Spot-tail (Brycinus imberi)

Scientific name: Brycinus imberi Peters, 1852

The Spot-tail (Brycinus imberi) is a freshwater fish of the family Alestidae. In the aquarium it needs water at 22–26°C (72–79°F).

Spot-tail care at a glance

Temperature: 22–26°C (72–79°F)

Biology

Found in shallow and sheltered waters of swampy bays. Generally restricted to shallow waters where they may be found in various habitats such as over sand, rock or, less frequently, in aquatic weed beds. Common in shallow vegetated areas. Also found in large rivers and floodplain pans and lagoons. Feeds on insects, tiny fishes, vegetable matters and crustaceans. Main predator is the tigerfish. Breeds in summer, migrating to spawning sites after rains. Migrates to tributary rivers and floodplains when the rivers come down in spate. Known to mass at river mouths while waiting for suitable conditions to trigger off the breeding migrations upstream. Used as live bait for tigerfish and large catfish. Affinities: B. carolinae, with lateral stripe; B. nigricau

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Brycinus imberi
Family: Alestidae (African tetras)
Order: Characiformes (Characins)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 19.8
Environment: Freshwater;; pH range: 6.0 - 6.5; dH range: 4 - 18 demersal; potamodromous
Climate: Tropical
Distribution: Africa: Mono River in Togo to Nipou? River in Liberia; lower Zambezi, Wami River in Tanzania to Pongolo River in South Africa; Lakes Malawi, Rukwa, Rufiji and Ruvuma; Congo basin; on the western coast in the Quanza and the Nyanga, Tanganyika tributaries, Lake Kariba, Cunene River.
Conservation status (IUCN): Least Concern (LC)
Threat to humans: Harmless
Uses: Fisheries: subsistence fisheries; aquarium: commercial; bait: usually
Resilience: High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (K=1.4; tmax=5)