Kissing prochilodus

Care at a glance

Overview

These are schooling fish and get nervous and nippy when kept alone or in too small a group, so keep several. They graze the bottom and surfaces for algae, detritus, and biofilm, so feed a plant-heavy diet of spirulina, algae wafers, and blanched vegetables. They are mostly peaceful but active and can be pushy at feeding time. Big robust tankmates suit them better than small delicate ones.

In the wild

Kissing prochilodus live in the blackwater and whitewater rivers of the Amazon Basin, over sand and mud in river channels and seasonal floodplain lakes. They are built for open, flowing water, not a planted nano tank. Give them a large tank with a sandy bottom, strong current, and plenty of length to swim. With adults reaching 35 cm, around 510 liters is a sensible starting point.

Good to know

Semaprochilodus insignis is in the family Prochilodontidae, the flannelmouth characins. Adults grow to about 35 cm. They have a distinctive sucker-like, fleshy mouth built for rasping. The species is widespread and currently considered Least Concern, though it is affected by habitat change and pollution.

Common questions

Related species

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• 

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• 

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• 

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• 

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