fishErpetoichthys calabaricus40 cmModerategroup of 2+
- Senegal bichirPolypterus senegalus35 cmModerate
- Silver arowanaOsteoglossum bicirrhosum120 cmSpecialist
- Silver monoMonodactylus argenteus25 cmDemandinggroup of 4+
- Spotted scatScatophagus argus35 cmDemandinggroup of 3+
- Tyre track eelMastacembelus armatus70 cmDemanding
- White-blotched river stingrayPotamotrygon leopoldi90 cmSpecialistgroup of 2+