Save the Little Fish

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

Sign in

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

Nerite snail

Nerite snail ≈

Shrimp & snails · NeritinaStaple

  • 22–28°C
  • pH 7–8.5
  • Gentle
  • 1 in
  • Bottom
  • Veg
  • Peaceful

Invertebrate. Many fish will eat it, so choose tank mates with care.

East African coastal rivers and estuaries

Nerite snail

Neritina natalensis

East African coastal rivers and estuaries · brackish estuary

Temperature
22–28°C
pH
7–8.5
Adult size
1 in · 2.5 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Grazer
Group
1+
Typical price
$3–6
Rarity
Pet-store staple

Invertebrate. Many fish will eat it, so choose tank mates with care.

View full profile

Photo: Evan Baldonado, CC BY 4.0

Scarlet cactus

L025
Scarlet cactus ≈

Plecos · PseudacanthicusRare

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

Grey with scarlet fins.

Rio Xingu, Brazil

Scarlet cactus

L025

Pseudacanthicus pirarara

Rio Xingu, Brazil · rapids

Temperature
26–30°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Adult size
24 in · 60 cm
Flow
Strong
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Aggressive
Diet
Carnivore
Breeding
Rarely
Typical price
$400–1000
In Canada
Rare
Rarity
Rare or hard to breed

Grey with scarlet fins. Can pass 60 cm, so it needs a tank of its own.

View full profile

Photo: JSutton93, CC BY SA

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.

View full profile

Photo: Douglas Lopes, CC BY 4.0

Leopard frog

L134
Leopard frog ≈

Plecos · PeckoltiaStaple

  • 25–30°C
  • pH 5.5–7.5
  • Gentle
  • 4 in
  • Bottom
  • Mixed
  • Peaceful

Yellow with black saddles.

Rio Tapajós, Brazil

Leopard frog

L134

Peckoltia compta

Rio Tapajós, Brazil · river

Temperature
25–30°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Adult size
4 in · 11 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Breeding
Moderate
Typical price
$30–120
In Canada
Common
Rarity
Pet-store staple

Yellow with black saddles. A different genus from L236, so no hybrid risk in the display.

View full profile

Photo: Frank M Greco, CC BY 3.0

Amano shrimp

Amano shrimp ≈

Shrimp & snails · CaridinaStaple

  • 20–27°C
  • pH 6.5–7.5
  • Gentle
  • 2 in
  • Bottom
  • Veg
  • Peaceful
  • 3+ group

Invertebrate. Many fish will eat it, so choose tank mates with care.

Coastal streams of Japan and Taiwan

Amano shrimp

Caridina multidentata

Coastal streams of Japan and Taiwan · stream

Temperature
20–27°C
pH
6.5–7.5
Adult size
2 in · 5 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Grazer
Group
3+
Typical price
$3–6
Rarity
Pet-store staple

Invertebrate. Many fish will eat it, so choose tank mates with care.

View full profile

Photo: Jolielover, CC BY 4.0

Butterfly hillstream loach

Butterfly hillstream loach ≈

Loaches · Beaufortia

  • 20–24°C!
  • pH 6.5–7.5
  • Strong!
  • 3 in
  • Bottom
  • Veg
  • Peaceful
  • 3+ group
Fast rocky streams of southern China

Butterfly hillstream loach

Beaufortia kweichowensis

Fast rocky streams of southern China · rapids

Temperature
20–24°C
pH
6.5–7.5
Adult size
3 in · 8 cm
Flow
Strong
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Grazer
Group
3+
Typical price
$10–18
View full profile

Photo: Lerdsuwa, CC BY-SA 3.0

Blue phantom

L128
Blue phantom ≈

Plecos · HemiancistrusRare

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

Blue-grey with fine white dots.

Upper Orinoco, Venezuela

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.

View full profile

Photo: EnjiBenji, CC0

Blue-eye lemon bristlenose

L144
Blue-eye lemon bristlenose ≈

Plecos · AncistrusStaple

  • 22–28°C
  • pH 5.5–7.5
  • Gentle
  • 5 in
  • Bottom
  • Mixed
  • Peaceful

Yellow bristlenose with blue eyes.

Aquarium-bred strain. Its wild origin isn’t well documented.

Blue-eye lemon bristlenose

L144

Aquarium-bred strain. Its wild origin isn’t well documented. · river

Temperature
22–28°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Adult size
5 in · 12 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Breeding
Easy
Typical price
$10–35
In Canada
Common
Rarity
Pet-store staple

Yellow bristlenose with blue eyes. Easy and cheap, but happier below 28°C. L144a is the longfin form.

View full profile

Photo: Corydoras-adolfoi, CC BY-SA 4.0

White cloud mountain minnow

White cloud mountain minnow ≈

Rasboras & danios · TanichthysStaple

  • 14–22°C!
  • pH 6–8
  • Gentle
  • 1.6 in
  • Top/mid
  • Mixed
  • Peaceful
  • 6+ group!
Mountain streams near Guangzhou, China

White cloud mountain minnow

Tanichthys albonubes

Mountain streams near Guangzhou, China · stream

Temperature
14–22°C
pH
6–8
Adult size
1.6 in · 4 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Top and mid-water
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Group
6+
Typical price
$2–4
Rarity
Pet-store staple
View full profile

Photo: Ethmostigmus, CC BY-SA 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.

View full profile

Photo: 5snake5, CC0

Guyana leopard cactus

L600
Guyana leopard cactus ≈

Plecos · PseudacanthicusRare

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

Spotted cactus pleco with orange-edged fins.

Rupununi and Essequibo, Guyana, and the Rio Branco, Brazil

Guyana leopard cactus

L600

Pseudacanthicus leopardus

Rupununi and Essequibo, Guyana, and the Rio Branco, Brazil · rapids

Temperature
26–30°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Adult size
12 in · 30 cm
Flow
Strong
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Aggressive
Diet
Carnivore
Breeding
Rarely
Typical price
$90–300
In Canada
Rare
Rarity
Rare or hard to breed

Spotted cactus pleco with orange-edged fins. Large, spiny and aggressive with other plecos.

View full profile

Photo: Sesamehoneytart, 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.

View full profile

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.

View full profile

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
View full profile

Photo: Corpse89, CC BY-SA 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
View full profile

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.

View full profile

Photo: TonyZimbinski, CC BY-SA 4.0

Showing 32 of 75