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.

Pet-store staple 42 fish

Tiger barb

Tiger barb ≈

Barbs · PuntigrusStaple

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

Sumatra and Borneo

Tiger barb

Puntigrus tetrazona

Sumatra and Borneo · stream

Temperature
21–27°C
pH
6–7.5
Adult size
2.8 in · 7 cm
Flow
Gentle
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.

Photo: Ingvar-fed, CC BY-SA 3.0

King tiger

L066

Plecos · HypancistrusStaple

Bold cream worm-lines on black.

Rio Xingu, Brazil

King tiger

L066

Hypancistrus seideli

Rio Xingu, Brazil · river

Temperature
26–30°C
pH
5–7
Adult size
5 in · 11.7 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Breeding
Moderate
Typical price
$40–80
In Canada
Common
Rarity
Pet-store staple

Bold cream worm-lines on black. Every fish is different, and it breeds readily.

Colombian zebra

L129

Plecos · HypancistrusLC

Small and busy, with thin black-and-white stripes.

Rio Guaviare and upper Orinoco, Colombia

Colombian zebra

L129

Hypancistrus debilittera

Rio Guaviare and upper Orinoco, Colombia · river

Temperature
25–29°C
pH
6.5–7.5
Adult size
4 in · 10 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Breeding
Easy
Typical price
$35–70
In Canada
Common
Status in the wild
Least concern

Small and busy, with thin black-and-white stripes. Easy to breed.

King tiger (Xingu)

L333

Plecos · HypancistrusStaple

Yellow-cream maze that changes from fish to fish.

Rio Xingu and Rio Iriri, Brazil

King tiger (Xingu)

L333

Hypancistrus seideli

Rio Xingu and Rio Iriri, Brazil · river

Temperature
26–30°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Adult size
5 in · 11.7 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Breeding
Moderate
Typical price
$40–150
In Canada
Common
Rarity
Pet-store staple

Yellow-cream maze that changes from fish to fish. High-grade fish cost more. Very productive, so fry are easy to rehome.

Showing 42 of 42