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Denticle Herring
Denticeps clupeoides
A rare, primitive living fossil from West Africa, recognizable by its completely denticulated skull. This delicate, schooling surface-dweller needs vast swimming space and strong water currents.
Water Temperature
22 - 26 °C
pH Value
6 - 7.5
Water type
Freshwater
Tank level
Surface and middle
Adult size
5 cm
Minimum tank volume
>= 60 L
Minimum group
>= 1
GH
4 - 12 dGH
KH
2 - 6 dKH
TDS
80 - 240 ppm
Conductivity
125 - 375 uS/cm
Species description
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Endemic to rivers and streams in West Africa (southern Benin and Nigeria). Swims in large schools in the surface areas of flowing and well-oxygenated waters.
Taxonomy and Morphology: Denticle Herring (Denticeps clupeoides). Extremely rare and "primitive" fish, the only living representative of the suborder Denticipitoidei. Characterized by denticulated scales (denticles) that cover not only the body but also the skull.
Social Behavior: Strictly gregarious fish, peaceful and perpetually in motion like a miniature herring. Absolutely vital to keep it in large schools (10+ specimens) to dampen its natural shyness.
Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Slender and silvery body, highly iridescent. A dark lateral line crosses the body, enhancing the metallic reflections while swimming. Dimorphism absent to the naked eye.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Aquarium Setup: Long tank (at least 80-100 cm / 32-40 inches). Decor is secondary; the fundamental layout requires vast open swimming areas and a strong horizontal surface current provided by the filters. Categorically closed tank.
Diet and Feeding: Feeds almost exclusively on zooplankton and tiny falling insects. It is essential to provide powdered feed, daphnia, cyclops and brine shrimp nauplii.
Water Quality: Intolerant to oxygen crashes or high levels of nitrogenous compounds. The water must be very fresh and moved; it does not tolerate torrid temperatures (maximum 26°C / 79°F).
Compatibility and Cohabitation: Rarely seen in commercial circuits, it should be kept in an African river biotope with other peaceful fish (e.g. small Pelvicachromis or African characins). Terrible with nervous or aggressive fish.
Aquarium Breeding: Effectively unknown and undocumented in amateur aquariums. It is presumed to be a pelagic spawner that scatters eggs in the strong current.
Risks and Diseases: Extremely delicate fish at the time of purchase (transport stress, jumping on the floor, fasting wasting). Very sensitive to Ichthyophthirius and heavy medications.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Endemic to rivers and streams in West Africa (southern Benin and Nigeria). Swims in large schools in the surface areas of flowing and well-oxygenated waters.
Origin
Tropical oceans and reefsAfrica and Madagascar
Fish profile
- Temperament
- Semi-aggressive
- The Denticle herring is a peaceful, schooling species that thrives when kept in groups of its own kind. They are active swimmers and can be somewhat skittish if kept in numbers that are too small, leading to stress and reduced lifespan. Their peaceful nature makes them ill-suited for communities with large or aggressive fish, but they are very harmonious among themselves.
- Diet
- Omnivore
- In the wild, they are primarily micro-predators, feeding on small aquatic insects, zooplankton, and other tiny invertebrates found in the water column. In the aquarium, they should be offered a varied diet consisting of high-quality micro-pellets or crushed flakes, supplemented heavily with live or frozen foods. Offerings like Daphnia, newly hatched brine shrimp (Artemia nauplii), and cyclops are ideal for maintaining their health and encouraging natural feeding behaviors.
- Life expectancy
- 3-5 years
- In captivity, the lifespan of the denticle herring is estimated to be between 3 and 5 years, though documented information remains scarce due to the species' rarity in the aquarium hobby. To achieve this lifespan, maintaining pristine water quality and constant flow is absolutely essential. Shipping stress or keeping them in isolation can drastically reduce their longevity.
- Adult size
- 5 cm
- The catalog's scalar value is 5 cm. The FishBase species summary source reports a maximum adult measurement of 15 cm for this species, recorded as total length (TL). The taxonomic record consulted is Denticeps clupeoides (live-2026-07-30); male or unsexed record. These figures are not interchangeable: the first is the profile's editorial reference, whereas the second is a published maximum under a specific measurement convention; differences among sources can reflect sex, population, life stage and measuring method.
- Sex ratio
- School
- There are no strict sex ratio requirements for keeping a healthy school, though having a mix of males and females is generally recommended for natural social dynamics. Males may occasionally display territorial or courting behaviors towards females, but serious aggression is rare. Keeping them in a sizable group of at least 6 to 8 individuals helps disperse any potential tension and encourages them to school tightly.
- Feeding frequency
- Twice daily
- Due to their small size and active nature, they benefit from being fed small amounts several times a day rather than one large meal. Offering food two to three times daily helps simulate their natural foraging habits and ensures they receive adequate nutrition without polluting the water. Uneaten food should be removed promptly to prevent degradation of water quality, which they are sensitive to.
- Bioload
- The Denticle herring has a relatively low bioload compared to many other aquarium fish of similar size, producing minimal waste. As long as the aquarium is equipped with a standard, properly cycled filtration system, water quality is usually easy to maintain. Regular water changes are still necessary to keep nitrates low, but this species will not heavily tax the biological capacity of a mature setup.
- Flow
- Stagnant
- They typically inhabit fast-flowing streams and rivers in their native West African environment, making them appreciative of moderate to high water movement in the aquarium. Providing a decent current using powerheads or a strong filter return will mimic their natural habitat and encourage their natural swimming behaviors. Well-oxygenated water is also a direct consequence of this flow, which is vital for their respiratory health.
- Reproduction
- Oviparous
- Breeding in the home aquarium is rarely documented, as they have very specific requirements that are difficult to replicate. They are likely egg scatterers that require specific seasonal triggers, such as changes in water temperature or chemistry, to initiate spawning. If breeding is attempted, a separate setup with pristine water conditions and fine-leaved plants or spawning mops would be necessary to protect the eggs from predation.
- Compatibility & tankmates
- This species is generally peaceful but is best kept in a species-only setup or with very small, equally peaceful fish that share its specific water parameters. They can be easily outcompeted for food by faster, more aggressive species and may become stressed if housed with boisterous tankmates. Keeping them in a dedicated biotope aquarium ensures their delicate nature is respected and they can thrive without harassment.
- Tank level
- Top/Middle
- They are predominantly middle to top-dwelling fish, often seen swimming actively in the upper half of the water column. Providing some open swimming space near the surface while maintaining cover via floating plants or overhanging branches will make them feel secure. They will occasionally venture lower to investigate food, but their primary activity zone remains elevated.
Scientific Parameters & Models
FishBase
Window to the official scientific data of the species
Data synced on: 06/15/2026
- Trophic level
- 3.3 ± 0.4 se
- Resilience
- Medium (1.4 - 4.4 years)
- Phylogenetic uniqueness (PD50)
- 1.5
- Bayesian Length-Weight
- a = 0.01122, b = 3.04
- VulnerabilityLow vulnerability (10 / 100)
Image gallery
Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.
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