While finding names of fish that start with S may not be daunting, getting them all together in a list is definitely a daunting task. The list of fish with names that start with S is almost unending.
S starts the name of so many interesting fish. So there is a need to specifically identify one fish from the other. Scientific nomenclature is the system of identification that makes it possible to tell one living organism from the other and even distinguish between two very identical species.
The living organism is classified from the highest group to the lowest subgroup with the following classification:
- Kingdom
- Phylum
- Class
- Order
- Family
- Genus
- Species
- Subspecies
This is the same with fish as it helps identify one specific species from another closely related and very identical species. For example, check how it applies to the Siamese Tiger fish below:
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Actinopterygii
- Order: Perciformes
- Family: Datnioididae
- Genus: Datnioides
- Species: Pulcher
Our Top 6 Fish Names Beginning With Letter S
This list of our top 6 fish names that start with S is a great place to start if you are looking for names of fish that start with S.
Picking these 6 top fish species from the list of fish below was challenging. As many hobbyists would agree, there is hardly any aquarium fish that is not special. From the peaceful fish to the not so pretty fish, hobbyists see them as special. But these 6 are worth the hype.
Seba Mono (Psettus sebae)
The beautiful, exceptional shape of the Seba mono earned the fish a spot on this list. The Seba mono is usually peaceful and will mind its business.
But it will also spring back to life with energy during feeding time to get its “piece of the pie.”
It prefers brackish water and can cohabit with other peaceful fish. But you don’t want to keep it with smaller fish as the Seba is known to eat smaller fish that can fit into its mouth.
You want to use coral sand as a substrate for the aquarium and provide plenty of aquatic plants to make this fish comfortable.
Salvini Cichlid (Cichlasoma salvini)
The Salvini cichlid, like many other cichlids, is territorial and aggressive. Their anger and territorial nature tend to keep the community tank active. But if you wish to keep more than one in a tank, a large tank with sufficient space for these territorial fish would do a lot to limit the show of aggression.
Although it might eat plant matters sparely, this fish is largely carnivorous. They will also do well with pellets that are specifically designed for carnivores. But they enjoy live and frozen foods.
It is best to keep them in a large planted tank that closely replicates their natural environment to provide them enough room to swim and enough covers to hide.
As with many other carnivores, you want to be very picky when choosing tank mates for the Salvini Cichlid. They will eat tankmates that are small enough to fit into their mouths.
Sailfin Molly (Poecilia velifera)
As the name implies, the Sailfin molly has a huge dorsal fin that looks like the sail of a boat. This unique trait earned the fish its place on this list.
The Sailfin Molly is a hardy fish species that prefer hard water. They live in brackish waters in the wild and have the ability to the ability to adjust themselves to various salt levels in the aquarium.
Although they can cope with a bit of sunlight, they love a heavily planted tank with floating covers. But they also love to have enough room to swim around.
They are omnivores and will do well with a rich and balanced diet. You can feed them live and feed dried foods but always add leafy greens to their diet.
Do not house the Sailfin molly with notorious fin nippers like the betta species, barbs, and tetras. They will ruin the beautiful dorsal fin of your Sailfin molly.
Snakehead (Channa argus)
This fish is called the snakehead because of its ability to survive on land for days as it wriggles its way like a snake on land to another water body for survival!
It is a very interesting freshwater fish, and it grows enormously. Sometimes, a snakehead can grow more than 30 inches long and weigh more than 15 lbs.
The size of the fish makes it a very expensive investment for the hobby. It is not a fish you want to keep as a pet. But the size also makes the fish a prize for Asian fishermen as it is a famous food in Asia.
Siamese Fighting Fish (Betta splendens)
Also known as the Japanese fighting fish, the siamese fighting fish is a very colorful fish with beautiful fins that make them great display fish. They are also called betta fish.
The Siamese fighting fish is very territorial. It would be best to keep only one in a tank except when you temporarily house a male and a female betta fish for breeding purposes.
Avoid choosing colorful tankmates for the Japanese fighting fish. Although small, male bettas will often become aggressive toward other fish with vibrant colors. They may see them as competition. So you want to avoid colorful fish.
Suitable tankmates for the siamese fighting fish are corydoras and other bottom feeders.
Be sure to catch them when they stretch out their fins for a breath-taking sight. They will usually do this to attract a female or when they are angry.
Spotted Bristle-Nosed Pleco (Ancistrus hoplogenys)
The Spotted Bristle-nosed pleco is a nocturnal and easy-going fish. They usually have extended branched antennae, which is usually noticeable in males when they mature.
The spotted bristle-nose pleco is largely herbivores but will not hesitate to devour bloodworms, insects, and shrimps if fed.
They are native to the tropical northeastern South America and prefer an aquarium environment that replicates their natural habitat. They like a well-filtered tank with lots of plants and hides.
If you do not provide covers for them, do not be surprised to see the males trying to dig up your tank’s substrate to make one for themselves. They need a lot of hides and covers at the bottom of the tank to keep them comfortable.
They love a spacious tank as well. Ensuring that they have enough room to swim, hide and explore is very important if you want them to stay stress-free.
List of Fish Names Starting With S
Below is a list of freshwater and saltwater fish with names that start with S. Read on to discover the beauties of the water bodies on earth.
You will find strange names for some of these weird creatures and names of some common fish you already know. So, check the lists out!
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)
Final Thought
This list of fish with names that start with S is by no means exhaustive. Scientists continue to discover new fish species as they study nature. But the classification system has made it easier to identify them and classify them appropriately.
So any new species in the family of these listed fish or a new order or class will be classified accordingly. But this list of fish is a great starting point.
At Aquarium Labs, she's dedicated to assisting more people discover pleasure in fishkeeping and teaching them how to develop into expert pet parents.
