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 79 fish · new every day

Nerite snail

Nerite snail ≈

Shrimp & snails · NeritinaStaple

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

East African coastal rivers and estuaries

Nerite snail

Neritina natalensis

East African coastal rivers and estuaries · brackish estuary

Temperature
22–28°C
pH
7–8.5
Adult size
1 in · 2.5 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Grazer
Group
1+
Typical price
$3–6
Rarity
Pet-store staple

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

Photo: Evan Baldonado, CC BY 4.0

Red lizard whiptail

L010a
Red lizard whiptail ≈

Plecos · RineloricariaStaple

Lays eggs in the open, and the male guards them where you can watch.

Aquarium-bred colour strain

Red lizard whiptail

L010a

Aquarium-bred colour strain · river

Temperature
22–27°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Adult size
5 in · 12 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Breeding
Easy
Typical price
$10–25
In Canada
Common
Rarity
Pet-store staple

Lays eggs in the open, and the male guards them where you can watch. Prefers cooler water.

Photo: Kaden Slone, CC BY 4.0

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

Harlequin rasbora

Harlequin rasbora ≈

Rasboras & danios · TrigonostigmaStaple

Peat swamp streams, Malay Peninsula and Sumatra

Harlequin rasbora

Trigonostigma heteromorpha

Peat swamp streams, Malay Peninsula and Sumatra · swamp or paddy

Temperature
22–28°C
pH
5–7.5
Adult size
1.8 in · 4.5 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Mid-water
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Group
8+
Typical price
$3–5
Rarity
Pet-store staple

Photo: NasserHalaweh, CC BY-SA 4.0

Super white

L236

Plecos · HypancistrusRare

Grading is by how much white shows, and the whitest fish sell for the most.

Rio Xingu, Pará, Brazil

Super white

L236

Hypancistrus seideli

Rio Xingu, Pará, 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, slow
Typical price
$200–1000
In Canada
Rare
Rarity
Rare or hard to breed

Grading is by how much white shows, and the whitest fish sell for the most. Best at 29–30°C with strong flow and protein-heavy food.

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.

Wormline peckoltia

L135

Plecos · PeckoltiaUncommon

Dark body covered in fine gold worm-lines.

Unknown origin

Wormline peckoltia

L135

Unknown origin · river

Temperature
25–29°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Adult size
5 in · 12 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Breeding
Moderate
Typical price
$40–80
In Canada
Occasional
Rarity
Uncommon

Dark body covered in fine gold worm-lines. Peaceful and easy to keep.

Spotted zebra

L174

Plecos · HypancistrusUncommon

Small, with dense fine gold dots on black.

Rio Xingu, Brazil

Spotted zebra

L174

Hypancistrus yudja

Rio Xingu, Brazil · river

Temperature
26–30°C
pH
6–7.2
Adult size
2 in · 5 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Breeding
Hard, slow
Typical price
$60–150
In Canada
Occasional
Rarity
Uncommon

Small, with dense fine gold dots on black. Patterns vary, so check photos before buying.

Queen arabesque

L260

Plecos · HypancistrusUncommon

Fine white maze lines on black.

Rio Tapajós, Brazil

Queen arabesque

L260

Rio Tapajós, Brazil · rapids

Temperature
24–30°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Adult size
4 in · 9 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Breeding
Moderate
Typical price
$60–150
In Canada
Occasional
Rarity
Uncommon

Fine white maze lines on black. One of the most refined patterns in the genus.

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