• Scientific name: Brycinus longipinnis
• Synonyms: Alestes longipinnis
• Common name: Long-finned characin, African long-finned tetra
• Synonyms: Brycinus chaperi, Alestes chaperi, Bryconalestes longipinnis
• Group: Characins
• Habitat: West Africa, Niger Delta, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Togo
• Size: 12-13 cm
• Biotope: In the Zaire (Congo) river basin
• Social behavior: A peaceful, schooling fish suggested for a large community tank
• Diet: Omnivorous, large live foods, large flakes
• Breeding: Hard
• Tank: Minimum 120 litres
• Population: 4-5 fishes for 120 litres
• Decoration: Sunlight, strong artifical lighting and a dull colored bottom, with dense vegetation are appreciated. Long-finned characins will not damage plants.
• Temperature: 24-26°C
• pH: 7-7,5
• Hardness: 10-12 NK°
• Lifespan: 3-5 years

Description: Shape: elongated body, very compressed sides, doras fin approximately in the middle of the body. The Long-finned characin have very large eyes. Alestes longipinnis have an olive green to yellow back, the sides are muddy yellow colored, with a beautiful silver sheen. The underside is silvery white. The rays of the dorsal fins are greatly extended on the male. The female has a crooked line along the back and a similar one along the belly; the dorsal fin does not have extended rays.

These lively, nimble swimmers need a lot of room. Good filtration is essential since the fish will not do well in a tank heavy with nitrates. Suggest water changes of one third the tank on a regular basis.

The breeding is hard. The female should  be brought in breeding condition by feeding many times a day with great variety.  When the 200-300 eggs are spawned, the parents must be removed, because they egg scatterer.  After 4-6 days the eggs hatch and another 4 days later the young fishes are swimming free. You should feed the young fish with fine inforusia and a few days later with baby brine shrimp.