Lyretail Killifish / Cape Lopez
Aphyosemion australe
The Lyretail Killifish is a beloved, highly colorful species from West Africa. Thriving in heavily shaded setups with acidic water, it requires a specialized insectivorous diet.
Temperatura da água
21 - 25 °C
Valor de pH
5.5 - 7
Tipo de água
Água doce
Nível do tanque
Superfície e meio
Tamanho adulto
6 cm
Volume mínimo do tanque
>= 60 L
Grupo mínimo
>= 1
GH
1 - 10 dGH
KH
1 - 5 dKH
TDS
25 - 200 ppm
Condutividade
39 - 313 uS/cm
Descrição da espécie
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Originating from the coastal region of northern Gabon and Congo in West Africa. Inhabits permanent swamps, slow forest pools and rivulets heavily shaded by dense jungle vegetation.
Taxonomy and Morphology: Lyretail Killifish (Aphyosemion australe). One of the most loved and widespread Killifish in the world. It is known for the incredible "lyretail" tails of the males, with filamentous extensions on both the upper and lower lobe.
Social Behavior: Moderately peaceful species, but males are exhibitionists and often conflictual with each other. Keeping a male with a harem of females (1 male to 2-3 females) reduces stress and distributes the insistence in courtship.
Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Highly accentuated dimorphism. Males show a chocolate/reddish base livery ("Chocolate") or flaming orange ("Gold", the most common mutation) studded with red spots. Females are a modest uniform hazel-gray color with rounded and short fins.
Cuidado, criação e companheiros de tanque
Aquarium Setup: Specific species tank of 40-60 cm (16-24 inches). Needs a lot of shade: abundant floating plants, wood clogged with moss (Java moss) and peat on the bottom to acidify the water. Cover carefully: they jump through microscopic holes.
Diet and Feeding: Predominantly insectivorous. Often rejects dry feeds or spits them out. The staple diet must consist of Grindal worms, live/frozen bloodworms, brine shrimp and daphnia. A varied protein intake is the only way to keep breeders healthy.
Water Quality: Lover of soft (GH 1-5), acidic and moderately cool waters. High temperatures (above 26°C / 79°F) drastically shorten their life expectancy and cause the appearance of lethal bacterial diseases. No water current.
Compatibility and Cohabitation: Due to their slowness and delicate fins, they should be kept in dedicated tanks (species only) or with very peaceful and slow tankmates, such as small bottom fish (Corydoras habrosus) or otocinclus. Intolerant towards Caridina shrimp.
Aquarium Breeding: "Non-annual" Killi, lays eggs (spawners) with continuous development. The eggs are attached to wool mops or mosses every day (10-20 at a time). The eggs incubate in water in about 14-20 days, the fry need infusoria.
Risks and Diseases: Very sensitive to velvet (Oodinium) induced by polluted or too hot water. The lyretails of males are easy targets for bites from other fish: post-bite bacterial decay is rapid and fatal.
Origem e distribuição geográfica
Originating from the coastal region of northern Gabon and Congo in West Africa. Inhabits permanent swamps, slow forest pools and rivulets heavily shaded by dense jungle vegetation.
Origem
Melhoramento seletivo e cultivaresÁfrica e Madagascar
Perfil de peixe
- Temperamento
- Semi-aggressive
- The Lyretail Killifish is a peaceful, shy, and relatively quiet species that does best in peaceful surroundings. Males can exhibit territorial behavior towards each other, though serious injuries are rare if the tank provides enough visual boundaries. They will not bother other species but can be easily intimidated by active or aggressive tankmates.
- Dieta
- Omnivore
- In the wild, these fish are carnivores that feed primarily on small insects, insect larvae, and aquatic crustaceans. In the aquarium, they thrive on live or frozen foods such as daphnia, brine shrimp, and bloodworms. While tank-bred specimens will accept high-quality dry flakes or granules, their colors and breeding success are greatly enhanced by fresh foods.
- Expectativa de vida
- 2-3 years
- Tamanho adulto
- 6 cm
- Proporção sexual
- Harem
- For best results, these fish should be stocked in pairs or trios consisting of one male and two females. Keeping them in a harem helps distribute the male's breeding behavior and prevents any single female from becoming exhausted. In larger, heavily planted aquariums, multiple males can be kept together, provided there are enough females and visual barriers to limit aggression.
- Frequência de alimentação
- Twice daily
- Adult Lyretail Killifish should be fed once or twice daily with portion sizes they can consume within a few minutes. Overfeeding must be avoided as uneaten food will quickly foul their water. Spawning pairs or conditioning fish can be fed twice daily with high-protein live foods to encourage egg production.
- Carga biológica
- Low
- The Lyretail Killifish has a very low biological footprint due to its small adult size and slow metabolism. A standard sponge filter or gentle internal filter is highly sufficient to process their waste without creating excessive water turbulence. Regular weekly water changes of 10% to 15% are recommended to keep nitrate levels low and prevent the accumulation of organic compounds.
- Fluxo
- Stagnant
- This species inhabits slow-moving streams and swamps, meaning they have a strong preference for weak water flow. Strong currents cause stress and exhaust these fish, as they are not adapted to swimming against fast-moving water. A simple sponge filter or an adjustable filter set to a low flow rate is ideal to keep the environment calm.
- Risco de salto
- Yes
- These killifish are exceptional jumpers and can easily escape through even the smallest openings in the lid. In their natural habitat, jumping is an adaptation used to traverse land or escape predators. Therefore, a tightly fitting cover glass or canopy is absolutely mandatory to prevent tragic losses.
- Reprodução
- Oviparous
- Breeding this species is relatively easy and highly rewarding for hobbyists. They are egg-hangers that deposit their eggs on spawning mops, fine-leaved plants like Java moss, or peat moss. The eggs incubate for 10 to 20 days depending on the temperature, and the fry are large enough to accept newly hatched brine shrimp immediately.
- Compatibilidade e companheiros de tanque
- Semi-aggressive
- Aphyosemion australe is best suited for dedicated single-species tanks or peaceful community aquariums. Ideal tankmates include small, peaceful fish such as dwarf corydoras, small tetras, rasboras, and dwarf cichlids. Active, nippy, or aggressive fish should be avoided as they will easily outcompete and stress this shy killifish.
- Nível do tanque
- Top/Middle
- Aphyosemion australe is a benthopelagic species that primarily occupies the middle to upper levels of the water column. They are particularly drawn to areas with dense vegetation, root networks, and floating plants where they feel secure. While they may occasionally venture to the bottom to forage, they spend most of their time hovering near the surface or mid-water layers.
Modelos e parâmetros científicos
FishBase
Acesso aos dados científicos oficiais da espécie
FishBase v25.04Dados sincronizados em: 15/06/2026
- Nível trófico
- 3,3 ± 0,39 se
- Unicidade filogenética (PD50)
- 0.5
- Relação bayesiana comprimento-peso
- a = 0.00603, b = 3.13
- VulnerabilidadeVulnerabilidade baixa (10 / 100)
Galeria de imagens
Imagens licenciadas vinculadas à espécie ou, quando marcadas, ao táxon representativo mais próximo.
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