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.

Endangered Rare ✓ Popular Peaceful ✓ Small (6 cm or less)Calm water Strong flow Schooling L-numbers With photo Basic profiles too

The fishes 29 fish · new every day

← Earlier fishes

Ember tetra

≈

Tetras · HyphessobryconStaple

23–29°C
pH 5.5–7
Calm
0.8 in
Mid
Mixed
Peaceful
8+ group!

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

Dwarf neon rainbowfish

≈

Rainbowfish · Melanotaenia

24–28°C
pH 6.5–7.5
Gentle
2.4 in
Mid/top
Mixed
Peaceful
6+ group!

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

Cherry barb

≈

Barbs · PuntiusStaple

23–27°C
pH 6–7.5
Calm
2 in
Mid/bottom
Mixed
Peaceful
6+ group!

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

Honey gourami

≈

Gouramis & bettas · TrichogasterStaple

22–28°C
pH 6–7.5
Calm
2 in
Top/mid
Mixed
Peaceful
2+ group

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

View full profile

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

Zebra danio

≈

Rasboras & danios · DanioStaple

18–26°C
pH 6.5–8
Strong!
2 in
Top/mid
Mixed
Peaceful
6+ group!

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

Panda corydoras

≈

Corydoras · CorydorasStaple

20–25°C
pH 6–7.5
Gentle
2 in
Bottom
Mixed
Peaceful
6+ group!

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

≈

Rasboras & danios · DanioStaple

20–26°C
pH 6.5–7.5
Calm
1 in
Mid/bottom
Mixed
Peaceful
6+ group!

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

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.

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

Cardinal tetra

≈

Tetras · ParacheirodonStaple

23–29°C
pH 4.5–7
Calm
1.6 in
Mid
Mixed
Peaceful
6+ group!

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

Chili rasbora

≈

Rasboras & danios · BorarasStaple

20–28°C
pH 4–7
Calm
0.8 in
Mid
Mixed
Peaceful
8+ group!

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

Otocinclus

≈

Catfish · OtocinclusStaple

21–27°C
pH 6–7.5
Gentle
1.6 in
Bottom/mid
Veg
Peaceful
6+ group!

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

Platy

Give us a picture and get credit! ≈

Livebearers · XiphophorusStaple

20–26°C
pH 7–8.2
Calm
2 in
Mid/top
Mixed
Peaceful
3+ group

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

View full profile

Golden pencilfish

Give us a picture and get credit! ≈

Tetras · NannostomusStaple

24–28°C
pH 5.5–7.5
Calm
1.8 in
Top/mid
Mixed
Peaceful
6+ group!

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

View full profile

Showing 29 of 29