Purple labeo (Labeo congoro)

Scientific name: Labeo congoro Peters, 1852

Purple labeo (Labeo congoro)

The Purple labeo (Labeo congoro) is a freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae. In the aquarium it needs water at 22–26°C (72–79°F).

Purple labeo care at a glance

Temperature
22–26°C (72–79°F)

Biology

Occurs in strong-flowing rocky stretches of larger perennial rivers. Grazes algae and `aufwuchs' from rocks and firm surfaces including the backs of hippos, leaving characteristic tracks. Migrate upstream in swollen rivers to breed. Can occur as either sail-fin or normal varieties.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Labeo congoro
Family
Cyprinidae (Minnows or carps)
Order
Cypriniformes (Carps)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
41.5
Environment
Freshwater; benthopelagic; potamodromous
Climate
Subtropical
Distribution
Africa: Zambezi river and the Incomati system. Present in the warm sections of the Middle Zambezi, Pungwe, Buzi, Sabi and Lundi rivers but absent from the cooler sections. Also from the rivers of Tanzania, the Luapula-Moero region of the Congo basin and Malagarasi River in Lake Tanganyika.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Least Concern (LC)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: subsistence fisheries; gamefish: yes
Resilience
Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Sources

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

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