Save the Little Fish

Saving the world’s tropical fish, one tank at a time.

Sign in

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
Showing: Flow: Gentle current ✕

Gentle current 32 fish

Gold spot pleco

L001
Gold spot pleco ≈

Plecos · PterygoplichthysRare

  • 24–28°C
  • pH 5.5–7.5
  • Gentle
  • 12 in!
  • Bottom
  • Mixed
  • Peaceful

A sailfin that grows to about 30 cm and makes a lot of waste.

Tocantins–Araguaia basin, Brazil

Gold spot pleco

L001

Pterygoplichthys joselimaianus

Tocantins–Araguaia basin, Brazil · river

Temperature
24–28°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Adult size
12 in · 30 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Breeding
Rarely
Typical price
$15–80
In Canada
Occasional
Rarity
Rare or hard to breed

A sailfin that grows to about 30 cm and makes a lot of waste. Big tanks only.

View full profile

Photo: 5snake5, CC BY-SA 4.0

Candy stripe

L015
Candy stripe ≈

Plecos · PeckoltiaUncommon

  • 25–30°C
  • pH 5.5–7.5
  • Gentle
  • 4 in
  • Bottom
  • Mixed
  • Peaceful

A small Peckoltia with bold yellow and dark bands.

Lower Amazon and Xingu basins, Brazil

Candy stripe

L015

Peckoltia vittata

Lower Amazon and Xingu basins, Brazil · river

Temperature
25–30°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Adult size
4 in · 10 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Breeding
Moderate
Typical price
$30–70
In Canada
Occasional
Rarity
Uncommon

A small Peckoltia with bold yellow and dark bands. Peaceful, and a different genus from L236.

View full profile

Photo: Gabriel Lelis Togni, CC BY 3.0

Clown pleco

L104
Clown pleco ≈

Plecos · PanaqolusStaple

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

A small wood-eater with orange bands.

Orinoco basin, Venezuela and Colombia

Clown pleco

L104

Panaqolus maccus

Orinoco basin, Venezuela and Colombia · river

Temperature
24–28°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Adult size
4 in · 9 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Wood
Breeding
Moderate
Typical price
$15–35
In Canada
Common
Rarity
Pet-store staple

A small wood-eater with orange bands. Needs driftwood to rasp and tops out around 28°C.

View full profile

Photo: Jarne Colman, CC0

Leopard frog

L134
Leopard frog ≈

Plecos · PeckoltiaStaple

  • 25–30°C
  • pH 5.5–7.5
  • Gentle
  • 4 in
  • Bottom
  • Mixed
  • Peaceful

Yellow with black saddles.

Rio Tapajós, Brazil

Leopard frog

L134

Peckoltia compta

Rio Tapajós, Brazil · river

Temperature
25–30°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Adult size
4 in · 11 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Breeding
Moderate
Typical price
$30–120
In Canada
Common
Rarity
Pet-store staple

Yellow with black saddles. A different genus from L236, so no hybrid risk in the display.

View full profile

Photo: Frank M Greco, CC BY 3.0

Blue-eye lemon bristlenose

L144
Blue-eye lemon bristlenose ≈

Plecos · AncistrusStaple

  • 22–28°C
  • pH 5.5–7.5
  • Gentle
  • 5 in
  • Bottom
  • Mixed
  • Peaceful

Yellow bristlenose with blue eyes.

Aquarium-bred strain. Its wild origin isn’t well documented.

Blue-eye lemon bristlenose

L144

Aquarium-bred strain. Its wild origin isn’t well documented. · river

Temperature
22–28°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Adult size
5 in · 12 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Breeding
Easy
Typical price
$10–35
In Canada
Common
Rarity
Pet-store staple

Yellow bristlenose with blue eyes. Easy and cheap, but happier below 28°C. L144a is the longfin form.

View full profile

Photo: Corydoras-adolfoi, CC BY-SA 4.0

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.

View full profile

Photo: Alberto Mejia-Paniagua, CC BY NC SA

Royal pleco

L190
Royal pleco ≈

Plecos · PanaqueRare

  • 24–29°C
  • pH 5.5–7.5
  • Gentle
  • 16 in!
  • Bottom
  • Wood!
  • Territorial!

Red eyes and pinstripes, but it grows to about 40 cm and eats a lot of wood.

Orinoco basin, Colombia and Venezuela

Royal pleco

L190

Panaque nigrolineatus

Orinoco basin, Colombia and Venezuela · river

Temperature
24–29°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Adult size
16 in · 40 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Territorial
Diet
Wood
Breeding
Rarely
Typical price
$50–200
In Canada
Common
Rarity
Rare or hard to breed

Red eyes and pinstripes, but it grows to about 40 cm and eats a lot of wood.

View full profile

Photo: Neale Monks, CC BY-SA 3.0

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.

View full profile

Photo: Hantanplan, CC0

Tangerine tiger

L397
Tangerine tiger ≈

Plecos · PanaqolusUncommon

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

Orange-and-dark banded Panaqolus, also sold as the Alenquer tiger.

Near Alenquer, lower Amazon, Brazil

Tangerine tiger

L397

Near Alenquer, lower Amazon, Brazil · river

Temperature
24–28°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Adult size
4 in · 10 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Wood
Breeding
Moderate
Typical price
$50–100
In Canada
Occasional
Rarity
Uncommon

Orange-and-dark banded Panaqolus, also sold as the Alenquer tiger. Needs driftwood.

View full profile

Photo: Fish Tank Society, CC BY-SA 4.0

Amano shrimp

Amano shrimp ≈

Shrimp & snails · CaridinaStaple

  • 20–27°C
  • pH 6.5–7.5
  • Gentle
  • 2 in
  • Bottom
  • Veg
  • Peaceful
  • 3+ group

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

Coastal streams of Japan and Taiwan

Amano shrimp

Caridina multidentata

Coastal streams of Japan and Taiwan · stream

Temperature
20–27°C
pH
6.5–7.5
Adult size
2 in · 5 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Grazer
Group
3+
Typical price
$3–6
Rarity
Pet-store staple

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

View full profile

Photo: Jolielover, CC BY 4.0

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.

View full profile

Photo: emptyvi, CC BY-SA 3.0

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
View full profile

Photo: H. Zell, CC BY-SA 3.0

Bronze corydoras

Bronze corydoras ≈

Corydoras · CorydorasStaple

  • 22–28°C
  • pH 6–8
  • Gentle
  • 2.8 in
  • Bottom
  • Mixed
  • Peaceful
  • 6+ group!
Widespread in South America

Bronze corydoras

Corydoras aeneus

Widespread in South America · stream

Temperature
22–28°C
pH
6–8
Adult size
2.8 in · 7 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Group
6+
Typical price
$3–6
Rarity
Pet-store staple
View full profile

Photo: Andrew Keller, CC0

Clown loach

Clown loach ≈

Loaches · Chromobotia

  • 25–30°C
  • pH 6–7.5
  • Gentle
  • 12 in!
  • Bottom
  • Mixed
  • Peaceful
  • 5+ group
Rivers of Borneo and Sumatra

Clown loach

Chromobotia macracanthus

Rivers of Borneo and Sumatra · river

Temperature
25–30°C
pH
6–7.5
Adult size
12 in · 30 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Group
5+
Typical price
$8–20
View full profile

Photo: Tommy Kronkvist, CC BY-SA 4.0

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
View full profile

Photo: André Karwath aka Aka, CC BY-SA 2.5

Dwarf neon rainbowfish

Dwarf neon rainbowfish ≈

Rainbowfish · Melanotaenia

  • 24–28°C
  • pH 6.5–7.5
  • Gentle
  • 2.4 in
  • Mid/top
  • Mixed
  • Peaceful
  • 6+ group!
Mamberamo River basin, New Guinea

Dwarf neon rainbowfish

Melanotaenia praecox

Mamberamo River basin, New Guinea · stream

Temperature
24–28°C
pH
6.5–7.5
Adult size
2.4 in · 6 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Mid-water and top
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Group
6+
Typical price
$6–12
View full profile

Photo: Raimond Spekking, CC BY-SA 4.0

Showing 16 of 32