We have received beautiful Semaprochilodus from Colombia. Unfortunately the naming of the Semaprochilodus species was very wrong in the past. According to current knowledge, our animals are definitely S. laticeps. In the aquaristic literature and in the internet the species is mostly called S. taeniurus (this is another species from Brazil) or S. theraponura (this species is today considered as synonym to S. insignis and originates from Peru). Therefore we have listed the animals under the name S. taeniurus.
The “real” S. taeniurus can be easily distinguished from S. latipes. S. taeniurus lacks the black stripe behind the opercle completely and the species is much more slender than S. latipes.
For care the species affiliation is irrelevant, because all Semaprochilodus grow to 30-40 cm in length and are beautiful, impressive large tetras. They are Aufwuchs and detritus eaters and can be compared aquaristically quite well with kissing gouramis (Helostoma). Like the latter they have only a narrow throat and cannot do much with coarse food, which is why they can also be kept with much smaller fish. Among themselves they are sometimes somewhat incompatible. This can be counteracted by keeping at least 5-6 specimens together.
Our animals are currently 11-14 cm long and show partly quite pronounced sex differences. At least in some specimens the dorsal fin is extended long (male?) and in others of the same size not (female?). In nature, these fish perform spectacular spawning migrations, during which the huge shoals also overcome rapids and waterfalls, similar to salmon in Europe in the past. Semaprochilodus do not practice brood care, they are prolific free spawners.
For our customers: the animals have code 290508 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
Text & Photos: Frank Schäfer
