How to Use the FishBase MCP in Claude

Q: How do I configure the FishBase MCP Server inside Claude Desktop?

Open your claudedesktopconfig.json file and add the server configuration under the mcpServers key. Save the file and restart Claude Desktop to see the new tools.

Q: Can I filter common name queries using FishBase and Claude Desktop?

Yes, the listcomnames tool supports pagination and field filtering. You simply tell Claude Desktop which specific fields or fish names you want to filter by, and the client handles the parameters.

Q: How does Claude Desktop know if the FishBase API is offline?

The getheartbeat tool returns the current status and time of the external API. Claude Desktop runs this tool to check connectivity before executing complex taxonomic queries.

Q: How do I change the database version for my queries?

Use the getversions tool to see which releases are available. You can then instruct your AI client to focus its searches on a specific version, such as v3 or v4.

Pull live marine taxonomy and common names from FishBase directly into your Claude Desktop chat workspace.

See Vinkius in Action

Works with every AI agent you already use

…and any MCP-compatible client

MCP Servers - Free for Subscribers

Connect FishBase MCP to Claude Desktop

Create your Vinkius account to connect FishBase to Claude Desktop and route execution through our secure gateway. The platform manages server hosting, runtime updates, and security layers. Configuration requires no manual server provisioning.

GDPR Free for Subscribers

Setup FishBase with Claude Desktop

Ask AI about this MCP

ChatGPT

Claude

Perplexity

Query common names directly in Claude Desktop

The `list_comnames` tool pulls official common names directly into your Claude Desktop workspace, bypassing manual web searches. By handling pagination and field filtering, it prevents you from getting overwhelmed by massive datasets when looking up specific regional variants. Your AI client handles the raw JSON payload and presents the exact taxonomic matches you need. Claude Desktop formats the species data instantly inside your active chat window.

Verify API health and database versions

The `get_heartbeat` tool checks the live status of the FishBase API to ensure your Claude Desktop connection remains active. Running this check first prevents failed queries when working with large datasets in Claude Desktop. You can also use `get_versions` inside Claude Desktop to list available database versions like v3 or v4. This lets you pin your Claude Desktop workspace to a specific historical FishBase release for consistent research.

Read table documentation inside this MCP Server

The `get_docs_by_table` tool retrieves technical FishBase documentation for specific database tables directly inside your Claude Desktop chat. Instead of digging through external wikis, you ask Claude Desktop to inspect the schema of the table you want to query. If you need a broad overview of the endpoints, the `get_docs` tool delivers the FishBase API metadata directly to Claude Desktop. Your active Claude Desktop marine research pipeline stays clean without manual copy-pasting.

Setup guide

Set up FishBase MCP in Claude Web or Desktop

1

Open Claude Settings

Go to claude.ai, click your profile icon, then navigate to Customize → Connectors.
2

Add Custom Connector

Click the "+" button and select Add custom connector. Paste your Vinkius endpoint URL: https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp Replace [YOUR_TOKEN_HERE] with your token from cloud.vinkius.com. For OAuth-protected servers, expand Advanced settings to add credentials.
3

Start a conversation

Open a new chat. The FishBase MCP tools are available immediately — no restart needed.

Endpoint URL

https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp

No configuration file needed — paste the URL directly in the Claude web interface.

Available on Free (1 connector), Pro, Max, Team, and Enterprise plans.

Prerequisites

Claude Desktop installed (macOS or Windows)
Active Vinkius subscription with a valid endpoint token

1

Open Claude Desktop Settings

Click the menu icon at the top-left corner, go to Settings → Developer → Edit Config. This opens claude_desktop_config.json in your default text editor.
2

Paste the FishBase MCP configuration

Copy the JSON snippet on the right into the mcpServers object. Replace [YOUR_TOKEN_HERE] with your endpoint token from cloud.vinkius.com.
3

Restart Claude Desktop

Close and reopen the application. Claude needs a full restart to load new MCPs — refreshing a conversation is not enough.
4

Verify the connection

Open a new conversation. Click the 🔌 icon at the bottom of the message input. You should see tools listed under fishbase-mcp.

json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "fishbase-mcp": {
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp"
    }
  }
}

Get your connection token →

Independent Platform Disclaimer: Vinkius is an independent platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, verified by, or otherwise authorized by FishBase. All third-party trademarks, logos, and brand names are the property of their respective owners. Their use on this website is strictly for informational purposes to identify service compatibility and interoperability.

Why Choose Vinkius

Vinkius connects your tools to AI with real-time monitoring and automatic cost savings — all from one dashboard.

Connect FishBase now

Real-time monitoring

Live

visibility into every interaction

Connect your favorite tools to your AI and see exactly what's happening — every request, every response, in real time.

Built-in savings

60%

lower AI costs

Vinkius compresses data between your apps and your AI automatically. Lower bills every month — no configuration required.

Single dashboard

One

place for every integration

Every tool your AI connects to, managed from a single screen. One account, complete control.

Common questions about FishBase MCP in Claude Desktop

Open your `claude_desktop_config.json` file and add the server configuration under the `mcpServers` key. Save the file and restart Claude Desktop to see the new tools.

Yes, the `list_comnames` tool supports pagination and field filtering. You simply tell Claude Desktop which specific fields or fish names you want to filter by, and the client handles the parameters.

The `get_heartbeat` tool returns the current status and time of the external API. Claude Desktop runs this tool to check connectivity before executing complex taxonomic queries.

Use the `get_versions` tool to see which releases are available. You can then instruct your AI client to focus its searches on a specific version, such as v3 or v4.

This server only transmits public marine taxonomy, common names, and API documentation metadata. No private research data or personal files are sent to the external FishBase API during these queries.

Use it with your favorite AI tools

Connect this server to Cursor, Claude, VS Code, and more.

OpenAI Agents SDK sdk-python

Google ADK sdk-python

Pydantic AI sdk-python

Vercel AI SDK sdk-typescript