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Hoorah! We have tackled at least 45% of the fishes found at Oceanarium and the only fish found at the Fish Spa!

Fishes are from the Domain Eukaryota, Kingdom Animalia, Phylum Chordata, and Class Actinopterygii. Meaning fishes are eukaryotes (contains cells with nucleus enclosed with a membrane), and vertebrate animals. The class Actinopterygii is the class of fishes.

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Doctor Fish (Garra rufa)

Doctor Fish, also called as Nibble Fish, Kangal Fish, and Bonefish (in New Zealand), is a species of fish that lives and breeds in the pools of some Turkish river systems and hot springs. They grow up to 7 cm in length and have a lifespan of 6-7 years. In modern times, they have been integrated as a spa treatment. They are omnivorous, as they both eat algae and scrape the skin off other fish. All you'd have to do to feed them is stick your hand in the tank; they would live off your dead skin. That's why they're called nibble fish. They exfoliate but don't have any teeth, so their nibbling doesn't hurt at all. Their lips are puffy but strong. They are the only species from the Garra family who nibble on food even after they are full, consuming dry and dead skin. Doctor Fish nibble on dead and dry skin, which helps in healthy skin growth. This nibbling is similar to exfoliation, but done in a natural way. Research has found that these fish produce and enzyme called Diathanol in their saliva. This enzyme fastens the regeneration process of the skin.

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Milkfish (Chanos chanos)

Milkfish are found in offshore marine waters and shallow coastal bays, but also frequently enter stuaries and occasionally penetrate freshwater streams. Adults occur in small to large schools near the coasts or around islands where reefs are well-developed. Eggs and larvae are pelagic up to 2-3 weeks. Older larvae migrate onshore and settle in coastal wetlands (mangroves, estuaries) during the juvenile stage, or occasionally enter freshwater lakes. Juveniles and sub-adults return to sea where they mature sexually. Milkfish spawn only in saline water. Larvae eat zooplankton; juveniles and adults eat cyanobacteria, soft algae, small benthic invertebrates, and even pelagic fish eggs and larvae.

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Whitetip Reed Shark (Triaenodon obesus)

The Whitetip Reef Shark is a medium-sized shark averaging about 1.6 meters in length and relatively slender with a broad flattened head. It typically lives along the clear, shallow waters surrounding coral reefs. This species is easily spotted due to its curious, irregular, and waving swimming style and the white tip on its dorsal fin. Since this is a slow species compared to others, they prefer to hunt at night when most sea animals are sleeping. They feed on eels, crustaceans, octopi, lobsters, and crabs.

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Napoleonfish (Cheilinus undulatus)

Called Napoleonfish, these fish also have the more accurate name of Humphead Wrasse. The true name comes from the distinctive humps on their heads. But "Napoleonfish" is more popular. Like its relatives, it is born female and may change gender around a decade old. When small, all Napoleonfish are females, but some become males as they age and their humps grow. Their bodies also turn a bluer shade as they mature and become males, making identification simple. Their bulky bodies, which can get to about 6 feet/2 meters long, still glide easily through warm tropical seas. While it can live for up to 30 years (25 for males), its slow breeding rate puts it in danger if its numbers decline too greatly. The Napoleonfish is the largest wrasse species (family Labridae), and one of the largest coral reef fish.

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Giant Trevally (Caranx ignobilis)

Also known as Mamsa or Talakitok, the Giant Trevally is a tropical species of trevally that is found throughout the Pacific and Indian Oceans. The species begins grey but darkens sometimes to black with age. The species is most popular as a gamefish, but in the past it was also seen as a commercial fish albeit rarely. Ultimately selling the fish became illegal after investigations confirmed severe cases of ciguatera poisoning resulting from consuming the fish. It is the largest species of Trevally, reaching 1.7 m in length and a weight of over 60 kg. Though you wouldn't guess it because of their size, Giant Trevallys are actually a type of Mackerel. Unlike normally slim and sleek mackerels, Giant Trevallys have wide, sliver bodies. Surprisingly, though, these fish cannot tolerate the cold, so they tend to live in warmer places. Their jaw strength is great enough to bite off a person's finger, so be very careful when fishing for them!

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Zebra Turkeyfish (Dendrochirus zebra)

Zebra Turkeyfish (also known as Zebra Lionfish or Butterfly Scorpionfish) have long, beautiful fins that flow like gowns as they swim through the sea. However, these aquatic beauties pack a punch, as their fins are filled with poisonous spikes. Aside from protection against predators, this poison comes in handy for turn wars between males. The losing male succumbs to the poison in a matter of days, making these battles life and death.

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Aiptasia Anemones (Aiptasia)

Aiptasia Anemones, also known as Glass, Rock, Tube, or Glass Rose Anemones, are a common pest in saltwater. They are capable of multiplying rapidly and competing for food and space aggressively. They are often hitchiking in reef rocks or coral colonies. Belonging in the phylum Cnidaria, it has the characteristic of having the ability to sting for offensive and defensive purposes; they have tentacles near the oral disc that have stinging cells called nematocyst that can sting fish, crustaceans, corals, and reef rocks. They belong in the order of Sea Anemone.

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Starfish (Asteroidea)

Starfish, or Sea Stars, have no brain and blood. They usually have five arms, which they can regenerate. They are not true fish! They do not have gills, scales, or fins like fish do. These star-shaped creatures have hundreds of tiny feet attached to their mobile arms. This allows them to slowly walk and open shellfish for food, making them effective predators. If an arm gets caught and ripped off by another predator, the sea star's arm will just grow back. Some sea stars eat by extending their stomachs out of their mouths to trap and then digest prey.

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Clownfish (Amphiprioninae)

Nemo? Marlin? Wow! They are Clownfish! No, they are not called Nemo, these fishes are called Clownfish! Funny, isn’t it? Nemo and Marlin from the movies “Finding Nemo” and “Finding Dory” are Ocellaris Clownfish, also called False Clownfish or Clown Anemonefish.

Clownfish or Anemonefish are fishes from the subfamily Amphiprioninae in the family Pomacentridae. Clownfish live in the coral reefs off the coasts of Australia and Southeast Asia as far north as southern Japan. They are found mainly around certain kinds of sea anemones, which have tentacles that have stinging cells called nematocysts that release a toxin when prey or predator touches it. Clownfish, however, develop immunity to the toxin. Clownfish spend life protected by anemones. All clownfish start life as males; some become female later on.

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Koi Fish (Cyprinus carpio)

Koi Fish, specifically Nishikigoi (which means brocaded carp in Japanese), are colored varieties of Amur Carp. Koi is an informal group of the colored variants of the Amur Carp. The colors of Koi Fish depend on the variety. They can be white, black, blue, red, cream, and yellow, and commonly covered with different spots. Koi Fish originated from Japan and represents love and friendship in Japanese culture. They can reach up to 3 feet in length. The Koi is an ornamental fish of the common carp variety that is not known to occur naturally in the environment, at least not in its more colorfully distributed colorations. The colors of koi are from mutations in wild carp, and fish are hybridized and interbred to form the appearances we know today. These fish are very long living and they can last over 200 years, 226 years being the oldest recorded age for a koi, about 100 years older than the longest living human at the oldest recorded age being 126 years. These carp are bred for viewing. Easy to raise, some can live up to 100 years.

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Red-Tailed Tinfoil Barb (Barbonymus altus), Ocellate River Stingray (Potamotrygon motoro), Indo-Pacific Tarpon (Megalops cyprinoides), Clown Knifefish (Chitala ornata)

The Red-Tailed Tinfoil Barb is a good-sized cyprinid fish that reaches up to about 8 inches (20 cm) in length. It has a large, distinct silvery metallic scales, red-tipped fins, and a forked tail characteristic of a fast-swimming fish.

The Ocellate River Stingray, also known as the Peacock-Eye Stingray, is a freshwater stingray in the family Potamotrygonidae. Ocellate River Stingrays have an oval disc-shaped body. The upper surface is grayish-brown with yellow-orange spots trimmed in black and the underside is white. Their eyes, positioned on the dorsal surface of their head, give them nearly 360 degrees field of vision. Their sense of smell is well-developed and around their mouth they have electrical sensors called Ampullae of Lorenzini that sense the natural electrical charges of potential prey and predators.

The Indo-Pacific Tarpon is also known as the Oxeye or Herring. Based on fossic research, Tarpon have been swimming in our oceans since prehistoric time. They are primarily found in shallow coastal waters and estuaries. Due to its majestic appearance of size and color, the Tarpon is nicknamed "Silver King".

The Clown Knifefish is a freshwater fish indigenous to tropical regions of Asia in river basins and lakes of Indochina, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Mekong, Chao Phraya, and Cambodia. They have a long, narrow body that reaches about 40 inches in length in adulthood. It is silver in color, and has several circular markings on its mid-body that become more defined as it matures.

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Catfish (Siluriformes), Giant Gourami (Osphronemus goramy), Giant Albino Gourami, Janitor Fish (Pterygoplichthys), Black Pacu (Colossoma macropomum)

Catfish belongs to the group of ray-finned fish. They inhabit freshwater ecosystems such as rivers and streams. Some species of catfish are adapted to the life in saltwater and caves. They are nocturnal carnivores and cannibals. This, of course makes them hard to breed and farm-raise. The order Siluriformes as a whole are commonly caught in real life, usually in ponds or lakes.

Giant Gourami can grow up to 2 feet (60 cm) in length. They are believed to have originated in Java, and possibly Sumatra, Borneo, and other islands in the Malay Archipelago.

The Janitor Fish, also known as the Sailfin Armoured Catfish, is an invasive species of Catfish native to South America’s Amazon river basin. They are herbivores and often consume algae.

The Black Pacu, also known as the Tambaqui, is native to South America. They are an impressive fish because they can reach a size of 3 and a half feet (108 cm) in length and weighing over 60 pounds in the wild.

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Blood Parrot Cichlid (Amphilophus citrinellus x Paraneetroplus synspilus), Oscar (Astronotus ocellatus), and Albino Oscar

The Blood Parrot Cichlid have a balloon-shaped body and a very small mouth. Perhaps they are called Parrotfish because their nose looks like a Parrot’s beak.

The Oscar is a South American Cichlid. They come in a wide variety of patterns and colors and are also known as Tiger Velvet or Marble Cichlid.

The Albino Oscar is quite unique compared to others. They do not appear to exhibit color throughout its body. However, there are some oscars called Lutino Oscar Fish wherein they exhibit color pigmentation, whereas true albino creatures do not.

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Cichlids (Cichlidae)

Cichlids are fishes from the family Cichlidae, in the order Perciformes. Cichlids are mostly found in the rift lakes in Africa. Most Cichlids have a classical fish-shaped body design and they come in a rainbow of colors.

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Alligator Gar (Atractosteus spatula)

The Alligator Gar has a unique appearance and falls into the category of a ray-finned species. They are the only species of Gar that has a row of very sharp teeth that are in the upper jaw region, giving their mouth the appearance of an Alligator where the name was derived from.

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Red-Bellied Pacu (Piaractus Brachypomus)

The Red-Bellied Pacu originated in the Amazon Basin of South America. It is a tropical fish of the family Serrasalminae, which closely resembles a Piranha in its juvenile stage.