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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

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

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

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

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

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.

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Photo: Evan Baldonado, CC BY 4.0

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.

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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.

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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.

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Photo: Jolielover, CC BY 4.0

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.

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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
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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.

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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.

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Photo: Sesamehoneytart, CC BY-SA 3.0

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