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Scheel's lampeye

Poropanchax scheeli

Also known as Micropanchax scheeli

FreshwaterFish

Scheel's lampeye (Poropanchax scheeli)

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 Cameroon

Overview

Scheel's lampeye is a gentle, glittering schooling fish for the middle water of a calm, planted tank. It suits a keeper with some experience.

Did you know

Scheel's lampeye is named for Jorgen Scheel, a Danish ichthyologist who pioneered the study of killifish chromosomes. He also wrote an early reference book on the group, and his work came decades before modern genetic tools existed.

Caring for the Scheel's lampeye

Keep Scheel's lampeyes in a group of ten or more in a calm, planted tank of at least 14 gal (54 L). Only small, quiet tank mates suit them, since brisk or greedy fish keep them shy and underfed. Add fine-leaved plants, with some floating cover to soften the light. A dark bottom and calm, well-filtered water bring out their colors.

Give them soft to neutral water at 72 to 79°F (22 to 26°C) and a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. Keep it clean, with gentle flow. Feed small foods often, such as fine flake, micro pellets and little live or frozen daphnia, cyclops and newly hatched brine shrimp.

Scheel's lampeyes spawn continuously, dropping a few eggs each day into fine plants or a mop. They are moderately tricky to breed because the fry are so small. As with the other small lampeyes, the fry need infusoria-sized food before they can manage newly hatched brine shrimp.

Good to know

Scheel's lampeye, Poropanchax scheeli, is a small lampeye in the family Procatopodidae. It has a blue eye shine and soft, quiet body colors.

In the wild

Scheel's lampeye comes from gentle, shaded coastal streams of southern Nigeria and Cameroon. The water there is warm and soft, with plenty of plant cover.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The Scheel's 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 Scheel's lampeye need?

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

What temperature and pH does a Scheel's lampeye need?

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

What does a Scheel's lampeye eat?

A Scheel's lampeye eats small foods often, 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 Scheel's lampeye get?

An adult Scheel's lampeye reaches about 1.6 in (4 cm).

Does a Scheel's lampeye need a group?

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

How does a Scheel's lampeye breed?

Scheel's lampeyes spawn continuously, dropping a few eggs each day into fine plants or a mop. They are moderately tricky to breed because the fry are so small and need infusoria-sized food first.

Related species