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.

Lake 26 fish

Red top trewavasae

Red top trewavasae ≈

Cichlids · LabeotropheusLC

Predator. Eats any fish that fits in its mouth.

Lake Malawi: algae-covered rocky shores and islands, many localities

Red top trewavasae

Labeotropheus trewavasae

Lake Malawi: algae-covered rocky shores and islands, many localities · lake

Temperature
24–28°C
pH
7.6–8.8
Adult size
4 in · 11.3 cm
Flow
Strong
Swims
Mid-water
Temperament
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: Jutta234, CC BY-SA 3.0

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

Regan's julie

Regan's julie ≈

Cichlids · JulidochromisLC

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

Lake Tanganyika: lake-wide, shallows to 5 m over sand and scattered rocks

Regan's julie

Julidochromis regani

Lake Tanganyika: lake-wide, shallows to 5 m over sand and scattered rocks · lake

Temperature
23–27°C
pH
7.5–9
Adult size
5 in · 13 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Territorial
Diet
Omnivore
Group
2+
Status in the wild
Least concern

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

Photo: Regani, Public domain

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

Similis shell-dweller

Similis shell-dweller ≈

Cichlids · Neolamprologus

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

Southern Lake Tanganyika (DR Congo, Tanzania): shell beds 10-45 m

Similis shell-dweller

Neolamprologus similis

Southern Lake Tanganyika (DR Congo, Tanzania): shell beds 10-45 m · lake

Temperature
24–27°C
pH
7.5–9
Adult size
1.8 in · 4.5 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Territorial
Diet
Carnivore
Group
2+

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

Photo: berzentei, Yvonne Turkans, 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

Acei

Cichlids · Pseudotropheus

Predator. Eats any fish that fits in its mouth.

Lake Malawi: west-coast sandy shores, Nkhata Bay to Karonga and Senga Bay, Malawi

Acei

Pseudotropheus sp. 'acei'

Lake Malawi: west-coast sandy shores, Nkhata Bay to Karonga and Senga Bay, Malawi · lake

Temperature
24–28°C
pH
7.6–8.8
Adult size
5 in · 12.5 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Mid-water
Temperament
Semi-aggressive
Diet
Herbivore
Group
4+

Predator. Eats any fish that fits in its mouth.

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

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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