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 113 fish · new every day

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

Guppy

Guppy ≈

Livebearers · PoeciliaStaple

Long fins. Fin nippers will pick on it.

Trinidad and northern Venezuela

Guppy

Poecilia reticulata

Trinidad and northern Venezuela · stream

Temperature
22–28°C
pH
7–8.5
Adult size
2 in · 5 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Top and mid-water
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Group
3+
Typical price
$2–8
Rarity
Pet-store staple

Long fins. Fin nippers will pick on it.

Photo: Holger Krisp, CC BY 3.0

Pearl gourami

Pearl gourami ≈

Gouramis & bettas · Trichopodus

Long fins. Fin nippers will pick on it.

Peat swamps of Malaysia, Sumatra and Borneo

Pearl gourami

Trichopodus leerii

Peat swamps of Malaysia, Sumatra and Borneo · swamp or paddy

Temperature
24–28°C
pH
6–7.5
Adult size
5 in · 12 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Top and mid-water
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Group
1+
Typical price
$7–14

Long fins. Fin nippers will pick on it.

Photo: BEDO (Thailand), CC BY-SA 4.0

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

Salvini cichlid

Salvini cichlid ≈

Cichlids · TrichromisLC

Predator. Eats any fish that fits in its mouth.

Atlantic slope, S Mexico through Guatemala to Belize

Salvini cichlid

Trichromis salvini

Atlantic slope, S Mexico through Guatemala to Belize · river

Temperature
22–32°C
pH
7–8
Adult size
9 in · 22 cm
Flow
Strong
Swims
Mid-water
Temperament
Aggressive
Diet
Carnivore
Group
2+
Status in the wild
Least concern

Predator. Eats any fish that fits in its mouth.

Photo: geosesarma, CC BY 4.0

Jacobfreibergi peacock

Jacobfreibergi peacock ≈

Cichlids · AulonocaraLC

Predator. Eats any fish that fits in its mouth.

Lake Malawi: southern lake - Cape Maclear, Otter Point, Monkey Bay, Undu Reef

Jacobfreibergi peacock

Aulonocara jacobfreibergi

Lake Malawi: southern lake - Cape Maclear, Otter Point, Monkey Bay, Undu Reef · lake

Temperature
25–29°C
pH
7.5–9
Adult size
6 in · 15 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Semi-aggressive
Diet
Carnivore
Group
5+
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: Lerdsuwa, CC BY-SA 3.0

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