Abramites

The genus Abramites belongs to the family of catfish (Anostomidae). These unusual fish originate from the tropical rivers of South America, such as the Amazon and the Orinoco. They owe their Dutch name to their unique swimming posture: they often swim and rest with their heads tilted downwards at an angle of approximately 45 degrees.

The most well-known species kept in aquariums is the striped head-up fish (Abramites hypselonotus). Although these fish are very beautiful to look at due to their striped pattern, they are not suitable for every aquarium. They are true herbivores that can devour your plants in a short time. In addition, especially as they get older, they can be somewhat intolerant of their fellow species if they are not kept in a sufficiently large group or space.

Name and meaning

The genus Abramites was scientifically described in 1906 by zoologist Henry Weed Fowler. The name Abramites is derived from the genus name of the bream (Abramis). It loosely translates as “bream-like” or “resembling a bream.” This name was chosen because of the fish’s body shape; like a bream, the Abramites has a fairly high back and a laterally flattened body.

The best-known species within this genus is Abramites hypselonotus. This species was previously described in 1868 by Albert Günther, but was then classified under the genus Leporinus (Leporinus hypselonotus). The species name hypselonotus confirms the build of the fish: it comes from Greek, where hypselos means “high” and notos means ‘back’ or “rear.” Together, this means “with a high back.”

Characteristics

You can immediately recognize Abramites by their unique appearance and swimming style. The most striking feature is, of course, their characteristic posture: these fish almost always swim and hang diagonally in the water, with their heads pointing downwards at an angle of about 45 degrees. They use this posture to easily search for food between crevices and on the bottom in nature.

In terms of physique, the fish lives up to its name. It has a high back and is quite flattened on the sides, just like a bream. The basic color of the body is gray-beige to yellowish, decorated with dark brown to black wavy cross bands. This gives them a beautiful marbled pattern, which also refers to the English name ‘Marbled Headstander’.

In the aquarium, they grow to an average size of about 11 to 14 centimeters. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to tell the difference between males and females. There are no clear external characteristics (such as color or fin shape) by which you can recognize the sex.

Origin

The Abramites (and especially the Abramites hypselonotus) is a true South American with a huge distribution area. You can find these fish almost everywhere on the continent, from Venezuela in the north to Argentina in the south.

They swim around in the basins of the largest and most famous rivers, such as the Amazon, the Orinoco, the Rio Paraguay, and the Rio Paraná. As a result, they can be found in various countries, including Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Guyana, and Bolivia.

In nature, these fish like a bit of action. They prefer to live in rivers and streams with a clear current. Their natural environment often consists of places with lots of rocks, stones, and sunken wood. Their typical slanted swimming posture comes in handy here: it allows them to easily squeeze between narrow crevices in rocks and wood to search for food without being washed away by the current.

Behavior

The Abramites is a fascinating fish to observe, and not just because of its swimming posture. They are naturally shoaling fish. In the wild, they live in groups, and in the aquarium they also feel most comfortable when they are with several conspecifics (preferably a group of at least 6 to 8).

Their most characteristic behavior is, of course, “headstanding.” They often swim and hang diagonally in the water with their noses pointing toward the bottom. This may look funny, but it is very functional: it allows them to easily search for food between crevices in rocks and wood in nature without having to turn their entire bodies.

There is one important point to keep in mind: the character of these fish changes as they get older. Young specimens are generally peaceful and get along well with each other. However, once they reach adulthood, they can become quite intolerant and surly towards their own kind. If they are kept in too small a group or aquarium, this can lead to fights and territorial behavior. They are generally calm towards other fish species, as long as those other fish do not get in their way.

In addition, they are active foragers throughout the day. They constantly graze surfaces in search of algae and small creatures. Unfortunately, this also means that they often consider soft aquarium plants to be a tasty salad and can eat them completely bare.