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: Uncommon ✕

Uncommon 8 fish

Starlight bristlenose

L183

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Plecos · AncistrusUncommon

23–28°C
pH 5.5–7.5
Gentle
6 in
Bottom
Mixed
Peaceful

Black with white stars and white fin edges.

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

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Plecos · PanaqolusUncommon

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

White vermiculation with orange-red fin edges.

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

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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.

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

Queen arabesque

L260

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Plecos · HypancistrusUncommon

27–30°C!
pH 5.5–7.5
Strong!
4 in
Bottom
Meat
Peaceful

Fine white maze lines on black.

Queen arabesque

L260

Rio Tapajós, Brazil · rapids

Temperature: 27–30°C
pH: 5.5–7.5
Adult size: 4 in · 11 cm
Flow: Strong
Swims: Bottom
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet: Carnivore
Breeding: Moderate
Typical price: $60–150
In Canada: Occasional
Rarity: Uncommon

Fine white maze lines on black. One of the most refined patterns in the genus.

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Mega clown

L340

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Plecos · HypancistrusUncommon

27–30°C!
pH 5.5–7.5
Strong!
5 in
Bottom
Meat
Peaceful

Thick, irregular white bands on black, like a coarse zebra.

Mega clown

L340

Tapajós basin, Brazil · rapids

Temperature: 27–30°C
pH: 5.5–7.5
Adult size: 5 in · 12 cm
Flow: Strong
Swims: Bottom
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet: Carnivore
Breeding: Moderate
Typical price: $40–120
In Canada: Occasional
Rarity: Uncommon

Thick, irregular white bands on black, like a coarse zebra.

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Tankei tiger

L398

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Plecos · PanaqolusUncommon

25–29°C
pH 5.5–7.5
Gentle
4 in
Bottom
Wood!
Peaceful

A small banded wood-eater.

Tankei tiger

L398

Panaqolus tankei

Rio Xingu, Brazil · river

Temperature: 25–29°C
pH: 5.5–7.5
Adult size: 4 in · 10 cm
Flow: Gentle
Swims: Bottom
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet: Wood
Breeding: Moderate
Typical price: $30–60
In Canada: Occasional
Rarity: Uncommon

A small banded wood-eater. Add driftwood and vegetables.

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Rio Curuá pleco

L401

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Plecos · HypancistrusUncommon

26–30°C
pH 5.5–7.5
Strong!
4 in
Bottom
Meat
Peaceful

Dark with a golden net pattern.

Rio Curuá pleco

L401

Rio Curuá, Iriri–Xingu basin, Brazil · rapids

Temperature: 26–30°C
pH: 5.5–7.5
Adult size: 4 in · 11 cm
Flow: Strong
Swims: Bottom
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet: Carnivore
Breeding: Moderate
Typical price: $50–100
In Canada: Occasional
Rarity: Uncommon

Dark with a golden net pattern. It can cross with L236, so only mix them in a tank you won’t sell fry from.

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Honeycomb bristlenose

L519

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Plecos · AncistrusUncommon

23–28°C
pH 5.5–7.5
Gentle
5 in
Bottom
Mixed
Peaceful

A honeycomb-patterned bristlenose that Canadian hobbyists breed.

Honeycomb bristlenose

L519

Rio Guaporé (Itenez), Bolivia–Brazil border · river

Temperature: 23–28°C
pH: 5.5–7.5
Adult size: 5 in · 12 cm
Flow: Gentle
Swims: Bottom
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet: Omnivore
Breeding: Easy
Typical price: $30–60
In Canada: Occasional
Rarity: Uncommon

A honeycomb-patterned bristlenose that Canadian hobbyists breed. Easy, but it prefers water a little cooler than L236.

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