Banded lampeye

Aplocheilichthys spilauchen

Also known as Aplochelichthys spilauchen, Banded lampeye killi

FreshwaterBrackishFish

Care at a glance

Temperature: 73–82°F (23–28°C)
pH: 7.5–8.5
Adult size: 2.8 in (7 cm)
Minimum tank: 21 gal (80 L)
Temperament: Peaceful
Social behavior: Schooling
Swim level: Top
Difficulty: Medium
Breeding: Medium
Rarity: Rare
Origin: Coastal lagoons from Senegal to Angola
Family: Procatopodidae

Overview

This is a peaceful surface schooler, and it does best in a group of eight or more that spreads out along the top of the tank. It is the largest of the lampeyes kept in the hobby and likes room to cruise, so give it a long tank and open swimming space just under the surface. Keep it with other calm fish that suit hard, alkaline, or lightly brackish water, and avoid boisterous or fin nipping tankmates. Feed floating and slow sinking foods: small flakes, micro pellets, and frozen daphnia, brine shrimp, and mosquito larvae taken from near the surface. Around 80 liters gives a group the length it wants.

In the wild

The banded lampeye lives in coastal lagoons, estuaries, and mangrove creeks from Senegal south to Angola, water that is often hard, alkaline, and slightly salty where the sea meets the river. Match that with a pH of about 7.5 to 8.5, a temperature of 23 to 28 C, and either hard fresh water or a light addition of marine salt. Open surface space, some rooted and floating plants that tolerate salt, and steady filtration finish the setup.

Good to know

This lampeye is part of Procatopodidae and reaches about 7 cm, large for the group. It is the type species of Aplocheilichthys and, after most of its former relatives were moved into other genera, is now effectively the only species still held in that once much larger genus. Breeding is of moderate difficulty: it scatters small numbers of eggs among fine plants over many days, and the fry are small and slow to raise.

Did you know

Unlike most of its freshwater relatives, this lampeye lives in tidal mangrove creeks and lagoons and takes readily to brackish water, which is why keepers often add a little marine salt to its tank.