All fish / Nothobranchiidae

Two-striped Lyretail

Aphyosemion bitaeniatum

Also known as two-striped killifish, two-striped aphyosemion, two-stripe lyretail, aphyosemion bitaeniatum lagos, multicolor killifish, アフィオセミオン・ビタエニアツム, 双带旗鳉

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This is a small, slim killifish from rainforest streams and swamps of coastal West Africa. Males carry two dark lengthwise stripes and are brightly coloured with red markings and blue, yellow and orange edged fins that may form a slight lyre shape, while females are plainer brown. Hobbyists keep it in dim, planted nano tanks or species tanks because it is colourful and stays small.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

4.5 cm

Temperature

22 to 27 °C

pH

5.5 to 7

Smallest tank

40 litres

Keep as

Pair or one male with two or three females

Diet

Carnivore: live and frozen foods such as daphnia, brine shrimp, bloodworm and grindal worms; some take quality small flakes

Swims

Top of the tank

Lifespan

1 to 3 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Coastal West Africa: Togo, Benin, Nigeria and western Cameroon

Breeding

It is a non-annual species that lays its eggs in spawning mops or fine plants close to the surface or the substrate. The eggs hatch in roughly two to three weeks, and the fry take newly hatched brine shrimp or microworms, so breeding it at home is fairly easy.

Good to know

Keep a tight lid because it jumps well, and do not house it with fin nippers or large tankmates. Many regional populations are sold under locality codes, so do not mix them.