Save the Little Fish

Freshwater fishes

The fish list

542 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 542 fish · new every day

Red zebra

Red zebra ≈

Cichlids · MaylandiaLC

Predator. Eats any fish that fits in its mouth.

Lake Malawi: Mozambique/Malawi east coast, Metangula and Minos Reef to Gome

Red zebra

Maylandia estherae

Lake Malawi: Mozambique/Malawi east coast, Metangula and Minos Reef to Gome · lake

Temperature
24–28°C
pH
7.6–8.8
Adult size
5 in · 13.5 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Mid-water
Temperament
Semi-aggressive
Diet
Herbivore
Group
4+
Status in the wild
Least concern

Predator. Eats any fish that fits in its mouth.

Hard water. Needs hard, alkaline water, like its rift lake.

Photo: Maha Dinesh, CC BY-SA 3.0

Black skirt tetra

Black skirt tetra ≈

Tetras · GymnocorymbusStaple

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.

Photo: emptyvi, CC BY-SA 3.0

Jack Dempsey

Jack Dempsey ≈

Cichlids · RocioLC

Predator. Eats any fish that fits in its mouth.

Atlantic slope, S Mexico (Papaloapan) to Honduras (Ulúa)

Jack Dempsey

Rocio octofasciata

Atlantic slope, S Mexico (Papaloapan) to Honduras (Ulúa) · river

Temperature
20–30°C
pH
6.5–8
Adult size
8 in · 20 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Mid-water
Temperament
Aggressive
Diet
Omnivore
Group
2+
Status in the wild
Least concern

Predator. Eats any fish that fits in its mouth.

Photo: Bernard DUPONT, CC BY 4.0

Convict cichlid

Convict cichlid ≈

Cichlids · AmatitlaniaDD

Predator. Eats any fish that fits in its mouth.

Pacific and Atlantic slopes, Guatemala to Honduras/El Salvador (SF says to Panama)

Convict cichlid

Amatitlania nigrofasciata

Pacific and Atlantic slopes, Guatemala to Honduras/El Salvador (SF says to Panama) · stream

Temperature
24–28°C
pH
6–8
Adult size
5 in · 12 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Aggressive
Diet
Omnivore
Group
2+
Status in the wild
Data deficient

Predator. Eats any fish that fits in its mouth.

Photo: Konstantin Gerasimov, CC BY 4.0

Oscar

Oscar ≈

Cichlids · AstronotusLC

Predator. Eats any fish that fits in its mouth.

Slow rivers and floodplains of the Amazon

Oscar

Astronotus ocellatus

Slow rivers and floodplains of the Amazon · flooded forest

Temperature
20–28°C
pH
6–7.5
Adult size
13 in · 33 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Mid-water and bottom
Temperament
Semi-aggressive
Diet
Carnivore
Group
1+
Typical price
$15–40
Status in the wild
Least concern

Predator. Eats any fish that fits in its mouth.

Photo: Jón Helgi Jónsson (Amything), CC BY-SA 3.0

Otocinclus

Otocinclus ≈

Catfish · OtocinclusStaple

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

Flash pleco

L204
Flash pleco ≈

Plecos · PanaqolusUncommon

White vermiculation with orange-red fin edges.

Peruvian Amazon

Flash pleco

L204

Panaqolus albivermis

Peruvian Amazon · river

Temperature
24–28°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Adult size
4 in · 11 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Wood
Breeding
Moderate
Typical price
$50–100
In Canada
Occasional
Rarity
Uncommon

White vermiculation with orange-red fin edges. A wood-eater, so add driftwood and vegetables.

Photo: Hantanplan, CC0

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