There are over 1500 species of Characins that are found in South America and Africa. They have compressed scaly bodies and usually there is a small fin behind the dorsal fin. They are active, peaceful, colourful and are excellent for display aquariums. Characins are the second most popular aquarium species. Aquariasts enjoy these fish because of their schooling tendencies and their ease of keeping. Characins come from nine different families, seven of which are included in this book. They consist of: the Alestiidae (African Tetra), the Characidae (Characins), the Citharinidae, the Ctenoluciidae (Pike-Characins), the Curimatidae, the Gasteropelecidae (Freshwater Hatchetfishes), and the Lebiasinidae families.

South America Central America North America Africa Asia Europe Australia Worldwide

Striped Anostomus, Striped Headstander
(Anostomus ternetzi)

Bloodfin tetra
(Aphyocharax anisitsi)

African red-eyed characin
(Arnoldichthys spilopterus)

Blind cavefish, Mexican tetra
(Astyanax mexicanus)

Blue tetra, Cochu's Blue Tetra
(Boehlkea fredcochui)

Long-finned characin
(Brycinus longipinnis)

Marbled hatchetfish
(Carnegiella strigata)

Spotted headstander
(Chilodus punctatus)

Giant pacu, Black-finned pacu
(Colossoma macropomum)

Splash tetra
(Copella arnoldi)

Swordtail characin
(Corynopoma riisei)

Sailfin characin
(Crenuchus spilurus)

Silver tetra
(Ctenobrycon spilurus)

Gar Characin
(Ctenolucius hujeta)

Six-banded Distichodus
(Distichodus sexfasciatus)

Spotted hatchetfish
(Gasteropelecus maculatus)

Common hatchetfish
(Gasteropelecus sternicla)

Gold skirt tetra
(Gymnocorymbus ternetzi)

Silver-tipped tetra
(Hasemania nana)

Firehead tetra
(Hemigrammus bleheri)

Glowlight Tetra
(Hemigrammus erythrozonus)

Buenos Aires Tetra
(Hyphessobrycon anisitsi)

Bentos Tetra, White Tip Tetra
(Hyphessobrycon bentosi)

Yellow tetra
(Hyphessobrycon bifasciatus)

Serpae Tetra
(Hyphessobrycon eques)

Bleeding heart tetra
(Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma)

Flame tetra, Red tetra
(Hyphessobrycon flammeus)

Black neon tetra
(Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi)

Black phantom tetra
(Hyphessobrycon megalopterus)

Lemon tetra
(Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis)

Lesser bleeding heart tetra
(Hyphessobrycon socolofi)

Red phantom tetra
(Hyphessobrycon sweglesi)

(Knodus borki)

Redhook Myleus
(Myloplus rubripinnis)

Brown pencilfish
(Nannostomus eques)

Emperor tetra
(Nematobrycon palmeri)

Cardinal tetra
(Paracheirodon axelrodi)

Neon tetra
(Paracheirodon innesi)

False Neon Tetra, Green Neon Tetra
(Paracheirodon simulans)

Yellow Congo Tetra
(Phenacogrammus caudalis)

Congo tetra
(Phenacogrammus interruptus)

Black Darter Tetra, Black morpho tetra
(Poecilocharax weitzmani)

Glass bloodfish, Glass bloodfin
(Prionobrama filigera)

Blackline penguinfish
(Thayeria boehlkei)