Close, but no cigar

There are several close relatives of Anostomus which, although they may overlap in their habitats or even look like the same fish, are from different genera altogether. Here are three you might see…

ABRAMITES — The Marbled headstander, Abramites hypselonotus, is the species that is usually imported, though one or two other species have been identified. Compared with Anostomus these have deeper bodies. They are opportunistic feeders that will nibble at soft plants and sometimes become fin-nippers. Maximum length is around 12cm or so.

LEPORINUS — Several species from this genus are traded, such as the Banded leporinus, Leporinus fasciatus, that reaches almost 30cm in length. In the wild they live in large groups, consuming a mix of algae, plants and small prey such as crustaceans, insect larvae, and even small fish. Leporinus have a bit of a mixed reputation, despite their hardiness and lovely colours. While gregarious in the wild, their size makes it difficult to keep a sufficiently large number of them in a home aquarium, and in small groups they can be aggressive towards one another. They do okay singly, and may be kept with things like armoured catfish and large, fast-moving loaches, but they are very opportunistic feeders. Some specimens are confirmed fin-biters.

SYNAPTOLAEMUS — Very similar to Leporinus in appearance, but smaller; Synaptolaemus latofasciatus for example reaches around 12cm in length. Maintenance and behaviour appears to be the same as Anostomus, and aquarists at a Danish aquarium have also observed them performing cleaner fish services to their tankmates.