3bdw and In(e)t fishes

Both fishes are indeed part of ancient myth and developing theology. The more usual
transliteration of both names would be Abd(j)u/3bdw and In(e)t.
Both of them are companions/pilot fish of the barque of Re during its night travel. While the
3bdw fish is the one loudly signaling the arrival of A/pe/p the In(e)t fish defends the barque
together with Horus, Maat, Thoth and other Netjeru (as written in the Papyrus of Ani, dem.
Papyrus Leiden I, mag. Papyrus Harris among others).

3bdw fish:
All we know about the golden 3bdw fish with a certain degree of certainty is that it belonged
to an edible species of fish, it also being an ingredient in medical recipes and magical spells
(also to protect rooms/space) and that it came from the great green (Wadj-Wer).
One of Aset’s epithets is “the pure 3bdw fish, which is at the prow of Re’s barque”, which
marked the fourth epagomenal in some calendars of favorable/non favorable days and was
moved in the late period to epagomenal 5 due to Aset’s connection with Sopdet.
The Metternich Stela is inscribed with an interesting passage:
“A screaming voice is in the “House of Neith”, a loud voice is in the “Mouth of the Cat”.
Gods and Goddesses say: ‘Look, look at the 3bdw fish and at its spawn (or birth). Turn your
steps away from me, wicked one.’” - It continues: “Look, Re is furious and raging because of
it. He has commanded your execution to be carried out. Turn back, wicked one!” (the wicked
one is of course A/pe/p). This passage implies interesting further connections, which I still
need to explore.
At times the 3bdw fish was considered - as the tilapia - to be one of the manifestations of Re.

In(e)t fish:
The red in(e)t fish has been identified as the tilapia.
The tilapia is a fish sacred to Hathor, eye of Re, playing thus an important funerary role
concerning resurrection. On the other side, though, Horus and Re themselves turn/merge into
a tilapia to defend the barque against the worm (sometimes its Horus, sometimes its Re
depending on the source), making the tilapia doubly important for the deceased on his way
through the Duat.
The tilapia was sacred to Re since earliest times, also being one of his manifestations, its red
color betraying its solar connections. The color red also is a color of aggressive protection
against the dangers of the night travel (see red as magical protection in the use of red ochre to
protect shrines, similar way of protection of Osiris by a red bull, etc.).
A hymn to Amun-Re presented as being sung by the Ogdoad makes a mythological reference
to both fishes, and is a nice closing for this small excursion into exotic waters:
“(…) You navigate over your two heavens without an opponent,
Your flaming breath has burned the evil one.
The red fishes are controlled by your boat,
The abdu fish has announced to you the wenti-snake,
The Ombite (Horus) has fixed his spear in his body. (…)”
Literature for further reading/checking:
 Ingrid Gamer-Wallert, Fische und Fischkulte im Alten Ägypten in: Ägyptologische
Abhandlungen Band 21 (1970);
 Christian Leitz, Tagewählerei: das Buch h3t nhh ph.wy dt und verwandte Texte, Teil
1 (1994);
 Jan Assmann, Magic and Theology in Ancient Egypt in: Envisioning Magic. A
Princeton Seminar & Symposium (Studies in the history of religions 75) (1997);
 Christopher Theiss, Magie und Raum: Der magische Schutz ausgewählter Räume im
alten Ägypten (2015).
I hope this summary/source listing is of any help. Should you have any questions just ask
away :)