PPulcher
Sep 24th 2007, 09:12 AM
Common name: Lyretail, Cape Lopez Lyretail, Lyretail panchax
Scientific name: Aphyosemion australe
Family: Aplocheilidae (Killifishes)
Origin: Africa: Swampy areas around the coasts of Gabon & Congo
Adult size: 6cm (2")
Tank Specs
Minimum Tank Size: 5 gallons for maintenance, smaller for breeding. All tanks should be tightly covered.
Water Parameters (PH/GH/KH): Prefer slightly soft acidic water in pH range 6.0 – 7.0 and dH range: 5 - 12 but will tolerate more alkaline water for maintenance.
Temperature: 21 – 24 C (70-75 F)
Special Requirements: Live foodsSuitable Tankmates: Best in a species tank
Minimum Group Size: Single, or pairs
Diet: Live for frozen foods, may be trained to take flake
Sexing: Clear sexual dimorphism; males have much larger fins than females.
Breeding and Reproduction: Plant spawner, will use top or bottom mops.
Breeding: Can be bred in a 'natural setup' with a few pairs in a 10 or 15 gallon tank that is heavily planted with fine leaved plants like java moss, najas or hornwort. Provide hiding places for the females or the males may drive them too hard. Breeding can also be done in smaller tanks with well conditioned fish. Provide them with a spawning mop, and they will lay a number of eggs daily in the yarn. The mop can be removed to a hatching vessel, or the eggs can be picked by hand and incubated in small containers. Best breeding results are in softer water with a little peat in the filter. Fry can take BBS from hatching.
Notes: This is one fish that I've tried on several occasions and have not had much success with in moderately hard, alkaline water as they eggs are mostly infertile. They are also relatively short lived (1-2 years) I suspect they need a little more heat than other killies for good egg production (on the higher side of the range). There are lots of different color morphs available including chocolate , orange, albino and several named locations.
See http://www.killifish.f9.co.uk/Killifish/Killifish%20Website/Ref_Library/Aphyosemion/A.australe.htm for photos of various colour strains. There are also breeding notes that indicate best results with warm water (29 C/85 F) low oxygen concentration and very low pH to mimic natural circumstances.
Scientific name: Aphyosemion australe
Family: Aplocheilidae (Killifishes)
Origin: Africa: Swampy areas around the coasts of Gabon & Congo
Adult size: 6cm (2")
Tank Specs
Minimum Tank Size: 5 gallons for maintenance, smaller for breeding. All tanks should be tightly covered.
Water Parameters (PH/GH/KH): Prefer slightly soft acidic water in pH range 6.0 – 7.0 and dH range: 5 - 12 but will tolerate more alkaline water for maintenance.
Temperature: 21 – 24 C (70-75 F)
Special Requirements: Live foodsSuitable Tankmates: Best in a species tank
Minimum Group Size: Single, or pairs
Diet: Live for frozen foods, may be trained to take flake
Sexing: Clear sexual dimorphism; males have much larger fins than females.
Breeding and Reproduction: Plant spawner, will use top or bottom mops.
Breeding: Can be bred in a 'natural setup' with a few pairs in a 10 or 15 gallon tank that is heavily planted with fine leaved plants like java moss, najas or hornwort. Provide hiding places for the females or the males may drive them too hard. Breeding can also be done in smaller tanks with well conditioned fish. Provide them with a spawning mop, and they will lay a number of eggs daily in the yarn. The mop can be removed to a hatching vessel, or the eggs can be picked by hand and incubated in small containers. Best breeding results are in softer water with a little peat in the filter. Fry can take BBS from hatching.
Notes: This is one fish that I've tried on several occasions and have not had much success with in moderately hard, alkaline water as they eggs are mostly infertile. They are also relatively short lived (1-2 years) I suspect they need a little more heat than other killies for good egg production (on the higher side of the range). There are lots of different color morphs available including chocolate , orange, albino and several named locations.
See http://www.killifish.f9.co.uk/Killifish/Killifish%20Website/Ref_Library/Aphyosemion/A.australe.htm for photos of various colour strains. There are also breeding notes that indicate best results with warm water (29 C/85 F) low oxygen concentration and very low pH to mimic natural circumstances.