饰边旗鮰 · Splendid Lyretail

Overview

Aphyosemion splendopleure, the splendid lyretail, is a very shy killifish whose males can show attractive green iridescence. Local color forms should be maintained separately. Poor competitive ability makes a dedicated aquarium preferable to a general community.

Distribution & habitat

Its range follows coastal lowlands from southeastern Nigeria through western Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea to northwestern Gabon. The original description lacked a precise type locality; a later redescription mentioned Tiko in southwestern Cameroon. It occupies slower sections of small streams.

Aquarium setup

A pair or trio can use a footprint of about 45 × 25 cm or larger. Dark substrate, dense plants, and wood provide shelter, while floating vegetation softens the lighting. A tightly fitted lid is essential because the fish jump.

Diet & feeding

Small live or frozen Daphnia, bloodworms, and similar foods are preferred. Quality flakes are also accepted by many individuals. Ensure that competing fishes do not take the food first.

Behaviour & compatibility

A standard community is unsuitable for this timid, easily outcompeted species. Males may defend space against one another, but serious damage is uncommon. Separate locality forms to prevent interbreeding.

Sexual dimorphism

Males are much more colorful and develop longer dorsal, caudal, and anal fins than females.

Breeding

Breeding is relatively easy in a dim aquarium with gentle sponge filtration, around pH 6.0–6.5 and 24 °C. Condition males and females separately on varied live and frozen foods, then select a well-conditioned pair. Trios also spawn, but the extra fish may eat eggs and reduce the harvest.

Eggs are placed in bottom material or vegetation. Fine plants, mops, or peat moss can be used, with mops over a bare base simplifying cleaning and collection. Around 10–20 eggs may be laid daily. Separate the parents for recovery after about a week, particularly to avoid exhausting the female. Remove eggs gently for separate incubation if larger numbers of fry are wanted.

Incubate in water or on damp peat moss in a small container. Keep eggs dark and remove moldy ones promptly. Water incubation takes roughly twelve days, depending on temperature. Damp-incubated eggs can be wetted after about eighteen days to encourage hatching. Label batches with species, locality, dates, and egg numbers.

The fry are tiny and need infusoria first. After about two days, introduce Artemia nauplii or microworms; larger and frozen foods can follow progressively after approximately two weeks. Start with shallow water and increase its depth as the fry grow. Feed small portions twice daily and change small amounts of water every two or three days. Close attention to water quality is needed because fry are susceptible to velvet disease.

Notes

Retain locality and bloodline information even when forms look similar. Some taxonomic treatments place the species in Chromaphyosemion, a name that may appear in older records.