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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-numbers✓ With photo Basic profiles too
Showing: Family: Cichlids ✕

Cichlids 7 fish

Angelfish

Angelfish ≈

Cichlids · Pterophyllum

  • 24–30°C
  • pH 6–7.5
  • Calm
  • 6 in
  • Mid
  • Mixed
  • Semi-agg.!

Predator. Eats any fish that fits in its mouth.

Flooded forests of the Amazon basin

Angelfish

Pterophyllum scalare

Flooded forests of the Amazon basin · flooded forest

Temperature
24–30°C
pH
6–7.5
Adult size
6 in · 15 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Mid-water
Temperament
Semi-aggressive
Diet
Omnivore
Group
1+
Typical price
$8–30

Predator. Eats any fish that fits in its mouth.

Long fins. Fin nippers will pick on it.

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Photo: Rjcastillo, 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
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Photo: Corpse89, CC BY-SA 3.0

Cockatoo dwarf cichlid

Cockatoo dwarf cichlid ≈

Cichlids · Apistogramma

  • 24–29°C
  • pH 6–7.5
  • Calm
  • 3 in
  • Bottom
  • Meat
  • Territorial!
Streams of the upper Amazon, Peru

Cockatoo dwarf cichlid

Apistogramma cacatuoides

Streams of the upper Amazon, Peru · stream

Temperature
24–29°C
pH
6–7.5
Adult size
3 in · 8 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Territorial
Diet
Carnivore
Group
1+
Typical price
$15–30
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Photo: Redspider, CC BY-SA 3.0

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

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

Kribensis

Kribensis ≈

Cichlids · Pelvicachromis

  • 24–28°C
  • pH 6–7.5
  • Calm
  • 4 in
  • Bottom/mid
  • Mixed
  • Territorial!
  • 2+ group
Coastal rivers of Nigeria and Cameroon

Kribensis

Pelvicachromis pulcher

Coastal rivers of Nigeria and Cameroon · river

Temperature
24–28°C
pH
6–7.5
Adult size
4 in · 10 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Bottom and mid-water
Temperament
Territorial
Diet
Omnivore
Group
2+
Typical price
$8–15
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Photo: NasserHalaweh, 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

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