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Freshwater fishes

The fish list

499 species, each with the water it needs, who it gets along with, and where it comes from. Find one, or browse by family, genus or river.

EndangeredRarePopularPeacefulSmall (6 cm or less)Calm waterStrong flowSchoolingL-numbersWith photo ✓ Basic profiles too
Showing: Genus: Pseudacanthicus ✕

Pseudacanthicus 25 fish

Red-fin cactus

L024
Red-fin cactus ≈

Plecos · PseudacanthicusRare

  • 26–30°C
  • pH 5.5–7.5
  • Strong!
  • 16 in!
  • Bottom
  • Meat
  • Aggressive!

Dark body with red fin edges.

Rio Tocantins, Brazil

Red-fin cactus

L024

Pseudacanthicus pitanga

Rio Tocantins, Brazil · rapids

Temperature
26–30°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Adult size
16 in · 40 cm
Flow
Strong
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Aggressive
Diet
Carnivore
Breeding
Rarely
Typical price
$130–400
In Canada
Rare
Rarity
Rare or hard to breed

Dark body with red fin edges. Large and aggressive.

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Photo: B. Phalan, CC BY 4.0

Scarlet cactus

L025
Scarlet cactus ≈

Plecos · PseudacanthicusRare

  • 26–30°C
  • pH 5.5–7.5
  • Strong!
  • 24 in!
  • Bottom
  • Meat
  • Aggressive!

Grey with scarlet fins.

Rio Xingu, Brazil

Scarlet cactus

L025

Pseudacanthicus pirarara

Rio Xingu, Brazil · rapids

Temperature
26–30°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Adult size
24 in · 60 cm
Flow
Strong
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Aggressive
Diet
Carnivore
Breeding
Rarely
Typical price
$400–1000
In Canada
Rare
Rarity
Rare or hard to breed

Grey with scarlet fins. Can pass 60 cm, so it needs a tank of its own.

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Photo: JSutton93, CC BY SA

Leopard cactus

L114
Leopard cactus ≈

Plecos · PseudacanthicusRare

  • 26–30°C
  • pH 5.5–7.5
  • Strong!
  • 14 in!
  • Bottom
  • Meat
  • Aggressive!

Cream with bold black spots and a spiny body.

Pará, Brazil. Sources differ on the exact river.

Leopard cactus

L114

Pará, Brazil. Sources differ on the exact river. · rapids

Temperature
26–30°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Adult size
14 in · 35 cm
Flow
Strong
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Aggressive
Diet
Carnivore
Breeding
Rarely
Typical price
$250–800
In Canada
Rare
Rarity
Rare or hard to breed

Cream with bold black spots and a spiny body. Grows to about 35 cm and is aggressive.

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Photo: Whaldener Endo, CC0

Guyana leopard cactus

L600
Guyana leopard cactus ≈

Plecos · PseudacanthicusRare

  • 26–30°C
  • pH 5.5–7.5
  • Strong!
  • 12 in!
  • Bottom
  • Meat
  • Aggressive!

Spotted cactus pleco with orange-edged fins.

Rupununi and Essequibo, Guyana, and the Rio Branco, Brazil

Guyana leopard cactus

L600

Pseudacanthicus leopardus

Rupununi and Essequibo, Guyana, and the Rio Branco, Brazil · rapids

Temperature
26–30°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Adult size
12 in · 30 cm
Flow
Strong
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Aggressive
Diet
Carnivore
Breeding
Rarely
Typical price
$90–300
In Canada
Rare
Rarity
Rare or hard to breed

Spotted cactus pleco with orange-edged fins. Large, spiny and aggressive with other plecos.

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Photo: Sesamehoneytart, CC BY-SA 3.0

Coffee & cream pleco

L096
Coffee & cream pleco ≈

Plecos · Pseudacanthicus

  • 26–30°C
  • pH 5.5–7.5
  • Bottom
  • Meat
Amazon basin

Coffee & cream pleco

L096

Pseudacanthicus spinosus

Amazon basin · river

Temperature
26–30°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Swims
Bottom
Diet
Carnivore
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Photo: François-Louis Laporte, PD

Coffee & cream pleco

L160
Coffee & cream pleco ≈

Plecos · Pseudacanthicus

  • 26–30°C
  • pH 5.5–7.5
  • Bottom
  • Meat
Amazon basin

Coffee & cream pleco

L160

Pseudacanthicus spinosus

Amazon basin · river

Temperature
26–30°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Swims
Bottom
Diet
Carnivore
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Photo: François-Louis Laporte, PD

Pseudacanthicus cf. spinosus

L375
Pseudacanthicus cf. spinosus ≈

Plecos · Pseudacanthicus

  • 26–30°C
  • pH 5.5–7.5
  • Bottom
  • Meat
Unknown origin

Pseudacanthicus cf. spinosus

L375

Pseudacanthicus cf. spinosus

Unknown origin · river

Temperature
26–30°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Swims
Bottom
Diet
Carnivore
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Photo: François-Louis Laporte, PD

Showing 16 of 25