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Killifish
/ Aplocheilinae / Lyretail
Lyretail, Orange Lyretail, Cape Lopez Lyretail, Lyre-tailed Panchax
Aphyosemion australe | Pictures
Synonyms: Haplochilus
calliurus, H. calliurus var. australe, Panchax australe, P. polychromus
Physical description: An elongated fish with elaborate fins.
The tips of the anal, caudal, and dorsal
fins are elongated and pointed.
The outer rays of the caudal fin form a 'lyre-tail' shape.
The background body coloration of males
is brownish-yellow to brownish orange.
The body is marked with numerous red spots.
The fins are orange with a broad yellow
and red border.
The tips of the fins are white.
The females are brown in color with a scattering of red spots.
Size/Length: To 2.4" (6 cm)
Similar species: None
Habitat: Inhabits shallow shore areas of slow-flowing rivers above a leafy substrate.
Western
Africa, the rainforests of Gabon.
S: middle, top
Aquarium: A tank measuring 16" (41 cm) with a capacity of 5.5 gallons (21 L) can be used for
a pair.
Use wood, roots, and Java Moss to serve as hiding places.
Use a dark substrate, preferably peat
moss.
The tank should be densely planted and a cover of floating plants is suggested.
Use a tight-fitting cover as this species
may leap.
This species prefers peat filtration.
Water chemistry: pH 5.5-7 (6.2), 2-10 dH (4), 70-75°F (21-24°C)
Social behavior: A fine community fish to combine with other small, peaceful species.
Keep this species in pairs.
Suggested companions: Aphyosemion,
hatchetfish, pencilfish,
Corydoras, Loricarids
Trichopsis,
Pangio,
Puntius titteya, small African characins,
and some Mormyrids.
FOOD: Live; flying insects, insect larvae, Brine Shrimp, other crustaceans,
Tubifex
worms; flakes.
Sexual differences: Males are more colorful, have more elongated fins, and are slightly larger.
Breeding techniques: A breeding tank measuring 12" (30 cm) with a capacity of 2.4 gallons (9 L) is sufficient.
The
water should have a pH from 6.2-6.8, a water hardness from 2-6 dH, and a temperature from 73 to 77°F (23-25°C).
Keep
one female with two or three females.
Use a spawning mop or fine leafed planted along with a peat moss substrate,
if possible.
The eggs are hung from plants around the tank.
Each day, 10-20 eggs are produced, for a period
of 10-12 days.
The peat (containing eggs) should be removed and placed in a separate rearing tank.
Replace
the peat moss in the spawning tank.
The eggs hatch 10-12 days and once their eggs sacs are consumed, they
can be fed on roftiers and small nauplii.
Breeding potential: 5.
An easily bred fish.
Remarks: A bright gold-orange morph is available.
Wild stock are brownish in color.
Some
aquariasts recommend a 0.5% addition of salt.
This can be accomplished by adding 4 TSP. of salt for every 10 gallons
of water (5 g/10 L).
A long-lived Killifish (3 years).
A.
australe belongs to the large sub-genus
Mesoaphyosemion, which includes a number
of Aphyosemion
species of Cameroon, Gabon, and the Congo Republic.
Difficulty of care: 4.
A good fish for a beginner wanting to keep Killifish.
Frequent partial water changes are recommended.
Recent articles about fish
Overfishing may hurt Amazon forest trees
(2/5/2008) Overfishing is reducing the effectiveness of seed dispersal by fish in the Brazilian Pantanal, reports Nature. The research suggests that fishing practices can affect forest health.
Scientists find fish that literally lives in trees
(10/17/2007) Scientists have found a fish that literally lives in trees, according to research published in The American Naturalist and highlighted in New Scientist Magazine.
Piranhas originated when Amazon was flooded by seawater
(12/4/2007) South America's piranha family of fish -- notorious as eaters of flesh -- can be traced back to a single ancestor which dispersed when the Amazon was flooded by seawater some five million years ago, report researchers from the Institut de Recherche Pour le Developpement (IRD). Today piranhas are exclusively freshwater fish found from the Orinoco River basin in Venezuela to the Parana in Argentina.
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