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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-numbers✓ With photo ✓ Basic profiles too

The fishes 130 fish · new every day

Red lizard whiptail

L010a
Red lizard whiptail ≈

Plecos · RineloricariaStaple

  • 22–27°C
  • pH 5.5–7.5
  • Calm
  • 5 in
  • Bottom
  • Mixed
  • Peaceful

Lays eggs in the open, and the male guards them where you can watch.

Aquarium-bred colour strain

Red lizard whiptail

L010a

Aquarium-bred colour strain · river

Temperature
22–27°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Adult size
5 in · 12 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Breeding
Easy
Typical price
$10–25
In Canada
Common
Rarity
Pet-store staple

Lays eggs in the open, and the male guards them where you can watch. Prefers cooler water.

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Photo: Kaden Slone, CC BY 4.0

Peppermint pleco

L031
Peppermint pleco ≈

Plecos · Parancistrus

  • 27–31°C!
  • pH 5.5–7.5
  • Bottom
  • Veg
Rio Xingu, Brazil

Peppermint pleco

L031

Parancistrus nudiventris

Rio Xingu, Brazil · river

Temperature
27–31°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Swims
Bottom
Diet
Grazer
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Photo: Gabriel Lelis Togni, CC BY 3.0

Green phantom

L200
Green phantom ≈

Plecos · HemiancistrusUncommon

  • 26–30°C
  • pH 5.5–7.5
  • Strong!
  • 7 in
  • Bottom
  • Mixed
  • Territorial!

Olive-green with yellow dots, a colour nothing else in the tank has.

Upper Orinoco and Ventuari, Venezuela

Green phantom

L200

Hemiancistrus subviridis

Upper Orinoco and Ventuari, Venezuela · rapids

Temperature
26–30°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Adult size
7 in · 18 cm
Flow
Strong
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Territorial
Diet
Omnivore
Breeding
Moderate
Typical price
$60–150
In Canada
Occasional
Rarity
Uncommon

Olive-green with yellow dots, a colour nothing else in the tank has. Grazes algae and likes strong flow.

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Photo: Anne Blindheim, CC BY SA

Clown loach

Clown loach ≈

Loaches · Chromobotia

  • 25–30°C
  • pH 6–7.5
  • Gentle
  • 12 in!
  • Bottom
  • Mixed
  • Peaceful
  • 5+ group
Rivers of Borneo and Sumatra

Clown loach

Chromobotia macracanthus

Rivers of Borneo and Sumatra · river

Temperature
25–30°C
pH
6–7.5
Adult size
12 in · 30 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Group
5+
Typical price
$8–20
View full profile

Photo: Tommy Kronkvist, CC BY-SA 4.0

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

Zebra pleco

L098
Zebra pleco ≈

Plecos · Hypancistrus

  • 27–30°C!
  • pH 5.5–7.5
  • Bottom
  • Meat
Rio Xingu, Brazil

Zebra pleco

L098

Hypancistrus zebra

Rio Xingu, Brazil · river

Temperature
27–30°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Swims
Bottom
Diet
Carnivore
View full profile

Photo: Birger A, CC BY-SA 3.0

Endler's livebearer

Endler's livebearer ≈

Livebearers · PoeciliaStaple

  • 24–28°C
  • pH 7–8.5
  • Calm
  • 1.2 in
  • Top/mid
  • Mixed
  • Peaceful
  • 3+ group
Laguna de los Patos, Venezuela

Endler's livebearer

Poecilia wingei

Laguna de los Patos, Venezuela · lake

Temperature
24–28°C
pH
7–8.5
Adult size
1.2 in · 3 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Top and mid-water
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Group
3+
Typical price
$3–6
Rarity
Pet-store staple
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Photo: Dgrummon, CC BY-SA 4.0

Shortspined Wing Pleco

L041
Shortspined Wing Pleco ≈

Plecos · Guyanancistrus

  • 24–28°C
  • pH 5.5–7.5
  • Bottom
  • Mixed
Rio Oyapock and Suriname, French Guiana and Suriname

Shortspined Wing Pleco

L041

Guyanancistrus brevispinis

Rio Oyapock and Suriname, French Guiana and Suriname · river

Temperature
24–28°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Swims
Bottom
Diet
Omnivore
View full profile

Photo: Julien Renoult, CC BY 4.0

Angelfish

Angelfish ≈

Cichlids · Pterophyllum

  • 24–30°C
  • pH 6–7.5
  • Calm
  • 6 in
  • Mid
  • Mixed
  • Semi-agg.!

Predator. Eats any fish that fits in its mouth.

Flooded forests of the Amazon basin

Angelfish

Pterophyllum scalare

Flooded forests of the Amazon basin · flooded forest

Temperature
24–30°C
pH
6–7.5
Adult size
6 in · 15 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Mid-water
Temperament
Semi-aggressive
Diet
Omnivore
Group
1+
Typical price
$8–30

Predator. Eats any fish that fits in its mouth.

Long fins. Fin nippers will pick on it.

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Photo: Rjcastillo, CC BY 4.0

Baryancistrus niveatus

L026
Baryancistrus niveatus ≈

Plecos · Baryancistrus

  • 27–30°C!
  • pH 5.5–7.5
  • Bottom
  • Veg
Rio Tocantins, Araguaia and Tapajós, Brazil

Baryancistrus niveatus

L026

Baryancistrus niveatus

Rio Tocantins, Araguaia and Tapajós, Brazil · river

Temperature
27–30°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Swims
Bottom
Diet
Grazer
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Photo: Gabriel Lelis Togni, CC BY

Blonde rubbernose bulldog pleco

L187bbb
Blonde rubbernose bulldog pleco ≈

Plecos · Chaetostoma

  • 20–25°C
  • pH 5.5–7.5
  • Bottom
  • Veg
Río Guaviare, Colombia

Blonde rubbernose bulldog pleco

L187bbb

Chaetostoma formosae

Río Guaviare, Colombia · river

Temperature
20–25°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Swims
Bottom
Diet
Grazer
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Photo: Frank M. Greco, CC BY 3.0

Thresher pleco

L108
Thresher pleco ≈

Plecos · Aphanotorulus

  • 23–28°C
  • pH 5.5–7.5
  • Bottom
  • Mixed
Rio Suriname, Suriname

Thresher pleco

L108

Aphanotorulus emarginatus

Rio Suriname, Suriname · river

Temperature
23–28°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Swims
Bottom
Diet
Omnivore
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Photo: Sidnei Dantas, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sunshine pleco

L014
Sunshine pleco ≈

Plecos · ScobinancistrusRare

  • 27–31°C!
  • pH 5.5–7.5
  • Strong!
  • 12 in!
  • Bottom
  • Meat
  • Territorial!

Yellow spots and orange fin edges.

Rio Xingu, Brazil

Sunshine pleco

L014

Scobinancistrus aureatus

Rio Xingu, Brazil · rapids

Temperature
27–31°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Adult size
12 in · 30 cm
Flow
Strong
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Territorial
Diet
Carnivore
Breeding
Rarely
Typical price
$150–400
In Canada
Rare
Rarity
Rare or hard to breed

Yellow spots and orange fin edges. A big snail-eater that needs a large tank.

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Photo: Gabriel Lelis Togni, CC BY 3.0

Peppermint pleco

L300
Peppermint pleco ≈

Plecos · Parancistrus

  • 27–31°C!
  • pH 5.5–7.5
  • Bottom
  • Veg
Rio Xingu, Brazil

Peppermint pleco

L300

Parancistrus nudiventris

Rio Xingu, Brazil · river

Temperature
27–31°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Swims
Bottom
Diet
Grazer
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Photo: Gabriel Lelis Togni, CC BY 3.0

Kuhli loach

Kuhli loach ≈

Loaches · PangioStaple

  • 24–29°C
  • pH 5.5–7
  • Calm
  • 4 in
  • Bottom
  • Mixed
  • Peaceful
  • 5+ group
Peat swamp streams of Malaysia and Indonesia

Kuhli loach

Pangio kuhlii

Peat swamp streams of Malaysia and Indonesia · swamp or paddy

Temperature
24–29°C
pH
5.5–7
Adult size
4 in · 9 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Group
5+
Typical price
$4–8
Rarity
Pet-store staple
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Photo: Robert Mollik, CC BY-SA 4.0

Harlequin rasbora

Harlequin rasbora ≈

Rasboras & danios · TrigonostigmaStaple

  • 22–28°C
  • pH 5–7.5
  • Calm
  • 1.8 in
  • Mid
  • Mixed
  • Peaceful
  • 8+ group!
Peat swamp streams, Malay Peninsula and Sumatra

Harlequin rasbora

Trigonostigma heteromorpha

Peat swamp streams, Malay Peninsula and Sumatra · swamp or paddy

Temperature
22–28°C
pH
5–7.5
Adult size
1.8 in · 4.5 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Mid-water
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Group
8+
Typical price
$3–5
Rarity
Pet-store staple
View full profile

Photo: NasserHalaweh, CC BY-SA 4.0

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