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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-numbersWith photo Basic profiles too
Showing: Home water: River ✕

River 24 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.

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Photo: 5snake5, CC BY-SA 4.0

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

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Photo: Alberto Mejia-Paniagua, CC BY NC SA

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

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.

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Photo: Fish Tank Society, CC BY-SA 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

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

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

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
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Photo: h080, CC BY-SA 2.0

Lemon tetra

Lemon tetra ≈

Tetras · HyphessobryconStaple

  • 23–28°C
  • pH 5.5–7.5
  • Calm
  • 1.8 in
  • Mid
  • Mixed
  • Peaceful
  • 6+ group!
Rio Tapajós basin, Brazil

Lemon tetra

Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis

Rio Tapajós basin, Brazil · river

Temperature
23–28°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Adult size
1.8 in · 4.5 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Mid-water
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Group
6+
Typical price
$3–5
Rarity
Pet-store staple
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Photo: Waugsberg, CC BY 2.5

Pygmy corydoras

Pygmy corydoras ≈

Corydoras · CorydorasStaple

  • 22–26°C
  • pH 6–7.5
  • Calm
  • 1 in
  • Bottom
  • Mixed
  • Peaceful
  • 8+ group!
Rio Madeira basin, Brazil

Pygmy corydoras

Corydoras pygmaeus

Rio Madeira basin, Brazil · river

Temperature
22–26°C
pH
6–7.5
Adult size
1 in · 2.5 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Group
8+
Typical price
$4–7
Rarity
Pet-store staple
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Photo: AquaTuer, CC BY-SA 4.0

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