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.

Common 55 fish

Agassiz's dwarf cichlid

Agassiz's dwarf cichlid ≈

Cichlids · ApistogrammaLC

Leaf-litter creeks and backwaters of the Amazon basin, Peru to Brazil

Agassiz's dwarf cichlid

Apistogramma agassizii

Leaf-litter creeks and backwaters of the Amazon basin, Peru to Brazil · stream

Temperature
22–29°C
pH
5–7
Adult size
3 in · 7.5 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Carnivore
Group
3+
Status in the wild
Least concern

Photo: Cisamarc, 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.

Photo: Jeff Kubina, CC BY-SA 4.0

Angelfish

Angelfish ≈

Cichlids · PterophyllumLC

Predator. Eats any fish that fits in its mouth.

Flooded forests of the Amazon basin

Angelfish

Pterophyllum scalare

Flooded forests of the Amazon basin · flooded forest

Temperature
24–30°C
pH
6–7.5
Adult size
6 in · 15 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Mid-water
Temperament
Semi-aggressive
Diet
Omnivore
Group
5+
Typical price
$8–30
Status in the wild
Least concern

Predator. Eats any fish that fits in its mouth.

Long fins. Fin nippers will pick on it.

Photo: Rjcastillo, CC BY 4.0

Auratus

Auratus ≈

Cichlids · MelanochromisLC

Predator. Eats any fish that fits in its mouth.

Lake Malawi: rocky shores of the west and south coasts, up the east coast to Nkhomo Reef

Auratus

Melanochromis auratus

Lake Malawi: rocky shores of the west and south coasts, up the east coast to Nkhomo Reef · lake

Temperature
24–28°C
pH
7.6–8.8
Adult size
4 in · 11 cm
Flow
Gentle
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: 5snake5, CC0

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

Betta (Siamese fighting fish)

Betta (Siamese fighting fish) ≈

Gouramis & bettas · Betta

Lone male. Males fight. Keep one, or give each his own space.

Rice paddies and marshes of Thailand

Betta (Siamese fighting fish)

Betta splendens

Rice paddies and marshes of Thailand · swamp or paddy

Temperature
24–30°C
pH
6–7.5
Adult size
2.6 in · 6.5 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Top and mid-water
Temperament
Semi-aggressive
Diet
Carnivore
Group
1+
Typical price
$8–40

Lone male. Males fight. Keep one, or give each his own space.

Long fins. Fin nippers will pick on it.

Photo: ErgoSum88, Public domain

Blue acara

Blue acara ≈

Cichlids · AndinoacaraLC

Predator. Eats any fish that fits in its mouth.

Trinidad and northern Venezuela (incl. Apure llanos)

Blue acara

Andinoacara pulcher

Trinidad and northern Venezuela (incl. Apure llanos) · river

Temperature
22–28°C
pH
6.5–8
Adult size
6 in · 15 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Mid-water
Temperament
Semi-aggressive
Diet
Carnivore
Group
2+
Status in the wild
Least concern

Predator. Eats any fish that fits in its mouth.

Photo: 5snake5, CC0

Borelli's dwarf cichlid

Borelli's dwarf cichlid ≈

Cichlids · ApistogrammaLC

Creeks of the Paraguay, lower Parana and Uruguay systems (Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Uruguay)

Borelli's dwarf cichlid

Apistogramma borellii

Creeks of the Paraguay, lower Parana and Uruguay systems (Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Uruguay) · stream

Temperature
20–26°C
pH
5–8
Adult size
2.6 in · 6.5 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Carnivore
Group
2+
Status in the wild
Least concern

Photo: Dornenwolf, 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

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