Explore our growing database of freshwater fish species. Each profile includes detailed care requirements, compatibility data, and environmental needs to help you build the perfect aquarium.
Glossolepis leggetti
A rare and highly active schooling fish native to the Wapoga and Tiawiwa River systems in West Papua, Indonesia. Known for its distinct sexual dimorphism as it matures, with males developing a deep arch and striking green/blue iridescence. Like most rainbowfish, they require highly oxygenated water, moderate flow, and significant horizontal swimming space.
Neolamprologus leleupi
A striking, torpedo-shaped cichlid endemic to the rocky shores of Lake Tanganyika. Famous for its intense yellow or orange coloration. They are highly territorial cave-dwellers that require hard, alkaline water. Due to their aggression toward their own kind, they are best kept as a solitary specimen or a confirmed breeding pair.
Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis
A peaceful, deep-bodied schooling tetra known for its translucent yellow coloration and striking black and yellow fins. They are robust and active, making them an excellent choice for planted community aquariums. Their colors intensify significantly in a well-established tank with a dark substrate and proper schooling numbers.
Ctenopoma acutirostre
A fascinating, ancient African anabantoid that mimics a dead leaf to ambush prey. They possess a surprisingly large, extendable mouth. While slow-moving and generally peaceful towards fish too large to swallow, they are efficient predators of small fish and invertebrates. They are crepuscular (active at twilight) and require structure (wood/plants) to feel secure.
Corydoras leopardus
A peaceful, highly social bottom-dwelling catfish known for its striking leopard-like spots and elongated snout. Unlike many fish, Corydoras require fine sand substrate to prevent severe damage to their delicate sensory barbels. They are obligate shoaling fish and must be kept in groups of at least 6 to feel secure and display natural continuous foraging behaviors.
Peckoltia compta
A highly sought-after, striking yellow and black banded pleco native to the fast-flowing Tapajós river basin in Brazil. They are omnivores that appreciate a balanced diet including meaty foods and wood. Due to their natural habitat, they require warm, highly oxygenated water and plenty of caves or driftwood for hiding.
Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps
The Leopard or Sailfin Pleco is a massive, heavily armored suckermouth catfish known for its striking spotted pattern and huge dorsal fin. While excellent algae eaters when young, they grow enormous, produce extreme amounts of waste, and require massive aquariums. They are notorious for uprooting plants and may suck the slime coat off flat-bodied fish (like Discus) at night.
Potamotrygon leopoldi
The Black Diamond or Leopoldi Stingray is a spectacular, high-value freshwater ray native to the Xingu River basin in Brazil. They are deep black with striking white spots. As massive bottom-dwellers, they require colossal aquariums with pristine water quality, immense biological filtration, and soft sand substrates to prevent fatal bacterial infections on their undersides. Note: They possess a venomous tail spine.
Macrognathus aculeatus
A fascinating, elongated bottom-dweller known for its pointed snout. It is primarily nocturnal and spends much of its time buried in the substrate. While peaceful with fish too large to eat, it is an opportunistic predator that will consume small fish, shrimp, and fry. A soft sand substrate is absolutely mandatory to prevent severe bacterial skin infections from burrowing.
Parosphromenus deissneri
A highly specialized, stunningly beautiful nano labyrinth fish native to the blackwater peat swamps of Southeast Asia. They are considered an advanced-level species because they require extremely soft, highly acidic water (often reverse osmosis) and a diet of live foods. Extremely shy, they are easily outcompeted for food and are highly recommended for species-only setups with copious leaf litter and dim lighting.
Sorubim lima
A highly distinctive, predatory catfish native to South America known for its elongated, flattened snout resembling a duckbill. They frequently rest vertically or head-down among driftwood to camouflage themselves. While generally peaceful toward fish too large to be eaten, they are highly effective nocturnal ambush predators and will swallow any tank mate that fits into their surprisingly large mouths.
Nimbochromis livingstonii
A large, highly predatory African cichlid (Haplochromine) from Lake Malawi. Famous for its unique ambush hunting strategy called thanatosis: it lies flat on the sand substrate pretending to be dead to lure small fish, then snaps them up. They require hard, alkaline water, a very large tank, and a sandy substrate to exhibit natural behaviors. Anything that fits in its mouth will be eaten.
Brycinus longipinnis
A robust, active schooling fish native to the fast-flowing rivers and streams of West Africa. They are characterized by their striking silver bodies and large, expressive eyes. Due to their size, speed, and energetic nature, they require a spacious aquarium with strong water flow and plenty of horizontal swimming space.
Lepomis megalotis
A strikingly beautiful North American native fish often likened to a cold-water cichlid. Known for their brilliant blue and orange coloration and elongated opercular flaps ('ears'). They are highly territorial, predatory, and require a large, unheated or cool-water aquarium with plenty of structure.
Lepisosteus osseus
A primitive, highly predatory fish native to North America. Known for its extremely elongated snout filled with teeth and tough, armor-like ganoid scales. As an ambush predator that breathes atmospheric air, it often hovers motionless near the surface. Due to its massive adult size, it is strictly considered a 'Monster Fish' suitable only for massive custom enclosures, indoor ponds, or public aquariums. It will consume any tank mate small enough to fit in its mouth.
Chilatherina lorentzii
A rare and beautiful rainbowfish native to slow-flowing, shaded rainforest streams in New Guinea. They thrive in unusually warm, alkaline waters compared to some other rainbowfish. As active, schooling fish, they require plenty of swimming space alongside dense planting and floating plants to mimic their natural shadowed habitat.
Loricaria lata
A large species of whiptail catfish endemic to the Araguaia river basin in Brazil. Historically associated with the L-number L010 in the aquarium trade. They possess heavily armored, flattened bodies and long filamentous tails. Due to their impressive adult size (up to 27cm SL), they require spacious aquariums with sandy substrates to prevent damage to their delicate barbels and allow natural foraging.
Loricaria lentiginosa
A truly massive, prehistoric-looking whiptail catfish native to the upper Paraná River basin in Brazil. It is one of the largest species in its subfamily, capable of reaching over 50cm (20 inches) in standard length. Like many Loricaria, they are peaceful, bottom-dwelling sand-sifters, and males are paternal lip-brooders (carrying eggs on their mouths). Due to their extreme size, adults require enormous footprint aquariums or indoor ponds.
Loricaria lundbergi
A slender, highly camouflaged whiptail catfish native to the deep, blackwater river channels of the Rio Negro and Rio Madeira basins. Unlike many suckermouth catfish, they are primarily insectivores and detritivores, actively sifting through the substrate for aquatic insect larvae rather than eating algae. They are peaceful, facultative air-breathers that require a soft sand substrate to prevent damage to their delicate mouths.
Loricaria pumila
Loricaria pumila is a small, slender whiptail catfish endemic to the lower Amazon basin. Named for its dwarfish size, it rarely exceeds 8cm. It is a highly camouflaged, peaceful bottom-dweller that inhabits deep river channels over silt and organic detritus. In the aquarium, it requires a soft sand substrate to sift through, along with driftwood and leaf litter. Unlike plecos, it is an omnivorous micropredator and detritivore, feeding on small insect larvae rather than relying heavily on algae or wood.
Loricaria spinulifera
Loricaria spinulifera, sometimes known as the Spiny Whiptail Catfish, is a highly camouflaged, slender bottom-dweller endemic to the deep river channels of the Amazon and Rio Negro basins. Adapted to low-light environments, it possesses reduced eyes and prominent thorn-like sensory odontodes on its head. It is an extremely peaceful detritivore that absolutely requires a soft sand substrate to sift for food without damaging its delicate mouthparts.
Corydoras loxozonus
A peaceful, bottom-dwelling catfish native to the Rio Meta basin in Colombia. Known for the distinctive diagonal black stripe across its back and a mask over its eyes. Like all Corydoras, they are highly social and must be kept in groups. A soft, sandy substrate is strictly required to prevent damage to their delicate barbels as they sift for food.
Aphyosemion australe
A highly popular and stunning African killifish. Unlike 'annual' killifish that die after a single breeding season, Aphyosemion australe is a 'non-annual' species that can live for 3+ years in an aquarium. They are notorious jumpers and require a tight-fitting lid. Best kept in heavily planted aquariums with soft, acidic water.
Melanotaenia maccullochi
A smaller, peaceful species of rainbowfish native to Australia and Papua New Guinea. They feature striking silver/yellow bodies with horizontal red, brown, or orange stripes. Unlike larger Melanotaenia species, their smaller size makes them suitable for medium aquariums. They are highly active schooling fish that require open swimming space and display their best colors in the morning.
