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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.

EndangeredRarePopular✓ PeacefulSmall (6 cm or less)Calm waterStrong flowSchoolingL-numbers✓ With photo Basic profiles too
Showing: Flow: Calm water ✕

Calm water 25 fish

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

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

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
View full profile

Photo: Paolo Neo, Public domain

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
View full profile

Photo: Cisamarc, CC BY-SA 3.0

Cherry barb

Cherry barb ≈

Barbs · PuntiusStaple

  • 23–27°C
  • pH 6–7.5
  • Calm
  • 2 in
  • Mid/bottom
  • Mixed
  • Peaceful
  • 6+ group!
Shaded forest streams, Sri Lanka

Cherry barb

Puntius titteya

Shaded forest streams, Sri Lanka · stream

Temperature
23–27°C
pH
6–7.5
Adult size
2 in · 5 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Mid-water and bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Group
6+
Typical price
$3–5
Rarity
Pet-store staple
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Photo: NasserHalaweh, CC BY-SA 4.0

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

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
View full profile

Photo: Daiju Azuma, 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
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Photo: H. Zell, CC BY-SA 3.0

Dwarf gourami

Dwarf gourami ≈

Gouramis & bettas · Trichogaster

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

Lone male. Males fight. Keep one, or give each his own space.

Slow, plant-choked waters of India and Bangladesh

Dwarf gourami

Trichogaster lalius

Slow, plant-choked waters of India and Bangladesh · swamp or paddy

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

Lone male. Males fight. Keep one, or give each his own space.

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Photo: Kennyannydenny, CC BY-SA 3.0

Ember tetra

Ember tetra ≈

Tetras · HyphessobryconStaple

  • 23–29°C
  • pH 5.5–7
  • Calm
  • 0.8 in
  • Mid
  • Mixed
  • Peaceful
  • 8+ group!
Rio Araguaia basin, Brazil

Ember tetra

Hyphessobrycon amandae

Rio Araguaia basin, Brazil · river

Temperature
23–29°C
pH
5.5–7
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
View full profile

Photo: Cedricguppy - Loury Cédric, CC BY-SA 4.0

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
View full profile

Photo: Dgrummon, CC BY-SA 4.0

German blue ram

German blue ram ≈

Cichlids · Mikrogeophagus

  • 27–30°C!
  • pH 5–7
  • Calm
  • 2.4 in
  • Bottom/mid
  • Mixed
  • Peaceful
  • 2+ group
Llanos savanna streams, Orinoco basin

German blue ram

Mikrogeophagus ramirezi

Llanos savanna streams, Orinoco basin · stream

Temperature
27–30°C
pH
5–7
Adult size
2.4 in · 6 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Bottom and mid-water
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Group
2+
Typical price
$12–25
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Photo: Eric Mengel, Public domain

Glowlight tetra

Glowlight tetra ≈

Tetras · HemigrammusStaple

  • 24–28°C
  • pH 5.5–7.5
  • Calm
  • 1.6 in
  • Mid
  • Mixed
  • Peaceful
  • 6+ group!
Essequibo River, Guyana

Glowlight tetra

Hemigrammus erythrozonus

Essequibo River, Guyana · river

Temperature
24–28°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Adult size
1.6 in · 4 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Mid-water
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Group
6+
Typical price
$2–5
Rarity
Pet-store staple
View full profile

Photo: h080, CC BY-SA 2.0

Goldfish

Goldfish ≈

Goldfish · Carassius

  • 10–24°C!
  • pH 7–8
  • Calm
  • 8 in!
  • Mid/bottom
  • Mixed
  • Peaceful
  • 2+ group
Domesticated in China from wild carp

Goldfish

Carassius auratus

Domesticated in China from wild carp · pond

Temperature
10–24°C
pH
7–8
Adult size
8 in · 20 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Mid-water and bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Group
2+
Typical price
$2–30
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Photo: IssamBarhoumi, CC BY-SA 4.0

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

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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