Sri Lanka is home to many a species of Barbs. The Cherry Barb (Puntius titteya) is slender, even for a Barb, and displays in a mostly fiery red color, with dark brown color along the midline. During spawning, the male will turn bright cherry red, which explains their name. A true schooling freshwater fish, it should be kept in groups of six or more, which minimizes aggressiveness toward peaceful tankmates.

They prefer a well-planted tank of at least 30 gallons with soft, slightly acidic water. Rocks and driftwood can be added to the aquarium, as long as there is still a lot of space for swimming.

The Leopard Cobra Guppy has a peaceful nature and gets along well with tankmates of a similar temperament. Because they are hardy and resilient, they are a great option for both beginners and advanced enthusiasts who maintain optimal water conditions.

A popular Sri Lankan variety of Platy is the Gold Mickey Mouse Platy Xiphophorus maculatus. It is a beautiful, orange, and black color variety with an iridescent black tail that contrasts against a bright orange body. There is a small blue spot behind its eyes. Through selective breeding, Platies are now available in a wide range of new color and fin variations. The Gold Mickey Mouse Platy is a great example of an atypical color variation.

Swordtails that are exported from Sri Lanka are in high demand. With many color variations available, it may be difficult to decide on which one to select. The Kohaku Swordtail (Xiphophorus helleri) is a prime example of the type of unique specimens available. Wildly popular, these active fish have an easy care level. Generally peaceful, males can get territorial, so they should be monitored.

Best when kept in groups of six, it is highly ornamental and easily identified by their vivid orange and transparent white koi-like coloration. A showy fish, both males and females are attention-getting, and males have the added distinction of the swordtail feature.

Tetras are also a key export aquarium fish from Sri Lanka and are active schooling fish that work well in the peaceful community aquarium. It is ideal to keep six or more fish of the same species. Tetras do best in a well-planted aquarium with moderate lighting.

An example of an interesting and eye catching species is the White Widow Tetra (Gymnocorymbus ternetzi) group, that will make a lively addition to any freshwater tank that is well planted and has plenty of hiding places. Displaying in a white opaque color, it has a characteristic 'skirt' appearance formed by its anal and dorsal fins. Females are usually larger than the males and have a rounder body.

Butterflyfish are one of the most widely sought-after aquarium fishes. To satisfy that demand, they are grown in captivity, in addition to being wild caught and exported from Sri Lanka.

An example of an eye catching spotlight specimen is the Pakistan Butterflyfish Chaetodon collare. It has a rich brown to black color with lighter brown scales throughout. Its mask-like head includes two white bands and a black band through its eyes. The tail is most distinct with a wide red band followed by black and white bands.

The Pakistan Butterflyfish eats stony corals in the wild and is not recommended for the reef aquarium as it will nip at many corals and sessile invertebrates. A 125 gallon or larger aquarium is suitable for a pair introduced to the tank together, otherwise, is best kept singly with plenty of swimming room.

Marine Angelfish are also popular exports from Sri Lanka. They are available in an almost endless color of varieties.

One striking example is the Annularis Angelfish (Pomacanthus annularis). It grows quite large, twelve inches long and almost as tall. It has brilliant sapphire stripes over a predominantly brown body and whitish-blue tail. Requiring a moderate care level, it is semi-aggressive and is reef compatible with caution because it will nip at sessile invertebrates such as nudibranchs, corals, and tridacnid (three-footed) clams. It requires plenty of hiding places such as caves and live rock for grazing.

Tangs are popular aquarium fish throughout the world. One of the reasons is because they can live quite long (over 20 years) with proper care. Tangs from Sri Lanka will bring splashes of color to your aquarium.

An extraordinary example of a showstopping Tang from Sri Lanka is the Convict Tang (Acanthurus triostegus). It has a stunning white to silver body highlighted by six vertical black bars. The peduncle spines (near the tail) are rather small compared to that of other Tangs. It is a great addition to the reef or fish only aquarium. Convict Tangs are herbivores that require a large aquarium of 125 gallons or more with room to swim. This semi-aggressive Tang has a moderate care level.

Clownfish are arguably the best known ornamental fish species, after its likeness appeared in a couple of popular children's movies. They enjoy a symbiotic relationship with anemones, where the Clownfish seeks shelter within its tentacles and provides protection for the anemone.

The Sebae Clownfish (Amphiprion sebae) is an example of a Sri Lankan Clownfish. It has a brown to black body with two wide white body stripes. Yellow is a prominent secondary color, appearing on its mouth, belly, and caudal fin. The Captive-Bred True Sebae Clownfish is a good candidate for a reef aquarium. Though an anemone is not mandatory for this Clownfish in an aquarium environment, they will bond with the Bubble Tip Anemone (Entacmaea quadricolor).

The export of aquarium fish from Sri Lanka is a healthy economy and growing, due to the demand for Sri Lankan freshwater and saltwater ornamental fish. Specimens are shipped all around the world including the USA.