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 19 fish · new every day

Cherry shrimp

Cherry shrimp ≈

Shrimp & snails · NeocaridinaStaple

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

Streams of Taiwan and eastern China

Cherry shrimp

Neocaridina davidi

Streams of Taiwan and eastern China · stream

Temperature
18–26°C
pH
6.5–8
Adult size
1 in · 2.5 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Grazer
Group
10+
Typical price
$2–5
Rarity
Pet-store staple

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

Photo: TonyZimbinski, CC BY-SA 4.0

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.

Photo: Douglas Lopes, CC BY 4.0

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

Frontosa

Frontosa ≈

Cichlids · CyphotilapiaNT

Predator. Eats any fish that fits in its mouth.

Northern Lake Tanganyika: deep rocky slopes 15-70 m, Cape Tembwe to Bulu Point

Frontosa

Cyphotilapia frontosa

Northern Lake Tanganyika: deep rocky slopes 15-70 m, Cape Tembwe to Bulu Point · lake

Temperature
23–27°C
pH
8–9
Adult size
10 in · 25.5 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Mid-water
Temperament
Semi-aggressive
Diet
Carnivore
Group
5+
Status in the wild
Near threatened

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

Marbled hatchetfish

Marbled hatchetfish ≈

Tetras · CarnegiellaStaple

Jumper. Keep a tight lid on the tank.

Amazon basin, Peru and Brazil

Marbled hatchetfish

Carnegiella strigata

Amazon basin, Peru and Brazil · blackwater stream

Temperature
24–28°C
pH
5.5–7
Adult size
1.4 in · 3.5 cm
Flow
Calm
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Carnivore
Group
6+
Typical price
$4–8
Rarity
Pet-store staple

Jumper. Keep a tight lid on the tank.

Photo: SOK, CC BY-SA 4.0

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