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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.

EndangeredRarePopularPeacefulSmall (6 cm or less)✓ Calm waterStrong flowSchoolingL-numbersWith photo Basic profiles too

The fishes 34 fish · new every day

Red lizard whiptail

L010a
Red lizard whiptail ≈

Plecos · RineloricariaStaple

  • 22–27°C
  • pH 5.5–7.5
  • Calm
  • 5 in
  • Bottom
  • Mixed
  • Peaceful

Lays eggs in the open, and the male guards them where you can watch.

Aquarium-bred colour strain

Red lizard whiptail

L010a

Aquarium-bred colour strain · river

Temperature
22–27°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Adult size
5 in · 12 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Breeding
Easy
Typical price
$10–25
In Canada
Common
Rarity
Pet-store staple

Lays eggs in the open, and the male guards them where you can watch. Prefers cooler water.

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Photo: Kaden Slone, CC BY 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
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Photo: Dgrummon, CC BY-SA 4.0

Angelfish

Angelfish ≈

Cichlids · Pterophyllum

  • 24–30°C
  • pH 6–7.5
  • Calm
  • 6 in
  • Mid
  • Mixed
  • Semi-agg.!

Predator. Eats any fish that fits in its mouth.

Flooded forests of the Amazon basin

Angelfish

Pterophyllum scalare

Flooded forests of the Amazon basin · flooded forest

Temperature
24–30°C
pH
6–7.5
Adult size
6 in · 15 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Mid-water
Temperament
Semi-aggressive
Diet
Omnivore
Group
1+
Typical price
$8–30

Predator. Eats any fish that fits in its mouth.

Long fins. Fin nippers will pick on it.

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Photo: Rjcastillo, CC BY 4.0

Kuhli loach

Kuhli loach ≈

Loaches · PangioStaple

  • 24–29°C
  • pH 5.5–7
  • Calm
  • 4 in
  • Bottom
  • Mixed
  • Peaceful
  • 5+ group
Peat swamp streams of Malaysia and Indonesia

Kuhli loach

Pangio kuhlii

Peat swamp streams of Malaysia and Indonesia · swamp or paddy

Temperature
24–29°C
pH
5.5–7
Adult size
4 in · 9 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Group
5+
Typical price
$4–8
Rarity
Pet-store staple
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Photo: Robert Mollik, CC BY-SA 4.0

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
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Photo: NasserHalaweh, CC BY-SA 4.0

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.

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Photo: SOK, CC BY-SA 4.0

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
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Photo: Waugsberg, CC BY 2.5

Goldfish

Goldfish ≈

Goldfish · Carassius

  • 10–24°C!
  • pH 7–8
  • Calm
  • 8 in!
  • Mid/bottom
  • Mixed
  • Peaceful
  • 2+ group
Domesticated in China from wild carp

Goldfish

Carassius auratus

Domesticated in China from wild carp · pond

Temperature
10–24°C
pH
7–8
Adult size
8 in · 20 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Mid-water and bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Group
2+
Typical price
$2–30
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Photo: IssamBarhoumi, CC BY-SA 4.0

Cockatoo dwarf cichlid

Cockatoo dwarf cichlid ≈

Cichlids · Apistogramma

  • 24–29°C
  • pH 6–7.5
  • Calm
  • 3 in
  • Bottom
  • Meat
  • Territorial!
Streams of the upper Amazon, Peru

Cockatoo dwarf cichlid

Apistogramma cacatuoides

Streams of the upper Amazon, Peru · stream

Temperature
24–29°C
pH
6–7.5
Adult size
3 in · 8 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Territorial
Diet
Carnivore
Group
1+
Typical price
$15–30
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Photo: Redspider, CC BY-SA 3.0

Serpae tetra

Serpae tetra ≈

Tetras · HyphessobryconStaple

  • 22–28°C
  • pH 5.5–7.5
  • Calm
  • 1.8 in
  • Mid
  • Mixed
  • Semi-agg.!
  • 6+ group!

Fin nipper. Keep it away from long-finned fish.

Amazon and Paraguay basins

Serpae tetra

Hyphessobrycon eques

Amazon and Paraguay basins · river

Temperature
22–28°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Adult size
1.8 in · 4.5 cm
Flow
Calm
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.

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Photo: Douglas Lopes, CC BY 4.0

Pea puffer

Pea puffer ≈

Other fish · Carinotetraodon

  • 24–28°C
  • pH 7–8
  • Calm
  • 1 in
  • Mid
  • Meat
  • Aggressive!

Fin nipper. Keep it away from long-finned fish.

Rivers of Kerala, southwest India

Pea puffer

Carinotetraodon travancoricus

Rivers of Kerala, southwest India · river

Temperature
24–28°C
pH
7–8
Adult size
1 in · 2.5 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Mid-water
Temperament
Aggressive
Diet
Carnivore
Group
1+
Typical price
$6–12

Fin nipper. Keep it away from long-finned fish.

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Photo: 5snake5, CC0

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.

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Photo: Holger Krisp, CC BY 3.0

Bolivian ram

Bolivian ram ≈

Cichlids · Mikrogeophagus

  • 22–28°C
  • pH 6–7.5
  • Calm
  • 3 in
  • Bottom/mid
  • Mixed
  • Peaceful
  • 2+ group
Mamoré and Guaporé basins, Bolivia and Brazil

Bolivian ram

Mikrogeophagus altispinosus

Mamoré and Guaporé basins, Bolivia and Brazil · river

Temperature
22–28°C
pH
6–7.5
Adult size
3 in · 8 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Bottom and mid-water
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Group
2+
Typical price
$10–18
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Photo: Corpse89, CC BY-SA 3.0

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.

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Photo: TonyZimbinski, CC BY-SA 4.0

Discus

Discus ≈

Cichlids · Symphysodon

  • 28–31°C!
  • pH 5–7
  • Calm
  • 7 in
  • Mid
  • Meat
  • Peaceful
  • 5+ group
Floodplain lakes of the Amazon basin

Discus

Symphysodon aequifasciatus

Floodplain lakes of the Amazon basin · flooded forest

Temperature
28–31°C
pH
5–7
Adult size
7 in · 18 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Mid-water
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Carnivore
Group
5+
Typical price
$60–200
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Photo: H. Zell, CC BY-SA 3.0

Pearl gourami

Pearl gourami ≈

Gouramis & bettas · Trichopodus

  • 24–28°C
  • pH 6–7.5
  • Calm
  • 5 in
  • Top/mid
  • Mixed
  • Peaceful

Long fins. Fin nippers will pick on it.

Peat swamps of Malaysia, Sumatra and Borneo

Pearl gourami

Trichopodus leerii

Peat swamps of Malaysia, Sumatra and Borneo · swamp or paddy

Temperature
24–28°C
pH
6–7.5
Adult size
5 in · 12 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Top and mid-water
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Group
1+
Typical price
$7–14

Long fins. Fin nippers will pick on it.

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Photo: BEDO (Thailand), CC BY-SA 4.0

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