Congo Schooler

About

A rarely described African characin from the Congo basin, Alestes bimaculatus inhabits rivers and the nearshore zones of lakes across Cameroon, the Republic of Congo, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with additional records from the Chiloango River system. In the wild it is an opportunistic carnivore. Stomach content studies have turned up sand, filamentous algae, plant debris, aquatic invertebrates like Povilla, and insect remains, suggesting it takes whatever it can find. Juveniles lean heavily on tiny crustaceans and small insects as they grow. In the aquarium this species is best kept in a group, as it is a natural shoaler that spends most of its time cruising the middle of the water column. A group makes them noticeably more settled and allows the fish to display their natural social behaviors. Given their adult size and active swimming style, a spacious tank is a must. A 45-gallon setup is really the minimum to do them justice. This species sits comfortably at an intermediate care level, suited to keepers who have some experience managing active schooling fish and can provide appropriately sized live or meaty frozen foods as the core of the diet. Not a fish you see offered every day, but a rewarding and dynamic mid-water species for a Congo biotope or African community.