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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.

EndangeredRare✓ PopularPeacefulSmall (6 cm or less)Calm waterStrong flowSchoolingL-numbers✓ With photo Basic profiles too

The fishes 54 fish · new every day

Guyana leopard cactus

L600
Guyana leopard cactus ≈

Plecos · PseudacanthicusRare

Spotted cactus pleco with orange-edged fins.

Rupununi and Essequibo, Guyana, and the Rio Branco, Brazil

Guyana leopard cactus

L600

Pseudacanthicus leopardus

Rupununi and Essequibo, Guyana, and the Rio Branco, Brazil · rapids

Temperature
26–30°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Adult size
12 in · 30 cm
Flow
Strong
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Aggressive
Diet
Carnivore
Breeding
Rarely
Typical price
$90–300
In Canada
Rare
Rarity
Rare or hard to breed

Spotted cactus pleco with orange-edged fins. Large, spiny and aggressive with other plecos.

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Photo: Sesamehoneytart, 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.

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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.

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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.

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Photo: TonyZimbinski, CC BY-SA 4.0

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.

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Photo: Ingvar-fed, CC BY-SA 3.0

Gold spot pleco

L001
Gold spot pleco ≈

Plecos · PterygoplichthysRare

A sailfin that grows to about 30 cm and makes a lot of waste.

Tocantins–Araguaia basin, Brazil

Gold spot pleco

L001

Pterygoplichthys joselimaianus

Tocantins–Araguaia basin, Brazil · river

Temperature
24–28°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Adult size
12 in · 30 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Breeding
Rarely
Typical price
$15–80
In Canada
Occasional
Rarity
Rare or hard to breed

A sailfin that grows to about 30 cm and makes a lot of waste. Big tanks only.

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Photo: 5snake5, CC BY-SA 4.0

Red-fin cactus

L024
Red-fin cactus ≈

Plecos · PseudacanthicusRare

Dark body with red fin edges.

Rio Tocantins, Brazil

Red-fin cactus

L024

Pseudacanthicus pitanga

Rio Tocantins, Brazil · rapids

Temperature
26–30°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Adult size
16 in · 40 cm
Flow
Strong
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Aggressive
Diet
Carnivore
Breeding
Rarely
Typical price
$130–400
In Canada
Rare
Rarity
Rare or hard to breed

Dark body with red fin edges. Large and aggressive.

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Photo: B. Phalan, CC BY 4.0

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