Distichodus Lefini, Tank Bred (Distichodus sp. 'Lefini')

Meet the tank-bred Distichodus Lefini

Distichodus Lefini (Distichodus sp. 'Lefini') is a tank-bred African characin with a silvery body and orange-red fins, sold in the UK under the name of the Léfini River, a tributary of the Congo in the Republic of the Congo. It is an active, mid-water fish that eats a lot of plant matter, grows well beyond the size it is sold at, and suits a large, robust aquarium rather than a planted community tank.

The "sp." in the name matters. It means the species behind the trade name has not been formally confirmed. Several UK shops list fish of this name as Distichodus affinis 'Lefini', which would make it a locality form of the Silver Distichodus. Seriously Fish notes that silver distichodus vary in colour, that some variants may represent different species, and that several members of the genus look alike. We therefore sell it under its trade name and base its care on D. affinis, the closest well-documented species, while telling you what to watch for as it grows.

Because it is tank bred, it was raised in captivity rather than collected from the river. Seriously Fish records that D. affinis is now produced commercially for the aquarium trade, and OATA, the UK ornamental fish trade association, notes that most tetras and characins sold today are captive bred.

Compare it with its relatives

The table shows why the name alone is not enough: the Léfini basin is home to more than one Distichodus, and FishBase records the dwarf D. teugelsi there, a much smaller fish than the one sold under this name. See the Silver Distichodus page for the standard form, and browse our African tetras and characins and wider tetras and characins range.

Know what one purchase supplies

One purchase quantity supplies one live, tank-bred Distichodus Lefini. The only option is "Standard": the fish is not graded into sizes, so it is sent at the size available on the day, which will be a young fish well below adult size. There are no known external differences between males and females, according to Seriously Fish, so sex cannot be chosen.

The photographs are representative of the type of fish, not the individual you will receive. Young distichodus change colour and pattern as they grow, and colour is paler for a few days after travel.

Watch the pattern as it grows

Expect the fins to become a stronger red with age, as Seriously Fish describes for D. affinis. If instead your fish develops six broad black bands across an orange body, please contact us: that is the juvenile pattern Seriously Fish describes for the Six-banded Distichodus, which grows several times larger and needs a far bigger aquarium.

Plan for a 20 cm adult and a 120 cm aquarium

For a fish of about 20 cm, Seriously Fish recommends a tank of at least 120 × 30 × 30 cm, about 108 litres, and describes the species as fairly active. That is a minimum for one fish. A group needs more room, and a tank 150 cm long or more gives a much better swimming lane for several adults. Our tank volume calculator converts any dimensions into litres.

Furnish for a plant-eater

Seriously Fish says that silver distichodus eat most greenery and are not a good choice for a planted aquarium. Build the layout from smooth rocks and driftwood over sand or gravel, with a long open area for swimming. If you want plants, Anubias and Bolbitis are the ones Seriously Fish suggests, because most fish leave them alone; tie them to wood or stone. Our tough aquarium plants include these epiphytes.

Match the water before it arrives

Seriously Fish gives a wide range for D. affinis, and OATA gives the range it recommends for captive-bred tetras and characins. Aim for the overlap and, above all, keep it steady.

Work with UK tap water

Tap water hardness differs a great deal across the UK, so test yours before buying. Treat it with a dechlorinator, test pH and general hardness, and compare the results using our water matcher. This is a tolerant fish, and most dechlorinated tap water within the ranges above will suit it; if yours is far outside them, our water chemistry guide explains how to adjust it slowly.

Filter well and change water every week

A fish that grazes all day on plant food produces plenty of waste, so filtration needs to be generous for the adult size. The aquarium must be fully cycled, with ammonia and nitrite at zero, before the fish arrives; OATA warns that adding fish too quickly to an immature tank causes "new tank syndrome". Our aquarium filtration guide explains how to choose and maintain a filter.

Keep a weekly routine

• Every week: change 25% of the water, as OATA recommends, siphoning waste from the substrate.
• Every week: test ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH and hardness, and keep a record.
• After meals: remove uneaten vegetables within a few hours.
• When the filter slows: rinse the media in water removed during the change, never under the tap.
• At every change: treat the new water with conditioner and match its temperature to the tank.

Feed a Distichodus Lefini plenty of greens

Seriously Fish describes D. affinis as omnivorous but says it needs a good proportion of vegetable matter, and suggests bloodworm, Daphnia, frozen peas with the shells removed, Spirulina flake and blanched spinach. A diet with regular plant food also protects the décor, because a hungry plant-eater turns to anything green.

Measure each meal

OATA advises feeding once a day, only as much as the fish eat within a few minutes, because uneaten food breaks down and fouls the water. Watch the portion disappear and lift out what is left. A healthy fish looks well rounded but never swollen.

Settle it in during the first week

Read our delivery and live arrival information before ordering, and have the aquarium running, matured and tested before the fish arrives. Our guide on how to acclimatise new fish covers the method in detail; OATA's steps are below.

Acclimatise step by step

1. Switch off the aquarium light and keep the bag out of bright light.
2. Float the sealed bag in the aquarium for 10 minutes so the temperatures equalise.
3. Over up to 20 minutes, add small amounts of aquarium water to the bag.
4. Net the fish into the aquarium, keeping the bag water out of the tank.
5. Leave the light off for the rest of the day and feed lightly from the next day.

OATA advises monitoring the fish and the water closely during the first week. A new distichodus may stay near cover at first and colour up over a few days.

Choose robust tank mates

Seriously Fish describes D. affinis as not aggressive, but warns that its adult size must be considered when choosing tank mates and that it may nip slow-moving or long-finned fish. Unlike some larger relatives, it can be kept in a group. OATA's general advice is to keep fish with others of similar size and temperament, and to keep boisterous species away from timid or long-finned fish.

These suggestions are our own, based on size and temperament; check any combination with our tank mates checker and always plan for adult sizes.

Watch for these health signs

OATA describes a healthy fish as having clear, bright eyes, undamaged fins, intact scales, no ulcers or lumps, normal swimming and steady breathing. Look each day for changes in:

• Swimming: hanging at the surface, sitting on the bottom or erratic swimming.
• Colour: a sudden change, rather than the slow reddening of the fins with age.
• Behaviour: more chasing or nipping, or hiding more than normal.
• Breathing: gills moving faster or slower than usual.
• Appearance: white spots, fluffy growths, clamped or damaged fins.
• Condition and feeding: weight loss or loss of appetite.

If anything changes, test the water first, then contact us for advice. Most problems start with water quality, especially in a tank with heavy plant feeding.

Breeding notes

Seriously Fish has no record of D. affinis breeding in home aquariums; in nature it spawns in large shoals in open water, and fish for the trade are produced commercially. OATA notes that characins are egg scatterers and that spawning in a community tank is unlikely. Breeding is not a realistic home project for a fish of this size.

Distichodus Lefini buyer questions

What is a Distichodus Lefini?

It is a trade name for a tank-bred African distichodus. "Lefini" refers to the Léfini River, a tributary of the Congo in the Republic of the Congo, and "sp." means the species has not been formally confirmed. Several UK shops sell fish under this name as Distichodus affinis, the Silver Distichodus.

Is it the same fish as the Silver Distichodus?

Possibly. If it is a form of Distichodus affinis, it is the same species with a locality name. Seriously Fish notes that silver distichodus vary in colour and that some variants may be different species, so we sell it under its trade name and plan its care around D. affinis.

How big will it grow?

Plan for about 20 cm. FishBase gives Distichodus affinis a maximum of 20.0 cm total length and Seriously Fish 200 mm standard length. If your fish develops six broad black bands as it grows, contact us, because that pattern belongs to a much larger species.

What size aquarium does it need?

For a fish of about 20 cm, Seriously Fish recommends at least 120 × 30 × 30 cm, about 108 litres. A longer, wider tank suits a group and keeps the water steadier.

Will it eat my plants?

Yes, most of them. Seriously Fish says distichodus of this type eat most greenery. Anubias and Bolbitis are the plants most often left alone.

Can I keep more than one?

Yes. Seriously Fish says that, unlike some other Distichodus, the silver distichodus can be kept in a group, provided the tank is large enough for several adults.

What should I feed it?

A mixed diet with plenty of plant matter: spirulina flakes or granules, frozen herbivore food, shelled peas and blanched spinach, plus bloodworm and daphnia. Feed once a day, only what it eats within a few minutes.

What does tank bred mean?

The fish was raised in captivity rather than collected from the river. Seriously Fish records that Distichodus affinis is now produced commercially for the aquarium trade, and OATA notes that most tetras sold today are captive bred.

References

• Seriously Fish: Distichodus affinis (Silver Distichodus)
• FishBase: Distichodus affinis Günther, 1873
• FishBase: Distichodus teugelsi Mamonekene & Vreven, 2008
• Seriously Fish: Distichodus sexfasciatus (Six-banded Distichodus)
• OATA: How to look after tetras and pencilfish