24 Asian Freshwater Fish Names in English with Pictures, Pronunciation & Descriptions

Asia is home to an incredible variety of freshwater fish, living in rivers, lakes, ponds, streams, and other freshwater habitats. Many of these fish are important food fish and are widely caught or farmed across different parts of Asia.

Common Carp / ˈkɑːmən kɑːrp / n [a large, deep-bodied freshwater fish, typically with barbels around the mouth. It is widely farmed for food and commonly found in rivers, lakes, and ponds across Asia and Europe] ():

Grass Carp / ɡræs kɑːrp / n [a large freshwater fish native to China, widely farmed for food in Southeast Asia and introduced elsewhere to control the growth of aquatic vegetation in waterways] ():

Silver Carp / ˈsɪlvər kɑːrp / n [a large freshwater fish native to eastern Asia. It feeds on plankton and is widely farmed for food in many Asian countries] ():

Bighead Carp / ˈbɪɡhed kɑːrp / n [a large freshwater fish with a broad head and downward-facing eyes. It feeds mainly on plankton and is widely farmed throughout Asia] ():

Black Carp / blæk kɑːrp / n {also known as the Chinese black roach} [a species of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the carp family, native to East Asia. It feeds mainly on snails and mollusks and is widely farmed for food. It can reach up to 6 ft. 3 in (1.9 m) in length and weigh up to 35 kg] ():

Smallscale Mud Carp / ˈsmɔːlskeɪl mʌd kɑːrp / n [a freshwater fish of the carp family native to Southeast Asia. It is widely farmed for food and commonly found in rivers, lakes, and ponds] ():  

Rohu / ˈroʊhuː / n [a large, silver-colored freshwater fish of the carp family with a conspicuously arched head. Native to South Asia, adults can grow up to 45 kg (99 lb) and are commonly found in rivers, lakes, and ponds] ():

Catla / ˈkɑːtlə / n {also known as the major South Asian carp} [a large freshwater fish of the carp family, native to South Asia, recognized by its broad head and upward-facing mouth. It is widely cultivated for food] ():

Mrigal Carp / ˈmrɪɡəl / n {also known as the White Carp} [a species of ray-finned fish in the carp family native to South Asia that inhabits rivers, ponds, and lakes. It is an important food fish] (): 

Mahseer / məˈhsiːr / n [a large freshwater fish of the carp family, native to Southeast Asia and the Himalayan region, inhabiting fast-flowing rivers and streams. It is highly valued as a sport fish] ():

Striped Snakehead / straɪpt ˈsneɪkhed / n {also known as Chevron Snakehead} [a large predatory freshwater fish native to Southeast Asia, recognized by its dark striped body and powerful jaws. It is an important food fish] ():

Giant Snakehead / ˈdʒaɪənt ˈsneɪkhed / {also known as the giant mudfish or toman fish} [a large predatory freshwater fish native to Southeast Asia, capable of reaching 1.8 m in length and 30 kg in weight. It is recognized by its elongated body and powerful jaws] ():

Climbing Perch / ˈklaɪmɪŋ pɜːrtʃ / n [a freshwater fish native to South and Southeast Asia, known for its ability to survive out of water for short periods and move over land] ():

Walking Catfish / ˈwɔːkɪŋ ˈkætfɪʃ / n [a species of freshwater air-breathing catfish native to Southeast Asia. It is named for its ability to "walk" and wiggle across dry land in search of food or suitable habitats] ():

Wels Catfish / welz ˈkætfɪʃ / n {also called sheatfish or just wels} [one of the largest catfish species, native to western Asia and eastern Europe. It can grow over 2 m (6.6 ft) in length and inhabits the river basins of the Baltic, Black, and Caspian seas] ():

Asian Redtail Catfish / ˈeɪʒən ˈredteɪl ˈkætfɪʃ / n {also known as the Asian redtail } [the largest Bagrid catfish in Asia, and may reach 80 kilograms (180 lb). The tail fin is white when the fish is small, but it becomes bright red when it reaches about 15 cm (6 in)] ():

Pangasius / ˌpæŋɡəˈsiːəs / n [a genus of medium-large to very large shark catfishes native to fresh water in South and Southeast Asia and widely farmed for food] ():  

Mekong Giant Catfish / məˈkɔːŋ ˈdʒaɪənt ˈkætfɪʃ / [one of the world's largest freshwater fish, a species of catfish in the shark catfish family native to the Mekong River basin in Southeast Asia and adjacent China. It is recognized by its scaleless body, toothless mouth, and no barbels] ():

Giant Gourami / ˈdʒaɪənt ɡʊˈrɑːmi / n [a species of large gourami native to freshwater habitats in Southeast Asia. It has also been introduced elsewhere. The species is commercially important as a food fish and is also farmed. It can be found in the aquarium trade, as well] ():

Bronze Feather back / ˈbrɒnz ˈfeðərbæk / n {also known as feather back or knifefish} [a tropical freshwater fish of the featherback family, native to South and Southeast Asia. It is recognized by its strongly humped back, small feather-like dorsal fin, and long anal fin extending almost to the tip of the tail. It is an important food fish] ():

Clown Knifefish / klaʊn ˈnaɪffɪʃ / n {also known as the clown featherback} [a large tropical freshwater fish of the featherback family, native to Southeast Asia. It is recognized by its long, knife-shaped body and distinctive eye-like spots near the tail. It is an important food fish] ():

Marbled Goby / ˈmɑːrbəld ˈɡɒbi / n [a widely distributed species of sleeper goby native to fresh and brackish waters of the Southeast Asia, recognized by its marbled body pattern. It is an important food fish] ():

Giant Freshwater Stingray / ˈdʒaɪənt ˈfreʃwɔːtər ˈstɪŋreɪ / n [one of the world's largest freshwater fish, native to Southeast Asia. It is recognized by its broad flat body and long whip-like tail with a venomous spine] ():

Asian Swamp Eel / ˈeɪʒən swɒmp iːl / n [a long-bodied freshwater fish native to South and Southeast Asia. This obligate air-breathing, eel-like fish is drought tolerant and will burrow into mud to withstand low water conditions, It is widely consumed as food] (): 

Conclusion

Asian freshwater fish are incredibly diverse, ranging from large carp and catfish to predatory snakeheads and other fascinating species. Many of them are important sources of food, while their different shapes, sizes, and characteristics make them interesting to learn about.

We hope this guide has helped you learn 24 Asian freshwater fish names in English, along with their pronunciation, pictures, and descriptions. Learning vocabulary through real-world subjects like fish can make English learning more interesting, practical, and memorable.

If you enjoyed this article, explore our other Fish Vocabulary and English Vocabulary resources to discover more useful words and fascinating species. 🐟🌏