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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.

EndangeredRare✓ PopularPeacefulSmall (6 cm or less)Calm waterStrong flow✓ SchoolingL-numbersWith photo Basic profiles too
Showing: Home water: River ✕

River 9 fish

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

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

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

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

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
View full profile

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
View full profile

Photo: AquaTuer, CC BY-SA 4.0

Rosy barb

Rosy barb ≈

Barbs · PethiaStaple

  • 18–25°C
  • pH 6–8
  • Gentle
  • 4 in
  • Mid
  • Mixed
  • Peaceful
  • 6+ group!
Rivers of northern India

Rosy barb

Pethia conchonius

Rivers of northern India · river

Temperature
18–25°C
pH
6–8
Adult size
4 in · 10 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Mid-water
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Group
6+
Typical price
$3–6
Rarity
Pet-store staple
View full profile

Photo: Usien, CC0

Serpae tetra

Serpae tetra ≈

Tetras · HyphessobryconStaple

  • 22–28°C
  • pH 5.5–7.5
  • Calm
  • 1.8 in
  • Mid
  • Mixed
  • Semi-agg.!
  • 6+ group!

Fin nipper. Keep it away from long-finned fish.

Amazon and Paraguay basins

Serpae tetra

Hyphessobrycon eques

Amazon and Paraguay basins · river

Temperature
22–28°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Adult size
1.8 in · 4.5 cm
Flow
Calm
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: Douglas Lopes, CC BY 4.0

Sterba's corydoras

Sterba's corydoras ≈

Corydoras · Corydoras

  • 24–29°C
  • pH 6–7.6
  • Gentle
  • 2.8 in
  • Bottom
  • Mixed
  • Peaceful
  • 6+ group!
Rio Guaporé, Brazil and Bolivia

Sterba's corydoras

Corydoras sterbai

Rio Guaporé, Brazil and Bolivia · river

Temperature
24–29°C
pH
6–7.6
Adult size
2.8 in · 7 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Group
6+
Typical price
$6–12
View full profile

Photo: Matthew Mannell, Public domain

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