Trewavas's neolebias

Neolebias trewavasae

Also known as Trewavasae neolebias

FreshwaterFish

Trewavas's neolebias (Neolebias trewavasae) — The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature: 73–81°F (23–27°C)
pH: 5.5–6.8
Adult size: 1.8 in (4.5 cm)
Minimum tank: 14 gal (54 L)
Temperament: Peaceful
Social behavior: Schooling
Swim level: Middle
Difficulty: Medium
Breeding: No record
Rarity: Rare
Origin: Lower Congo and coastal basins
Family: Distichodontidae

Overview

The most colourful of the neolebias, worth keeping as a school of eight or more against dark decor to bring out the red in the males. It is a peaceful mid-water fish for a soft, planted tank and belongs with small, gentle companions rather than anything large or fast. Give it dense planting, driftwood, and subdued light, and feed fine foods such as microworm, frozen cyclops, brine shrimp, and finely crushed flake to keep the colour up. A planted tank of around 54 liters suits a school, and mature males in good condition are the reward for patient care.

In the wild

Trewavas's neolebias comes from soft, tannin-stained forest waters of the Congo region, quiet and shaded. Recreate that with a dark substrate and background, dense planting, driftwood, and leaf litter under low light. It wants warm water, 23 to 27 degrees Celsius, kept soft and acidic at pH 5.5 to 6.8. Stable, mature water and a calm setting let the males develop their best colour.

Good to know

Neolebias trewavasae is a dwarf member of the African family Distichodontidae, reaching about 4.5 centimeters. It is the showiest of its genus in the hobby: an olive-bodied fish whose males flush deep red when in breeding condition. The species honors Ethelwynn Trewavas, the British ichthyologist. Its breeding is not reliably recorded in home aquaria.

Did you know

The species honors Ethelwynn Trewavas, a British ichthyologist whose long career ran through much of the twentieth century and who has cichlids and other fishes named after her too, one of the field's most-honored scientists.

Tank mates

Trewavas's neolebias is a peaceful, schooling species that keeps to the middle. These picks match on water type, temperature, pH, size and temperament.