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Tanganyika killifish

Lamprichthys tanganicanus

Also known as Lake Tanganyika Killi

FreshwaterFish

Tanganyika killifish (Lamprichthys tanganicanus)
Pass3456 · CC BY-SA 3.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
73–77°F
23–25°C
pH
7.0–8.0
Adult size
5.5 in
14 cm
Minimum tank
40 gal
150 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Difficult
Breeding
Cave spawner
Rarity
Very rare
Family
Procatopodidae
Origin
Lake Tanganyika

Overview

The Tanganyika killifish is a peaceful but fast, active fish for the open water of a large, hard-water tank. It is a fish for experienced keepers.

Did you know

The Tanganyika killifish is the only killifish native to Lake Tanganyika. Adults are covered in rows of shining, pale-blue spangles that flash as the school turns in open water.

Caring for the Tanganyika killifish

Give a school of Tanganyika killifish a tank of at least 40 gal (150 L). More length is better for these strong swimmers. Rockwork with plenty of open swimming space recreates their home.

Keep the water hard and alkaline, with high mineral content. Hold it at 73 to 77°F (23 to 25°C) and a pH of 7.0 to 8.0. This killifish is sensitive to poor water and stress, and it ships badly. It needs mature, very stable, well-oxygenated and well-filtered water, since it reacts badly to swings in water quality.

Feed a varied diet of small frozen and live foods like brine shrimp and daphnia, alongside a quality flake. Keep a group of six or more, with plenty of swimming room. Choose calm tank mates that enjoy the same hard, alkaline water, such as small Tanganyikan cichlids.

Pairs spawn by pushing their non-adhesive eggs deep into narrow rock crevices, where the eggs develop out of reach of predators. Aquarium breeding is seldom documented and is considered a challenge.

Good to know

The Tanganyika killifish is not a livebearer at all. It is a lampeye of the family Procatopodidae and lays eggs rather than bearing live young. It is also one of the largest of the African lampeyes.

In the wild

The Tanganyika killifish, Lamprichthys tanganicanus, is found only in Lake Tanganyika in East Africa. It schools along rocky shores and out over open water. The lake is hard, alkaline and very stable.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The Tanganyika killifish is a 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 Tanganyika killifish need?

A Tanganyika killifish needs at least 40 gal (150 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a Tanganyika killifish need?

A Tanganyika killifish is comfortable at 73–77°F (23–25°C) with a pH of 7.0–8.0.

What does a Tanganyika killifish eat?

A Tanganyika killifish eats a varied diet of small frozen and live foods, such as brine shrimp and daphnia. Give it a quality flake as well.

How big does a Tanganyika killifish get?

An adult Tanganyika killifish reaches about 5.5 in (14 cm).

How does a Tanganyika killifish breed?

Tanganyika killifish pairs push their non-adhesive eggs deep into narrow rock crevices, where the eggs develop out of reach of predators. Breeding them in an aquarium is seldom documented and is considered a challenge.

Related species