Freshwater
Congo blind barb
Caecobarbus geertsii
Cyprinidae, Smiliogastrinae
Facts
Characteristics
- Length
- Up to 12 cm
- Body shape
- Elongated
Care
- Group
- Missing
- Smallest aquarium
- 53 liters
- Diet
- Missing
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Behavior
Water values
Smallest tank
Range
More about the species
Description
Blind fish which lives in caves, about (700)750-850 m above sea-level. Feeds on small crustaceans living in the caves and also on animals washed into the caves, although this needs confirmation. Estimated longevity 9-14 years, but may exceed 15 years. Not closely related to any extant epigean species of the Congo region. Classified as `textbook and popular press fish' in Ref. 4537.
Other names
Other scientific names
- Caecobarbus geertsi
In other languages
- Grottbarb
- Blind hulebarbe
- Sokkobarbi
- African blind barb, African blind barb fish
Articles
All articles
Velvet and dropsy4 min read
Velvet is a fast-moving parasite. Dropsy is a sign that something is seriously wrong inside the fish. How to recognize them, and what you can do.
How to set up an African aquarium5 min read
Two completely different aquariums: forest rivers with soft, brown water, roots and leaves, and Rift Valley lake cichlids in hard, alkaline water with big rock piles.
How to add new fish4 min read
From the store to the tank: how to get the fish used to your water, why you should add only a few at a time, and what to watch for in the first few days.
Quarantine for new fish3 min read
Why new fish should live in a tank of their own for a few weeks before they move in, what you need, and what to look for.