TankBud

Two-striped aphyosemion

Aphyosemion bivittatum

Also known as Red lyretail

FreshwaterFish

Two-striped aphyosemion (Aphyosemion bivittatum)
Violaine2, France · CC BY-SA 3.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
72–79°F
22–26°C
pH
5.5–7.0
Adult size
2 in
5 cm
Minimum tank
11 gal
40 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Egg depositor · Medium
Rarity
Common
Family
Nothobranchiidae
Origin
Coastal rainforest brooks of the Cameroon-Nigeria border region (West Africa)

Overview

The two-striped aphyosemion is a small, peaceful killifish for the middle of a species tank. It is best kept by someone with a little experience.

Did you know

Two-striped aphyosemions spawn a little at a time over several weeks rather than in one big drop. A pair works through a clump of fine plants or a spawning mop, leaving a few eggs each day. That slow, steady habit sets it apart from the better-known annual killies, whose eggs must dry out in mud before they hatch.

Caring for the two-striped aphyosemion

Give two-striped aphyosemions a species tank of at least 11 gal (40 L). Plant it heavily, with floating plants on top, a dark substrate, driftwood and dried leaves to stain the water brown. Leave an open patch in the middle for swimming, where they hold in the water column. They are accomplished jumpers that will leave through any gap, so run a tight-fitting lid.

Keep the water soft, stable and on the acidic side, with a pH of 5.5 to 7.0. Hold it at 72 to 79°F (22 to 26°C). Feed small live and frozen foods such as daphnia, baby brine shrimp and grindal worms, along with fine flakes.

Keep a single pair, or one male with two or three females, since this is not a shoaling fish and several males will squabble. They are peaceful but small and easily outcompeted for food, so they do poorly in a busy community. If you add tank mates, keep them small and calm, such as pencilfish, Corydoras, kuhli loaches or small gouramis. Never let them crowd the killies at feeding time.

Males are larger and more colorful than females, and they carry trailing lyretail fins. Two-striped aphyosemions are non-annual plant spawners, and their eggs incubate in the water rather than in dried peat. Breeding takes some setup and is moderately difficult.

Good to know

The two-striped aphyosemion is a killifish in the family Nothobranchiidae. A healthy adult usually lives around 2 to 3 years.

In the wild

Two-striped aphyosemions come from small, shaded brooks in the coastal rainforest along the Cameroon and Nigeria border in West Africa. These soft, acidic streams are stained with tannins and lie under heavy canopy, with leaf litter on the bottom. Very little light reaches the water.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The two-striped aphyosemion 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 two-striped aphyosemion need?

A two-striped aphyosemion needs at least 11 gal (40 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a two-striped aphyosemion need?

A two-striped aphyosemion is comfortable at 72–79°F (22–26°C) with a pH of 5.5–7.0.

What does a two-striped aphyosemion eat?

A two-striped aphyosemion eats small live and frozen foods, such as daphnia, baby brine shrimp and grindal worms. It takes fine flakes as well.

How big does a two-striped aphyosemion get?

An adult two-striped aphyosemion reaches about 2 in (5 cm).

How can you tell a male two-striped aphyosemion from a female?

Males are bigger and brighter than females, with trailing lyretail fins.

How does a two-striped aphyosemion breed?

A two-striped aphyosemion is a non-annual plant spawner, and its eggs incubate in the water instead of in dried peat. Breeding takes some setup and is moderately difficult.

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