• Scientific name: Crenuchus spilurus
• Common name: Sailfin characin
• Group: Characins
• Habitat: South America, Guyana
• Size: 6 cm
• Biotope: They are to be found in the Amazonian River Basins
• Social behavior: A peaceful fish but may be too timid for a community tank. Needs hiding places and is predatory toward smaller species. Male becomes slightly territorial toward his own species and tank-mates.
• Diet: Carnivore, small to large live foods such as mosquito larvae and worms. Also small fish.
• Breeding: Very rare in aquarium
• Tank: Minimum 50 litres
• Population: 1 pair for 50 litres
• Decoration: A small tank with a peat bottom, dense vegetation and hollows are suggested.
• Temperature: 24-28°C
• pH: 6
• Hardness: <10 NK°
• Lifespan: 3-5 years

Description: An elongate fish with a slightly humped back. The body is silver-yellow in colour and iridescent with a defined lateral line. It has a forked caudal and elongated dorsal and anal fins, the dorsal has a trailing filament, more prominant on males. The fins are iridescent, translucent with slight spotting. Male has a longer, red dorsal which ends in a point. Female is smaller, paler.

The Sailfin characin is said to spawn on stones, fanning its eggs. The spawning season is from October to February. The eggs will hatch after 2 days and the fry will be free swimming a few days later. The fry will accept newly hatched brine shrimp immediately and are fast growers.