There are a few different types of yellow fish with stripes that are commonly found in home aquariums and the wild. The most well-known yellow striped fish is likely the Zebra Danio, a small freshwater fish known for its vibrant yellow and blue stripes. Other popular aquarium fish with yellow stripes include Tiger Barbs, Congo Tetras, and Lemon Tetras. When found in the wild, some common yellow striped fish are Yellowtail Snappers, Saddled Blennies, and Spanish Flag Snappers.
Zebra Danio
The Zebra Danio, scientific name Danio rerio, is a small freshwater fish species native to South Asia. These fish are a staple in home aquariums thanks to their vibrant yellow and blue stripes, peaceful temperament, and ease of care. Zebra Danios grow to about 2-3 inches in length and have silver bodies with four bright blue stripes outlined in yellow. They have a torpedo-shaped body and a forked tail fin. Their stripes and high-contrast coloration provide camouflage in their natural habitat.
In the wild, Zebra Danios are found in heavily vegetated ponds, streams, rivers, and rice paddies in areas like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Myanmar. They prefer water with a 6.0 – 8.0 pH, a temperature range of 64° – 75° F, and soft to moderately hard water. Zebra Danios are omnivorous and feed on zooplankton, small insects, larvae, worms, and plant matter in the wild. They are egg scatterers that do not provide any parental care.
In home aquariums, Zebra Danios do well when kept in schools of 5-6 fish or more. They are very active fish that need a tank of at least 10 gallons with plenty of open swimming space. Hiding spots and plants should also be provided. Zebra Danios accept most prepared foods like flakes and pellets, as well as live foods like brine shrimp, tubifex worms, and mosquito larvae. With proper care, Zebra Danios can live for 3-5 years in captivity.
Tiger Barb
Another popular yellow striped aquarium fish is the Tiger Barb, scientific name Puntigrus tetrazona. Tiger Barbs are a semi-aggressive species, so they are best suited for tanks with fast tank mates. In the wild, Tiger Barbs come from Sumatra and Borneo and inhabit slow moving, shallow areas in rivers, streams, ponds, and swamps surrounded by dense vegetation.
Tiger Barbs have a torpedo-shaped body and grow to about 2.5 inches long. They have a greenish grey base color with four prominent black stripes outlined in bright yellow. Their stripes start at the mouth and stop at the base of the caudal fin. Tiger Barbs are omnivorous and will accept flake foods, live foods like bloodworms, and plant matter in captivity. They prefer water with a pH of 6.0 to 8.0 and do best in schools of 5 or more fish.
In a home aquarium, Tiger Barbs need at least a 30 gallon tank with schools of 6 or more barbs. They can be nippy towards tank mates with elaborate fins, so fast fish like danios, rasboras, and corydoras catfish make the best tank mates. Floating and rooted plants help diffuse aggression. With proper water parameters and a varied diet, Tiger Barbs generally live for 5-7 years in home aquariums.
Congo Tetra
The Congo Tetra is another brightly colored striped fish for home aquariums. In the wild, Congo Tetras are found in the Congo River system in Africa. They inhabit soft, acidic waters in the middle and upper parts of the water column of densely vegetated streams and rivers.
Congo Tetras have an elongated, Laterally compressed body shape and grow to about 3 inches long. Their base body color is silver-yellow. The upper half of their body features black, grey, and yellow bands while the lower half has vivid red fins. Congo Tetras are omnivorous and eatinsects, smaller fish, plant matter and aufwuchs in the wild.
In an aquarium, Congo Tetras need at least a 30 gallon tank with a group of 6 or more tetras. They prefer dim lighting and a pH between 5.8 and 7.0. Congo tetras are shy and need plenty of hiding spots and plants. When kept in the right conditions, they can live up to 8 years. They are less nippy than other tetra species.
Lemon Tetra
Native to South America, the Lemon Tetra sports a bright yellow and silver striped body. In the wild, Lemon Tetras come from clear vegetated backwaters, streams, and river basins in Brazil, Peru and Colombia. They prefer soft, acidic water with subdued lighting and plants to hide in.
The Lemon Tetra has an oval compressed body shape and grows to about 1.5 inches long. It has a light silver base color with a bright yellow stripe running horizontally on both sides from its nose to the base of the tail. This yellow stripe sparkles in aquarium lighting. Lemon Tetras are omnivorous and enjoy live foods like brine shrimp and daphnia along with flakes and pellets in captivity.
For home aquariums, Lemon Tetras need at least a 20 gallon tank and do best in schools of 6 or more fish. They are one of the more delicate tetra species. Providing soft acidic water, low lighting, and high quality foods helps these fish thrive. With proper care, Lemon Tetras can live for 5-6 years in captivity.
Yellowtail Snapper
In the ocean, one of the most recognizable yellow striped fish is the Yellowtail Snapper. Yellowtail Snappers are found in shallow reef areas in the western Atlantic Ocean from North Carolina to Brazil including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean. They inhabit both shallow and deep coral reefs and rocky outcroppings near the continental shelves.
The Yellowtail Snapper has an oval, compressed body that grows over 2 feet long. Its base color is pinkish-gray. The sides of the body have distinctive yellow horizontal stripes running from head to tail. The dorsal, anal, and caudal fins are also yellow. Yellowtail Snappers feed on small fish, shrimp, crabs, worms, and cephalopods. They are fast growing and can live up to 14 years.
Yellowtail Snappers are popular sport fish due to their aggressive fights when caught on hook and line. They are also excellent food fish when caught, though some areas prohibit keeping smaller snapper due to regulations. When fishing for Yellowtail Snapper, live shrimp and cut bait work best.
Saddled Blenny
The Saddled Blenny is a small, colorful reef fish found in shallow lagoons and protected reefs of the western Atlantic Ocean. They range from North Carolina down through the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. Saddled Blennies perch on hard surfaces like rocks and corals in shallower waters where they can hide in crevices.
These fish grow to around 4-6 inches long. They have an elongated, cylindrical body shape. Their base body color is tan to olive-green with a pattern of six darker brown saddles crossing their back. Between these saddles are bright yellowish bands outlined in white that run the length of the body horizontally. The tail fin may also be yellowish.
Saddled Blennies feed on algae, detritus, small crustaceans, and other tiny invertebrates found in the algae and sand. They tend to spend most of their time close to their hiding places. Saddled Blennies may be kept in reef aquariums, where they help eat nuisance algae growth. They can be aggressive towards other blennies.
Spanish Flag Snapper
Another ocean fish with striking yellow stripes is the Spanish Flag Snapper. This fish is found in the western Atlantic Ocean from North Carolina to the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. They live near coral reefs, rocky bottoms, and mangrove forests in deeper offshore waters.
The Spanish Flag Snapper has a long, cylindrical body that can grow over 20 inches long. Its back is reddish-brown while the underside is pink to white. The sides of the body have horizontal bright yellow stripes running from head to tail that really stand out against the base colors. These stripes resemble the flag colors and patterns of Spain, giving the fish its common name.
Spanish Flag Snappers swim in loose aggregations while hunting for food. They feed on smaller fish, crustaceans like shrimp, crabs and mollusks. Larger individuals may eat bigger prey like small octopus. Spanish Flag Snapper is commercially fished in parts of its range and also caught by recreational anglers. They are good food fish when caught.
Conclusion
There are a variety of bright yellow striped fish found in home aquariums as well as the oceans. Popular aquarium choices like Zebra Danios, Tiger Barbs, Congo Tetras, and Lemon Tetras add plenty of color with their yellow and black or blue stripes. Out in the ocean, some yellow striped fish are the larger predatory Yellowtail Snapper, reef-dwelling Saddled Blenny, and Spanish Flag Snapper. No matter if it is a small fish for a community tank or a large sport fish, yellow stripes add eye-catching beauty to any aquatic animal.
| Fish Name | Scientific Name | Size | Habitat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zebra Danio | Danio rerio | 2-3 inches | Freshwater streams, rivers, ponds |
| Tiger Barb | Puntigrus tetrazona | 2.5 inches | Freshwater rivers, streams, ponds |
| Congo Tetra | Phenacogrammus interruptus | 3 inches | Congo River system |
| Lemon Tetra | Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis | 1.5 inches | Amazon basin in South America |
| Yellowtail Snapper | Ocyurus chrysurus | Over 2 feet | Western Atlantic and Caribbean reefs |
| Saddled Blenny | Malacoctenus triangulatus | 4-6 inches | Western Atlantic coral reefs |
| Spanish Flag Snapper | Lutjanus synagris | Over 20 inches | Western Atlantic near reefs and rocks |
