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Common Fish Names Beginning With H

African arowana (Heterotis niloticus), adult, swimming, bonefish, captive, native in Africa
Heterotis niloticus Jurgen & Christine Sohns / Getty Images

Here is a list of fish names that begin with the letter H, cross-referenced to their scientific names.

Common Fish Names Starting With the Letter H

  • Haitian cichlid (Cichlasoma haitiensis): Also called the Black Nasty, this fish lives up to its name, as it's extremely aggressive and can't be kept with other fish. It can grow up to 15 inches and requires a minimum tank of 75 gallons. The Haitian cichlid is native to Haiti's freshwater rivers and streams.
  • Half-Lined pyrrhulina (Pyrrhulina laeta): These are a peaceful and lively fish that need a community aquarium. After spawning, it's the male that cares for the fry.
  • Hampala barb (Hampala macrolepidota): This fish has been used as food in Southeast Asia since ancient times.
  • Harlequin rasbora (Rasbora heteromorpha): Fish hobbyists love the Harlequin rasbora because it has gorgeous metal colors and it's easy to care for. Put a school of them in an aquarium and it will come alive with vibrant color and movement.
  • Harlequin shark (Labeo cyclorhynchus): This fish from the Congo Republic and Gabon has spectacular coloring and markings which do fade with age, however. It is also a very antisocial and solitary species. They should never live with other harlequin sharks in the same aquarium, or with other bottom-dwellers or species that look similar as they are territorial.
  • Harrison's pencilfish (Nannostomus harrisoni): These must be kept in a group of at least five or six, but ideally more. Males are aggressive when it comes to territory though they don't inflict any damage. If kept with large or aggressive species, they will withdraw and likely refuse food.
  • Hatchetfish (Gasteropelecus sternicla): Also known as the black-winged hatchetfish, this fish has a unique shape—a thin body with a deep "belly," pectoral fins set high on the body and an upturned mouth seen in surface dwellers.
  • Head-and-taillight tetra (Hemigrammus ocellifer): The head-and-taillight tetra was originally found in South American tributaries, and they are terrific tank mates for a community aquarium. Their body is mostly transparent in color and their head and abdomen boast a silver or gold color. They have a pink spot on the base of the tail and just behind the eyes which look like a little light.
  • Heterotis (Heterotis niloticus): These fish are only suitable as a juvenile for most personal aquariums because they are easily spooked and may throw itself against the tank glass in a panic.
  • Hi-Fin banded shark (Myxocyprinus asiaticus): This fish reaches a maximum size of 4.5 feet and can weigh 88 pounds; it is thus unsuitable for a home aquarium.

More Fish Names That Begin With H

  • High-Backed Headstander (Abramites hypselonotus)
  • High-Backed Tetra (Citharinus citharus)
  • Hi-Spot Rasbora (Rasbora dorsiocellata dorsiocellata)
  • Hog-Nosed Brochis (Brochis multiradiatus)
  • Holland's Piranha (Serrasalmus hollandi)
  • Honey Gourami (Colisa chuna "Gold")
  • Hong Kong Pleco (Gastromyzon ctenocephalus)
  • Hora's Loach (Botia morleti)
  • Horsefaced Loach (Acantopsis choirorhynchos)
  • Humeralis Piranha (Serrasalmus humeralis)
  • Hyena Cichlid (Nimbochromis polystigma)