Save the Little Fish

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

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.

Xingu 3 fish

Zebra

L046
Zebra ≈

Plecos · HypancistrusCR

  • 28–31°C!
  • pH 5.5–7.5
  • Strong!
  • 3 in
  • Bottom
  • Meat
  • Peaceful

Brazil banned wild export, so Canadian stock is tank-bred.

Volta Grande of the Rio Xingu, Brazil

Zebra

L046

Hypancistrus zebra

Volta Grande of the Rio Xingu, Brazil · rapids

Temperature
28–31°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Adult size
3 in · 8 cm
Flow
Strong
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Carnivore
Breeding
Moderate, slow
Typical price
$150–500
In Canada
Occasional
Status in the wild
Critically endangered

Brazil banned wild export, so Canadian stock is tank-bred. Clean, even stripes where L236 are broken and patchy.

Photo: Birger A, CC BY-SA 3.0

Gold nugget

L081
Gold nugget ≈

Plecos · BaryancistrusRare

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

Black with yellow spots and gold fin edges.

Rio Xingu, and the Rio Iriri for L177

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.

Photo: Anne Blindheim, CC BY-SA 3.0

Super white

L236

Plecos · HypancistrusRare

  • 28–31°C!
  • pH 5.5–7.5
  • Strong!
  • 4 in
  • Bottom
  • Meat
  • Peaceful

Grading is by how much white shows, and the whitest fish sell for the most.

Rio Xingu, Pará, Brazil

Super white

L236

Rio Xingu, Pará, Brazil · rapids

Temperature
28–31°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Adult size
4 in · 9 cm
Flow
Strong
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Carnivore
Breeding
Moderate, slow
Typical price
$200–1000
In Canada
Rare
Rarity
Rare or hard to breed

Grading is by how much white shows, and the whitest fish sell for the most. Best at 29–30°C with strong flow and protein-heavy food.

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