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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

Starlight bristlenose

L183
Starlight bristlenose ≈

Plecos · AncistrusUncommon

  • 23–28°C
  • pH 5.5–7.5
  • Gentle
  • 6 in
  • Bottom
  • Mixed
  • Peaceful

Black with white stars and white fin edges.

Rio Negro, Brazil

Starlight bristlenose

L183

Ancistrus dolichopterus

Rio Negro, Brazil · river

Temperature
23–28°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Adult size
6 in · 15 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Breeding
Easy–moderate
Typical price
$25–80
In Canada
Occasional
Rarity
Uncommon

Black with white stars and white fin edges. The prettiest bristlenose, but it prefers cooler, soft water.

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Photo: Alberto Mejia-Paniagua, CC BY NC SA

Hypostomus cochliodon

L310
Hypostomus cochliodon ≈

Plecos · Hypostomus

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

Hypostomus cochliodon

L310

Hypostomus cochliodon

Rio Paraná, Brazil · 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

Panda corydoras

Panda corydoras ≈

Corydoras · CorydorasStaple

  • 20–25°C
  • pH 6–7.5
  • Gentle
  • 2 in
  • Bottom
  • Mixed
  • Peaceful
  • 6+ group!
Clear Andean foothill streams, Peru

Panda corydoras

Corydoras panda

Clear Andean foothill streams, Peru · stream

Temperature
20–25°C
pH
6–7.5
Adult size
2 in · 5 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Group
6+
Typical price
$5–9
Rarity
Pet-store staple
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Photo: Chronotopian, CC BY-SA 3.0

Celestial pearl danio

Celestial pearl danio ≈

Rasboras & danios · DanioStaple

  • 20–26°C
  • pH 6.5–7.5
  • Calm
  • 1 in
  • Mid/bottom
  • Mixed
  • Peaceful
  • 6+ group!
Spring-fed ponds, Shan Plateau, Myanmar

Celestial pearl danio

Danio margaritatus

Spring-fed ponds, Shan Plateau, Myanmar · pond

Temperature
20–26°C
pH
6.5–7.5
Adult size
1 in · 2.5 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Mid-water and bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Group
6+
Typical price
$4–7
Rarity
Pet-store staple
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Photo: Cisamarc, CC BY-SA 3.0

Black skirt tetra

Black skirt tetra ≈

Tetras · GymnocorymbusStaple

  • 21–27°C
  • pH 6–7.5
  • Gentle
  • 2.4 in
  • Mid
  • Mixed
  • Semi-agg.!
  • 6+ group!

Fin nipper. Keep it away from long-finned fish.

Paraguay and Guaporé basins

Black skirt tetra

Gymnocorymbus ternetzi

Paraguay and Guaporé basins · river

Temperature
21–27°C
pH
6–7.5
Adult size
2.4 in · 6 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Mid-water
Temperament
Semi-aggressive
Diet
Omnivore
Group
6+
Typical price
$3–5
Rarity
Pet-store staple

Fin nipper. Keep it away from long-finned fish.

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Photo: emptyvi, CC BY-SA 3.0

Xingu Lipbrooder

L010
Xingu Lipbrooder ≈

Plecos · Loricaria

  • 24–28°C
  • pH 5.5–7.5
  • Bottom
  • Mixed
Rio Xingu, Iriri and Curua, Brazil

Xingu Lipbrooder

L010

Loricaria birindellii

Rio Xingu, Iriri and Curua, Brazil · river

Temperature
24–28°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Swims
Bottom
Diet
Omnivore
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Photo: Gabriel Lelis Togni, CC BY 3.0

Hypostomus cf. nematopterus

L060
Hypostomus cf. nematopterus ≈

Plecos · Hypostomus

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

Hypostomus cf. nematopterus

L060

Hypostomus cf. nematopterus

Unknown origin · river

Temperature
23–28°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Swims
Bottom
Diet
Omnivore
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Photo: Maël Lemaitre, CC BY NC

Cardinal tetra

Cardinal tetra ≈

Tetras · ParacheirodonStaple

  • 23–29°C
  • pH 4.5–7
  • Calm
  • 1.6 in
  • Mid
  • Mixed
  • Peaceful
  • 6+ group!
Rio Negro and upper Orinoco, Brazil and Venezuela

Cardinal tetra

Paracheirodon axelrodi

Rio Negro and upper Orinoco, Brazil and Venezuela · blackwater stream

Temperature
23–29°C
pH
4.5–7
Adult size
1.6 in · 4 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Mid-water
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Group
6+
Typical price
$3–7
Rarity
Pet-store staple
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Photo: Paolo Neo, Public domain

Congo tetra

Congo tetra ≈

Tetras · Phenacogrammus

  • 23–27°C
  • pH 6–7.5
  • Gentle
  • 3 in
  • Mid
  • Mixed
  • Peaceful
  • 6+ group!
Congo River basin, DR Congo

Congo tetra

Phenacogrammus interruptus

Congo River basin, DR Congo · river

Temperature
23–27°C
pH
6–7.5
Adult size
3 in · 8 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Mid-water
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Group
6+
Typical price
$6–12
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Photo: André Karwath aka Aka, CC BY-SA 2.5

Flash pleco

L204
Flash pleco ≈

Plecos · PanaqolusUncommon

  • 24–28°C
  • pH 5.5–7.5
  • Gentle
  • 4 in
  • Bottom
  • Wood!
  • Peaceful

White vermiculation with orange-red fin edges.

Peruvian Amazon

Flash pleco

L204

Panaqolus albivermis

Peruvian Amazon · river

Temperature
24–28°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Adult size
4 in · 11 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Wood
Breeding
Moderate
Typical price
$50–100
In Canada
Occasional
Rarity
Uncommon

White vermiculation with orange-red fin edges. A wood-eater, so add driftwood and vegetables.

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Photo: Hantanplan, CC0

Chili rasbora

Chili rasbora ≈

Rasboras & danios · BorarasStaple

  • 20–28°C
  • pH 4–7
  • Calm
  • 0.8 in
  • Mid
  • Mixed
  • Peaceful
  • 8+ group!
Peat swamps of southwest Borneo

Chili rasbora

Boraras brigittae

Peat swamps of southwest Borneo · swamp or paddy

Temperature
20–28°C
pH
4–7
Adult size
0.8 in · 2 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Mid-water
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Group
8+
Typical price
$3–5
Rarity
Pet-store staple
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Photo: Daiju Azuma, CC BY-SA 4.0

Thresher pleco

L035
Thresher pleco ≈

Plecos · Aphanotorulus

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

Thresher pleco

L035

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

Oscar

Oscar ≈

Cichlids · Astronotus

  • 22–28°C
  • pH 6–7.5
  • Calm
  • 13 in!
  • Mid/bottom
  • Meat
  • Aggressive!

Predator. Eats any fish that fits in its mouth.

Slow rivers and floodplains of the Amazon

Oscar

Astronotus ocellatus

Slow rivers and floodplains of the Amazon · flooded forest

Temperature
22–28°C
pH
6–7.5
Adult size
13 in · 33 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Mid-water and bottom
Temperament
Aggressive
Diet
Carnivore
Group
1+
Typical price
$15–40

Predator. Eats any fish that fits in its mouth.

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Photo: Jón Helgi Jónsson (Amything), CC BY-SA 3.0

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

Boeseman's rainbowfish

Boeseman's rainbowfish ≈

Rainbowfish · Melanotaenia

  • 26–30°C
  • pH 7–8
  • Gentle
  • 4 in
  • Mid/top
  • Mixed
  • Peaceful
  • 6+ group!
Ayamaru Lakes, West Papua

Boeseman's rainbowfish

Melanotaenia boesemani

Ayamaru Lakes, West Papua · lake

Temperature
26–30°C
pH
7–8
Adult size
4 in · 10 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Mid-water and top
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Group
6+
Typical price
$8–15
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Photo: H. Zell, CC BY-SA 3.0

Peckoltia sp.

L218
Peckoltia sp. ≈

Plecos · Peckoltia

  • 25–29°C
  • pH 5.5–7.5
  • Bottom
  • Mixed
Unknown origin

Peckoltia sp.

L218

Peckoltia sp.

Unknown origin · river

Temperature
25–29°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Swims
Bottom
Diet
Omnivore
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Photo: Frank-Christian Baum (user Fcbaum), CC BY-SA 3.0

Showing 128 of 499