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.

Strong current5 fish

Endangered Rare Popular ✓ Peaceful Small (6 cm or less)Calm water ✓ Strong flow Schooling L-numbers ✓ With photo Basic profiles too

Showing: Flow: Strong current ✕

Strong current 5 fish

Zebra

L046

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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.

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

Orinoco angel

L201

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Plecos · HypancistrusStaple

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

Crisp white dots and white fin edges.

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

Butterfly hillstream loach

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Loaches · Beaufortia

20–24°C!
pH 6.5–7.5
Strong!
3 in
Bottom
Veg
Peaceful
3+ group

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

Hillstream loach

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Loaches · Sewellia

20–24°C!
pH 6.5–7.5
Strong!
2.4 in
Bottom
Veg
Peaceful
3+ group

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

Zebra danio

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Rasboras & danios · DanioStaple

18–26°C
pH 6.5–8
Strong!
2 in
Top/mid
Mixed
Peaceful
6+ group!

Zebra danio

Danio rerio

Streams and paddies of India and Bangladesh · stream

Temperature: 18–26°C
pH: 6.5–8
Adult size: 2 in · 5 cm
Flow: Strong
Swims: Top and mid-water
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet: Omnivore
Group: 6+
Typical price: $2–4
Rarity: Pet-store staple

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Photo: Roundish, CC0

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