TankBud

Filamentous lampeye

Poropanchax luxophthalmus

Also known as Micropanchax macrophthalmus, Aplocheilichthys macrophthalmus, Norman's lampeye luxophthalmus, Luxophthalmus killi

FreshwaterFish

Filamentous lampeye (Poropanchax luxophthalmus)
The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
72–79°F
22–26°C
pH
6.0–7.5
Adult size
1.6 in
4 cm
Minimum tank
14 gal
54 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Schooling
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Egg depositor · Medium
Rarity
Rare
Family
Procatopodidae
Origin
Coastal Nigeria and Cameroon

Overview

The filamentous lampeye is a small, peaceful schooling fish for the middle levels of a calm, planted tank. It needs a little more care than the hardiest community fish.

Did you know

The filamentous lampeye carries the species name luxophthalmus, which means light eye. It comes from the Latin lux for light and the Greek ophthalmos for eye. The name points straight at the glowing iris that the whole lampeye group is named for.

Caring for the filamentous lampeye

Keep filamentous lampeyes in a group of ten or more in a mature, well-planted tank of at least 14 gal (54 L). Use soft light, fine-leaved plants, some floating cover and gentle filtration. A dark substrate and calm, clean water bring out their best color and make the pale eye shine stand out.

Give them soft water at 72 to 79°F (22 to 26°C) and a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. Offer small foods several times a day, such as fine flake and micro pellets. Add little live or frozen items such as daphnia, cyclops and newly hatched brine shrimp. Give them only gentle, similarly sized tank mates, since they are easily outcompeted at feeding time.

Mature males carry noticeably long, pointed ventral and unpaired fins. Filamentous lampeyes are continuous plant spawners. Breeding them is moderately tricky, mainly because the newly hatched fry are so small that they need infusoria before anything else.

Good to know

The filamentous lampeye is a member of Procatopodidae. It is often sold under the older names macrophthalmus and Norman's lampeye, though it is a distinct species. Its common name comes from the long fins of the males.

In the wild

The filamentous lampeye comes from slow, vegetated coastal streams and pools of Nigeria and Cameroon. The water there is warm and gently flowing, soft and slightly acidic.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The filamentous lampeye is a peaceful, schooling species that keeps to the middle. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a filamentous lampeye need?

A filamentous lampeye needs at least 14 gal (54 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a filamentous lampeye need?

A filamentous lampeye is comfortable at 72–79°F (22–26°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.

What does a filamentous lampeye eat?

A filamentous lampeye eats small foods several times a day, such as fine flake and micro pellets. It also takes little live or frozen daphnia, cyclops and newly hatched brine shrimp.

How big does a filamentous lampeye get?

An adult filamentous lampeye reaches about 1.6 in (4 cm).

Does a filamentous lampeye need a group?

Yes. A filamentous lampeye is a schooling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.

How can you tell a male filamentous lampeye from a female?

Males carry noticeably long, pointed ventral and unpaired fins once they mature.

How does a filamentous lampeye breed?

Filamentous lampeyes are continuous plant spawners. They are moderately tricky to breed, mainly because the newly hatched fry are so small that they need infusoria first.

Related species