Fish that Start with S

Dave

Fish That Start with S - AquariumSavvy.com

So here we are at the letter S, which actually has the most common fish names by far – for both freshwater and saltwater species. We’ve got striped, spotted and speckled fishies as well as some shining silver ones in this list. There are so many interesting names to be found, so you’re sure to enjoy this list of fish that start with S. We thought we’d use our post with fish beginning with S to talk about science a little more.

Scientific names have been included to give you even more information about each of these fish. The Latin names are used to identify different fish breeds and categorise them. In scientific nomenclature, animals, fish, plants and organisms are given many classifications and categories so that they can be correctly identified by scientists and others studying these living things. The classifications include the following headings (from highest to lowest):

  • Kingdom
  • Phylum
  • Class
  • Order
  • Suborder
  • Family
  • Genus
  • Species
  • Subspecies

Every creature that has been discovered gets placed into these classifications. We’ve set up an example below for one of our favorite aquarium fish – a Betta (see Siamese Fighting Fish below in our top 5)! This is how they are classified:

  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Chordata
  • Class: Actinopterygii
  • Order: Anabantiformes
  • Suborder: Anabantoidei
  • Family: Osphronemidae
  • Genus: Betta
  • Species: splendens

All fish are categorised like this and these classifications will be produced for every new type of fish that gets discovered in the future.

Our Top 5 Fish Names Beginning with Letter S

We did struggle a little with our choices for our top ‘S’ fish as there were so many to choose from. But we’re very happy with our final five and think you’re going to love them too. We’ve chosen some pretty fish and one not-so-pretty fish… but they’re all super interesting and worth a special mention.

Sailfin Molly (Poecilia velifera)

That large fin on this molly’s back is what gives this fish the name Sailfin Molly, as it truly looks like a boat sail. In the wild, you will find these fish in Mexico, Colombia, Taiwan, Singapore and Israel, where they live in brackish waters. When setting up an aquarium with for a Sailfin Molly, it is important that the water hardness is correct as they tend to become weak in soft water. They can withstand higher temperatures than a lot of other fish and they don’t mind a bit of direct sunlight.

Keep them in heavily planted tanks, perhaps with floating cover, but leave some open spaces for these fish to have a swim. Feed them with a mix of living, frozen and dried foods, but always include a few greens to keep these omnivores as balanced as possible – cucumber or blanched spinach is ideal. The friendly Sailfin can live with other fish, just avoid teaming with any fin-nippers.

Salvini Cichlid (Cichlasoma salvini)

Salvini Cichlids, like many other cichlids, are quite aggressive creatures, so if you want to keep more than one, it is important to provide enough hiding spaces for each, so their territorial angst can be avoided as much as possible. This type of fish is predominantly carnivorous, so they will enjoy live and frozen foods as well as pellets – you could even add in some spirulina flake to the mix for added nutrients.

The Salvini likes a lot of room for swimming but they do appreciate a few plants and hiding places around the tank. As we mentioned, this carnivorous fish will eat live food, which includes any fish that fit neatly into its mouth, so be careful when choosing tank mates for this cichlid.

Seba Mono (Psettus sebae)

We wanted to include the Seba Mono in our top 5 because we just love the shape of this fish! It doesn’t look all that practical for swimming but when there’s food involved, the Seba Mono seems to spring to life to nab itself a nice juicy live piece of food. Smaller fish may not be best suited as tank mates, as this fish will eat anything live that fits in its mouth.

Other than the odd accidental nomming of tank mates, this fish can be kept with other peaceful fish and can be kept in a brackish (or salt) environment. Coral sand is recommended as a substrate for the Seba and plenty of plants make this fish feel at home.

Siamese Fighting Fish (Betta splendens)

One of our all-time favorite fish has to be the Siamese Fighting Fish, also known as Japanese Fighting Fish and Betta Fish. These fish are often beautifully colored and sometimes patterned, with a variety of fin styles making them a pleasure to watch in an aquarium. Despite their small size, these fish are very territorial and should not be kept with others of their kind (unless in a temporary pairing with a female for breeding purposes).

Tank mates that suit a Betta are corydoras, shrimps and other bottom feeders – just avoid colorful fish which the male Betta may see as competition. When angry, Siamese Fighting Fish will flare – all of their fins become outstretched and their gills stick out to the sides. This is also how they look when trying to attract a female too! A betta fish will make a bubble nest if he is feeling safe and comfortable.

Snakehead (Channa argus)

We’re not sure about you, but if we went swimming in a river and came face to face with this fish, we would be quite unsettled. The Snakehead looks quite mean and unfriendly, don’t you think? Also, these fish tend to grow quite large – the largest catch recorded was caught in 2018 and weighed 19.9 lbs and measured over 35 inches long – so we’d definitely freak out.

This freshwater fish can wriggle across land (just like a snake) to reach other bodies of water, surviving out of water for several days! Due to their large sizing, this isn’t a fish that should be kept as a pet and if you see them in normal life, it will more than likely be on your plate – the Snakehead is a popular food in Asia and has been introduced in the wild across some areas of Europe and the US.

List of fish names starting with S

If we’ve sparked intrigue with our selection of fish above, then keep on reading to discover more weird and wonderful creatures as well as some more commonly known varieties, such as sea bass, sharks, sturgeons, swordfish, soles and skates. S really is the letter with the most fish names, so happy scrolling!

Freshwater fish beginning with S:

  • Sábalo (Alosa alosa)
  • Saber-Toothed Blenny (Aspidontus taeniatus)
  • Sacramento Blackfish (Orthodon microlepidotus)
  • Sacramento Splittail (Pogonichthys macrolepidotus)
  • Saddle Cichlid (Aequidens tetramerus)
  • Saddleback Hill-Stream 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 Pleco (Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps)
  • Sailfin Silverside (Marosatherina ladigesi)
  • Sajica Cichlid (Cichlasoma sajica)
  • Salamanderfish (Lepidogalaxias salamandroides)
  • Salaween River Danio (Brachydanio shanisis)
  • Sand Knifefish (Rhamphichthys marmoratus)
  • Sandbar Shark (Carchathinus plumbeus)
  • Sandroller (Percopsis transmontana)
  • Sauger (Sander canadensis)
  • Saulosi Mbuna (Pseudotropheus saulosi)
  • Schwanefeld’s Barb (Barbodes schwanefeldii)
  • Scissor-Tail Rasbora (Rasbora trilineata)
  • Scissortail Rasbora (Rasbosoma spilocerca)
  • Sculpin (Myoxocephalus octodecemspinosus)
  • Senegalus Bichir (Polypterus senegalus)
  • Serpae Tetra (Hyphessobrycon eques)
  • Serrated Piranha (Serrasalmus serrulatus)
  • Sevan trout (Salmo ischchan)
  • Seven Spotted Archerfish (Toxotes chatareus)
  • Severum (Heros severus)
  • Shad (Alosa fallax)
  • Shark (cl. Chondrichthyes)
  • Sharp Toothed Tetra (Micralestes acutidens)
  • Sheepshead (Aplodinotus grunniens)
  • Shiner (Notropis chrosomus)
  • Short-Finned Congo Tetra (Hemigrammopetersius intermedius)
  • Short-Lined Pyrrhulina (Pyrrhulina brevis brevis)
  • Shortnose Gar (Lepisosteus platostomus)
  • Shortnose Sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum)
  • Shortnose Sucker (Chasmistes brevirostris)
  • 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 Carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix)
  • Silver Cichlid (Vieja argentea)
  • Silver Distichodus (Distichodus affinis)
  • Silver Dollar (Metynnis argenteus)
  • Silver Dory (Cyttus australis)
  • Silver Gourami (Trichogaster trichopterus)
  • 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)
  • Silverside (Melanotaenia boesemani)
  • Silvertip Tetra (Hasemania nana)
  • Sind Danio (Devario devario)
  • Six Barred Epiplatys (Epiplatys sexfaciatus)
  • Six-Bar Lamprologus (Neolamprologus sexfasciatus)
  • Six-Barred Distichodus (Distichodus sexfasciatus)
  • Skunk Loach (Botia morleti)
  • Slant Nosed Gar (Ctenolucius hujeta hujeta)
  • Sleeper (Odontobutis obscura)
  • Sleepy Cod (Oxyeleotirs marmoratus)
  • Slender Hemiodus (Hemiodus gracilis)
  • Slender Mbuna (Pseudotropheus elongatus)
  • Slender-Tail Hap (Buccochromis lepturus)
  • Slimy Sculpin (Cottus cognatus)
  • Smallmouth Buffalo (Ictiobus bubalus)
  • Smelt (Hypomesus olidus)
  • Snakefish (Erpetoichthys calabaricus)
  • Snakeskin Gourami (Trichogaster pectoralis)
  • Snow King Pleco (Liposarcus anisitsi)
  • Snubnose Eel (Simenchelys parasitica)
  • Socolof’s Mbuna (Pseudotropheus socolofi)
  • Socolof’s Tetra (Gymnocorymbus socolofi)
  • South American Darter (Characidium fasciatum)
  • South American Lungfish (Lepidosiren paradoxa)
  • Southern Julie (Julidochromis ornatus)
  • Southern Smelt (Retropinna retropinna)
  • 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 Gobie Cichlid (Tanganicodus irsacae)
  • Speckled Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis)
  • Spike-Tailed Paradise Fish (Pseudosphromenus cupanus)
  • Spilotum (Cichlasoma nicaraguense)
  • Spiny Dogfish (Squalus acanthias)
  • Spiny Dwarf Catfish (Scoloplax dicra)
  • Spiny Eel (Macrognathus aculeatus)
  • Spiny Pleco (Pseudacanthicus spinosus)
  • Spinyfin (Diretmus argenteus)
  • Splash Tetra (Copella arnoldi)
  • Splitfin (Xenotoca eiseni)
  • Spookfish (Dolichopteryx longipes)
  • Spot-Line Peacock Cichlid (Cichla temensis)
  • Spotfin Tetra (Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma)
  • Spotnosed Gar (Lepisosteus platostomus)
  • Spottail Pinfish (Diplodus holbrooki)
  • Spotted African Lungfish (Protopterus dolloi)
  • Spotted Barb (Barbus binotatus)
  • Spotted Barramundi (Scleropages leichardtii)
  • Spotted Blue-Eye (Pseudomugil gertrudae)
  • Spotted Bristle-Nosed Pleco (Ancistrus hoplogenys)
  • Spotted Cachorro (Acestrorhynchus falcatus)
  • Spotted Climbing Perch (Ctenopoma acutirostre)
  • Spotted Danio (Danio nigrofasciatus)
  • 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)
  • Sprat (Sprattus sprattus)
  • Springfish (Crenichthys baileyi)
  • Squarehead Catfish (Chaca chaca)
  • Squarehead Earth Eater (Gymnogeophagus gymnogenys)
  • Squawfish (Ptychocheilus lucius)
  • Squeaker (Synodontis njassae)
  • Star-Gazing Doradid (Astrodoras asterifrons)
  • Star-Gazing Pike Cichlid (Crenicichla cametana)
  • Starry Flounder (Platichthys stellatus)
  • Steelhead (Oncorhynchus. m. irideus)
  • Steindachners Dwarf Cichlid (Apistogramma steindachneri)
  • Sterbas Corydoras (Corydoras sterbai)
  • Sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus)
  • Stickleback (Apeltes quadracus)
  • Stoliczkas Loach (Nemacheilus stoliczkai)
  • Stone Loach (Barbatula barbatula)
  • Stonecat (Noturus flavus)
  • Stoneroller Minnow (Campostoma anomalum)
  • Stream Catfish (Acrochordonichthys rugosus)
  • 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 Phyrrhulina (Pyrrhulina vittata)
  • Striped Pike Characin (Boulengerella lateristriga)
  • Striped Silver Dollar (Metynnis hypsauchen fasciatus)
  • Striped Sleeper Goby (Dormitator maculatus)
  • Striped Snakehead (Channa striata)
  • Striped Synodontis (Synodontis flavitaeniatus)
  • Striped Tailor (Alburnoides taeniatus)
  • Sturgeon Catfish (Platystomatichthys sturio)
  • Sucker (Catostomus commersonii)
  • Sucker Barb (Barbichthys laevis)
  • Suckermouth Armored Catfish (Pterygoplichthys sp.)
  • Sucking Loach (Gyrinocheilus aymonieri)
  • Sulphurhead Hap (Otopharynx lithobates)
  • Sumatran Barb (Capoeta tetrazona)
  • Sun Loach (Botia eos)
  • Sundaland Noodlefish (Sundasalanx malleti)
  • Sunfish (Centrarchus macropterus)
  • Suriname Eartheater (Geophagus proximus)
  • Swamp-Eel (Monopterus albus)
  • Swampfish (Chologaster cornuta)
  • Swordtail (Xiphophorus hellerii)
  • Swordtail Characin (Corynopoma riisei)

Saltwater fish beginning with S:

  • Sabertooth (Coccorella atrata)
  • Sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria)
  • Sailfish (Istiophorus albicans)
  • Salmon (Salmo salar)
  • Salmon Shark (Lamna ditropis)
  • Sand Dab (Citharichthys sordidus)
  • Sand Diver (Trichonotus filamentosus)
  • Sand Goby (Pomatoschistus minutus)
  • Sand Lance (Ammodytes hexapterus)
  • Sand Stargazer (Dactylagnus mundus)
  • Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus)
  • Sand Tilefish (Malacanthus latovittatus)
  • Sandburrower (Tewara cranwellae)
  • Sandfish (Trichodon trichodon)
  • Sandperch (Parapercis hexophtalma)
  • Sarcastic Fringehead (Neoclinus blanchardi)
  • Sardine (Escualosa elongata)
  • Sargassum Fish (Histrio histrio)
  • Saury (Cololabis adocetus)
  • Saw Shark (Pristiophorus cirratus)
  • Sawfish (Pristis pristis)
  • Sawtooth Eel (Serrivomer beanii)
  • Scabbard Fish (Evoxymetopon taeniatus)
  • Scaly Dragonfish (Stomias boa boa)
  • Scat (Scatophagus argus)
  • Scorpionfish (Scorpaenopsis oxycephala)
  • Scup (Stenotomus chrysops)
  • Sea Bass (Centropristis striata)
  • Sea Bream (Diplodus vulgaris)
  • Sea Catfish (Bagre marinus)
  • Sea Chub (Girella fimbriata)
  • Sea Devil (Ceratias holboelli)
  • Sea Dragon (Phyllopteryx taeniolatus)
  • Sea Lamprey (Petromyzon marinus)
  • Sea Raven (Blepsias cirrhosus)
  • Sea Snail (Elassodiscus tremebundus)
  • Sea Toad (Chaunacops cf. melanostomus)
  • Seahorse (Hippocampus sp.)
  • Seamoth (Eurypegasus draconis)
  • Searobin (Chelidonichthys spinosus)
  • Sergeant Major (Abudefduf saxatilis)
  • Sharksucker (Remora remora)
  • Sharpnose Puffer (Canthigaster rostrata)
  • Sheatfish (Silurus glanis)
  • Sheepshead Minnow (Cyprinodon variegatus variegatus)
  • Shortnose Chimaera (Hydrolagus alberti)
  • Shrimpfish (Aeoliscus strigatus)
  • Sillago (Sillago parvisquamis)
  • Silver Hake (Merluccius bilinearis)
  • Sixgill Ray (Hexatrygon bickelli)
  • Sixgill Shark (Hexanchus griseus)
  • Skate (Amblyraja hyperborea)
  • Skilfish (Erilepis zonifer)
  • Skipjack Tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis)
  • Sleeper Shark (Somniosus microcephalus)
  • Slender Mola (Ranzania laevis)
  • Slender Snipe Eel (Nemichthys scolopaceus)
  • Slickhead (Alepocephalus tenebrosus)
  • Slimehead (Gephyroberyx darwinii)
  • Slimy Mackerel (Scomber australasicus)
  • Slipmouth (Eubleekeria splendens)
  • Smalleye Squaretail (Tetragonurus cuvieri)
  • Smalltooth Sawfish (Pristis pectinata)
  • Smelt-Whiting (Sillago japonica)
  • Smooth Dogfish (Mustelus canis)
  • Snake Eel (Myrichthys ocellatus)
  • Snake Mackerel (Gempylus serpens)
  • Snapper (Lutjanus sp.)
  • Snipe Eel (Avocettina acuticeps)
  • Snipefish (Macroramphosus gracilis)
  • Snook (Centropomus undecimalis)
  • Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka)
  • Soldierfish (Myripristis jacobus)
  • Sole (Solea solea)
  • Southern Dolly Varden (Salvelinus curilus)
  • Southern Flounder (Neoachiropsetta milfordi)
  • Southern Hake (Merluccius australis)
  • Southern Sandfish (Leptoscopus macropygus)
  • Spadefish (Platax teira)
  • Spaghetti Eel (Moringua javanica)
  • Spanish Mackerel (Scomberomorus regalis)
  • Spearfish (Tetrapturus pfluegeri)
  • Spiderfish (Ipnopidae family)
  • Spikefish (Parahollardia lineata)
  • Spinefoot (Siganus puellus)
  • Spiny Basslet (Plesiops coeruleolineatus)
  • Sprat (Sprattus sprattus)
  • Squaretail (Tetragonurus cuvieri)
  • Squirrelfish (Holocentrus rufus)
  • Staghorn Sculpin (Leptocottus armatus)
  • Stargazer (Kathetostoma laeve)
  • Stingray (Myliobatiformes order.)
  • Stonefish (Synanceia verrucosa)
  • Stout Moray (Gymnothorax eurostus)
  • Striped Bass (Morone saxatilis)
  • Striped Burrfish (Chilomycterus schoepfi)
  • Sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus)
  • Summer Flounder (Paralichthys dentatus)
  • Surf Sardine (Iso flosmaris)
  • Surfperch (Embiotoca lateralis)
  • Surgeonfish (Acanthurus sohal)
  • Swallower (Eurypharynx pelecanoides)
  • Sweeper (Pempheris schomburgkii)
  • Swordfish (Xiphias gladius)

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