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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.

EndangeredRare✓ PopularPeacefulSmall (6 cm or less)Calm waterStrong flowSchoolingL-numbers✓ With photo Basic profiles too

The fishes 54 fish · new every day

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.

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Photo: Anne Blindheim, CC BY-SA 3.0

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.

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Photo: Holger Krisp, CC BY 3.0

Rummynose tetra

Rummynose tetra ≈

Tetras · HemigrammusStaple

  • 24–28°C
  • pH 5.5–7
  • Gentle
  • 2 in
  • Mid
  • Mixed
  • Peaceful
  • 8+ group!
Lower Amazon and Rio Negro, Brazil

Rummynose tetra

Hemigrammus rhodostomus

Lower Amazon and Rio Negro, Brazil · blackwater stream

Temperature
24–28°C
pH
5.5–7
Adult size
2 in · 5 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Mid-water
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Group
8+
Typical price
$3–6
Rarity
Pet-store staple
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Photo: Gavinevans, 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

Rosy barb

Rosy barb ≈

Barbs · PethiaStaple

  • 18–25°C
  • pH 6–8
  • Gentle
  • 4 in
  • Mid
  • Mixed
  • Peaceful
  • 6+ group!
Rivers of northern India

Rosy barb

Pethia conchonius

Rivers of northern India · river

Temperature
18–25°C
pH
6–8
Adult size
4 in · 10 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Mid-water
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Group
6+
Typical price
$3–6
Rarity
Pet-store staple
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Photo: Usien, CC0

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

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
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Photo: Holger Krisp, CC BY 3.0

Siamese algae eater

Siamese algae eater ≈

Other fish · CrossocheilusStaple

  • 24–26°C
  • pH 6.5–7
  • Gentle
  • 6 in
  • Bottom/mid
  • Veg
  • Peaceful
  • 3+ group
Streams of Thailand and the Malay Peninsula

Siamese algae eater

Crossocheilus oblongus

Streams of Thailand and the Malay Peninsula · stream

Temperature
24–26°C
pH
6.5–7
Adult size
6 in · 15 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Bottom and mid-water
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Grazer
Group
3+
Typical price
$4–8
Rarity
Pet-store staple
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Photo: User:Ark pl wiki, CC BY 3.0

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
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Photo: h080, CC BY-SA 2.0

Kribensis

Kribensis ≈

Cichlids · Pelvicachromis

  • 24–28°C
  • pH 6–7.5
  • Calm
  • 4 in
  • Bottom/mid
  • Mixed
  • Territorial!
  • 2+ group
Coastal rivers of Nigeria and Cameroon

Kribensis

Pelvicachromis pulcher

Coastal rivers of Nigeria and Cameroon · river

Temperature
24–28°C
pH
6–7.5
Adult size
4 in · 10 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Bottom and mid-water
Temperament
Territorial
Diet
Omnivore
Group
2+
Typical price
$8–15
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Photo: NasserHalaweh, CC BY-SA 4.0

Pygmy corydoras

Pygmy corydoras ≈

Corydoras · CorydorasStaple

  • 22–26°C
  • pH 6–7.5
  • Calm
  • 1 in
  • Bottom
  • Mixed
  • Peaceful
  • 8+ group!
Rio Madeira basin, Brazil

Pygmy corydoras

Corydoras pygmaeus

Rio Madeira basin, Brazil · river

Temperature
22–26°C
pH
6–7.5
Adult size
1 in · 2.5 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Group
8+
Typical price
$4–7
Rarity
Pet-store staple
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Photo: AquaTuer, CC BY-SA 4.0

Bronze corydoras

Bronze corydoras ≈

Corydoras · CorydorasStaple

  • 22–28°C
  • pH 6–8
  • Gentle
  • 2.8 in
  • Bottom
  • Mixed
  • Peaceful
  • 6+ group!
Widespread in South America

Bronze corydoras

Corydoras aeneus

Widespread in South America · stream

Temperature
22–28°C
pH
6–8
Adult size
2.8 in · 7 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Group
6+
Typical price
$3–6
Rarity
Pet-store staple
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Photo: Andrew Keller, CC0

Sparkling gourami

Sparkling gourami ≈

Gouramis & bettas · TrichopsisStaple

  • 24–28°C
  • pH 6–7.5
  • Calm
  • 1.6 in
  • Top/mid
  • Meat
  • Peaceful
  • 4+ group
Rice paddies and ditches of Southeast Asia

Sparkling gourami

Trichopsis pumila

Rice paddies and ditches of Southeast Asia · swamp or paddy

Temperature
24–28°C
pH
6–7.5
Adult size
1.6 in · 4 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Top and mid-water
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Carnivore
Group
4+
Typical price
$4–8
Rarity
Pet-store staple
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Photo: Zikamoi, CC BY-SA 3.0

Gold spot pleco

L001
Gold spot pleco ≈

Plecos · PterygoplichthysRare

  • 24–28°C
  • pH 5.5–7.5
  • Gentle
  • 12 in!
  • Bottom
  • Mixed
  • Peaceful

A sailfin that grows to about 30 cm and makes a lot of waste.

Tocantins–Araguaia basin, Brazil

Gold spot pleco

L001

Pterygoplichthys joselimaianus

Tocantins–Araguaia basin, Brazil · river

Temperature
24–28°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Adult size
12 in · 30 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Breeding
Rarely
Typical price
$15–80
In Canada
Occasional
Rarity
Rare or hard to breed

A sailfin that grows to about 30 cm and makes a lot of waste. Big tanks only.

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Photo: 5snake5, CC BY-SA 4.0

Tiger barb

Tiger barb ≈

Barbs · PuntigrusStaple

  • 21–27°C
  • pH 6–7.5
  • Gentle
  • 2.8 in
  • Mid
  • Mixed
  • Semi-agg.!
  • 6+ group!

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

Sumatra and Borneo

Tiger barb

Puntigrus tetrazona

Sumatra and Borneo · stream

Temperature
21–27°C
pH
6–7.5
Adult size
2.8 in · 7 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.

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Photo: Ingvar-fed, CC BY-SA 3.0

Sterba's corydoras

Sterba's corydoras ≈

Corydoras · Corydoras

  • 24–29°C
  • pH 6–7.6
  • Gentle
  • 2.8 in
  • Bottom
  • Mixed
  • Peaceful
  • 6+ group!
Rio Guaporé, Brazil and Bolivia

Sterba's corydoras

Corydoras sterbai

Rio Guaporé, Brazil and Bolivia · river

Temperature
24–29°C
pH
6–7.6
Adult size
2.8 in · 7 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Group
6+
Typical price
$6–12
View full profile

Photo: Matthew Mannell, Public domain

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