TankBud

Splendid killifish

Aphyosemion splendopleure

Also known as Splendopleure killi

FreshwaterFish

Splendid killifish (Aphyosemion splendopleure)
The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
68–77°F
20–25°C
pH
5.5–7.0
Adult size
2.2 in
5.5 cm
Minimum tank
11 gal
40 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Middle
Diet
Carnivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Egg depositor · Medium
Rarity
Rare
Family
Nothobranchiidae
Origin
Coastal Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea

Overview

The splendid killifish is one of the easier Aphyosemion to start with, a mostly peaceful fish for a quiet, planted tank. It is best kept by someone with a little experience.

Did you know

Different wild populations of the splendid killifish wear different colors. Hobbyists trade them under collection codes that tag each strain to the stream it came from. The codes keep the local forms from blending together.

Caring for the splendid killifish

Keep splendid killifish as a single pair or a trio of one male and two females, in 11 gal (40 L) or more. Give them a dark substrate, roots and floating plants for shade. Dense planting and cover help the male show his colors. They swim in the middle of the tank and are accomplished jumpers, so a tight lid is essential.

Keep the water soft and acidic to neutral, at a pH of 5.5 to 7.0, with gentle flow. A temperature of 68 to 77°F (20 to 25°C) suits them. Feed small live and frozen foods such as daphnia, brine shrimp, cyclops and micro bloodworm.

The splendid killifish is mostly peaceful. It suits a quiet species tank, or the company of small, gentle fish that will not outcompete it.

Males have flanks that shimmer with yellow, green, blue and red. They are plant spawners that lay their eggs on fine plants or mops, where the eggs develop in the water. Because they breed without a dry season, they are a good first step into the genus. Rearing the fry keeps the effort at a moderate level.

Good to know

Aphyosemion splendopleure is a non-annual killifish in the family Nothobranchiidae. Its species name means splendid-sided.

In the wild

The splendid killifish lives in small rainforest streams along the coast of Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea. These are soft, shaded, slow waters running over leaf litter, in low, dim conditions.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The splendid killifish is a mostly peaceful, social 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 splendid killifish need?

A splendid killifish needs at least 11 gal (40 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a splendid killifish need?

A splendid killifish is comfortable at 68–77°F (20–25°C) with a pH of 5.5–7.0.

What does a splendid killifish eat?

A splendid killifish eats small live and frozen foods, such as daphnia, brine shrimp, cyclops and micro bloodworm.

How big does a splendid killifish get?

An adult splendid killifish reaches about 2.2 in (5.5 cm).

How can you tell a male splendid killifish from a female?

Males show a shimmer of yellow, green, blue and red along their flanks.

How does a splendid killifish breed?

A splendid killifish lays its eggs on fine plants or mops, and they develop in the water with no dry season. Rearing the fry takes moderate effort.

Related species