Save the Little Fish

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

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.

The fishes 55 fish · new every day

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

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

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

Photo: h080, CC BY-SA 2.0

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

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

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

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.

Photo: 5snake5, CC BY-SA 4.0

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

Photo: Matthew Mannell, Public domain

Ember tetra

Ember tetra ≈

Tetras · HyphessobryconStaple

  • 23–29°C
  • pH 5.5–7
  • Calm
  • 0.8 in
  • Mid
  • Mixed
  • Peaceful
  • 8+ group!
Rio Araguaia basin, Brazil

Ember tetra

Hyphessobrycon amandae

Rio Araguaia basin, Brazil · river

Temperature
23–29°C
pH
5.5–7
Adult size
0.8 in · 2 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Mid-water
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Group
8+
Typical price
$3–5
Rarity
Pet-store staple

Photo: Cedricguppy - Loury Cédric, CC BY-SA 4.0

Orinoco angel

L201
Orinoco angel ≈

Plecos · HypancistrusStaple

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

Crisp white dots and white fin edges.

Middle Orinoco, Venezuela

Orinoco angel

L201

Hypancistrus contradens

Middle Orinoco, Venezuela · 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
$25–60
In Canada
Common
Rarity
Pet-store staple

Crisp white dots and white fin edges. A classic first Hypancistrus.

Photo: thepigeongirl, CC BY NC

Dwarf gourami

Dwarf gourami ≈

Gouramis & bettas · Trichogaster

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

Lone male. Males fight. Keep one, or give each his own space.

Slow, plant-choked waters of India and Bangladesh

Dwarf gourami

Trichogaster lalius

Slow, plant-choked waters of India and Bangladesh · swamp or paddy

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

Lone male. Males fight. Keep one, or give each his own space.

Photo: Kennyannydenny, CC BY-SA 3.0

Tangerine tiger

L397
Tangerine tiger ≈

Plecos · PanaqolusUncommon

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

Orange-and-dark banded Panaqolus, also sold as the Alenquer tiger.

Near Alenquer, lower Amazon, Brazil

Tangerine tiger

L397

Near Alenquer, lower Amazon, Brazil · river

Temperature
24–28°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Adult size
4 in · 10 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Wood
Breeding
Moderate
Typical price
$50–100
In Canada
Occasional
Rarity
Uncommon

Orange-and-dark banded Panaqolus, also sold as the Alenquer tiger. Needs driftwood.

Photo: Fish Tank Society, CC BY-SA 4.0

Clown pleco

L104
Clown pleco ≈

Plecos · PanaqolusStaple

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

A small wood-eater with orange bands.

Orinoco basin, Venezuela and Colombia

Clown pleco

L104

Panaqolus maccus

Orinoco basin, Venezuela and Colombia · river

Temperature
24–28°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Adult size
4 in · 9 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Wood
Breeding
Moderate
Typical price
$15–35
In Canada
Common
Rarity
Pet-store staple

A small wood-eater with orange bands. Needs driftwood to rasp and tops out around 28°C.

Photo: Jarne Colman, CC0

Dwarf neon rainbowfish

Dwarf neon rainbowfish ≈

Rainbowfish · Melanotaenia

  • 24–28°C
  • pH 6.5–7.5
  • Gentle
  • 2.4 in
  • Mid/top
  • Mixed
  • Peaceful
  • 6+ group!
Mamberamo River basin, New Guinea

Dwarf neon rainbowfish

Melanotaenia praecox

Mamberamo River basin, New Guinea · stream

Temperature
24–28°C
pH
6.5–7.5
Adult size
2.4 in · 6 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Mid-water and top
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Group
6+
Typical price
$6–12

Photo: Raimond Spekking, CC BY-SA 4.0

Zebra

L046
Zebra ≈

Plecos · HypancistrusCR

  • 28–31°C!
  • pH 5.5–7.5
  • Strong!
  • 3 in
  • Bottom
  • Meat
  • Peaceful

Brazil banned wild export, so Canadian stock is tank-bred.

Volta Grande of the Rio Xingu, Brazil

Zebra

L046

Hypancistrus zebra

Volta Grande of the Rio Xingu, Brazil · rapids

Temperature
28–31°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Adult size
3 in · 8 cm
Flow
Strong
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Carnivore
Breeding
Moderate, slow
Typical price
$150–500
In Canada
Occasional
Status in the wild
Critically endangered

Brazil banned wild export, so Canadian stock is tank-bred. Clean, even stripes where L236 are broken and patchy.

Photo: Birger A, CC BY-SA 3.0

Cherry barb

Cherry barb ≈

Barbs · PuntiusStaple

  • 23–27°C
  • pH 6–7.5
  • Calm
  • 2 in
  • Mid/bottom
  • Mixed
  • Peaceful
  • 6+ group!
Shaded forest streams, Sri Lanka

Cherry barb

Puntius titteya

Shaded forest streams, Sri Lanka · stream

Temperature
23–27°C
pH
6–7.5
Adult size
2 in · 5 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Mid-water and bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Group
6+
Typical price
$3–5
Rarity
Pet-store staple

Photo: NasserHalaweh, CC BY-SA 4.0

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