Aquarium fish native to India
16 species from the AquaLog care guide · Updated
In short: Many of the world's best-known aquarium fish are Indian natives: zebra danios, rosy barbs, dwarf and honey gouramis, zebra loaches, pea puffers and the Denison barb among them. Several suit Indian tap water and climate well, but always buy captive-bred fish, never wild-caught stock from local waters.
India's rivers, hill streams and coastal backwaters are home to a surprising share of the aquarium trade. Every species below is listed in the AquaLog care guide with a native range that includes India, from the Western Ghats to the Kerala backwaters.
Native doesn't automatically mean easy: hill-stream fish like cool, fast, oxygen-rich water, and the brackish species here need salt. Check each species' temperature and water type in the table.
The species
| Species | Min. tank | Temperature | pH | Temperament | Group | Care level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pea pufferCarinotetraodon travancoricus | 40 L (11 gal) | 24–28 °C | 6.8–8 | Aggressive | 1 | Advanced |
| Honey gouramiTrichogaster chuna | 55 L (15 gal) | 22–28 °C | 6–7.5 | Peaceful | 1 | Beginner |
| Dwarf gouramiTrichogaster lalius | 60 L (16 gal) | 24–29 °C | 6–7.5 | Semi-aggressive | 1 | Beginner |
| Zebra danioDanio rerio | 60 L (16 gal) | 18–26 °C | 6–8 | Peaceful | 6+ | Beginner |
| Golden wonder killifishAplocheilus lineatus | 110 L (29 gal) | 22–28 °C | 6–7.8 | Semi-aggressive | 1 | Intermediate |
| Indian glassfishParambassis ranga | 110 L (29 gal) | 22–28 °C | 7–8.2 | Peaceful | 6+ | Intermediate |
| Knight gobyStigmatogobius sadanundio | 110 L (29 gal) | 22–28 °C | 7.5–8.2 | Semi-aggressive | 1 | Intermediate |
| Orange chromidePseudetroplus maculatus | 110 L (29 gal) | 22–28 °C | 7–8.2 | Peaceful | 2+ | Intermediate |
| Rosy barbPethia conchonius | 110 L (29 gal) | 18–25 °C | 6–7.8 | Peaceful | 6+ | Beginner |
| Zebra loachBotia striata | 110 L (29 gal) | 22–27 °C | 6.5–7.5 | Peaceful | 5+ | Intermediate |
| Yoyo loachBotia almorhae | 200 L (53 gal) | 23–28 °C | 6.5–7.8 | Semi-aggressive | 5+ | Intermediate |
| Green spotted pufferDichotomyctere nigroviridis | 210 L (55 gal) | 24–28 °C | 7.8–8.4 | Aggressive | 1 | Advanced |
| Denison barbSahyadria denisonii | 300 L (79 gal) | 18–25 °C | 6.5–7.8 | Peaceful | 6+ | Intermediate |
| Green chromideEtroplus suratensis | 380 L (100 gal) | 22–30 °C | 7–8.5 | Semi-aggressive | 2+ | Intermediate |
| Banded archerfishToxotes jaculatrix | 450 L (119 gal) | 25–30 °C | 7.5–8.5 | Semi-aggressive | 3+ | Advanced |
| Mono argentusMonodactylus argenteus | 570 L (151 gal) | 24–28 °C | 7.8–8.5 | Semi-aggressive | 4+ | Advanced |
Buy captive-bred
Some of these fish, such as the Denison barb and pea puffer, are found only in small parts of southern India, and wild populations are vulnerable to collection. Choose captive-bred fish from a reputable shop, and never release aquarium fish into local waters.
Good first choices
The zebra danio, rosy barb and honey gourami are hardy and widely bred. For a warm room, see fish that tolerate warm water.