Home · Cyprinidae · Brazza's barb
Brazza's barb (Enteromius brazzai) — Cyprinidae

Brazza's barb

Enteromius brazzai
Family: Cyprinidae
LC · Least Concern

The Brazza's barb (Enteromius brazzai) is a freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae that grows up to 11 cm.

Length
11 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Harmless
Range
Freshwater of the Congo basin in Central Africa.
Edibility
Not eaten

Want the complete picture on the Brazza's barb?

Get the app

Description

The Brazza's barb is a small cyprinid (Cyprinidae) from fresh water of the Congo basin in Central Africa. The species grows to about 6 cm and has a slender, silvery body, sometimes with dark spots or a longitudinal stripe, and small barbels. As a schooling fish it swims in clear rivers, streams and pools and snaps at insect larvae, small invertebrates and algae. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Brazza's barb?

The Brazza's barb has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a plain pattern. Small silvery barb of vegetated sandy-muddy bottoms.

Where does the Brazza's barb live?

The Brazza's barb lives in fresh water and is mostly found around open water. Freshwater of the Congo basin in Central Africa.

How big does the Brazza's barb get?

The Brazza's barb grows to a maximum of about 11 cm.

Is the Brazza's barb dangerous to humans?

No, the Brazza's barb is harmless to humans. None required: this species is harmless to humans.

Is the Brazza's barb edible?

The Brazza's barb is not usually eaten.

More photos

Brazza's barb (Enteromius brazzai) — Cyprinidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) joe_cutler, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Brazza's barb (Enteromius brazzai) — Cyprinidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) joe_cutler, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Brazza's barb (Enteromius brazzai) — Cyprinidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) joe_cutler, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Brazza's barb (Enteromius brazzai) — Cyprinidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) joe_cutler, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

Want the complete picture on the Brazza's barb?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Brazza's barb is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →

All data

Identification

English name
Brazza's barb sourced
Scientific name
Enteromius brazzai
Family
Cyprinidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
11.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Pattern
Plain inferred
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
Yes sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous inferred
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Open water sourced
Natural range
Freshwater of the Congo basin in Central Africa. inferred
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Small invertebrates, insect larvae and algae sourced
Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Reproduction coincides with the rainy season. inferred
Special features
Small silvery barb of vegetated sandy-muddy bottoms. sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Not a target species for angling; at most an incidental catch or usable as baitfish. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
First aid
None required: this species is harmless to humans. verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Enteromius

More from the family Cyprinidae

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Brazza's barb?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Brazza's barb is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →
Is this the Brazza's barb? Get the app