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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 flowSchooling✓ L-numbersWith photo Basic profiles too

The fishes 37 fish · new every day

Flash pleco

L204
Flash pleco ≈

Plecos · PanaqolusUncommon

  • 24–28°C
  • pH 5.5–7.5
  • Gentle
  • 4 in
  • Bottom
  • Wood!
  • Peaceful

White vermiculation with orange-red fin edges.

Peruvian Amazon

Flash pleco

L204

Panaqolus albivermis

Peruvian Amazon · river

Temperature
24–28°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Adult size
4 in · 11 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Wood
Breeding
Moderate
Typical price
$50–100
In Canada
Occasional
Rarity
Uncommon

White vermiculation with orange-red fin edges. A wood-eater, so add driftwood and vegetables.

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Photo: Hantanplan, CC0

Honeycomb bristlenose

L519
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Plecos · AncistrusUncommon

  • 23–28°C
  • pH 5.5–7.5
  • Gentle
  • 5 in
  • Bottom
  • Mixed
  • Peaceful

A honeycomb-patterned bristlenose that Canadian hobbyists breed.

Rio Guaporé (Itenez), Bolivia–Brazil border

Honeycomb bristlenose

L519

Rio Guaporé (Itenez), Bolivia–Brazil border · river

Temperature
23–28°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Adult size
5 in · 12 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Breeding
Easy
Typical price
$30–60
In Canada
Occasional
Rarity
Uncommon

A honeycomb-patterned bristlenose that Canadian hobbyists breed. Easy, but it prefers water a little cooler than L236.

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Tankei tiger

L398
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Plecos · PanaqolusUncommon

  • 25–29°C
  • pH 5.5–7.5
  • Gentle
  • 4 in
  • Bottom
  • Wood!
  • Peaceful

A small banded wood-eater.

Rio Xingu, Brazil

Tankei tiger

L398

Panaqolus tankei

Rio Xingu, Brazil · river

Temperature
25–29°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Adult size
4 in · 10 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Wood
Breeding
Moderate
Typical price
$30–60
In Canada
Occasional
Rarity
Uncommon

A small banded wood-eater. Add driftwood and vegetables.

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Spotted orange seam pleco

L106
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Plecos · Hemiancistrus

  • 26–30°C
  • pH 5.5–7.5
  • Bottom
  • Mixed
Rio Negro, Orinoco and Ventuari, Brazil and Venezuela

Spotted orange seam pleco

L106

Hemiancistrus guahiborum

Rio Negro, Orinoco and Ventuari, Brazil and Venezuela · river

Temperature
26–30°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Swims
Bottom
Diet
Omnivore
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King tiger

L066
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Plecos · HypancistrusStaple

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

Bold cream worm-lines on black.

Rio Xingu, Brazil

King tiger

L066

Rio Xingu, Brazil · 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
$40–80
In Canada
Common
Rarity
Pet-store staple

Bold cream worm-lines on black. Every fish is different, and it breeds readily.

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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.

Orinoco, Venezuela

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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Mega clown

L340
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Plecos · HypancistrusUncommon

  • 27–30°C!
  • pH 5.5–7.5
  • Strong!
  • 5 in
  • Bottom
  • Meat
  • Peaceful

Thick, irregular white bands on black, like a coarse zebra.

Tapajós basin, Brazil

Mega clown

L340

Tapajós basin, Brazil · rapids

Temperature
27–30°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Adult size
5 in · 12 cm
Flow
Strong
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Carnivore
Breeding
Moderate
Typical price
$40–120
In Canada
Occasional
Rarity
Uncommon

Thick, irregular white bands on black, like a coarse zebra.

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King tiger (Xingu)

L333
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Plecos · HypancistrusStaple

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

Yellow-cream maze that changes from fish to fish.

Rio Xingu and Rio Iriri, Brazil

King tiger (Xingu)

L333

Hypancistrus seideli

Rio Xingu and Rio Iriri, Brazil · rapids

Temperature
26–30°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Adult size
5 in · 13 cm
Flow
Strong
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Carnivore
Breeding
Easy
Typical price
$40–150
In Canada
Common
Rarity
Pet-store staple

Yellow-cream maze that changes from fish to fish. High-grade fish cost more. Very productive, so fry are easy to rehome.

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Queen arabesque

L260
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Plecos · HypancistrusUncommon

  • 27–30°C!
  • pH 5.5–7.5
  • Strong!
  • 4 in
  • Bottom
  • Meat
  • Peaceful

Fine white maze lines on black.

Rio Tapajós, Brazil

Queen arabesque

L260

Rio Tapajós, Brazil · rapids

Temperature
27–30°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Adult size
4 in · 11 cm
Flow
Strong
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Carnivore
Breeding
Moderate
Typical price
$60–150
In Canada
Occasional
Rarity
Uncommon

Fine white maze lines on black. One of the most refined patterns in the genus.

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Butterfly pleco

L168
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Plecos · Dekeyseria

  • 25–29°C
  • pH 5.5–7.5
  • Bottom
  • Mixed
Rio Negro and Orinoco, Brazil and Venezuela

Butterfly pleco

L168

Dekeyseria brachyura

Rio Negro and Orinoco, Brazil and Venezuela · river

Temperature
25–29°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Swims
Bottom
Diet
Omnivore
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Rio Curuá pleco

L401
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Plecos · HypancistrusUncommon

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

Dark with a golden net pattern.

Rio Curuá, Iriri–Xingu basin, Brazil

Rio Curuá pleco

L401

Rio Curuá, Iriri–Xingu basin, Brazil · rapids

Temperature
26–30°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Adult size
4 in · 11 cm
Flow
Strong
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Carnivore
Breeding
Moderate
Typical price
$50–100
In Canada
Occasional
Rarity
Uncommon

Dark with a golden net pattern. It can cross with L236, so only mix them in a tank you won’t sell fry from.

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