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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 flow✓ SchoolingL-numbersWith photo Basic profiles too

The fishes 30 fish · new every day

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
View full profile

Photo: Cedricguppy - Loury Cédric, 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
View full profile

Photo: Matthew Mannell, Public domain

Tiger barb

Tiger barb ≈

Barbs · PuntigrusStaple

  • 21–27°C
  • pH 6–7.5
  • Gentle
  • 2.8 in
  • Mid
  • Mixed
  • Semi-agg.!
  • 6+ group!

Fin nipper. Keep it away from long-finned fish.

Sumatra and Borneo

Tiger barb

Puntigrus tetrazona

Sumatra and Borneo · stream

Temperature
21–27°C
pH
6–7.5
Adult size
2.8 in · 7 cm
Flow
Gentle
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: Ingvar-fed, CC BY-SA 3.0

Panda corydoras

Panda corydoras ≈

Corydoras · CorydorasStaple

  • 20–25°C
  • pH 6–7.5
  • Gentle
  • 2 in
  • Bottom
  • Mixed
  • Peaceful
  • 6+ group!
Clear Andean foothill streams, Peru

Panda corydoras

Corydoras panda

Clear Andean foothill streams, Peru · stream

Temperature
20–25°C
pH
6–7.5
Adult size
2 in · 5 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Group
6+
Typical price
$5–9
Rarity
Pet-store staple
View full profile

Photo: Chronotopian, CC BY-SA 3.0

Celestial pearl danio

Celestial pearl danio ≈

Rasboras & danios · DanioStaple

  • 20–26°C
  • pH 6.5–7.5
  • Calm
  • 1 in
  • Mid/bottom
  • Mixed
  • Peaceful
  • 6+ group!
Spring-fed ponds, Shan Plateau, Myanmar

Celestial pearl danio

Danio margaritatus

Spring-fed ponds, Shan Plateau, Myanmar · pond

Temperature
20–26°C
pH
6.5–7.5
Adult size
1 in · 2.5 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Mid-water and bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Group
6+
Typical price
$4–7
Rarity
Pet-store staple
View full profile

Photo: Cisamarc, CC BY-SA 3.0

Zebra danio

Zebra danio ≈

Rasboras & danios · DanioStaple

  • 18–26°C
  • pH 6.5–8
  • Strong!
  • 2 in
  • Top/mid
  • Mixed
  • Peaceful
  • 6+ group!
Streams and paddies of India and Bangladesh

Zebra danio

Danio rerio

Streams and paddies of India and Bangladesh · stream

Temperature
18–26°C
pH
6.5–8
Adult size
2 in · 5 cm
Flow
Strong
Swims
Top and mid-water
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Group
6+
Typical price
$2–4
Rarity
Pet-store staple
View full profile

Photo: Roundish, CC0

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
View full profile

Photo: NasserHalaweh, CC BY-SA 4.0

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
View full profile

Photo: Raimond Spekking, CC BY-SA 4.0

Boeseman's rainbowfish

Boeseman's rainbowfish ≈

Rainbowfish · Melanotaenia

  • 26–30°C
  • pH 7–8
  • Gentle
  • 4 in
  • Mid/top
  • Mixed
  • Peaceful
  • 6+ group!
Ayamaru Lakes, West Papua

Boeseman's rainbowfish

Melanotaenia boesemani

Ayamaru Lakes, West Papua · lake

Temperature
26–30°C
pH
7–8
Adult size
4 in · 10 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Mid-water and top
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Group
6+
Typical price
$8–15
View full profile

Photo: H. Zell, CC BY-SA 3.0

Otocinclus

Otocinclus ≈

Catfish · OtocinclusStaple

  • 21–27°C
  • pH 6–7.5
  • Gentle
  • 1.6 in
  • Bottom/mid
  • Veg
  • Peaceful
  • 6+ group!
Streams across South America

Otocinclus

Otocinclus vittatus

Streams across South America · stream

Temperature
21–27°C
pH
6–7.5
Adult size
1.6 in · 4 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Bottom and mid-water
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Grazer
Group
6+
Typical price
$4–7
Rarity
Pet-store staple
View full profile

Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Chle assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 3.0

Chili rasbora

Chili rasbora ≈

Rasboras & danios · BorarasStaple

  • 20–28°C
  • pH 4–7
  • Calm
  • 0.8 in
  • Mid
  • Mixed
  • Peaceful
  • 8+ group!
Peat swamps of southwest Borneo

Chili rasbora

Boraras brigittae

Peat swamps of southwest Borneo · swamp or paddy

Temperature
20–28°C
pH
4–7
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
View full profile

Photo: Daiju Azuma, CC BY-SA 4.0

Cardinal tetra

Cardinal tetra ≈

Tetras · ParacheirodonStaple

  • 23–29°C
  • pH 4.5–7
  • Calm
  • 1.6 in
  • Mid
  • Mixed
  • Peaceful
  • 6+ group!
Rio Negro and upper Orinoco, Brazil and Venezuela

Cardinal tetra

Paracheirodon axelrodi

Rio Negro and upper Orinoco, Brazil and Venezuela · blackwater stream

Temperature
23–29°C
pH
4.5–7
Adult size
1.6 in · 4 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Mid-water
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Group
6+
Typical price
$3–7
Rarity
Pet-store staple
View full profile

Photo: Paolo Neo, Public domain

Congo tetra

Congo tetra ≈

Tetras · Phenacogrammus

  • 23–27°C
  • pH 6–7.5
  • Gentle
  • 3 in
  • Mid
  • Mixed
  • Peaceful
  • 6+ group!
Congo River basin, DR Congo

Congo tetra

Phenacogrammus interruptus

Congo River basin, DR Congo · river

Temperature
23–27°C
pH
6–7.5
Adult size
3 in · 8 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Mid-water
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Group
6+
Typical price
$6–12
View full profile

Photo: André Karwath aka Aka, CC BY-SA 2.5

Black skirt tetra

Black skirt tetra ≈

Tetras · GymnocorymbusStaple

  • 21–27°C
  • pH 6–7.5
  • Gentle
  • 2.4 in
  • Mid
  • Mixed
  • Semi-agg.!
  • 6+ group!

Fin nipper. Keep it away from long-finned fish.

Paraguay and Guaporé basins

Black skirt tetra

Gymnocorymbus ternetzi

Paraguay and Guaporé basins · river

Temperature
21–27°C
pH
6–7.5
Adult size
2.4 in · 6 cm
Flow
Gentle
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: emptyvi, CC BY-SA 3.0

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.

View full profile

Photo: SOK, 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
View full profile

Photo: Robert Mollik, CC BY-SA 4.0

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