Aba (Gymnarchus niloticus)

Scientific name: Gymnarchus niloticus Cuvier, 1829

The Aba (Gymnarchus niloticus) is a freshwater fish of the family Gymnarchidae. In the aquarium it needs water at 23–28°C (73–82°F). Native range: Africa, occurring widely in the Nile, Niger, Volta, Chad, Senegal and Gambia basins and Lake Rudolf.

Aba care at a glance

Temperature: 23–28°C (73–82°F)

Biology

Dorsal spines: 0; Dorsal soft rays: 183-230. Body depth 7.2-10.3 x SL. Head 5.6-6.9 x SL. Snout prominent. Pectorals 1.9-5.0 x head length. Body terminates in thin point. Head without scales. Scales small.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Gymnarchus niloticus
Family: Gymnarchidae (Abas)
Order: Osteoglossiformes (Bony tongues)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 167
Environment: Freshwater;; pH range: 6.5 - 8.0; dH range: 10 - 25 demersal; potamodromous
Climate: Tropical
Distribution: Africa: occurring widely in the Nile, Niger, Volta, Chad, Senegal and Gambia basins and Lake Rudolf.
Conservation status (IUCN): Least Concern (LC)
Threat to humans: Harmless
Uses: Fisheries: commercial
Resilience: Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (K=0.12-0.17)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Last updated 27 September 2026