Myanmar Redfin 2

About

Found in the Irrawaddy River basin of northern Myanmar, this small undescribed cyprinid, Oreichthys sp. myanmar redfin 2, is one of several similar forms that have long circulated in the trade under the names O. cosuatis or O. parvus, causing no small amount of confusion. You can pick this one out from its relatives by what it lacks as much as what it has: adult males show no dark marking in the dorsal fin, which separates them from both O. cosuatis and O. parvus, while the large, sharply defined black blotch on the caudal peduncle is considerably bolder than in either of those species. It stays small, topping out around an inch and a half, with the deep, compressed body shape typical of the Oreichthys genus. Despite its peaceful nature, this fish is not well-suited to general community tanks. Boisterous or larger companions will stress it out or simply outcompete it for food. It does best with other small, gentle species and should be kept in a group of at least eight. Importantly, it is a shoaling fish rather than a true schooling one, so males will establish a pecking order and spar with each other. Plenty of cover and broken lines of sight are essential to keep subordinate fish from being harassed. Breeding in captivity has not yet been documented.