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 8 fish · new every day

Zebra

L046
Zebra ≈

Plecos · HypancistrusCR

Brazil banned wild export, so Canadian stock is tank-bred.

Volta Grande of the Rio Xingu, Brazil

Zebra

L046

Hypancistrus zebra

Volta Grande of the Rio Xingu, Brazil · rapids

Temperature
26–30°C
pH
6–7.5
Adult size
3 in · 8 cm
Flow
Strong
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Breeding
Moderate, slow
Typical price
$150–500
In Canada
Occasional
Status in the wild
Critically endangered

Brazil banned wild export, so Canadian stock is tank-bred. Clean, even stripes where L236 are broken and patchy.

Photo: Birger A, CC BY-SA 3.0

Calvus

Calvus ≈

Cichlids · AltolamprologusNT

Predator. Eats any fish that fits in its mouth.

Lake Tanganyika: rocky shores and islands, mainly southwestern part

Calvus

Altolamprologus calvus

Lake Tanganyika: rocky shores and islands, mainly southwestern part · lake

Temperature
24–27°C
pH
7.5–9
Adult size
5 in · 13.5 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Territorial
Diet
Carnivore
Group
2+
Status in the wild
Near threatened

Predator. Eats any fish that fits in its mouth.

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

Photo: 5snake5, CC0

Moorii

Moorii ≈

Cichlids · TropheusNT

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

Lake Tanganyika: shallow rocky shorelines (many local colour forms)

Moorii

Tropheus moorii

Lake Tanganyika: shallow rocky shorelines (many local colour forms) · lake

Temperature
23–27°C
pH
8–9.5
Adult size
6 in · 14.5 cm
Flow
Strong
Swims
Mid-water
Temperament
Aggressive
Diet
Herbivore
Group
15+
Status in the wild
Near threatened

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

Photo: Bobby 111 (?), CC BY-SA 3.0

Demasoni

Demasoni ≈

Cichlids · ChindongoVU

Predator. Eats any fish that fits in its mouth.

Lake Malawi: Pombo Rocks, Tanzanian coast

Demasoni

Chindongo demasoni

Lake Malawi: Pombo Rocks, Tanzanian coast · lake

Temperature
24–28°C
pH
7.6–8.8
Adult size
3 in · 7.5 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Mid-water
Temperament
Aggressive
Diet
Herbivore
Group
6+
Status in the wild
Vulnerable

Predator. Eats any fish that fits in its mouth.

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

Photo: dinomariobob, CC0

Saulosi

Saulosi ≈

Cichlids · ChindongoCR

Predator. Eats any fish that fits in its mouth.

Lake Malawi: Taiwan Reef only, ~9 km NW of Chizumulu Island, Malawi

Saulosi

Chindongo saulosi

Lake Malawi: Taiwan Reef only, ~9 km NW of Chizumulu Island, Malawi · lake

Temperature
23–27°C
pH
7.4–8.4
Adult size
3 in · 8.6 cm
Flow
Strong
Swims
Mid-water
Temperament
Territorial
Diet
Herbivore
Group
4+
Status in the wild
Critically endangered

Predator. Eats any fish that fits in its mouth.

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

Photo: Gerard Delany, CC BY-SA 4.0

Frontosa

Frontosa ≈

Cichlids · CyphotilapiaNT

Predator. Eats any fish that fits in its mouth.

Northern Lake Tanganyika: deep rocky slopes 15-70 m, Cape Tembwe to Bulu Point

Frontosa

Cyphotilapia frontosa

Northern Lake Tanganyika: deep rocky slopes 15-70 m, Cape Tembwe to Bulu Point · lake

Temperature
23–27°C
pH
8–9
Adult size
10 in · 25.5 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Mid-water
Temperament
Semi-aggressive
Diet
Carnivore
Group
5+
Status in the wild
Near threatened

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

Sunshine peacock

Cichlids · AulonocaraCR

Predator. Eats any fish that fits in its mouth.

Lake Malawi: western shore sand-rock zones at Usisya, Nkhomo Reef, Benga, Maleri Is., Chipoka

Sunshine peacock

Aulonocara baenschi

Lake Malawi: western shore sand-rock zones at Usisya, Nkhomo Reef, Benga, Maleri Is., Chipoka · lake

Temperature
25–29°C
pH
7.5–9
Adult size
5 in · 12 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Semi-aggressive
Diet
Omnivore
Group
5+
Status in the wild
Critically endangered

Predator. Eats any fish that fits in its mouth.

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

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