PetMall Encyclopedia
Browse published fish breed profiles curated by the PetMall editorial desk.
34 breeds available
The Angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare) is a tall, disc-shaped freshwater cichlid from the slow-moving waters of the Amazon basin, recognised instantly by its long, trailing dorsal and anal fins. Adults reach around 15cm in length and 20cm in height including those fins, and can live 10 to 15 years,…
Archerfish is a medium fish originating from Indo-Pacific. It is listed on Schedule 4 (approved species) of MPI’s Import Health Standard for ornamental fish, so it can be legally imported and sold through the NZ aquarium trade. MPI classes it as a higher-risk species with additional import…
The Betta, or Siamese Fighting Fish, is a small, long-finned freshwater fish from the shallow rice paddies, canals and floodplains of Southeast Asia, usually kept alone because two males will not share a tank. The body reaches about 6-7 cm with the fins on top of that, and a labyrinth organ lets it…
Black Moor Goldfish is a small fish originating from China. It is listed on Schedule 4 (approved species) of MPI’s Import Health Standard for ornamental fish, so it can be legally imported and sold through the NZ aquarium trade. MPI classes it as a higher-risk species with additional import…
Blue Acara is a medium fish originating from South America. It is listed on Schedule 4 (approved species) of MPI’s Import Health Standard for ornamental fish, so it can be legally imported and sold through the NZ aquarium trade. Typical lifespan is 7-10 years.
Blue Tang is a medium fish originating from Indo-Pacific. It is listed on Schedule 4 (approved species) of MPI’s Import Health Standard for ornamental fish, so it can be legally imported and sold through the NZ aquarium trade. Typical lifespan is 8-20 years.
Bristlenose Pleco is a small fish originating from South America. It is listed on Schedule 4 (approved species) of MPI’s Import Health Standard for ornamental fish, so it can be legally imported and sold through the NZ aquarium trade. Typical lifespan is 12-15 years.
The Cardinal Tetra (Paracheirodon axelrodi) is a small, peaceful schooling fish from the blackwater tributaries of the Orinoco and Negro rivers, known for the iridescent stripe running the full length of its body, electric blue above and deep red below. It differs from the similar Neon Tetra in…
Cherry Barb is a small fish originating from Sri Lanka. It is listed on Schedule 4 (approved species) of MPI’s Import Health Standard for ornamental fish, so it can be legally imported and sold through the NZ aquarium trade. MPI classes it as a higher-risk species with additional import quarantine…
Clownfish (Nemo Fish) is a small fish originating from Indo-Pacific. The species commonly kept under this name are listed on Schedule 4 (approved species) of MPI’s Import Health Standard for ornamental fish, so they can be legally imported and sold through the NZ aquarium trade. Typical lifespan is…
Corydoras Catfish is a small fish originating from South America. The species commonly kept under this name are listed on Schedule 4 (approved species) of MPI’s Import Health Standard for ornamental fish, so they can be legally imported and sold through the NZ aquarium trade. Typical lifespan is…
Discus is a medium fish originating from Amazon River. It is listed on Schedule 4 (approved species) of MPI’s Import Health Standard for ornamental fish, so it can be legally imported and sold through the NZ aquarium trade. MPI classes it as a higher-risk species with additional import quarantine…
Dwarf Gourami is a small fish originating from South Asia. It is listed on Schedule 4 (approved species) of MPI’s Import Health Standard for ornamental fish, so it can be legally imported and sold through the NZ aquarium trade. MPI classes it as a higher-risk species with additional import…
Electric Eel is a large fish originating from South America. It is not on MPI’s approved species list for ornamental fish imports, so it cannot legally be brought into New Zealand for the aquarium trade and is effectively unavailable here. Typical lifespan is 10-22 years.
Fancy Goldfish is a small fish originating from China. It is listed on Schedule 4 (approved species) of MPI’s Import Health Standard for ornamental fish, so it can be legally imported and sold through the NZ aquarium trade. MPI classes it as a higher-risk species with additional import quarantine…
Fire Eel is a large fish originating from Southeast Asia. It is listed on Schedule 4 (approved species) of MPI’s Import Health Standard for ornamental fish, so it can be legally imported and sold through the NZ aquarium trade. MPI classes it as a higher-risk species with additional import…
The Flowerhorn is a man-made hybrid cichlid, kept for its dramatic nuchal hump and vivid colours. Because it is a man-made hybrid with no wild species name, it is not itself on MPI’s approved import list for ornamental fish, and hybrids need case-by-case MPI approval to import — availability in NZ…
Frontosa Cichlid is a large fish originating from Lake Tanganyika. It is listed on Schedule 4 (approved species) of MPI’s Import Health Standard for ornamental fish, so it can be legally imported and sold through the NZ aquarium trade. Typical lifespan is 15-25 years.
The Goldfish is a coldwater freshwater fish bred in China from Prussian carp more than a thousand years ago, and now kept in a wide range of body shapes. Single-tailed comets keep the streamlined carp outline and metallic orange, red or white colouring, while fancy varieties such as the fantail,…
The Guppy is a small, peaceful, livebearing tropical freshwater fish from the streams and rivers of South America, including Venezuela, Guyana, Trinidad and Barbados, and one of the easier species for a first tropical tank. Adults run from about 2.5 to 6 cm and usually live one to three years. The…
Harlequin Rasbora is a small fish originating from Southeast Asia. It is listed on Schedule 4 (approved species) of MPI’s Import Health Standard for ornamental fish, so it can be legally imported and sold through the NZ aquarium trade. Typical lifespan is 5-8 years.
Koi Carp is a large fish originating from Japan. This animal has verified NZ restriction or pest context; check MPI, DOC, EPA, and local council rules before keeping, moving, breeding, selling, or sourcing one. Typical lifespan is 25-35 years.
Molly is a small fish originating from Central America. It is listed on Schedule 4 (approved species) of MPI’s Import Health Standard for ornamental fish, so it can be legally imported and sold through the NZ aquarium trade. MPI classes it as a higher-risk species with additional import quarantine…
The Neon Tetra is a small schooling fish from the blackwater and clearwater streams of the Amazon basin in Peru and Brazil, kept in aquariums since the 1930s. Adults reach only 2.5 to 4 cm and live five to ten years. The body is largely translucent or silvery-white, marked by an iridescent…
The Oscar (Astronotus ocellatus) is a large, heavily built cichlid from the slow-moving waters of the Amazon basin, nicknamed the water puppy of the aquarium hobby for its habit of watching its keeper, responding to movement outside the glass and taking food by hand. Adults reach 30 to 45…
Paradise Fish is a small fish originating from East Asia. It is listed on Schedule 4 (approved species) of MPI’s Import Health Standard for ornamental fish, so it can be legally imported and sold through the NZ aquarium trade. MPI classes it as a higher-risk species with additional import…
Pearl Gourami is a small fish originating from Southeast Asia. It is listed on Schedule 4 (approved species) of MPI’s Import Health Standard for ornamental fish, so it can be legally imported and sold through the NZ aquarium trade. MPI classes it as a higher-risk species with additional import…
Platy is a small fish originating from Central America. It is listed on Schedule 4 (approved species) of MPI’s Import Health Standard for ornamental fish, so it can be legally imported and sold through the NZ aquarium trade. MPI classes it as a higher-risk species with additional import quarantine…
Rainbowfish is a small fish originating from Australia/New Guinea. The species commonly kept under this name are listed on Schedule 4 (approved species) of MPI’s Import Health Standard for ornamental fish, so they can be legally imported and sold through the NZ aquarium trade. Typical lifespan is…
Red-tailed Black Shark is a small fish originating from Thailand. It is listed on Schedule 4 (approved species) of MPI’s Import Health Standard for ornamental fish, so it can be legally imported and sold through the NZ aquarium trade. Typical lifespan is 5-8 years.
Rope Fish is a medium fish originating from West Africa. It is not on MPI’s approved species list for ornamental fish imports, so it cannot legally be brought into New Zealand for the aquarium trade and is effectively unavailable here. Typical lifespan is 15-18 years.
Swordtail is a small fish originating from Central America. It is listed on Schedule 4 (approved species) of MPI’s Import Health Standard for ornamental fish, so it can be legally imported and sold through the NZ aquarium trade. MPI classes it as a higher-risk species with additional import…
Tiger Barb is a small fish originating from Southeast Asia. It is listed on Schedule 4 (approved species) of MPI’s Import Health Standard for ornamental fish, so it can be legally imported and sold through the NZ aquarium trade. MPI classes it as a higher-risk species with additional import…
Zebra Danio is a small fish originating from South Asia. It is listed on Schedule 4 (approved species) of MPI’s Import Health Standard for ornamental fish, so it can be legally imported and sold through the NZ aquarium trade. MPI classes it as a higher-risk species with additional import quarantine…