Common Fish Names Beginning With 'S'

There are hundreds of thousands of fish in the world, several thousand that are commonly seen in lakes and streams, and hundreds that are kept as aquarium pets, such as the Sharp-Tooth Tetra and the Striped Sleeper Goby. They usually go by their common names, but if you want to research your fish, knowing the scientific Latin name of the species is helpful. This is a list of fish with names beginning with the letter 'S'—arranged by common name, with scientific names also given.

Serpae Tetra 

Hyphessobrycon eques. This is part of the group of tetras known as the "blood tetras," due to its color. This species, from Brazil and Paraguay, grows to only about 1.75 inches, is a peaceful and social fish, and is very easy to care for.

Although it needs tankmates, avoid putting it in aquariums with smaller fish, as it can be slightly aggressive and may nip them, especially at feeding time. Because it comes from the Amazon region, it prefers dark waters; using a dark substrate on the bottom of its tank may make the Serpae Tetra more comfortable.

Siamese Fighting Fish 

Betta splendens. Also often known simply as a betta, is perhaps the world's most popular species of betta for aquariums. The common name derives from the fact that males put in the same tank will spar—mixed genders do fine, but don't put two males together. They are often placed in small bowl aquariums, but this is probably not the most humane environment as they prefer tanks with at least two gallons in capacity.

Rarely getting more than 3 inches long, Betta spendens doesn't live more than two or three years in normal circumstances, but the bright color and long flowing fins of the males still make this a very popular fish.

Silver Gourami 

Trichogaster trichopterus. There are several names for this species, including blue gourami, three-spot gourami, and golden gourami, but by whatever name this is a very popular aquarium fish. It grows to about four inches in size and is very easy to care for. A silvery blue in color, they become a darker blue when spawning.

Gourami are highly social fish, but it is best to keep them with fish of roughly their own size, as they can be territorial and may bully smaller fish.

Serrated Piranha 

Serrasalmus serrulatus. This is a large, unique specimen that will be a conversation piece in any home aquarium. It grows to almost 15 inches in size and requires a large (20 gallon or more) tank with well-circulated water. It is an aggressive fish, so it should be kept only with fish its own size or larger.

The serrated piranha will eat a wide variety of foods, including vegetables and aquarium plants. Decorate its tank with caves and other hiding places.

Other Common 'S'-Fish Names

• Saddle Cichlid - Aequidens tetramerus
• Saddleback Hillstream Loach - Gastromyzon punctulatus
• Saddled Bichir - Polypterus endlicheri
• Saddled Hillstream Loach - Homaloptera orthogoniata
• SAE - Crossocheilus siamensis
• Sailfin Brochis - Brochis splendens
• Sailfin Characin - Crenuchus spilurus
• Sailfin Marbled Pimelodid - Leiarius pictus
• Sailfin Mollie - Poecilia velifera
• Sailfin Pleco - Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps
• Sajica Cichlid - Cichlasoma sajica
• Salaween River Danio - Brachydanio shanisis
• Salvini Cichlid - Cichlasoma salvini
• Saulosi Mbuna - Pseudotropheus saulosi
• Scat - Scatophagus argus
• Schwanefeld's Barb - Barbodes schwanefeldii
• Scissortail Rasbora - Rasbora trilineata
• Seba Mono - Psettus sebae
• Senegalus Bichir - Polypterus senegalus
• Seven-Spot Archerfish - Toxotes chatareus
• Severum - Heros severus
• Severus - Heros severus
• Sharp Toothed Tetra - Micralestes acutidens
• Short-Finned Congo Tetra - Hemigrammopetersius intermedius
• Short-Lined Pyrrhulina - Pyrrhulina brevis brevis
• Shortnose Gar - Lepisosteus platostomus
• Shortnose Sturgeon - Acipenser brevirostrum
• Shovelnose Catfish - Sorubim lima
• Shovelnose Sturgeon - Scaphirhynchus platorynchus
• Siamese Algae Eater - Crossocheilus siamensis
• Siamese Flying Fox - Crossocheilus siamensis
• Siamese Tigerfish - Coius microlepis
• Sierra Leone Barb - Barbus leonensis
• Sierra Leone Dwarf Characin - Ladigesia roloffi
• Silver & Red Barb - Hampala macrolapidota
• Silver Arowana - Osteoglossum bicirrhosum
• Silver Cichlid - Vieja argentea
• Silver Distichodus - Distichodus affinis
• Silver Dollar - Metynnis argenteus
• Silver Hatchetfish - Gasteropelecus sternicla
• Silver Hemiodopsis - Hemiodopsis immaculatus
• Silver Mylossoma - Mylossoma duriventre
• Silver Needlefish - Xenentodon cancila
• Silver Pacu - Colossoma brachypomus
• Silver Prochilodus - Semaprochilodus taeniurus
• Silver Scat - Selenotoca multifasciata
• Silver Shark - Balantiocheilus melanopterus
• Silver Silk - Polynemus paradiseus
• Silvertip Tetra - Hasemania nana
• Six-Barred Epiplatys - Epiplatys sexfaciatus
• Six-Bar Lamprologus - Neolamprologus sexfasciatus
• Six-Barred Distichodus - Distichodus sexfasciatus
• Skunk Loach - Botia morleti
• Slant-Nose Gar - Ctenolucius hujeta hujeta
• Sleepy Cod - Oxyeleotirs marmoratus
• Slender Hemiodus - Hemiodus gracilis
• Slender Mbuna - Pseudotropheus elongatus
• Slender-Tail Hap - Buccochromis lepturus
• Smallmouth Buffalo - Ictiobus bubalus
• Snakefish - Erpetoichthys calabaricus
• Snakeskin Gourami - Trichogaster pectoralis
• Snow King Pleco - Liposarcus anisitsi
• Socolof's Mbuna - Pseudotropheus socolofi
• Socolof's Tetra - Gymnocorymbus socolofi
• Southern Julie - Julidochromis ornatus
• Southern Soft-Spined Rainbowfish - Rhadinocentrus ornatus
• Spangled Jewel Perch - Leiopotherapon unicolor
• Spanner Barb - Barbus lateristriga
• Sparkling Earth Eater - Satanoperca acuticeps
• Sparkling Geophagus - Geophagus acuticeps
• Sparkling Panchax - Aplocheilus lineatus
• Speciosus Cichlid - Lamprologus speciosus
• Speckled Goby Cichlid - Tanganicodus irsacae
• Spike-Tailed Paradise Fish - Pseudosphromenus cupanus
• Spilotum - Cichlasoma nicaraguense
• Spiny Eel - Macrognathus aculeatus
• Spiny Pleco - Pseudacanthicus spinosus
• Splash Tetra - Copella arnoldi
• Spotfin Tetra - Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma
• Spot-Line Peacock Cichlid - Cichla temensis
• Spotted African Lungfish - Protopterus dolloi
• Spotted Barb - Barbus binotatus
• Spotted Barramundi - Scleropages leichardtii
• Spotted Blue-Eye - Pseudomugil gertrudae
• Spotted Bristlenose Pleco - Ancistrus hoplogenys
• Spotted Cachorro - Acestrorhynchus falcatus
• Spotted Climbing Perch - Ctenopoma acutirostre
• Spotted Doras - Agamyxis pectinifrons
• Spotted Gar - Lepisosteus oculatus
• Spotted Gourami - Malpulutta kretseri
• Spotted Hoplo - Hoplosternum pectorale
• Spotted Pike Characin - Boulengerella maculata
• Spotted Pimelodid - Pimelodus maculatus
• Spotted Pimelodus - Pimelodus pictus
• Spotted Piranha - Serrasalmus rhombeus
• Spotted Rasbora - Boraras maculatus
• Spotted Shovelnose - Hemisorubim platyrhynchos
• Spotted Silver Dollar - Metynnis lippincottianus
• Spotted Snakehead - Channa punctata
• Spotted Tail Mosquitofish - Heterandria bimaculata
• Spotted Thick-Lipped Loach - Nemacheilus strauchi
• Spotted Zamora - Auchenipterichthys longimanus
• Squarehead Earth Eater - Gymnogeophagus gymnogenys
• Star-Gazing Doradid - Astrodoras asterifrons
• Star-Gazing Pike Cichlid - Crenicichla cametana
• Steindachner's Dwarf Cichlid - Apistogramma steindachneri
• Sterba's Corydoras - Corydoras sterbai
• Sterlet - Acipenser ruthenus
• Stoliczka's Loach - Nemacheilus stoliczkai
• Stone Loach - Barbatula barbatula
• Strigata Pike Cichlid - Crenicichla strigata
• Striolatus Piranha - Serrasalmus striolatus
• Striped African Darter - Nannocharax fasciatus
• Striped Anostomus - Anostomus anostomus
• Striped Goby Cichlid - Eretomodus cyanostictus
• Striped Headstander - Anostomus anostomus
• Striped Julie - Julidochromis regani
• Striped Lamprologus - Neolamprologus buescheri
• Striped Metynnis - Metynnis fasciatus
• Striped Panchax - Aplocheilus lineatus
• Striped Pike Characin - Boulengerella lateristriga
  
• Striped Pyrrhulina - Pyrrhulina vittata
• Striped Silver Dollar - Metynnis hypsauchen fasciatus
• Striped Sleeper Goby - Dormitator maculatus
• Striped Snakehead - Channa striata
• Striped Squirrelfish - Sargocentron xantherythrum
• Striped Synodontis - Synodontis flavitaeniatus
• Striped Tailor - Alburnoides taeniatus
• Sturgeon Catfish - Platystomatichthys sturio
• Sucker Barb - Barbichthys laevis
• Sucking Loach - Gyrinocheilus aymonieri
• Sulphurhead Hap - Otopharynx lithobates
• Sumatran Barb - Capoeta tetrazona
• Sun Loach - Botia eos
• Suriname Eartheater - Geophagus proximus
• Swordtail - Xiphophorus hellerii
• Swordtail Characin - Corynopoma riisei