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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-numbers✓ With photo Basic profiles too

The fishes 75 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

Green phantom

L200
Green phantom ≈

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.

Upper Orinoco and Ventuari, Venezuela

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

Clown loach

Clown loach ≈

Loaches · Chromobotia

  • 25–30°C
  • pH 6–7.5
  • Gentle
  • 12 in!
  • Bottom
  • Mixed
  • Peaceful
  • 5+ group
Rivers of Borneo and Sumatra

Clown loach

Chromobotia macracanthus

Rivers of Borneo and Sumatra · river

Temperature
25–30°C
pH
6–7.5
Adult size
12 in · 30 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Group
5+
Typical price
$8–20
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Photo: Tommy Kronkvist, CC BY-SA 4.0

Leopard cactus

L114
Leopard cactus ≈

Plecos · PseudacanthicusRare

  • 26–30°C
  • pH 5.5–7.5
  • Strong!
  • 14 in!
  • Bottom
  • Meat
  • Aggressive!

Cream with bold black spots and a spiny body.

Pará, Brazil. Sources differ on the exact river.

Leopard cactus

L114

Pará, Brazil. Sources differ on the exact river. · rapids

Temperature
26–30°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Adult size
14 in · 35 cm
Flow
Strong
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Aggressive
Diet
Carnivore
Breeding
Rarely
Typical price
$250–800
In Canada
Rare
Rarity
Rare or hard to breed

Cream with bold black spots and a spiny body. Grows to about 35 cm and is aggressive.

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Photo: Whaldener Endo, CC0

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

Sunshine pleco

L014
Sunshine pleco ≈

Plecos · ScobinancistrusRare

  • 27–31°C!
  • pH 5.5–7.5
  • Strong!
  • 12 in!
  • Bottom
  • Meat
  • Territorial!

Yellow spots and orange fin edges.

Rio Xingu, Brazil

Sunshine pleco

L014

Scobinancistrus aureatus

Rio Xingu, Brazil · rapids

Temperature
27–31°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Adult size
12 in · 30 cm
Flow
Strong
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Territorial
Diet
Carnivore
Breeding
Rarely
Typical price
$150–400
In Canada
Rare
Rarity
Rare or hard to breed

Yellow spots and orange fin edges. A big snail-eater that needs a large tank.

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Photo: Gabriel Lelis Togni, CC BY 3.0

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

Royal pleco

L190
Royal pleco ≈

Plecos · PanaqueRare

  • 24–29°C
  • pH 5.5–7.5
  • Gentle
  • 16 in!
  • Bottom
  • Wood!
  • Territorial!

Red eyes and pinstripes, but it grows to about 40 cm and eats a lot of wood.

Orinoco basin, Colombia and Venezuela

Royal pleco

L190

Panaque nigrolineatus

Orinoco basin, Colombia and Venezuela · river

Temperature
24–29°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Adult size
16 in · 40 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Territorial
Diet
Wood
Breeding
Rarely
Typical price
$50–200
In Canada
Common
Rarity
Rare or hard to breed

Red eyes and pinstripes, but it grows to about 40 cm and eats a lot of wood.

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Photo: Neale Monks, CC BY-SA 3.0

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

Sultan

L264
Sultan ≈

Plecos · LeporacanthicusRare

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

White spots and white-tipped fins on black.

Rio Tapajós, Brazil

Sultan

L264

Leporacanthicus joselimai

Rio Tapajós, Brazil · 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

White spots and white-tipped fins on black. Grows to about 20 cm and holds a cave firmly.

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Photo: Thomas Siems, CC BY-SA 2.0

Swordtail

Swordtail ≈

Livebearers · XiphophorusStaple

  • 22–28°C
  • pH 7–8.3
  • Gentle
  • 5 in
  • Mid/top
  • Mixed
  • Semi-agg.!
  • 3+ group
Rivers of Mexico and Central America

Swordtail

Xiphophorus hellerii

Rivers of Mexico and Central America · river

Temperature
22–28°C
pH
7–8.3
Adult size
5 in · 12 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Mid-water and top
Temperament
Semi-aggressive
Diet
Omnivore
Group
3+
Typical price
$3–7
Rarity
Pet-store staple
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Photo: Wojciech J. Płuciennik, CC BY-SA 4.0

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