Elongated Robber

About

The Elongated Robber (Micralestes acutidens) is a slender, fast-moving tetra from sub-Saharan Africa, found across a wide stretch of river systems including the Congo, Zambezi, Okavango, Kunene, Cross, and Sanaga, as well as east coast drainages down to the Pongolo and parts of Tanzania. In the wild it forms shoals in clear, open water, both flowing and still, where it shares its habitat with the fearsome tigerfish, which preys on it heavily. That background as prey shapes everything about this fish: it is alert, energetic, and deeply social, and a group in a well-maintained aquarium will constantly be on the move. In nature it feeds opportunistically near the surface, picking off winged insects, larvae, crustaceans, and even the eggs and fry of other fish, so it adapts readily to a varied diet in captivity. The care level is listed as intermediate, which is fair. This fish needs good water quality, plenty of open swimming space, and a proper school to feel secure and display naturally. Keeping too few individuals tends to produce skittish, stressed fish. A group of eight or more in a roomy, well-filtered setup will reward you with confident, active behaviour that makes the tank feel genuinely alive.