The fish climbing Luvilombo Falls is Parakneria thysi, a small shellear filmed scaling damp rock in the splash zone of a roughly 15-meter waterfall in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It grips the rock with specialized fin pads and pushes upward in bursts. The full ascent is not completed in a few minutes: the fish pause repeatedly, and a secondary account puts the elapsed climb at roughly ten hours, including about fifteen minutes of active movement.
What fish climbs Luvilombo Falls?
The climber is Parakneria thysi, a shellear observed at Luvilombo Falls on the Luvilombo River in the lower Lufira region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The falls are approximately 15 meters high, with three main steps reported at about 8.5, 4.5 and 2.5 meters. Researchers documented thousands of small- to medium-sized fish moving up the damp splash zone; this is a size-related partial migration, not evidence that every fish in the population makes the ascent.
The ability of shellears to climb waterfalls had been known anecdotally for decades, but the 2026 study presents photographic and video documentation of P. thysi climbing these falls. The authors describe it as the first documented account for this species at Luvilombo Falls. Read the study in Scientific Reports.
How does the fish climb the waterfall?
It grips the wet rock with its fins
The fish presses pads on the undersides of its pectoral and pelvic fins against the damp surface. Those pads bear tiny, unicellular hook-like projections called unculi. The pectoral fins provide the main grip, with the pelvic fins helping support the body as it clings to the rock.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →#1 Best Overall
- 【Natural Driftwood】 - Each piece of driftwood has a distinctive shape and looks different from various angles. Each piecec is unique.the pictures shown are only some of the driftwoods, what you get may be different from pictures show.
- 【Suitable For Tanks Above 20 Gallons】 - With a size of 9 inch-14 inch long or even larger, are carefully selected manually and suitable for tanks above 20 gallons. They can instantly adds natural beauty to your aquarium.
- 【Suitable For Aquariums Of Various Styles】 - It is suitable for aquariums decorated in simple styles. You can also use it to create moss trees in a fish tank. It can be used not only as aquarium decorations, but also as reptile decor.
- 【Sturdy And Durable】 - High-quality drift wood, sturdy and durable, can be used for a long time under water or in drought environment. It is perfect decoration as well as an ideal choice for reptile to climb on, adding natural beauty to your aquariums or terrariums.
- 【Satisfaction Assured】 - Buy with confidence! If there are any damaged, contact us for a refund or replacement.
It moves in short upward bursts
Once attached, the fish extends its fins and advances with lateral undulations, especially through the rear part of its body. The study discusses features of the fin rays and supporting girdles that may assist climbing, but their specific function still needs further analysis; the observed fin grip and body movement are clearer than a complete biomechanical explanation.
How long does the climb take?
“A few minutes” is not an accurate description of the full elapsed ascent. The primary study reports climbing speeds of about 1.5–3 centimeters per second and an average of 30–60 seconds of movement to ascend a one-meter vertical surface. Those are observations of movement, not a fixed time for completing all 15 meters, because fish stop frequently.
Rank #2
- Awesome Aquatic 3 - 6 inch pieces Organic Naturally dried and aged cholla wood Untreated with no added fertilizers or pesticides Thorn-free Ideal for shrimp, plecos, hermit crabs, geckos & other invertebrates Great for attaching moss and aquarium plants Natural hiding places, grazing surfaces, aquarium décor & reptile enrichment.
- Ideal for all kinds of aquariums with Shrimp Fish & Plants, Making Great hiding spots for those little ones. Attach plants, mosses and other habitat items. Lowers pH, releases tannins and buffers the pH naturally stabilizing the aquatic habitat. Cholla also produces a beneficial Natural biofilm food source for shrimp and other small natural microfauna.
- Cholla’s natural skeleton-like structure Works both in Terrarium and Aquatic enviroments. Hermit Crabs, Reptiles,Tarantulas and all kinds of critters love Climbing on, making structures for nests, hiding in holes etc. Small Insects and aquatic critters or Babies hide in the holes also. All kinds of critters love and use cholla.
- Natural cholla wood can also be used in all kind of arts, crafts, decorations and displays.
- Natural Beauty, each piece is unique and individual in structure and shape as nature intended. Cholla can be boiled to make it sink faster and release some tannins before being placed in an aquarium. Cut to length as specified in the listing. Awesome Aquatic cholla is Thorn Free, Clean, Sustainably Harvested and Eco Friendly.
Short pauses between climbing bouts usually last around 15–60 seconds, according to the study. On horizontal ledges, rests can stretch to 2–15 minutes or even an hour or more. A Daily Galaxy account describes roughly fifteen minutes of active climbing but about ten hours for the overall ascent. Treat that total as the account’s estimate, not a universal completion time measured for every fish.
When were the fish seen climbing, and why?
Researchers observed the behavior in 2018 and 2020, with field monitoring campaigns also including 2019. The climbing was recorded around the end of the rainy season and start of the dry season, particularly in April and May. At this site, counts appeared to peak around mid-April as water levels fell from their highest point. More migratory fish were observed later in the day, around 4–6 p.m., than near sunrise; those local patterns do not establish a general schedule for shellears elsewhere.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Rank #3
- 【NATURAL DRIFTWOOD】 --- Each piece of driftwood has a distinctive shape and looks different from various angles. Each piecec is unique.the pictures shown are only some of the driftwoods, what you get may be different from pictures show.
- 【SUITABLE FOR TANKS ABOVE 30 GALLONS】 --- With a size of 12.5 inch-18 inch long or even larger, are carefully selected manually and suitable for tanks above 30 gallons. They can instantly adds natural beauty to your aquarium.
- 【SUITABLE FOR AQUARIUMS OF VARIOUS STYLES】 --- It is suitable for aquariums decorated in simple styles. You can also use it to create moss trees in a fish tank. It can be used not only as aquarium decorations, but also as reptile decor.
- 【STURDY AND DURABLE】 --- High-quality drift wood, sturdy and durable, can be used for a long time under water or in drought environment. It is perfect decoration as well as an ideal choice for reptile to climb on, adding natural beauty to your aquariums or terrariums.
- 【SATISFACTION ASSURED】 - Buy with confidence! If there are any damaged, contact us for a refund or replacement.
The study suggests that upstream movement may be connected to flooding and a temporary lake-like habitat forming downstream. That remains a proposed explanation rather than a proven purpose. Researchers observed no significant upstream migration during the low-rainfall year 2019, unlike the intensive migration in rainy 2020, but the observations alone do not establish why individual fish climb.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What habitat pressure did the study identify?
The authors identify occasional complete drying of the Luvilombo River during the dry season as a serious local pressure, mostly associated with water being withdrawn for cropland irrigation. They say this disrupts the river’s ecological continuity. The study does not establish a formal threatened status, a population decline, or a total population estimate for P. thysi.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Hamiledyi aquarium driftwood selected good quality natural Mopani Wood to provide a great and beautiful habitat for your aquatic pets and reptiles. Natural wood branches vary due to mother nature each branch is unique
- Light weight, sturdy branch is great for decoration and reptiles to climb on. Unique shape and assorted sizes. It can also used to create moss tree in the fish tank. Also, suitable for home garden landscape design
- Natural branch width and length will vary. General size is 6" long. Handheld sizes, size is mini. The actual product you received may different from pictures shown, however, the product you received is the product we sell
- Mopani Driftwood Processing Step: First clean the driftwood with a brush and boil it in hot water for about 1-2 hours, releasing the tannins, until the color of the water does not change (repeat steps if needed). Then soak the driftwood in room temperature water for about 7 days. Take it out after a week and wash the driftwood. Finally place in the aquarium to decorate your fish tank
- Package including: 5*wood branches. The Size of Hamiledyi natural driftwood for aquarium is between 5.5"L-8.6"L. This fish tank decoration suitable for various small aquariums, give your pet a natural habitat it needs
Rank #4
- 【Dual Use for Aquariums & Reptiles】Perfect for both freshwater fish tanks and reptile terrariums! natural driftwood provides climbing surfaces for lizards, geckos, and snakes, while creating hiding spots for fish and shrimp.
- 【Natural & Safety】Carefully hand-Select driftwood. Safe for aquatic life and reptiles—no chemical substances. Low tannin release keeps water clear for fish and amphibians.
- 【Unique Functional Design】Twisted branches and porous texture mimic natural habitats. Enhances terrarium landscapes with realistic caves, bridges, and basking areas for reptiles.
- 【Easy Setup & Maintenance】Pre-boiled to sink faster. Soak for 24 hours to prevent floating. Durable and sturdy for long-term use in underwater and dry environments.
- 【Versatile Sizing & Compatibility】10-14 inch pieces fit 20+ gallon tanks. Compatible with live plants, moss, and reptile heating lamps. Ideal for bioactive terrarium setups.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
