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 142 fish · new every day

Blue phantom

L128
Blue phantom ≈

Plecos · HemiancistrusRare

Blue-grey with fine white dots.

Upper Orinoco, Venezuela

Blue phantom

L128

Upper Orinoco, Venezuela · rapids

Temperature
26–30°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Adult size
8 in · 20 cm
Flow
Strong
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Territorial
Diet
Omnivore
Breeding
Moderate–hard
Typical price
$80–200
In Canada
Occasional
Rarity
Rare or hard to breed

Blue-grey with fine white dots. Grows larger than it looks in the store.

Photo: EnjiBenji, CC0

Blue-eye lemon bristlenose

L144
Blue-eye lemon bristlenose ≈

Plecos · AncistrusStaple

Yellow bristlenose with blue eyes.

Aquarium-bred strain. Its wild origin isn’t well documented.

Blue-eye lemon bristlenose

L144

Aquarium-bred strain. Its wild origin isn’t well documented. · river

Temperature
22–28°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Adult size
5 in · 12 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Breeding
Easy
Typical price
$10–35
In Canada
Common
Rarity
Pet-store staple

Yellow bristlenose with blue eyes. Easy and cheap, but happier below 28°C. L144a is the longfin form.

Photo: Corydoras-adolfoi, CC BY-SA 4.0

Amano shrimp

Amano shrimp ≈

Shrimp & snails · CaridinaStaple

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

Coastal streams of Japan and Taiwan

Amano shrimp

Caridina multidentata

Coastal streams of Japan and Taiwan · stream

Temperature
20–27°C
pH
6.5–7.5
Adult size
2 in · 5 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Grazer
Group
3+
Typical price
$3–6
Rarity
Pet-store staple

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

Photo: Jolielover, CC BY 4.0

Green terror

Green terror ≈

Cichlids · AndinoacaraLC

Predator. Eats any fish that fits in its mouth.

Pacific coastal drainages of Ecuador and far northern Peru

Green terror

Andinoacara rivulatus

Pacific coastal drainages of Ecuador and far northern Peru · river

Temperature
20–24°C
pH
6.5–8
Adult size
12 in · 30 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Aggressive
Diet
Omnivore
Group
1+
Status in the wild
Least concern

Predator. Eats any fish that fits in its mouth.

Photo: Raúl A. Ruiz M., CC BY 4.0

Keyhole cichlid

Keyhole cichlid ≈

Cichlids · CleithracaraLC

Blackwater coastal creeks of the Guianas, Orinoco delta and Trinidad

Keyhole cichlid

Cleithracara maronii

Blackwater coastal creeks of the Guianas, Orinoco delta and Trinidad · blackwater stream

Temperature
21–28°C
pH
4–7.5
Adult size
4 in · 10 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Mid-water
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Group
2+
Status in the wild
Least concern

Photo: User:D.W., Public domain

Leopard frog

L134
Leopard frog ≈

Plecos · PeckoltiaStaple

Yellow with black saddles.

Rio Tapajós, Brazil

Leopard frog

L134

Peckoltia compta

Rio Tapajós, Brazil · river

Temperature
25–30°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Adult size
4 in · 11 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Breeding
Moderate
Typical price
$30–120
In Canada
Common
Rarity
Pet-store staple

Yellow with black saddles. A different genus from L236, so no hybrid risk in the display.

Photo: Frank M Greco, CC BY 3.0

Serpae tetra

Serpae tetra ≈

Tetras · HyphessobryconStaple

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

Amazon and Paraguay basins

Serpae tetra

Hyphessobrycon eques

Amazon and Paraguay basins · river

Temperature
22–28°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Adult size
1.8 in · 4.5 cm
Flow
Calm
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: Douglas Lopes, CC BY 4.0

Deep water hap

Deep water hap ≈

Cichlids · PlacidochromisLC

Predator. Eats any fish that fits in its mouth.

Lake Malawi: sandy bottoms below ~7 m at Likoma Island, Mara Point and Malawi coast south to Nekete

Deep water hap

Placidochromis electra

Lake Malawi: sandy bottoms below ~7 m at Likoma Island, Mara Point and Malawi coast south to Nekete · lake

Temperature
24–28°C
pH
7.6–8.8
Adult size
6 in · 16 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Mid-water
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Group
4+
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: Paolo Neo, Public domain

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

Ocellatus shell-dweller

Ocellatus shell-dweller ≈

Cichlids · LamprologusLC

Hard water. Needs hard, alkaline water, like its rift lake.

Lake Tanganyika: shell-strewn sand with scattered rocks, usually 6-12 m

Ocellatus shell-dweller

Lamprologus ocellatus

Lake Tanganyika: shell-strewn sand with scattered rocks, usually 6-12 m · lake

Temperature
23–27°C
pH
7.5–9
Adult size
2.4 in · 6 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Territorial
Diet
Carnivore
Group
2+
Status in the wild
Least concern

Hard water. Needs hard, alkaline water, like its rift lake.

Photo: Cedricguppy - Loury Cédric, CC BY-SA 4.0

Demasoni

Demasoni ≈

Cichlids · ChindongoVU

Predator. Eats any fish that fits in its mouth.

Lake Malawi: Pombo Rocks, Tanzanian coast

Demasoni

Chindongo demasoni

Lake Malawi: Pombo Rocks, Tanzanian coast · lake

Temperature
24–28°C
pH
7.6–8.8
Adult size
3 in · 7.5 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Mid-water
Temperament
Aggressive
Diet
Herbivore
Group
6+
Status in the wild
Vulnerable

Predator. Eats any fish that fits in its mouth.

Hard water. Needs hard, alkaline water, like its rift lake.

Photo: dinomariobob, CC0

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