Freshwater aquarium fish A–Z
150 species with researched care data: tank size, water, tank mates and more.
- Oddballs & others
African butterfly fish
Pantodon buchholzi
11 cm (4.3 in) · 29+ gal · Moderate
24–28°C (75–82°F)
- Frogs
African dwarf frog
Hymenochirus boettgeri
3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 10+ gal · Easy
22–26°C (72–79°F)
- Cichlids
Agassiz's dwarf cichlid
Apistogramma agassizii
7 cm (2.8 in) · 20+ gal · Moderate
25–29°C (77–84°F)
- Shrimp
Amano shrimp
Caridina multidentata
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 10+ gal · Easy
20–27°C (68–81°F)
- Cichlids
Angelfish
Pterophyllum scalare
15 cm (5.9 in) · 29+ gal · Moderate
24–29°C (75–84°F)
- Snails
Assassin snail
Anentome helena
2.5 cm (1 in) · 5+ gal · Easy
22–27°C (72–81°F)
- Sharks & algae eaters
Bala shark
Balantiocheilos melanopterus
30 cm (11.8 in) · 230+ gal · Hard
22–28°C (72–82°F)
- Shrimp
Bamboo shrimp
Atyopsis moluccensis
8 cm (3.1 in) · 20+ gal · Moderate
23–28°C (73–82°F)
- Bettas & gouramis
Betta fish
Betta splendens
6.5 cm (2.6 in) · 5+ gal · Easy
24–28°C (75–82°F)
- Oddballs & others
Black ghost knifefish
Apteronotus albifrons
45 cm (17.7 in) · 125+ gal · Hard
24–28°C (75–82°F)
- Tetras
Black neon tetra
Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi
4 cm (1.6 in) · 20+ gal · Easy
23–27°C (73–81°F)
- Tetras
Black phantom tetra
Megalamphodus megalopterus
4 cm (1.6 in) · 20+ gal · Easy
22–28°C (72–82°F)
- Barbs
Black ruby barb
Pethia nigrofasciata
6 cm (2.4 in) · 20+ gal · Easy
22–26°C (72–79°F)
- Tetras
Black skirt tetra
Gymnocorymbus ternetzi
6 cm (2.4 in) · 20+ gal · Easy
22–26°C (72–79°F)
- Tetras
Bleeding heart tetra
Megalamphodus erythrostigma
6.5 cm (2.6 in) · 29+ gal · Easy
23–27°C (73–81°F)
- Cichlids
Blood parrot cichlid
Hybrid (likely Amphilophus citrinellus × Vieja melanurus)
20 cm (7.9 in) · 55+ gal · Moderate
24–27°C (75–81°F)
- Tetras
Bloodfin tetra
Aphyocharax anisitsi
5 cm (2 in) · 20+ gal · Easy
20–26°C (68–79°F)
- Rainbowfish
Boesemani rainbowfish
Melanotaenia boesemani
10 cm (3.9 in) · 29+ gal · Easy
26–29°C (79–84°F)
- Cichlids
Bolivian ram
Mikrogeophagus altispinosus
8 cm (3.1 in) · 29+ gal · Easy
24–27°C (75–81°F)
- Catfish & plecos
Bristlenose pleco
Ancistrus cf. cirrhosus
12 cm (4.7 in) · 20+ gal · Easy
22–26°C (72–79°F)
- Catfish & plecos
Bronze corydoras
Osteogaster aenea
7 cm (2.8 in) · 20+ gal · Easy
21–26°C (70–79°F)
- Tetras
Buenos Aires tetra
Psalidodon anisitsi
7 cm (2.8 in) · 29+ gal · Easy
18–25°C (64–77°F)
- Catfish & plecos
Bumblebee catfish
Microglanis iheringi
7.5 cm (3 in) · 20+ gal · Easy
22–26°C (72–79°F)
- Tetras
Cardinal tetra
Paracheirodon axelrodi
4 cm (1.6 in) · 15+ gal · Moderate
23–28°C (73–82°F)
- Rasboras, danios & minnows
Celestial pearl danio
Danio margaritatus
2.5 cm (1 in) · 10+ gal · Moderate
20–25°C (68–77°F)
- Barbs
Checkerboard barb
Oliotius oligolepis
5 cm (2 in) · 20+ gal · Easy
20–25°C (68–77°F)
- Barbs
Cherry barb
Puntius titteya
5 cm (2 in) · 15+ gal · Easy
23–27°C (73–81°F)
- Shrimp
Cherry shrimp
Neocaridina davidi
3 cm (1.2 in) · 5+ gal · Easy
20–27°C (68–81°F)
- Rasboras, danios & minnows
Chili rasbora
Boraras brigittae
2 cm (0.8 in) · 10+ gal · Moderate
22–27°C (72–81°F)
- Sharks & algae eaters
Chinese algae eater
Gyrinocheilus aymonieri
25 cm (9.8 in) · 80+ gal · Moderate
22–26°C (72–79°F)
- Killifish & topwater fish
Clown killifish
Epiplatys annulatus
3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 10+ gal · Moderate
22–26°C (72–79°F)
- Loaches
Clown loach
Chromobotia macracanthus
25 cm (9.8 in) · 180+ gal · Moderate
25–30°C (77–86°F)
- Catfish & plecos
Clown pleco
Panaqolus maccus
9 cm (3.5 in) · 20+ gal · Easy
24–28°C (75–82°F)
- Cichlids
Cockatoo cichlid
Apistogramma cacatuoides
7.5 cm (3 in) · 20+ gal · Moderate
24–28°C (75–82°F)
- Goldfish
Common goldfish
Carassius auratus
30 cm (11.8 in) · 75+ gal · Easy
15–22°C (59–72°F)
- Catfish & plecos
Common pleco
Pterygoplichthys pardalis
40 cm (15.7 in) · 150+ gal · Moderate
23–28°C (73–82°F)
- Tetras
Congo tetra
Phenacogrammus interruptus
8 cm (3.1 in) · 40+ gal · Moderate
23–27°C (73–81°F)
- Cichlids
Convict cichlid
Amatitlania nigrofasciata
12 cm (4.7 in) · 29+ gal · Easy
24–28°C (75–82°F)
- Shrimp
Crystal red shrimp
Caridina cf. cantonensis
3 cm (1.2 in) · 10+ gal · Moderate
20–24°C (68–75°F)
- Cichlids
Demasoni cichlid
Chindongo demasoni
8 cm (3.1 in) · 55+ gal · Hard
24–27°C (75–81°F)
- Barbs
Denison barb
Sahyadria denisonii
13 cm (5.1 in) · 75+ gal · Moderate
20–25°C (68–77°F)
- Tetras
Diamond tetra
Makunaima pittieri
6 cm (2.4 in) · 20+ gal · Easy
24–28°C (75–82°F)
- Cichlids
Discus
Symphysodon spp.
15 cm (5.9 in) · 75+ gal · Hard
28–30°C (82–86°F)
- Loaches
Dojo loach
Misgurnus anguillicaudatus
15 cm (5.9 in) · 75+ gal · Easy
18–23°C (64–73°F)
- Loaches
Dwarf chain loach
Ambastaia sidthimunki
6 cm (2.4 in) · 29+ gal · Moderate
24–28°C (75–82°F)
- Bettas & gouramis
Dwarf gourami
Trichogaster lalius
7.5 cm (3 in) · 15+ gal · Moderate
24–28°C (75–82°F)
- Rainbowfish
Dwarf neon rainbowfish
Melanotaenia praecox
6 cm (2.4 in) · 20+ gal · Easy
23–27°C (73–81°F)
- Crayfish & crabs
Dwarf orange crayfish
Cambarellus patzcuarensis (orange form)
4 cm (1.6 in) · 10+ gal · Easy
18–24°C (64–75°F)
- Rasboras, danios & minnows
Dwarf rasbora
Boraras maculatus
2.5 cm (1 in) · 10+ gal · Moderate
24–27°C (75–81°F)
- Cichlids
Electric blue acara
Andinoacara pulcher (electric blue form)
15 cm (5.9 in) · 40+ gal · Moderate
23–27°C (73–81°F)
- Cichlids
Electric yellow cichlid
Labidochromis caeruleus
10 cm (3.9 in) · 55+ gal · Easy
24–27°C (75–81°F)
- Tetras
Ember tetra
Hyphessobrycon amandae
2 cm (0.8 in) · 10+ gal · Easy
23–28°C (73–82°F)
- Catfish & plecos
Emerald green corydoras
Brochis splendens
8 cm (3.1 in) · 55+ gal · Easy
22–27°C (72–81°F)
- Tetras
Emperor tetra
Nematobrycon palmeri
5 cm (2 in) · 20+ gal · Easy
23–27°C (73–81°F)
- Livebearers
Endler's livebearer
Poecilia wingei
3 cm (1.2 in) · 10+ gal · Easy
24–28°C (75–82°F)
- Goldfish
Fancy goldfish
Carassius auratus (fancy varieties)
15 cm (5.9 in) · 20+ gal · Moderate
18–23°C (64–73°F)
- Cichlids
Firemouth cichlid
Thorichthys meeki
13 cm (5.1 in) · 29+ gal · Easy
24–28°C (75–82°F)
- Tetras
Flame tetra
Hyphessobrycon flammeus
3 cm (1.2 in) · 15+ gal · Moderate
22–26°C (72–79°F)
- Rainbowfish
Forktail blue-eye
Pseudomugil furcatus
5 cm (2 in) · 20+ gal · Moderate
24–27°C (75–81°F)
- Cichlids
Frontosa
Cyphotilapia frontosa
30 cm (11.8 in) · 200+ gal · Moderate
24–27°C (75–81°F)
- Killifish & topwater fish
Gardneri killifish
Fundulopanchax gardneri
6 cm (2.4 in) · 10+ gal · Easy
21–25°C (70–77°F)
- Cichlids
German blue ram
Mikrogeophagus ramirezi
6 cm (2.4 in) · 20+ gal · Hard
27–30°C (81–86°F)
- Shrimp
Ghost shrimp
Palaemonetes paludosus
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 10+ gal · Easy
20–27°C (68–81°F)
- Rasboras, danios & minnows
Giant danio
Devario aequipinnatus
10 cm (3.9 in) · 55+ gal · Easy
21–25°C (70–77°F)
- Catfish & plecos
Glass catfish
Kryptopterus vitreolus
7 cm (2.8 in) · 29+ gal · Moderate
23–26°C (73–79°F)
- Rasboras, danios & minnows
Glowlight danio
Danio choprae
3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 20+ gal · Easy
20–24°C (68–75°F)
- Tetras
Glowlight tetra
Hemigrammus erythrozonus
4 cm (1.6 in) · 15+ gal · Easy
24–28°C (75–82°F)
- Barbs
Gold barb
Barbodes semifasciolatus
7 cm (2.8 in) · 29+ gal · Easy
18–24°C (64–75°F)
- Killifish & topwater fish
Golden wonder killifish
Aplocheilus lineatus
9 cm (3.5 in) · 20+ gal · Easy
22–26°C (72–79°F)
- Tetras
Green neon tetra
Paracheirodon simulans
2.5 cm (1 in) · 10+ gal · Moderate
24–27°C (75–81°F)
- Cichlids
Green terror
Andinoacara rivulatus
20 cm (7.9 in) · 80+ gal · Moderate
20–24°C (68–75°F)
- Livebearers
Guppy
Poecilia reticulata
5 cm (2 in) · 10+ gal · Easy
22–27°C (72–81°F)
- Rasboras, danios & minnows
Harlequin rasbora
Trigonostigma heteromorpha
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 15+ gal · Easy
22–27°C (72–81°F)
- Tetras
Head and tail light tetra
Holopristis ocellifera
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 20+ gal · Easy
23–27°C (73–81°F)
- Loaches
Hillstream loach
Sewellia lineolata
6.5 cm (2.6 in) · 20+ gal · Moderate
20–24°C (68–75°F)
- Bettas & gouramis
Honey gourami
Trichogaster chuna
5 cm (2 in) · 10+ gal · Easy
23–27°C (73–81°F)
- Cichlids
Jack Dempsey
Rocio octofasciata
20 cm (7.9 in) · 55+ gal · Moderate
22–28°C (72–82°F)
- Cichlids
Jewel cichlid
Rubricatochromis spp. (formerly Hemichromis)
10 cm (3.9 in) · 40+ gal · Moderate
24–27°C (75–81°F)
- Catfish & plecos
Julii corydoras
Hoplisoma trilineatum
5.5 cm (2.2 in) · 20+ gal · Easy
22–26°C (72–79°F)
- Cichlids
Keyhole cichlid
Cleithracara maronii
10 cm (3.9 in) · 29+ gal · Easy
22–26°C (72–79°F)
- Bettas & gouramis
Kissing gourami
Helostoma temminckii
20 cm (7.9 in) · 75+ gal · Moderate
24–28°C (75–82°F)
- Cichlids
Kribensis
Pelvicachromis pulcher
10 cm (3.9 in) · 29+ gal · Easy
24–27°C (75–81°F)
- Rasboras, danios & minnows
Kubotai rasbora
Microdevario kubotai
2 cm (0.8 in) · 15+ gal · Moderate
22–26°C (72–79°F)
- Loaches
Kuhli loach
Pangio semicincta
9 cm (3.5 in) · 20+ gal · Easy
24–27°C (75–81°F)
- Rasboras, danios & minnows
Lambchop rasbora
Trigonostigma espei
3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 15+ gal · Easy
23–27°C (73–81°F)
- Livebearers
Least killifish
Heterandria formosa
2.5 cm (1 in) · 10+ gal · Easy
20–26°C (68–79°F)
- Tetras
Lemon tetra
Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 20+ gal · Easy
23–27°C (73–81°F)
- Snails
Malaysian trumpet snail
Melanoides tuberculata
2.5 cm (1 in) · 10+ gal · Easy
20–27°C (68–81°F)
- Tetras
Marbled hatchetfish
Carnegiella strigata
3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 20+ gal · Moderate
24–28°C (75–82°F)
- Livebearers
Molly
Poecilia spp. (mainly P. sphenops, P. latipinna and their hybrids)
10 cm (3.9 in) · 29+ gal · Moderate
24–27°C (75–81°F)
- Bettas & gouramis
Moonlight gourami
Trichopodus microlepis
14 cm (5.5 in) · 29+ gal · Easy
25–29°C (77–84°F)
- Snails
Mystery snail
Pomacea diffusa
5 cm (2 in) · 10+ gal · Easy
21–26°C (70–79°F)
- Tetras
Neon tetra
Paracheirodon innesi
3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 15+ gal · Easy
21–25°C (70–77°F)
- Snails
Nerite snail
Neritina natalensis
2.5 cm (1 in) · 5+ gal · Easy
22–27°C (72–81°F)
- Barbs
Odessa barb
Pethia padamya
6 cm (2.4 in) · 20+ gal · Easy
20–25°C (68–77°F)
- Cichlids
Oscar
Astronotus ocellatus
30 cm (11.8 in) · 75+ gal · Moderate
23–27°C (73–81°F)
- Catfish & plecos
Otocinclus
Otocinclus vittatus
4 cm (1.6 in) · 20+ gal · Moderate
21–26°C (70–79°F)
- Catfish & plecos
Panda corydoras
Hoplisoma panda
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 15+ gal · Moderate
21–25°C (70–77°F)
- Sharks & algae eaters
Panda garra
Garra flavatra
8.5 cm (3.3 in) · 29+ gal · Moderate
22–25°C (72–77°F)
- Bettas & gouramis
Paradise fish
Macropodus opercularis
8 cm (3.1 in) · 20+ gal · Easy
16–24°C (61–75°F)
- Oddballs & others
Pea puffer
Carinotetraodon travancoricus
2.5 cm (1 in) · 5+ gal · Moderate
24–28°C (75–82°F)
- Cichlids
Peacock cichlid
Aulonocara spp. (and hybrids)
13 cm (5.1 in) · 75+ gal · Moderate
24–27°C (75–81°F)
- Oddballs & others
Peacock gudgeon
Tateurndina ocellicauda
6 cm (2.4 in) · 15+ gal · Easy
22–26°C (72–79°F)
- Rasboras, danios & minnows
Pearl danio
Danio albolineatus
6 cm (2.4 in) · 20+ gal · Easy
20–25°C (68–77°F)
- Bettas & gouramis
Pearl gourami
Trichopodus leerii
11.5 cm (4.5 in) · 29+ gal · Easy
24–28°C (75–82°F)
- Tetras
Penguin tetra
Thayeria boehlkei
5 cm (2 in) · 20+ gal · Easy
22–28°C (72–82°F)
- Catfish & plecos
Peppered corydoras
Hoplisoma paleatum
6.5 cm (2.6 in) · 20+ gal · Easy
20–25°C (68–77°F)
- Catfish & plecos
Pictus catfish
Pimelodus pictus
13 cm (5.1 in) · 75+ gal · Moderate
22–25°C (72–77°F)
- Livebearers
Platy
Xiphophorus maculatus
6 cm (2.4 in) · 15+ gal · Easy
20–26°C (68–79°F)
- Catfish & plecos
Pygmy corydoras
Gastrodermus pygmaeus
2.5 cm (1 in) · 10+ gal · Moderate
22–26°C (72–79°F)
- Snails
Rabbit snail
Tylomelania spp.
8 cm (3.1 in) · 29+ gal · Moderate
25–29°C (77–84°F)
- Sharks & algae eaters
Rainbow shark
Epalzeorhynchos frenatum
15 cm (5.9 in) · 75+ gal · Moderate
22–26°C (72–79°F)
- Snails
Ramshorn snail
Planorbella duryi
2 cm (0.8 in) · 5+ gal · Easy
21–27°C (70–81°F)
- Rainbowfish
Red rainbowfish
Glossolepis incisa
12 cm (4.7 in) · 40+ gal · Easy
24–28°C (75–82°F)
- Cichlids
Red zebra cichlid
Maylandia estherae
11 cm (4.3 in) · 55+ gal · Moderate
24–27°C (75–81°F)
- Sharks & algae eaters
Red-tail shark
Epalzeorhynchos bicolor
12 cm (4.7 in) · 75+ gal · Moderate
22–26°C (72–79°F)
- Oddballs & others
Ropefish
Erpetoichthys calabaricus
35 cm (13.8 in) · 75+ gal · Moderate
24–28°C (75–82°F)
- Barbs
Rosy barb
Pethia conchonius
9 cm (3.5 in) · 29+ gal · Easy
18–24°C (64–75°F)
- Loaches
Rosy loach
Physoschistura mango
2.5 cm (1 in) · 15+ gal · Moderate
22–26°C (72–79°F)
- Tetras
Rosy tetra
Megalamphodus rosaceus
4 cm (1.6 in) · 20+ gal · Moderate
24–28°C (75–82°F)
- Catfish & plecos
Rubber lip pleco
Chaetostoma milesi
14 cm (5.5 in) · 29+ gal · Moderate
21–25°C (70–77°F)
- Tetras
Rummy-nose tetra
Petitella bleheri
5 cm (2 in) · 29+ gal · Moderate
24–28°C (75–82°F)
- Oddballs & others
Scarlet badis
Dario dario
2 cm (0.8 in) · 10+ gal · Moderate
22–26°C (72–79°F)
- Rasboras, danios & minnows
Scissortail rasbora
Rasbora trilineata
12 cm (4.7 in) · 55+ gal · Moderate
22–25°C (72–77°F)
- Oddballs & others
Senegal bichir
Polypterus senegalus
30 cm (11.8 in) · 90+ gal · Moderate
24–28°C (75–82°F)
- Tetras
Serpae tetra
Megalamphodus eques
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 20+ gal · Easy
22–26°C (72–79°F)
- Cichlids
Severum
Heros severus
20 cm (7.9 in) · 55+ gal · Moderate
24–28°C (75–82°F)
- Cichlids
Shell dweller cichlid
Neolamprologus multifasciatus
4 cm (1.6 in) · 10+ gal · Easy
24–27°C (75–81°F)
- Sharks & algae eaters
Siamese algae eater
Crossocheilus oblongus
15 cm (5.9 in) · 55+ gal · Moderate
22–26°C (72–79°F)
- Oddballs & others
Silver dollar
Metynnis spp. (mainly M. argenteus and M. hypsauchen)
15 cm (5.9 in) · 75+ gal · Moderate
24–28°C (75–82°F)
- Tetras
Silvertip tetra
Hasemania nana
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 20+ gal · Easy
23–27°C (73–81°F)
- Bettas & gouramis
Sparkling gourami
Trichopsis pumila
3.8 cm (1.5 in) · 10+ gal · Moderate
24–28°C (75–82°F)
- Catfish & plecos
Sterbai corydoras
Hoplisoma sterbai
6.5 cm (2.6 in) · 20+ gal · Easy
23–28°C (73–82°F)
- Livebearers
Swordtail
Xiphophorus hellerii
12 cm (4.7 in) · 29+ gal · Easy
22–26°C (72–79°F)
- Crayfish & crabs
Thai micro crab
Limnopilos naiyanetri
1 cm (0.4 in) · 5+ gal · Moderate
22–27°C (72–81°F)
- Bettas & gouramis
Thick-lipped gourami
Trichogaster labiosa
9 cm (3.5 in) · 20+ gal · Easy
23–27°C (73–81°F)
- Rainbowfish
Threadfin rainbowfish
Iriatherina werneri
4 cm (1.6 in) · 20+ gal · Moderate
24–28°C (75–82°F)
- Bettas & gouramis
Three spot gourami
Trichopodus trichopterus
12 cm (4.7 in) · 29+ gal · Easy
24–28°C (75–82°F)
- Barbs
Tiger barb
Puntigrus tetrazona
7 cm (2.8 in) · 29+ gal · Easy
22–27°C (72–81°F)
- Barbs
Tinfoil barb
Barbonymus schwanefeldii
30 cm (11.8 in) · 200+ gal · Hard
22–26°C (72–79°F)
- Rainbowfish
Turquoise rainbowfish
Melanotaenia lacustris
11 cm (4.3 in) · 29+ gal · Easy
22–25°C (72–77°F)
- Catfish & plecos
Upside-down catfish
Synodontis nigriventris
9.5 cm (3.7 in) · 29+ gal · Moderate
24–27°C (75–81°F)
- Shrimp
Vampire shrimp
Atya gabonensis
10 cm (3.9 in) · 20+ gal · Moderate
24–28°C (75–82°F)
- Livebearers
Variatus platy
Xiphophorus variatus
6 cm (2.4 in) · 15+ gal · Easy
18–25°C (64–77°F)
- Rasboras, danios & minnows
White cloud mountain minnow
Tanichthys albonubes
4 cm (1.6 in) · 15+ gal · Easy
16–22°C (61–72°F)
- Tetras
X-ray tetra
Pristella maxillaris
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 15+ gal · Easy
24–28°C (75–82°F)
- Loaches
Yoyo loach
Botia almorhae
13 cm (5.1 in) · 75+ gal · Moderate
24–27°C (75–81°F)
- Rasboras, danios & minnows
Zebra danio
Danio rerio
5 cm (2 in) · 20+ gal · Easy
18–25°C (64–77°F)
- Loaches
Zebra loach
Botia striata
9 cm (3.5 in) · 29+ gal · Moderate
23–26°C (73–79°F)
- Catfish & plecos
Zebra pleco
Hypancistrus zebra
8 cm (3.1 in) · 20+ gal · Moderate
26–30°C (79–86°F)