Searching the Fish Species directory

The Fish Species directory is our library of freshwater aquarium species and varieties, each with its own care page. Anyone can browse and search it, signed in or not.

What is the Fish Species directory?

The Fish Species page (called Freshwater Species at the top, and Fish Species in the menu under Learn) lists every fish, shrimp, snail and crayfish in our library. The line under the heading tells you how many "aquarium species and varieties with real care data" there are right now.

Each species has its own care page with water parameters, adult size, minimum tank size, temperament, diet and more. See Reading a species page for what every field means.

You don't need an account to browse or search. You only need to sign in to submit photos or videos, or to request a missing species.

How do I search for a fish?

1. Open Fish Species.
2. Type in the box that says Search by name, scientific name, or code…
3. Results update as you type. Tap any card to open that species' care page.

The search looks through:

• The common name (for example "cardinal tetra")
• The scientific name (for example "Paracheirodon axelrodi")
• Other names the fish goes by (shown as Also known as on its page)
• Older scientific names (shown as Formerly on its page)
• Trade codes for plecos and other catfish, like "L046"

To start over, tap the X at the right end of the search box.

Does the species search handle typos?

Yes, within limits. If nothing matches what you typed exactly, the search looks for names that are close. When that happens you'll see this note above the results: "No exact match for "your search", showing closest results."

How forgiving it is depends on the length of each word you type:

• Words of 3 letters or fewer must match exactly (no typos allowed).
• Words of 4 or 5 letters can have 1 letter wrong.
• Words of 6 to 8 letters can have 2 letters wrong.
• Longer words can have 3 letters wrong.

If you type several words, every word has to match something in the fish's names. The search also matches the start of a longer word, so "corydorus" finds "Corydoras".

How do I search by L-number or trade code?

Type the code the way it's usually printed, with its leading zeros: L046, not L46. Codes are short, so they have to match exactly; the typo allowance doesn't apply to words of 3 letters or fewer. Upper or lower case doesn't matter.

Species with trade codes show them as small tags on their card in the list and at the top of their care page.

How do I filter species by group?

Tap a group to show only those species. Tap All to see everything again.

On a phone, the groups are tucked away: tap Filter by group to open them. When you pick one, the list closes and the button shows the group you chose.

The groups, in the order they appear:

• Tetras & Characins
• Rasboras & Small Cyprinids
• Danios
• Barbs
• Livebearers
• Gouramis & Bettas
• Corydoras & Relatives
• Other Catfish
• Plecos (L-number Catfish)
• Loaches
• Cichlids - New World
• Cichlids - African Rift Lake
• Cichlids - West African
• Rainbowfish
• Killifish
• Oddballs & Specialty
• Goldfish & Coldwater
• Shrimp
• Snails
• Crayfish

A group only shows up if at least one species is in it. Any other groups we add appear after these, in A to Z order.

You can search and filter at the same time. The search only looks inside the group you picked.

How are species sorted?

Results are grouped under group headings, in the group order listed above. Inside each group, species are sorted A to Z by common name. There are no other sort options (for example by size or tank size).

The count above the results shows either the total number of species or, when you've searched or filtered, how many match out of the total (for example "12 of" followed by the total).

What's on each species card in the list?

Each card shows:

• The common name
• Any trade codes (like L046) as small tags
• The scientific name in italics
• A quick stat line: adult size in inches, minimum tank size in gallons, and temperature range in °F (only the ones we have data for)
• A tag for species that need extra care: Advanced, Expert or Kept but not recommended. Species rated Common or Intermediate don't get a tag.
• A photo on the right, if a member's photo has been approved for that species

Tap the card to open the full care page.

Will my search still be there when I come back?

Yes. Your search and group are saved in the page address (for example /species?q=tetra&group=Tetras+%26+Characins). When you open a fish and tap the back button, you land on the same results.

That also means you can copy the address and send it to someone to share a search.

What happens when no species match my search?

You'll see No species found. If you typed a search, the message says "We don't have a match for "your search" yet. Want it added to the database?" and the Request a species form opens right there with your search already filled in as the name. See Requesting a species.

If you didn't type anything (for example you picked a group with nothing in it), it says "Try a different search or clear your filters."

Before requesting, check two things:

1. Tap All so you're searching every group, not just the one you picked.
2. Try another name: the scientific name, a shorter name, or just one distinctive word.

Do old species links still work?

Yes. Links to species pages from our old website (addresses starting with /fish/) and links to species that have since been renamed send you to the closest matching species page automatically. If no species is close enough, you land on the Fish Species directory instead.

Is the library only freshwater?

Yes. The directory is titled Freshwater Species and covers freshwater fish and invertebrates, with a few brackish species (their Water field says Brackish). Saltwater fish aren't part of the library.

Common problems

My fish isn't showing up but I know it's in the library. Check that the group filter is set to All. If you picked a group, the search only looks inside that group. Then try the scientific name or another common name.

Searching an L-number finds nothing. Include the leading zero, like L046 rather than L46. Short codes must match exactly.

The search shows fish that don't look like what I typed. You're seeing close matches because nothing matched exactly. Look for the note "No exact match for..." above the results. Check your spelling, or add another word to narrow it down.

On my phone I can't see the groups. Tap Filter by group under the search box to open them.

A species I requested isn't in the list yet. Our team checks and adds requests by hand. You'll get a notification when it's added. See Requesting a species.

Something on a species page is wrong. Email support@undergroundaquarium.com with the species name and what needs fixing.