Wee barbs from Africa

GaryE · Feb 19, 2026

I like barbs a lot, and they don't get their just respect. This month, as I write, there's a fish of the month contest on them, which makes me think about barbs I don't always have now, but I'd love to show people.

First, a confusing little fish from the Congo River region, Enteromius (used to be Barbus) hulstaerti. It's from a species complex of similar fish - there's a lot of variation and probably a bunch of undescribed speies involved. Every time I have seen them imported, they have been slightly to strikingly different. What doesn't change is their micro-fish status - these fish are in the same size class as Bororas from Asia, or H. amandae (ember tetras) from South America.

Next, a Cameroonian commercial import of Enteromius 'jae' - another mess of probably related micro-fish travelling under one name.

And last, a Gabonese jae type we caught in 2023 that isn't as intensely coloured as the first, but is also a tiny, interesting fish.

I think we should all somehow find these and get to work on making them popular.

Innesfan · Feb 19, 2026

For years and years, Enteromius hulstaerti was a holy grail fish for many. Now I'm seeing it more frequently and on more and more lists. Lovely little things, all three of 'em.

gwand · Feb 19, 2026

Innesfan said:
For years and years, Enteromius hulstaerti was a holy grail fish for many. Now I'm seeing it more frequently and on more and more lists. Lovely little things, all three of 'em.

Yours for $24 from The Wet Spot. Lovely fish.

Lateral Line · Mar 11, 2026

I recall searching and searching for hulstaerti, (was Barbus in those days), never suceeded.

Magnum Man · Mar 11, 2026

is @GaryE in Africa again??? haven’t noticed him posting lately…

MattW · Mar 11, 2026

Magnum Man said:
is @GaryE in Africa again??? haven’t noticed him posting lately…

He is

and his Canadian generosity has promised us some pics as well!

EmmaS · Mar 13, 2026

My local fish shop had the Jae barb. Absolutely stunning and very tiny.

Munroco · Mar 14, 2026

I recently purchased a dozen Eirmotus Octozona. They have a few common names - (8 stripe barb -8 banded barb - 8 banded false barb and probably more). I'd never seen them before. Lovely wee fish but fairly shy. Four of five of them are regularly out and about now. Most of my tanks are jungles and I'm hoping the others are still alive and well.
They are a bit like tiger barbs in colouration but much more slender. They are about an inch long. They would make a really nice display in a planted (maybe single species) tank with fish that won't out compete them for food. I'll try and get a pic later.

WhistlingBadger · Mar 14, 2026

Thank for sharing, Gary. I hope you're having a most excellently wonderful time.

GaryE · Mar 14, 2026

I'm back, kind of tired. Once I get steady after a night of sleep, I'll make a thread with photos from there, and later, add the fish we caught as they grow to full colour sizes. I learned a lot!
I also seem to have lost 8 pounds in 7 days. The heat beats you up (especially when you have waders on) and working in water up to your hips is exhausting. I wasn't the greatest at it, to put it mildly. I had a lot of fun, but it was hard. I felt my age.
We caught both colour types of Epiplatys bifasciatus, a very under rated species. I have 3 locations of Chromaphyosemion biteniatum, from 3 different drainages. As they grow (they are very young) I can see if they have any differences. One of them seems to have a huge dorsal and anal fin combo, longer than the end of its tail.
I have some golden yellow Pelvicachromis taeniatus dwarf Cichlids, Epiplatys togolensis and Poropanchax luxopthalmus (which may not make it - touch and go there). And for all of them, I have a clear mental image of the habitats they live in.