How to Identify Aquarium Fish Species

Put him in with the right neighbors.

Starting an aquarium can be a fascinating hobby, but with thousands of different species of aquarium fish from which to choose, stocking your tank can be quite a challenge. New hobbyists need to learn to identify common species to fill their tanks with compatible fish. Fortunately, a number of resources are available to make identifying fish easier.

Things You'll Need

• Aquarium guide
• Internet access

Instructions

1. Visit your local pet store regularly and peruse the fish for sale. Each species of fish should have an identifying tag on the tank. This tag should include the common name of the fish, its temperament and sometimes its scientific name as well. It is common knowledge among aquarium hobbyists that fish of similar temperaments work best together. Some fish don't do well with others at all, like bettas.

2. Obtain a guide to aquarium fish from your local pet store or library. There are a number of these guides on the market, so finding one should be relatively easy. There are also websites containing databases of common (and uncommon) aquarium fish (see Resources).

3. Compare the fish in the aquarium guide with the fish in your tank. Keep in mind that the males and females of the same species often look quite different. For instance, the male betta has long flowing fins and striking colors, while the female has smaller fins and a drab color.

References

• Aqua Guide: Aquarium Resources

Resources

• Aqua Fish: Aquarium Fish Database