Save the Little Fish

Saving the world’s tropical fish, one tank at a time.

Sign in

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.

EndangeredRarePopularPeaceful✓ Small (6 cm or less)Calm waterStrong flowSchoolingL-numbers✓ With photo Basic profiles too
Showing: Rarity: Pet-store staple ✕

Pet-store staple 25 fish

Amano shrimp

Amano shrimp ≈

Shrimp & snails · CaridinaStaple

  • 20–27°C
  • pH 6.5–7.5
  • Gentle
  • 2 in
  • Bottom
  • Veg
  • Peaceful
  • 3+ group

Invertebrate. Many fish will eat it, so choose tank mates with care.

Coastal streams of Japan and Taiwan

Amano shrimp

Caridina multidentata

Coastal streams of Japan and Taiwan · stream

Temperature
20–27°C
pH
6.5–7.5
Adult size
2 in · 5 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Grazer
Group
3+
Typical price
$3–6
Rarity
Pet-store staple

Invertebrate. Many fish will eat it, so choose tank mates with care.

View full profile

Photo: Jolielover, CC BY 4.0

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

Cardinal tetra

Cardinal tetra ≈

Tetras · ParacheirodonStaple

  • 23–29°C
  • pH 4.5–7
  • Calm
  • 1.6 in
  • Mid
  • Mixed
  • Peaceful
  • 6+ group!
Rio Negro and upper Orinoco, Brazil and Venezuela

Cardinal tetra

Paracheirodon axelrodi

Rio Negro and upper Orinoco, Brazil and Venezuela · blackwater stream

Temperature
23–29°C
pH
4.5–7
Adult size
1.6 in · 4 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Mid-water
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Group
6+
Typical price
$3–7
Rarity
Pet-store staple
View full profile

Photo: Paolo Neo, Public domain

Celestial pearl danio

Celestial pearl danio ≈

Rasboras & danios · DanioStaple

  • 20–26°C
  • pH 6.5–7.5
  • Calm
  • 1 in
  • Mid/bottom
  • Mixed
  • Peaceful
  • 6+ group!
Spring-fed ponds, Shan Plateau, Myanmar

Celestial pearl danio

Danio margaritatus

Spring-fed ponds, Shan Plateau, Myanmar · pond

Temperature
20–26°C
pH
6.5–7.5
Adult size
1 in · 2.5 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Mid-water and bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Group
6+
Typical price
$4–7
Rarity
Pet-store staple
View full profile

Photo: Cisamarc, CC BY-SA 3.0

Cherry barb

Cherry barb ≈

Barbs · PuntiusStaple

  • 23–27°C
  • pH 6–7.5
  • Calm
  • 2 in
  • Mid/bottom
  • Mixed
  • Peaceful
  • 6+ group!
Shaded forest streams, Sri Lanka

Cherry barb

Puntius titteya

Shaded forest streams, Sri Lanka · stream

Temperature
23–27°C
pH
6–7.5
Adult size
2 in · 5 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Mid-water and bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Group
6+
Typical price
$3–5
Rarity
Pet-store staple
View full profile

Photo: NasserHalaweh, CC BY-SA 4.0

Cherry shrimp

Cherry shrimp ≈

Shrimp & snails · NeocaridinaStaple

  • 18–26°C
  • pH 6.5–8
  • Calm
  • 1 in
  • Bottom
  • Veg
  • Peaceful
  • 10+ group!

Invertebrate. Many fish will eat it, so choose tank mates with care.

Streams of Taiwan and eastern China

Cherry shrimp

Neocaridina davidi

Streams of Taiwan and eastern China · stream

Temperature
18–26°C
pH
6.5–8
Adult size
1 in · 2.5 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Grazer
Group
10+
Typical price
$2–5
Rarity
Pet-store staple

Invertebrate. Many fish will eat it, so choose tank mates with care.

View full profile

Photo: TonyZimbinski, CC BY-SA 4.0

Chili rasbora

Chili rasbora ≈

Rasboras & danios · BorarasStaple

  • 20–28°C
  • pH 4–7
  • Calm
  • 0.8 in
  • Mid
  • Mixed
  • Peaceful
  • 8+ group!
Peat swamps of southwest Borneo

Chili rasbora

Boraras brigittae

Peat swamps of southwest Borneo · swamp or paddy

Temperature
20–28°C
pH
4–7
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: Daiju Azuma, CC BY-SA 4.0

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

Endler's livebearer

Endler's livebearer ≈

Livebearers · PoeciliaStaple

  • 24–28°C
  • pH 7–8.5
  • Calm
  • 1.2 in
  • Top/mid
  • Mixed
  • Peaceful
  • 3+ group
Laguna de los Patos, Venezuela

Endler's livebearer

Poecilia wingei

Laguna de los Patos, Venezuela · lake

Temperature
24–28°C
pH
7–8.5
Adult size
1.2 in · 3 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Top and mid-water
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Group
3+
Typical price
$3–6
Rarity
Pet-store staple
View full profile

Photo: Dgrummon, 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

Guppy

Guppy ≈

Livebearers · PoeciliaStaple

  • 22–28°C
  • pH 7–8.5
  • Calm
  • 2 in
  • Top/mid
  • Mixed
  • Peaceful
  • 3+ group

Long fins. Fin nippers will pick on it.

Trinidad and northern Venezuela

Guppy

Poecilia reticulata

Trinidad and northern Venezuela · stream

Temperature
22–28°C
pH
7–8.5
Adult size
2 in · 5 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Top and mid-water
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Group
3+
Typical price
$2–8
Rarity
Pet-store staple

Long fins. Fin nippers will pick on it.

View full profile

Photo: Holger Krisp, CC BY 3.0

Harlequin rasbora

Harlequin rasbora ≈

Rasboras & danios · TrigonostigmaStaple

  • 22–28°C
  • pH 5–7.5
  • Calm
  • 1.8 in
  • Mid
  • Mixed
  • Peaceful
  • 8+ group!
Peat swamp streams, Malay Peninsula and Sumatra

Harlequin rasbora

Trigonostigma heteromorpha

Peat swamp streams, Malay Peninsula and Sumatra · swamp or paddy

Temperature
22–28°C
pH
5–7.5
Adult size
1.8 in · 4.5 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Mid-water
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Group
8+
Typical price
$3–5
Rarity
Pet-store staple
View full profile

Photo: NasserHalaweh, CC BY-SA 4.0

Honey gourami

Honey gourami ≈

Gouramis & bettas · TrichogasterStaple

  • 22–28°C
  • pH 6–7.5
  • Calm
  • 2 in
  • Top/mid
  • Mixed
  • Peaceful
  • 2+ group
Ponds and ditches of India and Bangladesh

Honey gourami

Trichogaster chuna

Ponds and ditches of India and Bangladesh · pond

Temperature
22–28°C
pH
6–7.5
Adult size
2 in · 5 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Top and mid-water
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Group
2+
Typical price
$5–9
Rarity
Pet-store staple
View full profile

Photo: Vincent Lim Show Chen, 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

Marbled hatchetfish

Marbled hatchetfish ≈

Tetras · CarnegiellaStaple

  • 24–28°C
  • pH 5.5–7
  • Calm
  • 1.4 in
  • Top
  • Meat
  • Peaceful
  • 6+ group!

Jumper. Keep a tight lid on the tank.

Amazon basin, Peru and Brazil

Marbled hatchetfish

Carnegiella strigata

Amazon basin, Peru and Brazil · blackwater stream

Temperature
24–28°C
pH
5.5–7
Adult size
1.4 in · 3.5 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Top
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Carnivore
Group
6+
Typical price
$4–8
Rarity
Pet-store staple

Jumper. Keep a tight lid on the tank.

View full profile

Photo: SOK, CC BY-SA 4.0

Neon tetra

Neon tetra ≈

Tetras · ParacheirodonStaple

  • 20–26°C
  • pH 5–7
  • Calm
  • 1.4 in
  • Mid
  • Mixed
  • Peaceful
  • 6+ group!
Upper Amazon basin: Peru, Colombia, Brazil

Neon tetra

Paracheirodon innesi

Upper Amazon basin: Peru, Colombia, Brazil · blackwater stream

Temperature
20–26°C
pH
5–7
Adult size
1.4 in · 3.5 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Mid-water
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Group
6+
Typical price
$2–5
Rarity
Pet-store staple
View full profile

Photo: Holger Krisp, CC BY 3.0

Showing 16 of 25