Johann Hunt
The underwater world is teeming with an extraordinary array of fish species, each with unique appearances and adaptations. While fishes use their colors for camouflage, attraction, or warning, we can all agree that their dazzling patterns can be breathtaking. Prepare to be blown away by the beauty of these 20 fish species ranked from the least to the most colorful.
Japanese Rice Fish
This small fish, native to Japan, has a translucent body with a slight silver sheen. It is often kept in aquariums for its peaceful demeanor and is important in genetic research. In the wild, it inhabits rice paddies and small streams. While not overtly colorful, the fish’s delicate transparency is fascinating.
Clown Knifefish
The Clown Knifefish has a sleek silver body adorned with dark spots resembling eyes. Popular in Southeast Asia, its design is more elegant than vibrant. Its spots serve as camouflage that mimics the eyes to deter predators and are often kept in aquariums for their unique shape and graceful swimming.
Zebra Tilapia
A freshwater fish, this species displays a pale silver body with dark vertical stripes. The Zebra Tilapia is common in African waters and is hardy and adaptable. Though its stripes are beautifully patterned, they fall short of being colorful. Still, the Tilapia’s subdued appearance suits its pragmatic, utilitarian role in ecosystems and farming.
Banggai Cardinalfish
Indonesia’s Banggai Islands is the native home of the Banggai Cardinalfish. With a fascinating combination of black, white, and silver stripes, its symmetrical pattern adds a touch of elegance to its appearance. These fish measure only three inches long, and their sharp contrast stands out in coral reef aquariums.
Royal Gramma
The Royal Gramma is a Caribbean reef dweller and a popular choice for aquariums. Despite its miniature size, multiple vibrant shades make it visually striking. Its coloration provides excellent camouflage among coral reefs. As a hardy species, this fish thrives in well-maintained aquariums and feeds on plankton and small crustaceans.
Flame Angelfish
As the name signifies, the Flame Angelfish has a fiery red-orange body with vertical black bars. Found in Pacific coral reefs, this medium-sized species is highly sought after for its calm nature. But don’t be fooled by its vivid colors: their main purpose is to warn predators of this shy fish’s toxicity.
Mandarin Goby
Native to the calm waters of the Indo-Pacific, its psychedelic patterns are mesmerizing as it features a kaleidoscope of orange, blue, and green colors. Its remarkable hues are a result of specialized pigment-containing cells called chromatophores. Despite its beauty, the Goby is challenging to keep in captivity due to its diet.
Harlequin Tuskfish
Displaying bold, bright stripes in shades of blue, orange, and red, the Harlequin Tuskfish is also native to the Indian and Pacific waters. It prowls the reefs as a medium-sized predator, displaying its sharp, protruding teeth that make it intimidating. The fish’s vibrant coloration makes it a favorite pet for fish-loving households.
Regal Angelfish
This species is found in tropical waters, often near coral reefs. Featuring an intricate pattern of orange, yellow, and blue with white stripes, the Regal Angelfish’s eye-catching design is complemented by its graceful swimming. Notwithstanding its beauty, this one is difficult to domesticate due to specific dietary requirements.
Clownfish
The Clownfish is famous for its association with sea anemones. You can easily find it by its bright orange body featuring white bands edged in black. Many enthusiasts house this fish because of its coloration, providing camouflage and a warning to predators. Clownfish are small, rarely exceeding four inches in length.
Peacock Bass
South American rivers are filled with the beautiful Peacock Bass with its golden-yellow body and striking black spots. Fins with iridescent blue-green highlights grace its sides, which adds to its allure. The fish’s colors help attract potential mates during the breeding seasons. Moreover, anglers prize the Bass for its resplendent appearance and aggressiveness.
Blue Tang
Animated films, like ‘Finding Nemo,’ helped popularize the beautiful Blue Tang. Displaying a vibrant blue body and yellow tail, this species is an herbivore widespread in the Indo-Pacific reefs. The Tang’s vivid coloration makes it an ideal candidate for aquariums. Unfortunately, its varied feeding habit makes it unsuitable for captivity.
Betta Fish
Betta fish are originally from Southeast Asia. They are known for their dazzling iridescent blue or fiery red colors and are often bred for their extravagant fins and bright colorings. Males are more colorful, using their appearance to attract mates and deter rivals. In addition, Bettas are highly territorial and require careful handling.
Moorish Idol
Featuring bold black, white, and yellow stripes, the Moorish Idol is known for its elongated dorsal fin. People often mistake it for angelfish even though it is the sole member of the Zanclidae family. Idols are often found in pairs or small groups and are highly sensitive to environmental changes.
Scarlet Badis
Scarlet Badis’ diminutive size and lively, vivid red and orange stripes make them a favorite in nano aquariums. Males are more colorful and display bright patterns during mating or territorial defense. Females are, nonetheless, smaller and duller in coloration. Both prefer slightly acidic water and a diet of live food.
Lyretail Anthias
The Lyretail Anthias are an energetic, reef-dwelling fish commonly found in the Indo-Pacific region. Known for their striking coloration, Anthias displays a mix of pink, red, and yellow hues, with males typically exhibiting more intense colors than females. They are common household pets due to their beauty and relatively peaceful nature.
Rainbowfish
Rainbowfish live up to their name with their iridescent scales that shift in color. Hues ranging from metallic blues to fiery oranges shimmer in different ways depending on the angle of light. These freshwater, friendly, and peaceful fish have up to 50 varieties, the most popular being the Australian rainbowfish.
Parrotfish
One unique trait of the Parrotfish is its behavior of sleeping in protective “bubble nests.” A reef-dwelling species, it is known for its distinctive, beak-like teeth that resemble a parrot’s beak. Parrotfish have shades of green, blue, and yellow and undergo dramatic changes in color and shape as they mature.
Mandarin Dragonet
What the Mandarin Dragonet lacks in size, it makes up for in beauty. It is mainly found in coral reefs and rocky areas of the Philippines, Indonesia, and parts of Australia. Dragonets feature a stunning mix of bright orange, blue, and green coloration, along with intricate patterns that suit them for aquariums.
Discus Fish
As the name suggests, the discus fish have a distinctive disc-shaped body. They are highly social and come in bright red, blue, green, yellow, and brown shades. Their bodies often feature striking patterns such as stripes, spots, or a solid coloration, with some species displaying iridescent hues that shimmer in the light.