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 168 fish · new every day

Ocellatus shell-dweller

Ocellatus shell-dweller ≈

Cichlids · LamprologusLC

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

Lake Tanganyika: shell-strewn sand with scattered rocks, usually 6-12 m

Ocellatus shell-dweller

Lamprologus ocellatus

Lake Tanganyika: shell-strewn sand with scattered rocks, usually 6-12 m · lake

Temperature
23–27°C
pH
7.5–9
Adult size
2.4 in · 6 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Territorial
Diet
Carnivore
Group
2+
Status in the wild
Least concern

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

Photo: Cedricguppy - Loury Cédric, CC BY-SA 4.0

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

Salvini cichlid

Salvini cichlid ≈

Cichlids · TrichromisLC

Predator. Eats any fish that fits in its mouth.

Atlantic slope, S Mexico through Guatemala to Belize

Salvini cichlid

Trichromis salvini

Atlantic slope, S Mexico through Guatemala to Belize · river

Temperature
22–32°C
pH
7–8
Adult size
9 in · 22 cm
Flow
Strong
Swims
Mid-water
Temperament
Aggressive
Diet
Carnivore
Group
2+
Status in the wild
Least concern

Predator. Eats any fish that fits in its mouth.

Photo: geosesarma, CC BY 4.0

Jacobfreibergi peacock

Jacobfreibergi peacock ≈

Cichlids · AulonocaraLC

Predator. Eats any fish that fits in its mouth.

Lake Malawi: southern lake - Cape Maclear, Otter Point, Monkey Bay, Undu Reef

Jacobfreibergi peacock

Aulonocara jacobfreibergi

Lake Malawi: southern lake - Cape Maclear, Otter Point, Monkey Bay, Undu Reef · lake

Temperature
25–29°C
pH
7.5–9
Adult size
6 in · 15 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Semi-aggressive
Diet
Carnivore
Group
5+
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: Lerdsuwa, CC BY-SA 3.0

Guppy

Guppy ≈

Livebearers · PoeciliaStaple

Long fins. Fin nippers will pick on it.

Trinidad and northern Venezuela

Guppy

Poecilia reticulata

Trinidad and northern Venezuela · stream

Temperature
22–28°C
pH
7–8.5
Adult size
2 in · 5 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Top and mid-water
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Group
3+
Typical price
$2–8
Rarity
Pet-store staple

Long fins. Fin nippers will pick on it.

Photo: Holger Krisp, CC BY 3.0

Balzanii

Balzanii ≈

Cichlids · GymnogeophagusLC

Paraná-Paraguay and lower Uruguay basins (Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Uruguay)

Balzanii

Gymnogeophagus balzanii

Paraná-Paraguay and lower Uruguay basins (Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Uruguay) · river

Temperature
21–25°C
pH
6.5–7.5
Adult size
8 in · 20 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Territorial
Diet
Omnivore
Group
3+
Status in the wild
Least concern

Photo: CHUCAO, CC BY-SA 3.0

Yellow lab

Yellow lab ≈

Cichlids · LabidochromisLC

Predator. Eats any fish that fits in its mouth.

Lake Malawi: NW coast; electric-yellow form only between Charo and Lion's Cove, Malawi

Yellow lab

Labidochromis caeruleus

Lake Malawi: NW coast; electric-yellow form only between Charo and Lion's Cove, Malawi · lake

Temperature
24–28°C
pH
7.7–8.6
Adult size
4 in · 10 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Mid-water
Temperament
Semi-aggressive
Diet
Omnivore
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: Jmatz at English Wikipedia ( Original text: Julian Matz ( talk ) ), CC BY-SA 3.0

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

Showing 32 of 168