Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages (Free PDF Printables)

By: Papaya Ink Team · Last updated: October 19, 2026

A home aquarium is a slice of river brought indoors, and the fish that live in one are among the most carefully bred and closely watched animals on the planet. These aquarium fish coloring pages are drawn from real species, the ones people actually keep: schooling tetras, livebearers such as guppies, mollies and platies, tall cichlids, long-finned bettas and fancy goldfish. Each fish swims among plants, driftwood or gravel with its common name lettered underneath, so the sheet works as a coloring page and a small field guide to the tank at the same time.

Click any picture and the full-size PDF opens in a new tab, ready to print. The sheets are sized for US Letter paper and print just as cleanly on A4. The line art is crisp black on pure white, so even a basic home printer gives sharp edges for colored pencils, markers or watercolor.

Aquarium fish are a fun coloring challenge because much of their color is made of light rather than pigment. On a shimmering stripe, lay down turquoise first, deepen the edges with darker blue and leave a thin line of bare paper through the middle. Silver bodies look best in cool grays with an untouched highlight along the back. Fins are nearly transparent, so color them with a light hand and let the ray lines stay visible. A photo of the real species propped next to the sheet is the best color guide there is.

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Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - A betta can gulp air at the surface through a labyrinth organ, which is how bettas get by in shallow rice paddies. This halfmoon tail opens wider than the fish is long. Detailed - let deep red melt into royal blue at the fin edges. — A betta can gulp air at the surface through a labyrinth organ, which is how bettas get by in shallow rice paddies. This halfmoon tail opens wider than the fish is long. Detailed – let deep red melt into royal blue at the fin edges.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - Silver up front, smoky black from the middle back, and a big anal fin hanging below like a pleated skirt. Dark bars cross the body behind the gill. Shade the rear half gray first, then deepen it toward the tail. — Silver up front, smoky black from the middle back, and a big anal fin hanging below like a pleated skirt. Dark bars cross the body behind the gill. Shade the rear half gray first, then deepen it toward the tail.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - The name comes from one red blotch just behind the gill, as if this Amazon fish wore its heart on the outside. Everything else is a soft pinkish silver. Use rose red for the spot and leave the rest pale and glossy. — The name comes from one red blotch just behind the gill, as if this Amazon fish wore its heart on the outside. Everything else is a soft pinkish silver. Use rose red for the spot and leave the rest pale and glossy.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - Same electric stripe as the neon tetra, but here the red runs the full length of the belly instead of stopping halfway. Wild cardinals come from the blackwater streams of the Rio Negro. Color the stripe turquoise and press hard on the red. — Same electric stripe as the neon tetra, but here the red runs the full length of the belly instead of stopping halfway. Wild cardinals come from the blackwater streams of the Rio Negro. Color the stripe turquoise and press hard on the red.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - Best known of the African tetras, from the Congo River basin. Males grow frilled, white-edged fins, and the scales flash gold and blue as the fish turns. Detailed - those scales reward a sharp pencil and some patience. — Best known of the African tetras, from the Congo River basin. Males grow frilled, white-edged fins, and the scales flash gold and blue as the fish turns. Detailed – those scales reward a sharp pencil and some patience.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - Discus parents feed their newborn fry on a mucus their own skin produces, so the babies simply graze on mom and dad. This round, flat Amazon cichlid is crossed by dark bars. Detailed - start with warm brown and run turquoise lines over it. — Discus parents feed their newborn fry on a mucus their own skin produces, so the babies simply graze on mom and dad. This round, flat Amazon cichlid is crossed by dark bars. Detailed – start with warm brown and run turquoise lines over it.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - Emperor tetras come from the rivers of western Colombia and carry a bold dark band along the side. Males have blue eyes, females green ones. Give the flanks a faint violet sheen and save the darkest pencil for the band. — Emperor tetras come from the rivers of western Colombia and carry a bold dark band along the side. Males have blue eyes, females green ones. Give the flanks a faint violet sheen and save the darkest pencil for the band.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - Barely an inch long, a male Endler's livebearer makes up for its size with neon patches of orange, green and black. Its home is a handful of lagoons in northeastern Venezuela. Bright markers suit this small, open fish. — Barely an inch long, a male Endler's livebearer makes up for its size with neon patches of orange, green and black. Its home is a handful of lagoons in northeastern Venezuela. Bright markers suit this small, open fish.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - Not closely related to the reef angelfish at all: this one is an Amazon cichlid, built tall and flat for slipping between plant stems. Pairs lay eggs on broad leaves and guard them together. Silver body, black bars, trailing fins. — Not closely related to the reef angelfish at all: this one is an Amazon cichlid, built tall and flat for slipping between plant stems. Pairs lay eggs on broad leaves and guard them together. Silver body, black bars, trailing fins.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - Bred in China for more than a thousand years, the fancy goldfish now trails silky, billowing fins that no wild carp would recognize. Detailed - try orange and white calico patches instead of plain gold. — Bred in China for more than a thousand years, the fancy goldfish now trails silky, billowing fins that no wild carp would recognize. Detailed – try orange and white calico patches instead of plain gold.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - Only males carry the sword: the lower edge of the tail stretches into a long point. In nature swordtails live in streams from Mexico to Honduras. Use leaf green for the body and a thin red zigzag along the side. — Only males carry the sword: the lower edge of the tail stretches into a long point. In nature swordtails live in streams from Mexico to Honduras. Use leaf green for the body and a thin red zigzag along the side.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - Guppies are named after Robert Guppy, a naturalist who sent specimens from Trinidad to the British Museum. This fancy male hauls around a tail bigger than the rest of him. Detailed - the marbling looks great in two shades of one color. — Guppies are named after Robert Guppy, a naturalist who sent specimens from Trinidad to the British Museum. This fancy male hauls around a tail bigger than the rest of him. Detailed – the marbling looks great in two shades of one color.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - Look at the eye first: its top half is bright red, the only loud note on a pale, see-through yellow body. Black and yellow edge the anal fin. Keep the yellow thin and let the paper glow through it. — Look at the eye first: its top half is bright red, the only loud note on a pale, see-through yellow body. Black and yellow edge the anal fin. Keep the yellow thin and let the paper glow through it.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - That blue stripe is not pigment but light bouncing off reflective cells, which is why it seems to switch on and off as the fish turns. Red fills the back half underneath. Leave a sliver of white inside the blue. — That blue stripe is not pigment but light bouncing off reflective cells, which is why it seems to switch on and off as the fish turns. Red fills the back half underneath. Leave a sliver of white inside the blue.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - Red nose, striped tail: a fish dressed for two different parties. Keepers watch that red closely, because it fades when the water quality drops. Black and white bands go on the tail, deep red on the head. — Red nose, striped tail: a fish dressed for two different parties. Keepers watch that red closely, because it fades when the water quality drops. Black and white bands go on the tail, deep red on the head.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - This molly is native to the United States, from the Carolinas down the Gulf Coast into Mexico, and it does just as well in brackish water. Males raise that huge dorsal fin to show off. Dot the spots in rows of olive and orange. — This molly is native to the United States, from the Carolinas down the Gulf Coast into Mexico, and it does just as well in brackish water. Males raise that huge dorsal fin to show off. Dot the spots in rows of olive and orange.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - The famous black molly is a bred form of this fish from Mexico and Central America; wild ones are a modest silvery olive. Pick a direction, velvet black or gold, and make the fins a shade lighter. — The famous black molly is a bred form of this fish from Mexico and Central America; wild ones are a modest silvery olive. Pick a direction, velvet black or gold, and make the fins a shade lighter.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - A cousin of the piranha that would rather eat your plants than anything else. Round, flat and coin-bright, it was named for the old silver dollar. Shade it in cool grays and add a touch of red to the front of the anal fin. — A cousin of the piranha that would rather eat your plants than anything else. Round, flat and coin-bright, it was named for the old silver dollar. Shade it in cool grays and add a touch of red to the front of the anal fin.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - Platies are close cousins of swordtails and can even interbreed with them, and pet store colors grow wilder every year. Red, sunset orange and tuxedo black are all bred forms. Bold solid color works best here. — Platies are close cousins of swordtails and can even interbreed with them, and pet store colors grow wilder every year. Red, sunset orange and tuxedo black are all bred forms. Bold solid color works best here.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - See-through enough that you can make out its backbone, the x-ray tetra hides in plain sight in South American rivers. The fins carry patches of yellow, black and white. Sketch a faint gray spine before coloring the rest. — See-through enough that you can make out its backbone, the x-ray tetra hides in plain sight in South American rivers. The fins carry patches of yellow, black and white. Sketch a faint gray spine before coloring the rest.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - Despite the tall dorsal fin and the shark label, the bala shark is a minnow from the rivers of Borneo and Sumatra, and it can grow past a foot long. Color the fins pale yellow and outline each one in black. — Despite the tall dorsal fin and the shark label, the bala shark is a minnow from the rivers of Borneo and Sumatra, and it can grow past a foot long. Color the fins pale yellow and outline each one in black.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - Nobody in the hobby had seen this fish until this century, when it turned up in small ponds on a highland plateau in Myanmar and was sold as the galaxy rasbora. Pearly gold spots on slate blue, orange and black stripes on the fins. — Nobody in the hobby had seen this fish until this century, when it turned up in small ponds on a highland plateau in Myanmar and was sold as the galaxy rasbora. Pearly gold spots on slate blue, orange and black stripes on the fins.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - Sri Lanka is the only home of the cherry barb, a fish of shady, slow forest streams. Males turn deep wine red when they court; females stay tan. Work the red above and below the dark line that runs nose to tail. — Sri Lanka is the only home of the cherry barb, a fish of shady, slow forest streams. Males turn deep wine red when they court; females stay tan. Work the red above and below the dark line that runs nose to tail.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - Fully grown at less than an inch, the chili rasbora is one of the smallest fish in the hobby, at home in the tea-colored peat swamps of Borneo. Ember red all over, with a dark stripe through the middle. — Fully grown at less than an inch, the chili rasbora is one of the smallest fish in the hobby, at home in the tea-colored peat swamps of Borneo. Ember red all over, with a dark stripe through the middle.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - That deep keel of a chest holds powerful fin muscles, and with them a hatchetfish can leap clear of the water and skim a short way through the air. Aquarium lids exist for a reason. Silver gray, plus one thin dark line along the side. — That deep keel of a chest holds powerful fin muscles, and with them a hatchetfish can leap clear of the water and skim a short way through the air. Aquarium lids exist for a reason. Silver gray, plus one thin dark line along the side.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - The giant part is relative: it tops out around four inches, which is huge only next to its zebra cousin. Giant danios love a current and swim flat out all day. Blue-green base, gold stripes running back from the gill. — The giant part is relative: it tops out around four inches, which is huge only next to its zebra cousin. Giant danios love a current and swim flat out all day. Blue-green base, gold stripes running back from the gill.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - Clear as window glass except for the tail, which looks dipped in red paint. Glass bloodfins cruise just under the surface in small groups. Leave the fish almost bare, with a whisper of gray, and spend all the color on the tail. — Clear as window glass except for the tail, which looks dipped in red paint. Glass bloodfins cruise just under the surface in small groups. Leave the fish almost bare, with a whisper of gray, and spend all the color on the tail.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - Hobbyists call that black wedge on the copper body the pork chop, and nobody has come up with a better name. To spawn, a pair flips upside down and sticks the eggs under a leaf. Warm copper orange first, then solid black. — Hobbyists call that black wedge on the copper body the pork chop, and nobody has come up with a better name. To spawn, a pair flips upside down and sticks the eggs under a leaf. Warm copper orange first, then solid black.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - Seen in the right light, this quick Southeast Asian schooling fish shimmers pink and violet like the inside of a shell, with a thin orange stripe toward the tail. Build it up in very light layers of lavender and blue, and add the orange last. — Seen in the right light, this quick Southeast Asian schooling fish shimmers pink and violet like the inside of a shell, with a thin orange stripe toward the tail. Build it up in very light layers of lavender and blue, and add the orange last.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - Those two long threads under the belly are fins turned into feelers, and the gourami touches everything with them, tankmates included. A dark zigzag line runs through the pearly dots. Detailed - the dots go fastest with a fine-tip marker. — Those two long threads under the belly are fins turned into feelers, and the gourami touches everything with them, tankmates included. A dark zigzag line runs through the pearly dots. Detailed – the dots go fastest with a fine-tip marker.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - Charcoal body, every fin painted orange-red, and an attitude to match. A rainbow shark claims one cave or piece of driftwood and chases everyone else away from it. Go dark gray everywhere else so the fins really glow. — Charcoal body, every fin painted orange-red, and an attitude to match. A rainbow shark claims one cave or piece of driftwood and chases everyone else away from it. Go dark gray everywhere else so the fins really glow.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - Movies made it a monster, but in a tank the red-bellied piranha is mostly nervous and hides behind plants. It even barks, drumming its swim bladder to make the sound. Silver gray above, glitter on the sides, a bright red belly. — Movies made it a monster, but in a tank the red-bellied piranha is mostly nervous and hides behind plants. It even barks, drumming its swim bladder to make the sound. Silver gray above, glitter on the sides, a bright red belly.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - Velvet black from nose to tail base, then a tail so red it looks borrowed from another fish. In the tank it grazes algae off rocks and guards its favorite corner. Press hard with black and leave a clean edge where the red begins. — Velvet black from nose to tail base, then a tail so red it looks borrowed from another fish. In the tank it grazes algae off rocks and guards its favorite corner. Press hard with black and leave a clean edge where the red begins.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - Rosy barbs handle cooler water than most aquarium fish and often spend the summer outdoors in garden ponds. Males blush rosy red, and both sexes wear a black spot near the tail. Detailed - the big scales work well in two shades of pink. — Rosy barbs handle cooler water than most aquarium fish and often spend the summer outdoors in garden ponds. Males blush rosy red, and both sexes wear a black spot near the tail. Detailed – the big scales work well in two shades of pink.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - Watch the tail and you will see the name: the forked lobes open and close like scissors as it swims. Each lobe carries a black and white patch. Pale silver all over, then crisp black and white on the tail. — Watch the tail and you will see the name: the forked lobes open and close like scissors as it swims. Each lobe carries a black and white patch. Pale silver all over, then crisp black and white on the tail.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - Bright as a ripe tomato, with a black comma behind the gill and a black dorsal fin tipped in white. Serpaes are famous for nipping the fins of their tankmates. Use one strong red and let the black marks do the talking. — Bright as a ripe tomato, with a black comma behind the gill and a black dorsal fin tipped in white. Serpaes are famous for nipping the fins of their tankmates. Use one strong red and let the black marks do the talking.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - Bold black bands, one straight through the eye, cut across a golden body, and the fins and snout are edged in red. Tiger barbs live in busy, chasing groups. Color the bands first so the gold stays clean. — Bold black bands, one straight through the eye, cut across a golden body, and the fins and snout are edged in red. Tiger barbs live in busy, chasing groups. Color the bands first so the gold stays clean.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - Every scale works like a small mirror, which is how the tinfoil barb got its name. Its fins are red, with a black edge along the tail. Try silver gray for the body and leave a white highlight in the middle of each scale. — Every scale works like a small mirror, which is how the tinfoil barb got its name. Its fins are red, with a black edge along the tail. Try silver gray for the body and leave a white highlight in the middle of each scale.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - Named for White Cloud Mountain near Guangzhou in China, this little minnow is happy in cool water and in most homes needs no heater. Old-timers called it the poor man's neon. Gold stripe along the side, red-tipped fins. — Named for White Cloud Mountain near Guangzhou in China, this little minnow is happy in cool water and in most homes needs no heater. Old-timers called it the poor man's neon. Gold stripe along the side, red-tipped fins.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - Blue and gold stripes from gill to tail, and a career in science on the side: zebrafish are a favorite lab animal because they can regrow damaged fins and even heart tissue. Alternate the stripes carefully and let them meet at the tail. — Blue and gold stripes from gill to tail, and a career in science on the side: zebrafish are a favorite lab animal because they can regrow damaged fins and even heart tissue. Alternate the stripes carefully and let them meet at the tail.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - Among the first cichlids ever kept in home tanks, the blue acara came from Trinidad and northern South America more than a century ago. Sparkling blue lines run across the face, and a dark spot sits mid-body. Use slate blue, brighter on the cheeks. — Among the first cichlids ever kept in home tanks, the blue acara came from Trinidad and northern South America more than a century ago. Sparkling blue lines run across the face, and a dark spot sits mid-body. Use slate blue, brighter on the cheeks.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - Bigger, tougher and calmer than its famous cousin the ram cichlid, this one sifts the sandy bottoms of rivers in Bolivia and western Brazil all day for food. Golden body, a dark spot at the center, red edges on the fins. — Bigger, tougher and calmer than its famous cousin the ram cichlid, this one sifts the sandy bottoms of rivers in Bolivia and western Brazil all day for food. Golden body, a dark spot at the center, red edges on the fins.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - Now and then a bronze cory darts to the surface, gulps a bubble of air and dives back down: it can breathe through its gut. Bony armor plates cover it instead of scales. Give it a metallic green-bronze sheen and a pale belly. — Now and then a bronze cory darts to the surface, gulps a bubble of air and dives back down: it can breathe through its gut. Bony armor plates cover it instead of scales. Give it a metallic green-bronze sheen and a pale belly.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - The male raises the front rays of his dorsal fin into a spiky crest, just like the bird he is named for. His mate does the real work, guarding the eggs inside a cave. Tip those crest spikes in orange and red. — The male raises the front rays of his dorsal fin into a spiky crest, just like the bird he is named for. His mate does the real work, guarding the eggs inside a cave. Tip those crest spikes in orange and red.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - Inky vertical bars on blue-gray gave this Central American cichlid its name. Pairs dig pits in the gravel, raise clouds of fry and defend them against fish twice their size. Solid black for the bars, cool pale gray in between. — Inky vertical bars on blue-gray gave this Central American cichlid its name. Pairs dig pits in the gravel, raise clouds of fry and defend them against fish twice their size. Solid black for the bars, cool pale gray in between.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - Males build a floating bubble nest and weave bits of plant into it to hold it together. Their sides are striped in alternating red-orange and turquoise, like a woven ribbon. Lay in all the red-orange stripes first, then fill the turquoise ones. — Males build a floating bubble nest and weave bits of plant into it to hold it together. Their sides are striped in alternating red-orange and turquoise, like a woven ribbon. Lay in all the red-orange stripes first, then fill the turquoise ones.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - From the rocky shores of Lake Malawi, this cichlid is lemon yellow all over except for a black stripe trimming the dorsal fin. Mothers carry the eggs and newborn fry in their mouths for weeks. One strong yellow does almost all the work. — From the rocky shores of Lake Malawi, this cichlid is lemon yellow all over except for a black stripe trimming the dorsal fin. Mothers carry the eggs and newborn fry in their mouths for weeks. One strong yellow does almost all the work.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - When a rival comes close, this cichlid of southern Mexico and Guatemala flares its gill covers to show a throat as red as a hot coal, and most standoffs end right there. Red throat, blue-gray body, a dark spot on each gill cover. — When a rival comes close, this cichlid of southern Mexico and Guatemala flares its gill covers to show a throat as red as a hot coal, and most standoffs end right there. Red throat, blue-gray body, a dark spot on each gill cover.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - The domed forehead keeps growing with age, so the oldest frontosas wear the biggest humps, and they can live for decades. They come from deep water in Lake Tanganyika. Alternate white and blue-black bars, with a hint of blue in the fins. — The domed forehead keeps growing with age, so the oldest frontosas wear the biggest humps, and they can live for decades. They come from deep water in Lake Tanganyika. Alternate white and blue-black bars, with a hint of blue in the fins.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - Most of the year a male honey gourami is silvery tan; in breeding season he turns honey gold, with a dark blue-black throat. It is one of the gentlest gouramis, from India and Bangladesh. Go warm amber, then darken the throat last. — Most of the year a male honey gourami is silvery tan; in breeding season he turns honey gold, with a dark blue-black throat. It is one of the gentlest gouramis, from India and Bangladesh. Go warm amber, then darken the throat last.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - Those puckered lips are not for romance: when two kissing gouramis lock mouths, it is a shoving match over territory. The same lips scrape algae off glass and rocks. Pale pink for the popular tank form, or silvery green for the wild one. — Those puckered lips are not for romance: when two kissing gouramis lock mouths, it is a shoving match over territory. The same lips scrape algae off glass and rocks. Pale pink for the popular tank form, or silvery green for the wild one.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - Unusually, the female outshines the male, flaunting a cherry red belly at spawning time. Kribs come from West Africa, nest in caves and herd their fry around in a tight cloud. Ring the eyespots on the fins in gold and black. — Unusually, the female outshines the male, flaunting a cherry red belly at spawning time. Kribs come from West Africa, nest in caves and herd their fry around in a tight cloud. Ring the eyespots on the fins in gold and black.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - Oscars recognize the person who feeds them, beg at the glass and rearrange the decorations when they are bored. The ring near the tail is a false eye, thought to confuse attackers. Detailed - marble orange and red over a dark olive base. — Oscars recognize the person who feeds them, beg at the glass and rearrange the decorations when they are bored. The ring near the tail is a false eye, thought to confuse attackers. Detailed – marble orange and red over a dark olive base.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - Black patches over the eye, on the dorsal fin and at the base of the tail turn this little catfish into a tiny underwater panda. It hails from the Ucayali river system of Peru. Keep the body creamy white and make the patches truly black. — Black patches over the eye, on the dorsal fin and at the base of the tail turn this little catfish into a tiny underwater panda. It hails from the Ucayali river system of Peru. Keep the body creamy white and make the patches truly black.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - One of the very first aquarium fish ever sold in Europe, the paradise fish reached Paris in the eighteen sixties. It shrugs off chilly rooms and builds bubble nests like its betta cousins. Alternate orange-red and blue bands, with long blue fins. — One of the very first aquarium fish ever sold in Europe, the paradise fish reached Paris in the eighteen sixties. It shrugs off chilly rooms and builds bubble nests like its betta cousins. Alternate orange-red and blue bands, with long blue fins.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - Charles Darwin collected this catfish near the Rio de la Plata during the voyage of the Beagle, and it has been a tank favorite for well over a century. Detailed - dab dark olive blotches over pale gray-green. — Charles Darwin collected this catfish near the Rio de la Plata during the voyage of the Beagle, and it has been a tank favorite for well over a century. Detailed – dab dark olive blotches over pale gray-green.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - Ram is short for ramirezi, after Manuel Ramirez, who helped bring the fish out of Venezuela. Electric blue spangles scatter across gold, a black bar crosses the red eye, and the water must be warm. Leave tiny gaps between the spangles so they sparkle. — Ram is short for ramirezi, after Manuel Ramirez, who helped bring the fish out of Venezuela. Electric blue spangles scatter across gold, a black bar crosses the red eye, and the water must be warm. Leave tiny gaps between the spangles so they sparkle.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - Young severums wear the dark bands drawn here, but as they grow the stripes fade and the face fills with red-brown freckles. This big, mellow fish from the Amazon also goes by banded cichlid. Try golden green with soft gray bands. — Young severums wear the dark bands drawn here, but as they grow the stripes fade and the face fills with red-brown freckles. This big, mellow fish from the Amazon also goes by banded cichlid. Try golden green with soft gray bands.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - Hold an ear close to a quiet tank and you may hear it: sparkling gouramis make tiny croaking clicks when they display. About the length of a paper clip, they glitter with blue-green spangles. Dot the sparkles onto a warm tan base. — Hold an ear close to a quiet tank and you may hear it: sparkling gouramis make tiny croaking clicks when they display. About the length of a paper clip, they glitter with blue-green spangles. Dot the sparkles onto a warm tan base.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - Bushy bristles on the snout mark a male; females get only a light stubble. This sucker-mouth catfish from the Rio Negro rasps algae off wood all night. Detailed - white dots on black, with white edges on the dorsal fin and tail. — Bushy bristles on the snout mark a male; females get only a light stubble. This sucker-mouth catfish from the Rio Negro rasps algae off wood all night. Detailed – white dots on black, with white edges on the dorsal fin and tail.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - Hanging motionless just below the surface, the African butterflyfish waits for an insect to land, then snaps it up through an upturned mouth. Those winglike fins really do help it leap. Mottle it in tan and olive, with pale fin edges. — Hanging motionless just below the surface, the African butterflyfish waits for an insect to land, then snaps it up through an upturned mouth. Those winglike fins really do help it leap. Mottle it in tan and olive, with pale fin edges.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - Half blue, half orange, as if two fish were stitched together at the middle. Boeseman's rainbowfish comes from a few small lakes on the island of New Guinea. Blend violet blue into tangerine across the belly, with no hard line between them. — Half blue, half orange, as if two fish were stitched together at the middle. Boeseman's rainbowfish comes from a few small lakes on the island of New Guinea. Blend violet blue into tangerine across the belly, with no hard line between them.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - Killi comes from an old Dutch word for creek, and this little African killifish lives near the surface of swampy forest streams. Cream and black bands circle the body. Detailed - streak the tail with red and blue, and darken the spots. — Killi comes from an old Dutch word for creek, and this little African killifish lives near the surface of swampy forest streams. Cream and black bands circle the body. Detailed – streak the tail with red and blue, and darken the spots.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - Every clown loach owner gets the scare sooner or later: the fish lies flat on its side as if dead, then swims off as soon as you reach for the net. Bright orange with three thick black bands and red fins. — Every clown loach owner gets the scare sooner or later: the fish lies flat on its side as if dead, then swims off as soon as you reach for the net. Bright orange with three thick black bands and red fins.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - Under the tank light this small New Guinea fish flashes metallic blue, and the males edge every fin in red. Females wear yellow-orange instead. Color the scales soft sky blue and save the warm shades for the fins. — Under the tank light this small New Guinea fish flashes metallic blue, and the males edge every fin in red. Females wear yellow-orange instead. Color the scales soft sky blue and save the warm shades for the fins.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - The trunk is really a stretched chin, packed with sensors that read a faint electric field the fish makes around itself. Its brain is among the largest for its size of any fish. Dark chocolate all over, with two pale bands near the tail. — The trunk is really a stretched chin, packed with sensors that read a faint electric field the fish makes around itself. Its brain is among the largest for its size of any fish. Dark chocolate all over, with two pale bands near the tail.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - Barely longer than a thumb, the forktail rainbowfish wears bright lemon fins and a vivid blue eye, so hobbyists call its family the blue-eyes. Pale olive on the body, then pure yellow on every fin. — Barely longer than a thumb, the forktail rainbowfish wears bright lemon fins and a vivid blue eye, so hobbyists call its family the blue-eyes. Pale olive on the body, then pure yellow on every fin.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - Light shining through a glass catfish breaks into faint rainbows along its muscles, which is about the only color it has. A school of them hovers in midwater like a cloud of ghosts. Outline in gray and add just a hint of rainbow. — Light shining through a glass catfish breaks into faint rainbows along its muscles, which is about the only color it has. A school of them hovers in midwater like a cloud of ghosts. Outline in gray and add just a hint of rainbow.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - Built like a tiny stingray, the hillstream loach spreads its fins into a suction cup and clings to rocks in fast mountain streams. In an aquarium it sticks to the glass like a decal. Detailed - squiggle brown over a sandy base. — Built like a tiny stingray, the hillstream loach spreads its fins into a suction cup and clings to rocks in fast mountain streams. In an aquarium it sticks to the glass like a decal. Detailed – squiggle brown over a sandy base.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - Try counting your kuhli loaches and the number almost always comes up short: these eel-shaped burrowers vanish into the sand for days. Salmon pink between dark brown bands, whiskers to tail. Darken the bands, then warm up the pink between them. — Try counting your kuhli loaches and the number almost always comes up short: these eel-shaped burrowers vanish into the sand for days. Salmon pink between dark brown bands, whiskers to tail. Darken the bands, then warm up the pink between them.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - Smaller than your little finger, an oto works over a plant leaf with its sucker mouth, grazing the algae off without leaving a mark. They do best in a little crew. Cream belly, a dark stripe from the snout to the tail fork. — Smaller than your little finger, an oto works over a plant leaf with its sucker mouth, grazing the algae off without leaving a mark. They do best in a little crew. Cream belly, a dark stripe from the snout to the tail fork.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - Fingertip-sized, the pea puffer from the rivers of southwest India ranks with the smallest pufferfish in the world. Each eye swivels on its own, and snails are its favorite meal, shell and all. Golden yellow with irregular dark green spots. — Fingertip-sized, the pea puffer from the rivers of southwest India ranks with the smallest pufferfish in the world. Each eye swivels on its own, and snails are its favorite meal, shell and all. Golden yellow with irregular dark green spots.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - That sail of a dorsal fin is real, and so is the size: this Amazon pleco can outgrow a forearm. Its whole body is patterned like a leopard, dark patches split by a lighter net. Detailed - fill the honeycomb cells in two browns. — That sail of a dorsal fin is real, and so is the size: this Amazon pleco can outgrow a forearm. Its whole body is patterned like a leopard, dark patches split by a lighter net. Detailed – fill the honeycomb cells in two browns.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - Cruising at the top of the water, the striped panchax eats mosquito larvae so eagerly that people have stocked it in ponds in India and Sri Lanka to keep them down. Golden body, dark bars crowding toward the tail fin. — Cruising at the top of the water, the striped panchax eats mosquito larvae so eagerly that people have stocked it in ponds in India and Sri Lanka to keep them down. Golden body, dark bars crowding toward the tail fin.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - Bony plates with tiny hooks run down each side, and when something grabs it, this catfish locks its fin spines straight out so it cannot be swallowed. Bold cream stripes run the length of a black body. Leave the stripes clean and bright. — Bony plates with tiny hooks run down each side, and when something grabs it, this catfish locks its fin spines straight out so it cannot be swallowed. Bold cream stripes run the length of a black body. Leave the stripes clean and bright.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - A male threadfin trails fin rays like silk threads and fans them out to court females. It lives in grassy swamps of New Guinea and northern Australia. Pale silver for the fish, a soft blush of red and yellow on the threads. — A male threadfin trails fin rays like silk threads and fans them out to court females. It lives in grassy swamps of New Guinea and northern Australia. Pale silver for the fish, a soft blush of red and yellow on the threads.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - Belly up is how this African catfish usually swims, grazing the underside of leaves, so its belly is darker than its back. Here it is caught the right way up for once. Spot it in brown over cream. — Belly up is how this African catfish usually swims, grazing the underside of leaves, so its belly is darker than its back. Here it is caught the right way up for once. Spot it in brown over cream.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - Before a storm, weather loaches get restless and dash around the tank, likely reacting to the falling air pressure. Native to East Asia, they handle cold water well. Brown and gray mottling over beige, with a light belly. — Before a storm, weather loaches get restless and dash around the tank, likely reacting to the falling air pressure. Native to East Asia, they handle cold water well. Brown and gray mottling over beige, with a light belly.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - Thin wavy stripes, dozens of them, wrap this small loach from the Western Ghats mountains of India. Zebra loaches love hunting tiny snails in the gravel. Alternate green-gold and dark brown, stripe by stripe. — Thin wavy stripes, dozens of them, wrap this small loach from the Western Ghats mountains of India. Zebra loaches love hunting tiny snails in the gravel. Alternate green-gold and dark brown, stripe by stripe.

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - Found in one stretch of the Xingu River in Brazil and nowhere else, the zebra pleco is one of the most prized catfish in the hobby. Jet black stripes on white run even across the fins. Use your blackest pencil and leave the white untouched. — Found in one stretch of the Xingu River in Brazil and nowhere else, the zebra pleco is one of the most prized catfish in the hobby. Jet black stripes on white run even across the fins. Use your blackest pencil and leave the white untouched.

Fun Things to Make with These Coloring Pages

Shoebox aquarium – paint the inside of a shoebox blue, glue sand and pebbles along the bottom, then cut out the colored fish and hang them from the lid on clear thread so they drift at different depths.
Cereal box tank – cut a window in the front of a cereal box, cover it with clear plastic wrap and tape the fish inside with strips of green paper for plants. Tap the box and the fish wobble.
Fin-glow suncatchers – color with markers, brush a thin coat of baby oil over the back of the paper and let it soak in on paper towels. Cut the fish out and tape them to a sunny window; the fins glow like the real thing.
Tank ID cards – for a home or classroom aquarium, color the species that actually live in it, trim them to card size and tape them near the glass so visitors can match every fish to its name.
Magnet fishing game – cut out the fish, slide a paper clip onto each nose and catch them with a magnet tied to a string on a stick. Write a point value on the back for older players.
Hanging mobile – glue each colored fish back to back with a second copy, punch a hole near the dorsal fin and hang the pairs at different heights from an embroidery hoop or a bare branch.
Slim fish bookmarks – cut a long strip around one of the slender tetras, cover it front and back with clear packing tape and punch a hole at the tail for a ribbon.
Memory versus photo – color the same fish twice, once from memory and once from a picture of the real species, and put them side by side. It is a quick lesson in how much detail the eye skips.

More Coloring Pages

Amphibian Coloring Pages - The red-eyed tree frog is the star of every rainforest poster. By day it sleeps flat on a leaf, lids shut, so a bird sees only green; disturbed, it flashes that red stare and escapes. Leaf-green body, blue and cream flanks, orange feet.

78 pages78 B&WAmphibianColoring Pages

Reptile Coloring Pages - Australia's most popular export, at least among lizards. The spiky beard under the chin puffs up and turns black when a bearded dragon is annoyed, so leave it pale to keep him calm. Sandy tan with an orange wash, rock in warm gray.

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Insect Coloring Pages - A honey bee makes roughly a twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in her whole life, so this flower gets her full attention. Amber abdomen with dark brown bands, and a pale fuzzy collar of hair around the thorax.

78 pages78 B&WInsectColoring Pages

Beetle Coloring Pages - Among the longest beetles alive, a big male Hercules can stretch close to seven inches, and much of that is horn. The olive wing covers turn almost black when the air gets humid. Detailed - spotted shell and rough bark.

80 pages80 B&WBeetleColoring Pages

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