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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

The fishes 499 fish · new every day

Common pleco

L023
Common pleco ≈

Plecos · Pterygoplichthys

  • 23–28°C
  • pH 5.5–7.5
  • Bottom
  • Mixed
Amazon basin

Common pleco

L023

Pterygoplichthys pardalis

Amazon basin · river

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

Coal pleco

L350
Coal pleco ≈

Plecos · Peckoltia

  • 25–29°C
  • pH 5.5–7.5
  • Bottom
  • Mixed
Río Marañón, Peru

Coal pleco

L350

Peckoltia pankimpuju

Río Marañón, Peru · river

Temperature
25–29°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Swims
Bottom
Diet
Omnivore
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Photo: Matubula, CC BY SA

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

Spotted Cochliodon

L050
Spotted Cochliodon ≈

Plecos · Hypostomus

  • 23–28°C
  • pH 5.5–7.5
  • Bottom
  • Mixed
Unknown origin

Spotted Cochliodon

L050

Hypostomus cf. cochliodon

Unknown origin · river

Temperature
23–28°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Swims
Bottom
Diet
Omnivore
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Photo: Douglas Lopes, CC BY 4.0

Orange Cheek Pinecone Pleco

L095
Orange Cheek Pinecone Pleco ≈

Plecos · Pseudorinelepis

  • 24–28°C
  • pH 5.5–7.5
  • Bottom
  • Mixed
Rio Branco, Brazil

Orange Cheek Pinecone Pleco

L095

Pseudorinelepis genibarbis

Rio Branco, Brazil · river

Temperature
24–28°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Swims
Bottom
Diet
Omnivore
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Photo: Usenetpostsdotcom, PD

Guppy

Guppy ≈

Livebearers · PoeciliaStaple

  • 22–28°C
  • pH 7–8.5
  • Calm
  • 2 in
  • Top/mid
  • Mixed
  • Peaceful
  • 3+ group

Long fins. Fin nippers will pick on it.

Trinidad and northern Venezuela

Guppy

Poecilia reticulata

Trinidad and northern Venezuela · stream

Temperature
22–28°C
pH
7–8.5
Adult size
2 in · 5 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Top and mid-water
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Group
3+
Typical price
$2–8
Rarity
Pet-store staple

Long fins. Fin nippers will pick on it.

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Photo: Holger Krisp, CC BY 3.0

Magnum pleco

L047
Magnum pleco ≈

Plecos · Baryancistrus

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

Magnum pleco

L047

Baryancistrus chrysolomus

Rio Xingu, Brazil · river

Temperature
27–30°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Swims
Bottom
Diet
Grazer
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Photo: 5snake5, PD

Bolivian ram

Bolivian ram ≈

Cichlids · Mikrogeophagus

  • 22–28°C
  • pH 6–7.5
  • Calm
  • 3 in
  • Bottom/mid
  • Mixed
  • Peaceful
  • 2+ group
Mamoré and Guaporé basins, Bolivia and Brazil

Bolivian ram

Mikrogeophagus altispinosus

Mamoré and Guaporé basins, Bolivia and Brazil · river

Temperature
22–28°C
pH
6–7.5
Adult size
3 in · 8 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Bottom and mid-water
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Group
2+
Typical price
$10–18
View full profile

Photo: Corpse89, CC BY-SA 3.0

Paraguay Pleco

L281
Paraguay Pleco ≈

Plecos · Hypostomus

  • 23–28°C
  • pH 5.5–7.5
  • Bottom
  • Mixed
Unknown origin

Paraguay Pleco

L281

Hypostomus latifrons

Unknown origin · river

Temperature
23–28°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Swims
Bottom
Diet
Omnivore
View full profile

Photo: Julia Mantinian, CC BY NC

Rummynose tetra

Rummynose tetra ≈

Tetras · HemigrammusStaple

  • 24–28°C
  • pH 5.5–7
  • Gentle
  • 2 in
  • Mid
  • Mixed
  • Peaceful
  • 8+ group!
Lower Amazon and Rio Negro, Brazil

Rummynose tetra

Hemigrammus rhodostomus

Lower Amazon and Rio Negro, Brazil · blackwater stream

Temperature
24–28°C
pH
5.5–7
Adult size
2 in · 5 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Mid-water
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Group
8+
Typical price
$3–6
Rarity
Pet-store staple
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Photo: Gavinevans, CC BY-SA 3.0

Cherry shrimp

Cherry shrimp ≈

Shrimp & snails · NeocaridinaStaple

  • 18–26°C
  • pH 6.5–8
  • Calm
  • 1 in
  • Bottom
  • Veg
  • Peaceful
  • 10+ group!

Invertebrate. Many fish will eat it, so choose tank mates with care.

Streams of Taiwan and eastern China

Cherry shrimp

Neocaridina davidi

Streams of Taiwan and eastern China · stream

Temperature
18–26°C
pH
6.5–8
Adult size
1 in · 2.5 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Grazer
Group
10+
Typical price
$2–5
Rarity
Pet-store staple

Invertebrate. Many fish will eat it, so choose tank mates with care.

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Photo: TonyZimbinski, CC BY-SA 4.0

Rosy barb

Rosy barb ≈

Barbs · PethiaStaple

  • 18–25°C
  • pH 6–8
  • Gentle
  • 4 in
  • Mid
  • Mixed
  • Peaceful
  • 6+ group!
Rivers of northern India

Rosy barb

Pethia conchonius

Rivers of northern India · river

Temperature
18–25°C
pH
6–8
Adult size
4 in · 10 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Mid-water
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Group
6+
Typical price
$3–6
Rarity
Pet-store staple
View full profile

Photo: Usien, CC0

Para Pleco

L075
Para Pleco ≈

Plecos · Peckoltia

  • 25–29°C
  • pH 5.5–7.5
  • Bottom
  • Mixed
Rio Orinoco and Essequibo, Venezuela and Guyana

Para Pleco

L075

Peckoltia sabaji

Rio Orinoco and Essequibo, Venezuela and Guyana · river

Temperature
25–29°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Swims
Bottom
Diet
Omnivore
View full profile

Photo: NasserHalaweh, CC BY-SA 4.0

Discus

Discus ≈

Cichlids · Symphysodon

  • 28–31°C!
  • pH 5–7
  • Calm
  • 7 in
  • Mid
  • Meat
  • Peaceful
  • 5+ group
Floodplain lakes of the Amazon basin

Discus

Symphysodon aequifasciatus

Floodplain lakes of the Amazon basin · flooded forest

Temperature
28–31°C
pH
5–7
Adult size
7 in · 18 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Mid-water
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Carnivore
Group
5+
Typical price
$60–200
View full profile

Photo: H. Zell, CC BY-SA 3.0

Pearl gourami

Pearl gourami ≈

Gouramis & bettas · Trichopodus

  • 24–28°C
  • pH 6–7.5
  • Calm
  • 5 in
  • Top/mid
  • Mixed
  • Peaceful

Long fins. Fin nippers will pick on it.

Peat swamps of Malaysia, Sumatra and Borneo

Pearl gourami

Trichopodus leerii

Peat swamps of Malaysia, Sumatra and Borneo · swamp or paddy

Temperature
24–28°C
pH
6–7.5
Adult size
5 in · 12 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Top and mid-water
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Group
1+
Typical price
$7–14

Long fins. Fin nippers will pick on it.

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Photo: BEDO (Thailand), CC BY-SA 4.0

Neon tetra

Neon tetra ≈

Tetras · ParacheirodonStaple

  • 20–26°C
  • pH 5–7
  • Calm
  • 1.4 in
  • Mid
  • Mixed
  • Peaceful
  • 6+ group!
Upper Amazon basin: Peru, Colombia, Brazil

Neon tetra

Paracheirodon innesi

Upper Amazon basin: Peru, Colombia, Brazil · blackwater stream

Temperature
20–26°C
pH
5–7
Adult size
1.4 in · 3.5 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Mid-water
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Group
6+
Typical price
$2–5
Rarity
Pet-store staple
View full profile

Photo: Holger Krisp, CC BY 3.0

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