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 54 fish · new every day

Black skirt tetra

Black skirt tetra ≈

Tetras · GymnocorymbusStaple

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

Paraguay and Guaporé basins

Black skirt tetra

Gymnocorymbus ternetzi

Paraguay and Guaporé basins · river

Temperature
21–27°C
pH
6–7.5
Adult size
2.4 in · 6 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: emptyvi, CC BY-SA 3.0

Otocinclus

Otocinclus ≈

Catfish · OtocinclusStaple

Streams across South America

Otocinclus

Otocinclus vittatus

Streams across South America · stream

Temperature
21–27°C
pH
6–7.5
Adult size
1.6 in · 4 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Bottom and mid-water
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Grazer
Group
6+
Typical price
$4–7
Rarity
Pet-store staple

Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Chle assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 3.0

Flash pleco

L204
Flash pleco ≈

Plecos · PanaqolusUncommon

White vermiculation with orange-red fin edges.

Peruvian Amazon

Flash pleco

L204

Panaqolus albivermis

Peruvian Amazon · river

Temperature
24–28°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Adult size
4 in · 11 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Wood
Breeding
Moderate
Typical price
$50–100
In Canada
Occasional
Rarity
Uncommon

White vermiculation with orange-red fin edges. A wood-eater, so add driftwood and vegetables.

Photo: Hantanplan, CC0

Clown pleco

L104
Clown pleco ≈

Plecos · PanaqolusStaple

A small wood-eater with orange bands.

Orinoco basin, Venezuela and Colombia

Clown pleco

L104

Panaqolus maccus

Orinoco basin, Venezuela and Colombia · river

Temperature
24–28°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Adult size
4 in · 9 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Wood
Breeding
Moderate
Typical price
$15–35
In Canada
Common
Rarity
Pet-store staple

A small wood-eater with orange bands. Needs driftwood to rasp and tops out around 28°C.

Photo: Jarne Colman, CC0

Tangerine tiger

L397
Tangerine tiger ≈

Plecos · PanaqolusUncommon

Orange-and-dark banded Panaqolus, also sold as the Alenquer tiger.

Near Alenquer, lower Amazon, Brazil

Tangerine tiger

L397

Near Alenquer, lower Amazon, Brazil · river

Temperature
24–28°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Adult size
4 in · 10 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Wood
Breeding
Moderate
Typical price
$50–100
In Canada
Occasional
Rarity
Uncommon

Orange-and-dark banded Panaqolus, also sold as the Alenquer tiger. Needs driftwood.

Photo: Fish Tank Society, CC BY-SA 4.0

Zebra

L046
Zebra ≈

Plecos · HypancistrusCR

Brazil banned wild export, so Canadian stock is tank-bred.

Volta Grande of the Rio Xingu, Brazil

Zebra

L046

Hypancistrus zebra

Volta Grande of the Rio Xingu, Brazil · rapids

Temperature
26–30°C
pH
6–7.5
Adult size
3 in · 8 cm
Flow
Strong
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Breeding
Moderate, slow
Typical price
$150–500
In Canada
Occasional
Status in the wild
Critically endangered

Brazil banned wild export, so Canadian stock is tank-bred. Clean, even stripes where L236 are broken and patchy.

Photo: Birger A, CC BY-SA 3.0

Dwarf gourami

Dwarf gourami ≈

Gouramis & bettas · Trichogaster

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

Slow, plant-choked waters of India and Bangladesh

Dwarf gourami

Trichogaster lalius

Slow, plant-choked waters of India and Bangladesh · swamp or paddy

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

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

Photo: Kennyannydenny, CC BY-SA 3.0

Starlight bristlenose

L183
Starlight bristlenose ≈

Plecos · AncistrusUncommon

Black with white stars and white fin edges.

Rio Negro, Brazil

Starlight bristlenose

L183

Ancistrus dolichopterus

Rio Negro, Brazil · river

Temperature
23–28°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Adult size
6 in · 15 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Breeding
Easy–moderate
Typical price
$25–80
In Canada
Occasional
Rarity
Uncommon

Black with white stars and white fin edges. The prettiest bristlenose, but it prefers cooler, soft water.

Photo: Alberto Mejia-Paniagua, CC BY NC SA

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