Nototaenia lampeye

Procatopus nototaenia

Also known as Yabassi lampeye, Backstripe lampeye

FreshwaterFish

Care at a glance

Temperature: 72–79°F (22–26°C)
pH: 6.0–7.5
Adult size: 2.4 in (6 cm)
Minimum tank: 20 gal (75 L)
Temperament: Peaceful
Social behavior: Schooling
Swim level: Middle
Difficulty: Medium
Breeding: Medium
Rarity: Rare
Origin: Coastal Cameroon streams
Family: Procatopodidae

Overview

This is a colorful but peaceful schooling fish that needs a group of eight or more and open, moving water to look its best. It holds in the middle of the tank and the males run pale neon blue along the flanks, brightest over a dark bottom. Keep it with other calm, current loving community fish and avoid slow swimmers or fin nippers. It takes small foods readily, including micro pellets, crushed flake, and frozen or live daphnia, cyclops, and baby brine shrimp. Give a group at least 75 liters of clean, gently flowing water with cover at the sides and space to swim down the middle.

In the wild

The nototaenia lampeye lives in shady, clear, moderately flowing forest streams of coastal Cameroon, with lush plant growth along the banks and plenty of overhanging cover. Recreate that with soft to neutral water around pH 6.0 to 7.5, a temperature of 22 to 26 C, and steady, well oxygenated flow. Driftwood, rock, marginal plants, and a dark substrate give it shade and structure while leaving open water to cruise.

Good to know

This Procatopodidae lampeye reaches about 6 cm, and its name notes the dark stripe along the back. Males come in several local color forms with different fin and body shades, while the females are almost impossible to tell apart. Breeding is moderately difficult; like other Procatopus it lays its eggs deep in crevices rather than in plants, and the small fry are demanding to raise.

Did you know

Collectors track this lampeye by where it was caught: forms from Yabassi, Kribi, Edea, and other Cameroon localities differ in the color of the males, while the females look nearly identical.