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 28 fish · new every day

Hillstream loach

Hillstream loach ≈

Loaches · Sewellia

  • 20–24°C!
  • pH 6.5–7.5
  • Strong!
  • 2.4 in
  • Bottom
  • Veg
  • Peaceful
  • 3+ group
Fast mountain streams of central Vietnam

Hillstream loach

Sewellia lineolata

Fast mountain streams of central Vietnam · rapids

Temperature
20–24°C
pH
6.5–7.5
Adult size
2.4 in · 6 cm
Flow
Strong
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Grazer
Group
3+
Typical price
$10–18

Photo: 5snake5, 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

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

Honey gourami

Honey gourami ≈

Gouramis & bettas · TrichogasterStaple

  • 22–28°C
  • pH 6–7.5
  • Calm
  • 2 in
  • Top/mid
  • Mixed
  • Peaceful
  • 2+ group
Ponds and ditches of India and Bangladesh

Honey gourami

Trichogaster chuna

Ponds and ditches of India and Bangladesh · pond

Temperature
22–28°C
pH
6–7.5
Adult size
2 in · 5 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Top and mid-water
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Group
2+
Typical price
$5–9
Rarity
Pet-store staple

Photo: Vincent Lim Show Chen, CC BY-SA 2.0

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

Photo: Roundish, CC0

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

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

Photo: Cisamarc, CC BY-SA 3.0

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

Photo: Paolo Neo, Public domain

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

Photo: Daiju Azuma, CC BY-SA 4.0

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

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

Platy

Livebearers · XiphophorusStaple

  • 20–26°C
  • pH 7–8.2
  • Calm
  • 2 in
  • Mid/top
  • Mixed
  • Peaceful
  • 3+ group
Atlantic slope of Mexico and Central America

Platy

Xiphophorus maculatus

Atlantic slope of Mexico and Central America · stream

Temperature
20–26°C
pH
7–8.2
Adult size
2 in · 5 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Mid-water and top
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Group
3+
Typical price
$2–5
Rarity
Pet-store staple

Golden pencilfish

Tetras · NannostomusStaple

  • 24–28°C
  • pH 5.5–7.5
  • Calm
  • 1.8 in
  • Top/mid
  • Mixed
  • Peaceful
  • 6+ group!
Amazon basin and the Guianas

Golden pencilfish

Nannostomus beckfordi

Amazon basin and the Guianas · blackwater stream

Temperature
24–28°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Adult size
1.8 in · 4.5 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Top and mid-water
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Group
6+
Typical price
$3–6
Rarity
Pet-store staple

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