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💧 Freshwater Vulnerable 🐠 Aquarium 🌡️ Tropical

Congo blind barb

Caecobarbus geertsii Boulenger, 1921
Max Length
12 cm
Max Weight
-
Lifespan
-
Trophic Level
3.5
Depth
-
Climate
Tropical
Resilience
High
Vulnerability
18.00/100
Typical Length
-
Depth Zone
-

📖 Overview

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.

Scientific Name
Caecobarbus geertsii
Authority
Boulenger, 1921
Habitat
Freshwater
Climate
Tropical
IUCN Status
VU
Max Length
12 cm
Trophic Level
3.5
Resilience
High
Vulnerability
18.00/100
Salinity
0–0.5 ppt

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Physical description for Congo blind barb is currently being compiled.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Congo blind barb is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

aquatic invertebrates
small fish
algae
detritus

🥚 Reproduction

🐣 Oviparous
Spawning Season
spring
Spawn Location
Substrate
Fertilization
External

Expels eggs in a more or less haphazard fashion, the substrate on which the species spawns must have crevices and pores into which the adhesive eggs can roll and be hidden so to prevent predation by its parents or other cave inhabitants.

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Freshwater; benthopelagic. Tropical; 0°S - 5°S known only from some caves near Mbanza-Ngungu (lower Congo River basin), Democratic Republic of the Congo (Ref.

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
💧 Freshwater
Trophic Level
3.5±0.45
Food Items

small crustaceans living in the caves and also on animals washed into the caves (Ref

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.00603 × L3.06 (TL)
Max TL
12cm

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Salinity Range
0–0.5ppt

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Vulnerable
Assessment Date
2009

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
High
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
18.00/100
Low vulnerability
Trophic Level
3.5
Predator
Climate Zone
Tropical
Described By
Boulenger, 1921

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

Language Common Names
🇬🇧English African blind barb · African Blind Barb Fish · Congo Blind Barb
🇩🇰Danish Blind hulebarbe
🇩🇪German Blinde Höhlenbarbe
🇫🇷French Barbu Aveugle · Poisson Cavernicole D'Afrique
🇸🇪Swedish Grottbarb

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 56 records indexed .

Occurrence density from GBIF View GBIF records ↗

👥 Community & Contribute

Aquareap Community Observations
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