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Killifish
/ Aplocheilinae / Volcano Killifish
Volcano Killifish
Aphyosemion volcanum | Pictures
Synonyms: None
Physical description:
A long-bodied fish.
Males have elaborate anal and dorsal fins which are tall and pointed.
The
body color of males range depending on the population.
Commonly, the back is violet-brown, while the flanks are bright yellow
or gold.
The body may be marked with red spots as may be the fins.
The rear body parts often have a violet
iridescence.
The anal fin is yellow to green with a bright yellow tip.
The caudal fin is red and green and
has bright yellow tips.
The anal and pectoral fins are yellow with red edges.
Size/Length: To 2" (5 cm)
Similar species: Other fish of the sub-genus
Chromaphyosemion.
Habitat: West Africa; inhabits the ponds and streams around Mt. Cameroon near the western coast
of Cameroon.
S: All
Aquarium: A tank measuring 20" (51 cm) with a capacity of 10 gallons (38 L) is sufficient.
Use
a dark substrate with subdued lighting.
Plant the tank heavily and provide hiding places among roots and wood.
Water chemistry: pH 5.5-7 (6.3), 1-10 dH (2), 77-81°F (25-27°C)
Social behavior: Males are aggressive towards one another, otherwise this species is peaceful.
Suggested companions: Aphyosemion
, Danios,
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 have longer fins and are more colorful.
Breeding techniques: Use a spawning tank heavy infested with Java Moss and a substrate of peat moss.
The
moss should be removed weekly and stored in a plastic bag in a dark area with a temperature from 64-75°F (18-24°C).
After
two or three weeks the eggs can be placed in their own tank having soft water.
Start feeding with
Artemia nauplii.
The eggs may have a better hatching
rate if cooler water is used a first.
Breeding potential: 6.
Breeding is fairly easy.
Remarks: Several different color morphs are known including those from Meme and Bolifumba.
Perform
frequent partial water changes.
Difficulty of care: 5.
This Killifish is somewhat sensitive to water conditions.
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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