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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 water✓ Strong flowSchoolingL-numbersWith photo ✓ Basic profiles too

The fishes 33 fish · new every day

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

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

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

Sultan

L264
Sultan ≈

Plecos · LeporacanthicusRare

  • 26–30°C
  • pH 5.5–7.5
  • Strong!
  • 8 in!
  • Bottom
  • Meat
  • Territorial!

White spots and white-tipped fins on black.

Rio Tapajós, Brazil

Sultan

L264

Leporacanthicus joselimai

Rio Tapajós, Brazil · rapids

Temperature
26–30°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Adult size
8 in · 20 cm
Flow
Strong
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Territorial
Diet
Carnivore
Breeding
Hard
Typical price
$60–150
In Canada
Occasional
Rarity
Rare or hard to breed

White spots and white-tipped fins on black. Grows to about 20 cm and holds a cave firmly.

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Photo: Thomas Siems, CC BY-SA 2.0

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

Butterfly hillstream loach

Butterfly hillstream loach ≈

Loaches · Beaufortia

  • 20–24°C!
  • pH 6.5–7.5
  • Strong!
  • 3 in
  • Bottom
  • Veg
  • Peaceful
  • 3+ group
Fast rocky streams of southern China

Butterfly hillstream loach

Beaufortia kweichowensis

Fast rocky streams of southern China · rapids

Temperature
20–24°C
pH
6.5–7.5
Adult size
3 in · 8 cm
Flow
Strong
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Grazer
Group
3+
Typical price
$10–18
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Photo: Lerdsuwa, CC BY-SA 3.0

Blue phantom

L128
Blue phantom ≈

Plecos · HemiancistrusRare

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

Blue-grey with fine white dots.

Upper Orinoco, Venezuela

Blue phantom

L128

Upper Orinoco, Venezuela · rapids

Temperature
26–30°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Adult size
8 in · 20 cm
Flow
Strong
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Territorial
Diet
Omnivore
Breeding
Moderate–hard
Typical price
$80–200
In Canada
Occasional
Rarity
Rare or hard to breed

Blue-grey with fine white dots. Grows larger than it looks in the store.

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Photo: EnjiBenji, 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

Gold nugget

L081
Gold nugget ≈

Plecos · BaryancistrusRare

  • 27–30°C!
  • pH 5.5–7.5
  • Strong!
  • 8 in!
  • Bottom
  • Mixed
  • Territorial!

Black with yellow spots and gold fin edges.

Rio Xingu, and the Rio Iriri for L177

Gold nugget

L081

Baryancistrus xanthellus

Rio Xingu, and the Rio Iriri for L177 · rapids

Temperature
27–30°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Adult size
8 in · 20 cm
Flow
Strong
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Territorial
Diet
Omnivore
Breeding
Hard
Typical price
$60–250
In Canada
Occasional
Rarity
Rare or hard to breed

Black with yellow spots and gold fin edges. Grows larger than Hypancistrus and holds a territory.

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Photo: Anne Blindheim, CC BY-SA 3.0

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

Golden cloud

L048
Golden cloud ≈

Plecos · ScobinancistrusRare

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

Fine pale spots on black.

Xingu and Tapajós basins, Brazil

Golden cloud

L048

Scobinancistrus cf. pariolispos

Xingu and Tapajós basins, 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

Fine pale spots on black. Large and rarely available.

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Photo: Gabriel Lelis Togni, CC BY 3.0

Orinoco angel

L201
Orinoco angel ≈

Plecos · HypancistrusStaple

  • 26–30°C
  • pH 5.5–7.5
  • Strong!
  • 5 in
  • Bottom
  • Meat
  • Peaceful

Crisp white dots and white fin edges.

Middle Orinoco, Venezuela

Orinoco angel

L201

Hypancistrus contradens

Middle Orinoco, Venezuela · rapids

Temperature
26–30°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Adult size
5 in · 12 cm
Flow
Strong
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Carnivore
Breeding
Easy
Typical price
$25–60
In Canada
Common
Rarity
Pet-store staple

Crisp white dots and white fin edges. A classic first Hypancistrus.

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Photo: thepigeongirl, CC BY NC

Hillstream loach

Hillstream loach ≈

Loaches · Sewellia

  • 20–24°C!
  • pH 6.5–7.5
  • Strong!
  • 2.4 in
  • Bottom
  • Veg
  • Peaceful
  • 3+ group
Fast mountain streams of central Vietnam

Hillstream loach

Sewellia lineolata

Fast mountain streams of central Vietnam · rapids

Temperature
20–24°C
pH
6.5–7.5
Adult size
2.4 in · 6 cm
Flow
Strong
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Grazer
Group
3+
Typical price
$10–18
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Photo: 5snake5, CC0

Xingu royal

L027
Xingu royal ≈

Plecos · PanaqueRare

  • 26–30°C
  • pH 5.5–7.5
  • Strong!
  • 16 in!
  • Bottom
  • Wood!
  • Territorial!

A large royal pleco from the Xingu and Tocantins.

Rio Xingu and Tocantins, Brazil

Xingu royal

L027

Panaque armbrusteri

Rio Xingu and Tocantins, Brazil · rapids

Temperature
26–30°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Adult size
16 in · 40 cm
Flow
Strong
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Territorial
Diet
Wood
Breeding
Rarely
Typical price
$100–300
In Canada
Rare
Rarity
Rare or hard to breed

A large royal pleco from the Xingu and Tocantins. Needs a very big tank.

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Photo: JSutton93, CC BY-SA 4.0

Zebra

L046
Zebra ≈

Plecos · HypancistrusCR

  • 28–31°C!
  • pH 5.5–7.5
  • Strong!
  • 3 in
  • Bottom
  • Meat
  • Peaceful

Brazil banned wild export, so Canadian stock is tank-bred.

Volta Grande of the Rio Xingu, Brazil

Zebra

L046

Hypancistrus zebra

Volta Grande of the Rio Xingu, Brazil · rapids

Temperature
28–31°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Adult size
3 in · 8 cm
Flow
Strong
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Carnivore
Breeding
Moderate, slow
Typical price
$150–500
In Canada
Occasional
Status in the wild
Critically endangered

Brazil banned wild export, so Canadian stock is tank-bred. Clean, even stripes where L236 are broken and patchy.

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Photo: Birger A, CC BY-SA 3.0

Hi-fin green phantom

L200hf
Hi-fin green phantom ≈

Plecos · BaryancistrusRare

  • 27–30°C!
  • pH 5.5–7.5
  • Strong!
  • 6 in
  • Bottom
  • Mixed
  • Territorial!

The hi-fin version, with a tall dorsal.

Upper Orinoco and Ventuari, Venezuela

Hi-fin green phantom

L200hf

Baryancistrus demantoides

Upper Orinoco and Ventuari, Venezuela · rapids

Temperature
27–30°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Adult size
6 in · 16 cm
Flow
Strong
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Territorial
Diet
Omnivore
Breeding
Hard
Typical price
$100–250
In Canada
Rare
Rarity
Rare or hard to breed

The hi-fin version, with a tall dorsal. Territorial, and rarely bred.

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Photo: Anne Blindheim, CC BY-SA 3.0

Showing 16 of 33