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: River & region: Orinoco ✕

Orinoco 5 fish

Blue phantom

L128

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Plecos · HemiancistrusRare

26–30°C
pH 5.5–7.5
Strong!
8 in!
Bottom
Mixed
Territorial!

Blue-grey with fine white dots.

Blue phantom

L128

Upper Orinoco, Venezuela · rapids

Temperature: 26–30°C
pH: 5.5–7.5
Adult size: 8 in · 20 cm
Flow: Strong
Swims: Bottom
Temperament: Territorial
Diet: Omnivore
Breeding: Moderate–hard
Typical price: $80–200
In Canada: Occasional
Rarity: Rare or hard to breed

Blue-grey with fine white dots. Grows larger than it looks in the store.

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Photo: EnjiBenji, CC0

Green phantom

L200

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Plecos · HemiancistrusUncommon

26–30°C
pH 5.5–7.5
Strong!
7 in
Bottom
Mixed
Territorial!

Olive-green with yellow dots, a colour nothing else in the tank has.

Green phantom

L200

Hemiancistrus subviridis

Upper Orinoco and Ventuari, Venezuela · rapids

Temperature: 26–30°C
pH: 5.5–7.5
Adult size: 7 in · 18 cm
Flow: Strong
Swims: Bottom
Temperament: Territorial
Diet: Omnivore
Breeding: Moderate
Typical price: $60–150
In Canada: Occasional
Rarity: Uncommon

Olive-green with yellow dots, a colour nothing else in the tank has. Grazes algae and likes strong flow.

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Photo: Anne Blindheim, CC BY SA

Hi-fin green phantom

L200hf

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Plecos · BaryancistrusRare

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

The hi-fin version, with a tall dorsal.

Hi-fin green phantom

L200hf

Baryancistrus demantoides

Upper Orinoco and Ventuari, Venezuela · rapids

Temperature: 27–30°C
pH: 5.5–7.5
Adult size: 6 in · 16 cm
Flow: Strong
Swims: Bottom
Temperament: Territorial
Diet: Omnivore
Breeding: Hard
Typical price: $100–250
In Canada: Rare
Rarity: Rare or hard to breed

The hi-fin version, with a tall dorsal. Territorial, and rarely bred.

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Photo: Anne Blindheim, CC BY-SA 3.0

Orinoco angel

L201

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Plecos · HypancistrusStaple

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

Crisp white dots and white fin edges.

Orinoco angel

L201

Hypancistrus contradens

Middle Orinoco, Venezuela · rapids

Temperature: 26–30°C
pH: 5.5–7.5
Adult size: 5 in · 12 cm
Flow: Strong
Swims: Bottom
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet: Carnivore
Breeding: Easy
Typical price: $25–60
In Canada: Common
Rarity: Pet-store staple

Crisp white dots and white fin edges. A classic first Hypancistrus.

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Photo: thepigeongirl, CC BY NC

Three-beacon vampire

L091

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Plecos · LeporacanthicusRare

26–30°C
pH 5.5–7.5
Strong!
8 in!
Bottom
Meat
Territorial!

Eats snails and holds a cave firmly.

Three-beacon vampire

L091

Leporacanthicus triactis

Orinoco, Venezuela · rapids

Temperature: 26–30°C
pH: 5.5–7.5
Adult size: 8 in · 20 cm
Flow: Strong
Swims: Bottom
Temperament: Territorial
Diet: Carnivore
Breeding: Hard
Typical price: $60–150
In Canada: Occasional
Rarity: Rare or hard to breed

Eats snails and holds a cave firmly. Can be rough with smaller plecos.

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