Norman's lampeye

Poropanchax normani

FreshwaterFish

Care at a glance

Temperature: 72–79°F (22–26°C)
pH: 6.5–7.5
Adult size: 1.6 in (4 cm)
Minimum tank: 20 gal (75 L)
Temperament: Peaceful
Social behavior: Social
Swim level: Top
Difficulty: Medium
Breeding: Hard
Rarity: Rare
Origin: West Africa
Family: Procatopodidae

Overview

This is a shoaling fish best kept in a decent-sized group, ten or more if you can, in a tank around 75 liters. They hold near the top of the water column and are very peaceful, which means boisterous tankmates will outcompete them at feeding. Keep water in the low to mid 20s C, soft, and close to neutral. Feed small foods like fine flake, crushed pellet, micro-worms, and baby brine shrimp.

In the wild

Norman's lampeye lives in slow, shallow waters across West Africa, often shaded pools and stream edges with plant cover. The water tends to be soft and on the acidic to neutral side. A quiet tank with gentle flow, plenty of plants, and some floating cover near the surface suits them well. They spend most of their time just under the waterline.

Good to know

Despite the common name, this is a killifish-type lampeye now placed in the family Procatopodidae, reaching only about 4 cm. The bright blue-green ring over the eye is reflective tissue, which is where the name lampeye comes from. They're egg layers that attach eggs to fine plants, and eggs take a couple of weeks to develop. The IUCN lists the species as Least Concern.

Did you know

Because they feed at the surface, they're built to spot tiny prey against the glare of light coming through the water. The glowing eye-ring isn't just decoration. In a shoal it helps the fish keep track of each other in dim, shaded water.