Distichodus & relatives

The three-lined neolebias, Neolebias trilineatus, is a small distichodontid from the Democratic Republic of Congo. A very shy shoaling fish, it needs a densely planted tank with floating cover and soft, acidic, stained water. Rarely seen in the trade, it often looks quite bland in dealers' tanks but colours up in the correct environment.

The silver distichodus, Distichodus affinis, is an active citharinid from the Lower and Central Congo basin. It develops bright red fins as it matures and some specimens a pink sheen on the underside, and these variations may indicate different species. It will eat most greenery, so it suits a tank furnished with smooth rocks and driftwood better than a planted one.

The one-lined African characin, Nannaethiops unitaeniatus, is a small citharinid from Cameroon, Nigeria, Gabon and both Congo republics. A shy, peaceful fish of streams, small rivers, lakes and ponds, it should be kept in a shoal. Not often seen for sale, it is often confused with similar-looking members of the genus Neolebias, and mature males are smaller, slimmer and more brightly coloured than females.

The African darter characin, Nannocharax brevis, is a citharinid endemic to parts of the River Congo basin in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Nannocharax are notoriously tricky to identify, and more than two species may be sold under the names N. brevis and N. fasciatus. They look superficially very similar to the South American darter characins of the genus Characidium, and this species probably inhabits swiftly-flowing rivers and streams.

Ansorge's neolebias, Neolebias ansorgii, is a small distichodontid from Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Gabon and Benin. It inhabits marshes and small, heavily vegetated ponds and creeks, and does not thrive in a brightly lit setup. Rarely offered for sale, it often looks fairly plain in dealers' tanks but colours up in the correct conditions. A very shy fish, it is ideally kept in a species setup.

The long-nosed distichodus, Distichodus lusosso, is a citharinid from rivers in Cameroon, the Republic of Congo and Democratic Republic of Congo. One of only a handful of Distichodus seen with any regularity in the hobby, it loses much of its juvenile colour and patterning as it matures. It resembles D. sexfasciatus but has a narrow, pointed head, and some specimens become very spiteful with age.

The six-banded distichodus, Distichodus sexfasciatus, is a large citharinid from Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Tanzania. The most common Distichodus in the hobby, it is often sold for the general community tank, which its temperament and size do not suit: it reaches 75 cm, though rarely more than 40 cm in aquaria. Juveniles are orange and black striped with red fins, but much of this colour fades as the fish grows.