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.

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

Showing: Rarity: Rare or hard to breed ✕

Rare or hard to breed 5 fish

Gold spot pleco

L001

≈

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.

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

Red-fin cactus

L024

≈

Plecos · PseudacanthicusRare

26–30°C
pH 5.5–7.5
Strong!
16 in!
Bottom
Meat
Aggressive!

Dark body with red fin edges.

Red-fin cactus

L024

Pseudacanthicus pitanga

Rio Tocantins, Brazil · rapids

Temperature: 26–30°C
pH: 5.5–7.5
Adult size: 16 in · 40 cm
Flow: Strong
Swims: Bottom
Temperament: Aggressive
Diet: Carnivore
Breeding: Rarely
Typical price: $130–400
In Canada: Rare
Rarity: Rare or hard to breed

Dark body with red fin edges. Large and aggressive.

View full profile

Photo: B. Phalan, CC BY 4.0

Gold nugget

L081

≈

Plecos · BaryancistrusRare

27–30°C!
pH 5.5–7.5
Strong!
8 in!
Bottom
Mixed
Territorial!

Black with yellow spots and gold fin edges.

Gold nugget

L081

Baryancistrus xanthellus

Rio Xingu, and the Rio Iriri for L177 · rapids

Temperature: 27–30°C
pH: 5.5–7.5
Adult size: 8 in · 20 cm
Flow: Strong
Swims: Bottom
Temperament: Territorial
Diet: Omnivore
Breeding: Hard
Typical price: $60–250
In Canada: Occasional
Rarity: Rare or hard to breed

Black with yellow spots and gold fin edges. Grows larger than Hypancistrus and holds a territory.

View full profile

Photo: Anne Blindheim, CC BY-SA 3.0

Royal pleco

L190

≈

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.

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

Guyana leopard cactus

L600

≈

Plecos · PseudacanthicusRare

26–30°C
pH 5.5–7.5
Strong!
12 in!
Bottom
Meat
Aggressive!

Spotted cactus pleco with orange-edged fins.

Guyana leopard cactus

L600

Pseudacanthicus leopardus

Rupununi and Essequibo, Guyana, and the Rio Branco, Brazil · rapids

Temperature: 26–30°C
pH: 5.5–7.5
Adult size: 12 in · 30 cm
Flow: Strong
Swims: Bottom
Temperament: Aggressive
Diet: Carnivore
Breeding: Rarely
Typical price: $90–300
In Canada: Rare
Rarity: Rare or hard to breed

Spotted cactus pleco with orange-edged fins. Large, spiny and aggressive with other plecos.

View full profile

Photo: Sesamehoneytart, CC BY-SA 3.0

Showing 5 of 5