Silver Distichodus

About

The Silver Distichodus (Distichodus affinis) is a shoaling fish from the Congo basin, found across a wide swath of central Africa including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Cameroon, and into the Lualaba river system. Young fish are silvery and fairly unassuming, but mature specimens develop noticeably red fins. And some individuals take on a pinkish flush along the belly. Worth noting: that variation in coloration may actually hint at more than one species lurking under the same name, since several close relatives look very similar at first glance. In the aquarium, this is a genuinely peaceful fish and one of the more manageable members of its genus, partly because it tolerates being kept in a group rather than needing to be kept solo. It fits naturally into a larger African community with Congo tetras, Synodontis catfish, or smaller Polypterus and Mormyrids, and can also work alongside peaceful South American species of similar size. One thing to watch: it can be a little nippy with slow-moving or long-finned tankmates, so monitor new additions carefully. It has become more available through the trade in recent years, reportedly through commercial breeding operations in eastern Europe, making it a more realistic option for hobbyists than it once was.