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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.

EndangeredRarePopularPeacefulSmall (6 cm or less)Calm waterStrong flowSchoolingL-numbersWith photo ✓ Basic profiles too

The fishes 542 fish · new every day

Serpae tetra

Serpae tetra ≈

Tetras · HyphessobryconStaple

Fin nipper. Keep it away from long-finned fish.

Amazon and Paraguay basins

Serpae tetra

Hyphessobrycon eques

Amazon and Paraguay basins · river

Temperature
22–28°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Adult size
1.8 in · 4.5 cm
Flow
Calm
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.

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Photo: Douglas Lopes, CC BY 4.0

Blue-eye lemon bristlenose

L144
Blue-eye lemon bristlenose ≈

Plecos · AncistrusStaple

Yellow bristlenose with blue eyes.

Aquarium-bred strain. Its wild origin isn’t well documented.

Blue-eye lemon bristlenose

L144

Aquarium-bred strain. Its wild origin isn’t well documented. · river

Temperature
22–28°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Adult size
5 in · 12 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Breeding
Easy
Typical price
$10–35
In Canada
Common
Rarity
Pet-store staple

Yellow bristlenose with blue eyes. Easy and cheap, but happier below 28°C. L144a is the longfin form.

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Photo: Corydoras-adolfoi, CC BY-SA 4.0

Blue phantom

L128
Blue phantom ≈

Plecos · HemiancistrusRare

Blue-grey with fine white dots.

Upper Orinoco, Venezuela

Blue phantom

L128

Upper Orinoco, Venezuela · rapids

Temperature
26–30°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Adult size
8 in · 20 cm
Flow
Strong
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Territorial
Diet
Omnivore
Breeding
Moderate–hard
Typical price
$80–200
In Canada
Occasional
Rarity
Rare or hard to breed

Blue-grey with fine white dots. Grows larger than it looks in the store.

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Photo: EnjiBenji, CC0

Amano shrimp

Amano shrimp ≈

Shrimp & snails · CaridinaStaple

Invertebrate. Many fish will eat it, so choose tank mates with care.

Coastal streams of Japan and Taiwan

Amano shrimp

Caridina multidentata

Coastal streams of Japan and Taiwan · stream

Temperature
20–27°C
pH
6.5–7.5
Adult size
2 in · 5 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Grazer
Group
3+
Typical price
$3–6
Rarity
Pet-store staple

Invertebrate. Many fish will eat it, so choose tank mates with care.

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Photo: Jolielover, CC BY 4.0

Gold nugget

L081
Gold nugget ≈

Plecos · BaryancistrusRare

Black with yellow spots and gold fin edges.

Rio Xingu, and the Rio Iriri for L177

Gold nugget

L081

Baryancistrus xanthellus

Rio Xingu, and the Rio Iriri for L177 · rapids

Temperature
27–30°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Adult size
8 in · 20 cm
Flow
Strong
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Territorial
Diet
Omnivore
Breeding
Hard
Typical price
$60–250
In Canada
Occasional
Rarity
Rare or hard to breed

Black with yellow spots and gold fin edges. Grows larger than Hypancistrus and holds a territory.

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Photo: Anne Blindheim, CC BY-SA 3.0

Altum angelfish

Altum angelfish ≈

Cichlids · PterophyllumLC

Predator. Eats any fish that fits in its mouth.

Upper Rio Negro and upper Orinoco tributaries (Inírida, Atabapo), Colombia/Venezuela

Altum angelfish

Pterophyllum altum

Upper Rio Negro and upper Orinoco tributaries (Inírida, Atabapo), Colombia/Venezuela · blackwater stream

Temperature
28–32°C
pH
4.8–6.2
Adult size
7 in · 18 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Mid-water
Temperament
Semi-aggressive
Diet
Carnivore
Group
6+
Status in the wild
Least concern

Predator. Eats any fish that fits in its mouth.

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Photo: Jeff Kubina, CC BY-SA 4.0

Showing 64 of 542