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 67 fish · new every day

Red-fin cactus

L024
Red-fin cactus ≈

Plecos · PseudacanthicusRare

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.

Photo: B. Phalan, CC BY 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.

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.

Photo: 5snake5, CC BY-SA 4.0

Orinoco angel

L201
Orinoco angel ≈

Plecos · HypancistrusStaple

Crisp white dots and white fin edges.

Middle Orinoco, Venezuela

Orinoco angel

L201

Hypancistrus cf. contradens

Middle Orinoco, Venezuela · rapids

Temperature
27–30°C
pH
6–7.5
Adult size
4 in · 10 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Breeding
Easy
Typical price
$25–60
In Canada
Common
Rarity
Pet-store staple

Crisp white dots and white fin edges. A classic first Hypancistrus.

Photo: thepigeongirl, CC BY NC

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

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

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