Have you ever eaten pink salmon? Is it just for me, or is its striking color visually appealing for everyone? Although the pink salmon is not the actual theme of this article. But that’s when my interest gradually began to grow to discover more about pink fish existing in nature.
During my web research, I discovered several fascinating facts about pink fish thriving in the aquatic environment. In this article, we’ll go at a lot of that information in a crisp manner.
So, without further ado, let’s dive into the article and find 16 beautiful fish in nature that are pink in color.
Are There Any Pink Fish?
The answer is an absolute YES! There are several species of pink fish that showcase distinctive characteristics. Speaking of facts, pink fish is in high demand among aquarists because of their unique beauty. As a result, many species bred in captivity have been hybridized or crossbred to keep up with demand. Here are some of the most well-known species:
Fish that are pink in Color:
- Pink Tetra- The pink tetra is a species of freshwater aquarium fish.
- Kissing Gourami- This is a monotypic, light-colored tropical fish, known for its kissing lips.
- Pink Skunk Clownfish- They are often pink to pinkish orange in hue and a white skunk-like stripe runs down their back.
16 Beautiful Pink Fish
1. Pink Kissing Gourami
| Scientific Name | Helostoma temminckii |
| Size | Between 30-40cm |
| Life Span | up to 25 years, depending on the surrounding conditions |
| Location | Throughout Eastern and Southern Asia |
| Diet | Omnivorous animals that predominantly graze on seabed algae, aquatic plants, and surface-dwelling insects. |
The body of a gourami is deep and flat due to lateral compression.
They are moderately aggressive. As a result, they can purposefully ram into other fish to strip them of their slime coat; this occurs more frequently in captivity.
Because of this nature, kissing gourami shouldn’t be kept with fish of a more delicate species. However, they thrive in a medium-sized community aquarium.
The green-to-gray kissing gourami has dark brown fins, while the pink kissing gourami has transparent fins. Although the second version is a product of genetic alteration to give it a pinkish hue, which is why it made our list.
2. Pink Convict Cichlids
| Scientific Name | Amatitlania nigrofasciata |
| Size | up to 12 cm |
| Life Span | 5-8 years in captivity, but not in the wild |
| Location | Native to Central America |
| Diet | small insects, small crustaceans, plant matter, high-quality pellets, flakes, brine shrimp, bloodworms, and daphnia |
The pink convict cichlid is a product of selective mating between individuals of the Amatitlania nigrofasciata species. So, you must not be surprised to know that they are hard to find in the wild.
Therefore, controlled breeding has produced a leucistic or albino strain (defined as the partial loss of all pigments), which lacks the black stripes pattern of the wild variety.
Common names for these include “white convicts,” “pink convicts,” and “gold convicts.” As a result, you might discover ample information about pink convict cichlids online, but it might confuse you overall because this is a genetic anomaly rather than a particular kind.
3. Pink Bettas
| Scientific Name | Betta splendens |
| Size | 6–8 cm |
| Life Span | Average lifespan of 2-6 years, in captivity |
| Location | Native to Southeast Asia |
| Diet | carnivorous animal that eat small insects & invertebrates |
The Siamese fighting fish, often known as Bettas, exhibit a tremendous color variation due to the several layers of pigmentation in their skin.
The presence of any combination of layers (composed of red, yellow, black, iridescent, and metallic colors) results in a wide range of colors in bettas.
Bettas often thrive in calm rivers and streams. Additionally, they exhibit partial aggressive behavior so they do not go well with others.
There is no albino version of the pink betta. Due to a lack of pigment, the skin is pink, and the flesh is visible. They typically have brighter, deeper coloring on their fins and bodies.
Some pink bettas have been bred specifically for the aquarium trade, such as:
Clear/Cellophane Bettas: The skin of clear or cellophane Bettas is a pale pink, but this coloration is not inherited. Instead, it’s derived from the internal fish coloring that shows through the skin.
Cambodian Bettas: It is a bi-colored fish with a typical flesh-colored, or pale Pink body, while their fins are a vibrant red.
4. Pink Rose Guppy
| Scientific Name | Poecilia reticulata |
| Size | Males: 1.5–3.5 cm & females: 3–6 cm |
| Life Span | Average 2-3 years in the wild, but up to 5 years in captivity and good care |
| Location | Native to South America but it exists all across the globe except one continent; Antarctica |
| Diet | small insects and algae |
The Pink Rose Guppy is one of the various distinct types of fancy guppies (Poecilia reticulata) that have been created through many years of careful selective breeding. The females of this species appear more pinkish along with a metallic hue.
The guppy is an indigenous fish of northeastern South America. Guyana and Brazil are also home to these animals. Although they can survive in saltwater, guppies do better in freshwater.
The pink-to-red coloring on the front half of the body of the tuxedo guppy was a breeding goal. Its dorsal fin and outer edge are also a vivid shade of Pink.
Even novice fish keepers can successfully breed guppies. Everyone knows them as an invasive species. They cover almost the entire freshwater body accessible to them in their natural range. Thus, they negatively impact the native fish populations.
5. Rosy Tetra
| Scientific Name | Hyphessobrycon rosaceus |
| Size | Tend to grow up to 4cm |
| Life Span | 3-5 years in captivity |
| Location | Native to South America |
| Diet | It is an omnivorous animal that eats plant matter and live foods, including insect larvae, crustaceans, and worms. |
Native to Brazil and Guyana in South America, the rosy tetra (Hyphessobrycon rosaceus) is a tiny fish species. It has a very peaceful, undemanding, and adaptable nature and it generally prefers staying with family. Thus, it is a popular choice for many aquarists for obvious reasons.
Rosy tetras have a light whiteish-pink body with red fins except the dorsal one, which can be white or black. Giving them suitable dark accommodation is best to promote their health and expression of more profound color.
6. Pink Jack Dempsey Cichlids
| Scientific Name | Rocio octofasciata |
| Size | up to 20-25 cm |
| Life Span | On average, Pink Jack Dempsey Cichlids have a lifespan of 8-10 years in captivity. |
| Location | Central America |
| Diet | Pellets, flakes, worms, insects, and small crustaceans |
The Jack Dempsey cichlid is almost exclusively found in freshwater rivers with low current speeds throughout Honduras to Southern Mexico.
This Fish is characterized by an elongated oval body, and strong facial features depicting its aggressive nature which is similar to renowned boxer Jack Dempsey from the 1920s, hence, the nickname. They have long fins, and a rounded, equally long tail too.
The pink Jack Dempsey cichlid is a variant of the common Jack Dempsey fish created through hybridization. They are available in a wide range of colors and not just pink.
The Rocio octofasciata species is a territorial predator. They have a solid aversion to coexisting with other forms of life. So it is better to keep only peaceful tankmates with them.
7. Albino Pacu Fish
| Scientific Name | Piaractus brachypomus |
| Size | Can grow up to 88 cm. |
| Life Span | They can live up to 15 years in the wild. While in captivity, they are reported to live as much as for 25 years. |
| Location | Native to South America, but introduced in other parts of the globe, also kept in aquaculture |
| Diet | omnivores animal, thus, they eat plant and meaty foods |
You may characterize the pacu fish by its broad, flat body and fins that run along its back and belly. The Amazon River in Colombia is home to this albino red belly pacu with unusual color mutations.
A different acronym for them is vegetarian piranhas. Due to their appearance alone, they are frequently mistaken for their piranha cousins. Despite the fact that they have a similar appearance, pacu fish are far more peaceful and vegetarian in nature as opposed to the piranha.
Mutated Pink is just one of many available colors; others include grey, black, white, and silver. The pacu fish’s blunt molars are better suited for grinding plant matter and cracking nuts than other Fish’s sharp, jagged teeth.
8. Mexican Tetras
| Scientific Name | Astyanax mexicanus |
| Size | Can grow up to 12 cm. |
| Life Span | 2-5 years depending on its habitat; whether its living in captivity or in the wild |
| Location | Native to the Nearctic realm |
| Diet | small insects, crustaceans, & plant matter |
The Mexican tetra is a species of freshwater fish native to the rivers and streams of central and eastern Mexico. It is also known as the Blind Cave Fish or Blind Cave Tetra. Speaking of facts, because there is no light in the pitch-black caverns, the fish’s eyes may be functioning at birth but later fog over and diminish, hence, the nickname.
The Mexican tetra stands out because it lacks pigment, contrasting it between pink and white. However, the blind variety is relatively common in aquariums.
The native habitat of these Fish is pools and backwaters, where they spend most of their time swimming in the middle layer of water, away from the rocks and sand.
9. Strawberry Peacock Cichlids
| Genus | Aulonocara species hybrid |
| Size | Adult males- up to 15 cm., while females are slightly smaller- up to 10 cm. |
| Life Span | In the wild, their lifespan is typically around 4 to 5 years. In captivity, they can live for up to 8 years or more with proper care. |
| Location | Lake Malawi in Africa |
| Diet | small aquatic invertebrates, krill, and crustaceans |
The southern region of Lake Malawi in East Africa is home to the strawberry peacock cichlid. They’re more popular than other types in the aquarium hobby.
The vivid red and pink tones making up a stunning color pattern give them their name. It is a man-made variety of Aulonocara species, a product of selective line breeding and they do not exist in the wild.
They have a mild to moderately aggressive temperament, especially towards their own species. However, they do well in community tanks.
In contrast to females, male strawberry peacock cichlids have a more striking pink coloration. However, if this fish is under pressure, its pink body will turn white.
Peacock cichlids are bottom-dwelling fish found near the bottom of lakes and rivers. They’re energetic, providing plenty of room for them to swim. The territorial nature of these fish necessitates adequate living quarters.
10. Red Snapper
| Scientific Name | Lutjanus campechanus |
| Size | Common adult length can be up to 60-100 cm. |
| Life Span | Quiet a long life span, up to 57 years or so |
| Location | The Gulf of Mexico, the western Atlantic Ocean, and the Caribbean Sea |
| Diet | fish, crustaceans, and squid. |
The bodies of the northern red snapper have a slant profile, scales that range in size from moderate to large, and a spiny dorsal fin. Their size and coloration are both notable, a pale red body and a darker red back. It has three anal spines, eight to nine anal soft rays, ten dorsal spines, and fourteen soft dorsal rays.
The average adult length of a snapper is 60 cm, but they can grow to be as large as 100 cm. They generally inhabit environments associated with reefs. And this is a species with great community importance.
11. Pink Flowerhorn
| Genus | Amphilophus (hybrid species-especially manmade) |
| Size | Can grow up to 12-16 inches (30-40 cm) in length. |
| Life Span | 10-12 years |
| Location | U.S., Asia, and Europe |
| Diet |
protein-rich foods such as bloodworms, shrimp, etc.
|
This Fish is an artificial hybrid of two South American cichlids bred for the aquarium trade. These Fish are available in rainbow hues. You can get them in shades, from pure gold to a pink and grey gradient.
However, for a variety of reasons, both environmentalists and cichlid hobbyists have criticized flowerhorns.
Due to the demand for flowerhorns, surplus, and malformed fish were killed; some of these fish were then released into the wild in Malaysia and Singapore, where they survived and damaged the ecosystems of ponds and rivers.
The aggressive flowerhorn cichlid, like many other cichlids, may breed swiftly and compete with and eat native species.
12. Rosy-Scales Fairy-Wrasse
| Scientific Name | Cirrhilabrus rubrisquamis |
| Size | Reaches a fair length of up to 7.2 cm making them a relatively small fish |
| Life Span | 5-10 years |
| Location | Chagos Archipelago in the Indian Ocean. |
| Diet | small invertebrates such as crustaceans, mollusks, and worms. |
Fairy wrasses, or Cirrhilabrus, are a genus of Fish in the family Labridae living in the Indo-Pacific region’s coral reefs and nearby habitats. The stunning rosy-red scales, over the pinkish-gold hue of its body do fair justice to its name.
They get at most 7.2 cm in length and are covered in vivid patterns. Males are more prominent and brightly colored than females with a body moderately elongated and compressed.
13. Pink Salmon
| Scientific Name | Oncorhynchus gorbuscha |
| Size | It’s a huge animal with a maximum recorded length of 30 inches. |
| Life Span | They have about a 2 year life cycle |
| Location | Pacific and Arctic coastal waters and rivers |
| Diet | small fish and squid. |
Pink Salmon are bright silver fish that live in the ocean. They turn a pale grey on the back and a pinkish white on the belly when returning to their spawning streams (although some turn a dull green color overall). However, you shouldn’t assume that they are defaulters on our list of pink fish.
They are on the list due to the striking pink flesh that is visible beneath the top layer, which is, in fact, flashy around the belly.
They have a dorsal fin and an adipose fin, like all Salmon. Large oval-shaped black spots cover its back, its tail is V-shaped, and its anal fin has 13-17 soft rays. The Fish’s mouth is white, but its gums and tongue are black.
They are called “humpies” because the males acquire a prominent hump on their backs during the spawning migration.
14. Pink Skunk Clownfish
| Scientific Name | Amphiprion perideraion |
| Size | Up to 10 centimeters (3.9 inches) |
| Life Span | Up to 6-8 years in the wild, and for over 21 years in captivity |
| Location | Throughout the tropical regions of the western Pacific and Indian Oceans |
| Diet | Crustaceans (such as copepods and amphipods), algae, polychaete worms, etc. |
Amphiprion perideraion has a pink to the peach-colored body. In addition to the characteristic white stripe along the dorsal ridge shared by all members of the skunk complex, this species also sports a white head bar that runs vertically just behind the eye.
Some species of anemonefish exhibit wide color ranges, reflecting differences in habitat, sexuality, and host anemone. As with other species in the skunk complex, the Pink Skunk Clownfish lacks these characteristics.
As a member of the skunk complex, A. perideraion shares characteristics with related species. Its unique dorsal stripe and head bar set it apart from nearly every other species.
15. Threadfin anthias
| Scientific Name | Nemanthias carberryi |
| Size | Can reach around 13 cm. |
| Life Span | Can live for around 2-5 years |
| Location | Western Indian Ocean |
| Diet | In the wild, they feed on zooplanktons, floating algae, and other plant matter |
This beautiful fish belongs to the monotypic genus Nemanthias in the family Serranidae.
The Threadfin anthias has a yellow body with a purplish-pink field that extends from the top of its head to the base of the tailfin peduncle on the lower half of the body. The hue of females is distinctive pinkish-yellow.
It is advisable to keep the Threadfin anthias in groups of one male and numerous females. They are frequently seen in schools of thousands of fish in the wild, so you may assume them to be quiet friendly, and calm.
16. The Pink Perch/Rani
| Scientific Name | Nemipterus japonicus |
| Size | Averages – 25cm, Maximum – 34cm |
| Life Span | Up to 8 years |
| Location | Wide Indo-Pacific distribution |
| Diet | fishes, crustaceans, mollusks, polychaetes, etc. |
It’s a stunning pink fish that’s widely distributed. Furthermore, it is a very common fish species with many names in Japan and India. For instance, it is referred to as “Rani” in India, while in Hong Kong, it is popularly known as the “melon-coat,” which aptly describes its appearance.
It is found on mud or sand bottoms in coastal waters, usually in schools, and is abundant there. In multiple regions, Japanese threadfin bream is a significant food fish.
Conclusion
We have yet to fully investigate much of the aquatic world, which is so full of surprises. However, the majority of the details on these creatures, some of which were deliberately bred to produce pleasing hybrids of particular species, were gathered for our list of 16 stunning pink fish. Hope you have enjoyed reading this information.
FAQs
Q1. What is the pink fish called?
Ans. There are many species, including some (not specific) hybrids that are pink in color. Each of them has a different name, as they belong to a different genus and exhibit different characteristics.
Q2. What does the pink fish eat?
Ans. Most of the fish have a similar diet. However, there could be limited variability in the diet depending on their surrounding.
Q3. What is the Indian name of Pink Salmon?
Ans. Rawas or Gurjali are the Indian names of Pink Salmon. Since it is a common fish and an abundant seafood delight, it has been given many monikers.
Q4. What is the pink fish in real life?
Ans. Some fish are naturally pink in their color because that is the natural pigment in their gene. However, for some other fish, their pale pink color is due to the inexpression of its gene pigment. As you must have read in the article itself, some fish were called ‘albino species’.
Q5. What is the famous pink fish?
Ans. There are many species of pink fish in nature that are very famous and pretty-well studied. And most of them are mentioned in our list like, pink Kissing Gouramis, pink bettas, and pink salmon, etc.
Q6. What is Rani fish in India?
Ans. Pink Perch or Rani is a common freshwater fish in India. It is also widely known as the ‘Japanese threadfin bream’ in many regions.
Q7. Which fish is rare in India?
Ans. The Ghol Fish, also known as Sea Gold, is one of India’s most expensive varieties of fish which is extremely rare and different.
Q8. Which is Queen fish?
Ans. Seriphus politus aka the queenfish is a species native to the eastern Pacific ocean. It is popular with another name, the queen croaker.
Also Read:
Anjali Prasad, a B. Pharm. graduate who works as a content writer for HowItSee, is based in Delhi. Except for her, not many people take the typical road from healthcare to writing. Her love of writing stemmed from her involvement in the college literature society and her early journaling at the age of 7. Hence, the love of learning and the spirit of exploration are what drew her to this career. You can find her on common social media like Instagram.