Edit Enteromius hulstaerti

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Name

Scientific name

Enteromius hulstaerti

Described by

Authority Poll, Year 1945, Bracketed

Family

Cyprinidae

Common names

African Butterfly Barb

Photograph credits

All 5 credited

Summary

The African butterfly barb, Enteromius hulstaerti, is a cyprinid endemic to DR Congo, in rainforest south and east of the main Congo River …

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

35mm, standard length

Aquarium size

Minimum length 45 cm, Minimum depth 30 cm, Water movement Low: still or sluggish water

Water

Water conditions

Temperature 17–24°C, pH 5–6.5

Hardness

1–5dGH

Conductivity

Not recorded

Behaviour

Temperament

Not recorded

Community suitability

Not for a community

Where it lives

Countries, regions, rivers and lakes

DR Congo, Bowa, Congo, Maringa, Momboyo, Pimo, Tshuapa

Writing

Etymology

Not written yet

Distribution

Endemic to the Democratic Republic of Congo in central Africa where it has been recorded from central parts of the Congo River drainage within the great area o…

Habitat

Inhabits typical slow-moving, shallow, shady rainforest streams and swamps with dense marginal vegetation. The water is stained brown due to the release of tan…

Aquarium size

Base dimensions of at least 45 ∗ 30 cm or equivalent are recommended.

Maintenance

This species can be maintained quite successfully in a well-planted tank with soft water but to see it at its best a biotope-style set-up is recommended. A sof…

Water conditions

Temperature: 17 – 24 °C. Setting the temperature towards the lower end of this range helps to ensure an even ratio of sexes when breeding the species (see belo…

Diet

Stomach analyses of wild specimens have shown it to feed chiefly on aquatic insect larvae and tiny crustaceans. In the aquarium it will accept dried foods of a…

Behaviour and compatibility

'B.' hulstaerti is not really suitable for most community tanks as it has something of a shy, retiring nature and may be intimidated or outcompeted for food by…

Sexual dimorphism

Males are much the more brightly-coloured sex, especially when inbreeding condition, whereas females tend to be duller in the body, lack yellow colouration in …

Reproduction

This species is a seasonal spawner with breeding activity occuring over two periods each year from March to June and September to November. Like many small cyp…

This species is a seasonal spawner with breeding activity occuring over two periods each year from March to June and September to November. Like many small cyprinids it is an egg-scattering, continuous spawner that exhibits zero parental care.

That is to say when in good condition and in the presence of both males and females relatively small numbers of eggs will be laid daily. In a properly-furnished aquarium as described above it is therefore possible that small numbers of fry may start to appear without human intervention.

However if you want to increase the yield of fry a slightly more controlled approach is required. The adult group can still be conditioned together but one or more small, say 12" x 8" x 8"/30cm x 20cm x 20cm/12.5 litre, containers should also be set up. Water chemistry parameters ought to be within the values suggested above.

Temperature is also important as most breeders have found that if the eggs and fry are raised above 21 – 22 °C70 – 72 °F the majority of them will turn out to be male whereas if they are maintained within the range 17 – 20 °C63 – 68 °F a more even, and desirable, spread of genders is the result.

Decor can be very simple; a couple of sinking spawning mops or good-sized clumps of Java moss will give the fish somewhere to deposit their eggs and a handful or two of real peat fibre will help to create the correct water conditions. If you prefer to keep the base of the tank bare for maintenance purposes a small air-powered box filter filled with peat and set to turn over slowly is a good alternative, otherwise filtration is not absolutely necessary. The addition of a few oak, beech or Ketapang almond leaves is also a good idea.

A single pair of well-conditioned adult fish should then be introduced to each container. It is wise to make the transfer slowly in order to avoid excessive levels of stress but if conditions are to their liking they should begin to spawn on a daily basis in the evening.

Whether this species eats its eggs or not is unclear although it certainly appears not to actively hunt for them as is the case with many small cyprinids. Once spawning has commenced it should continue sporadically on a daily basis and it is at this point that the spawning mops/plants become doubly effective as they offer refuge for the female when she needs to escape the attentions of the over-zealous male.

The pair(s) can be left in situ to spawn until the first free-swimming fry are noticed. This should be within 7-10 days and at this point the adults are best removed. The tiny young will survive on their yolk sacs for around 2-3 more days after which they will require Paramecium or other microscopic food.

After 6-7 days they should be large enough to accept Artemia nauplii/microworm etc. As the days pass additional fry should start to appear from later spawning events. It's best to wait a week or two before starting to perform small water changes in order to avoid unduly shocking the young fish.

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Where does this come from?

My own experienceFor example, I've kept twelve in a planted 60 cm tank since March 2024.A website I sawFor example, an IUCN Red List assessment, a museum catalogue or a FishBase page.A paperFor example, Marshall et al. (2011), Water temperature differences in interfluvial palm swamp habitats of Paracheirodon axelrodi and P. simulans.A book, or something not onlineFor example, Tappin (2010), Rainbowfishes: their care and keeping in captivity.Something already on the pageFor example, the Behaviour and compatibility section already says this.

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Notes

The scarcity of ornamental fish collections in the Democratic Republic of Congo plus the fact that it hails from the area in which the lethal Ebola virus origi…

References

No references

Name

Scientific name

Described by

Family

Common names

Photograph credits

Summary

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

Aquarium size

Water

Water conditions

Hardness

Conductivity

Behaviour

Temperament

Social needs

Community suitability

Where it lives

Countries, regions, rivers and lakes

Writing

Etymology

Distribution

Habitat

Aquarium size

Maintenance

Water conditions

Diet

Behaviour and compatibility

Sexual dimorphism

Reproduction

Notes

References

References