Like some other Alestiidae, they are called robber tetras due to their bold and rather carnivorous habits. They are not infrequently kept as aquarium fishes and in their requirements resemble the South Americantetras of the Characidae. Unlike these, Brycinus are not well-suited to accompany delicate fishes however and are better kept with dwarf cichlids and similar small but robust companions.
Species
There are currently 36 recognized species in this genus:
^Decru, E., Vreven, E., Sadio, O. & Snoeks, J. (2016): Brycinus epuluensis, a new species from the Epulu River (Congo basin), Africa (Teleostei: Alestidae). Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters, 27 (1): 49-60.