 |  Animal-World > Aquarium Tropical Fish > Killifishes | Tooth Carps | Pupfishes | Topminnows > Variable Lampeye Killifish
Variable Lampeye KillifishYellow Lampeye ~ Nigerian LampeyeFamily: Poeciliidae Procatopus similisPhoto © Animal-World: Courtesy Ken ChildsBe the first to add a comment! Though an extremely beautiful little fish, keeping the Variable Lampeye Killifish takes a great deal of dedication!Variable Lampeye Killifish Contents This is an amazingly beautiful species that is worth keeping if you are an advanced aquarist. Their bright red eyes and incredible body coloration is a lure that is hard to resist! But to successfully keep this species takes a good deal of devotion. They will need a good sized aquarium, at least 30 gallons, and close attention to providing good water quality and good food. A planted tank is an excellent way to showcase these specimens. They are especially pleasing when contrasted against a dark substrate in a well lit aquarium. No one should attempt to keep this species unless they are prepared to invest a substantial amount of time and resources into their care. If you feel you're up to the challenge, keeping this species in good condition is immensely satisfying. For more Information on keeping freshwater fish see: |
 |
||||
|
Distribution: The Variable Lampeye Killifish, also known as the Yellow Lampeye or Nigerian Lampeye, was described by Ahl in 1927. They are found in Nigeria and Cameroon where they primarily inhabit the fast moving waters of small rivers and streams.
Status: This fish is not listed on the IUCN red list.
Description: The body of the Variable Lampeye Killifish is elongated with a slightly arched back giving it a rather irregular diamond shape. The dorsal fin is set towards the back half of the body and the scales are round. The head is flattened on top, the mouth is upturned, and they have no barbels. Like the other members of the Procatopus genus, they have a thorn-like apendage on the lower portion of the gill cover.
These fish are very beautiful and true to their name, are quite variable in color. They have a light to intense green-blue coloration over much of the body that becomes a pale white towards the front on the abdomen. There is a bold red stripe along the back starting at the mouth and extending through the caudal peduncle. The tail is yellowish or blue with red margins on the top and occasionally on the bottom. The fins on the male are a yellowish color, less commonly they can be blue or red color, and sometimes they are outlined in red. There can be red spots, usually in a double row on the anal and tail fins that sometimes merge into a band. The fins on the female are transparent. Males are more colorful than females.
Size - Weight: Maximum size is about 2½ inches (6 cm).
Care and feeding: Variable Lampeye Killifish are carnivores. To keep them in good condition, they should be fed a variety of fresh or frozen foods such as brine shrimp, bloodworms or mosquito larvae.
Variable Lampeyes can be difficult to keep unless you are prepared to devote extra time to their care. They are a schooling fish and can be relatively expensive so the first obstacle is being able to afford 6 or more. Their water must be kept exceptionally clean so good filtration is a must. They come from flowing water so a good powerhead is needed to make sure that there is a constant current. A tank of at least 30 gallons is recommended.
Water Region: Top, Middle, Bottom: This is a species that will swim near the middle of the tank.
Acceptable Water Conditions: Temperature: 75 - 79° F (24 - 26 ° C)
Hardness: 5 - 12° dGH
Ph: 6.0 - 8.0
Social Behaviors: They are very peaceful and will do best if kept in a tank containing their own kind.
Sexual Differences: Variable Lampeyes can be difficult to sex. Males are larger and more colorful and their anal fin is more pointed, but these differences are all very slight.
Breeding/Reproduction: The Variable Lampeye is a difficult fish to breed and no one seems to have a surefire method to get them to spawn. If you want to attempt breeding, contact your local Killifish Association to try and find someone that has had success in your area.
Availability: The Variable Lampeye Killifish, also called the Nigerian Lampeye or Yellow Lampeye, are occasionally available.
Back to Killifishes | Tooth Carps | Pupfishes | Topminnows
 |
 |
 |
|
|
 
|
|||||
|
International Index Pages |
|||||
| Join Dr. Jungle on Facebook - People Talking About Their Pets | |||||
