All fish / Nothobranchiidae

Ogowe killifish

Aphyosemion ogoense

Also known as ogowe killi, ogoense killifish, broken-line killifish, ogoense, aphyosemion ogoense ottogartneri, red ogoense

A small, slender African killifish. Males have a blue-green body with red spots and broken red lines, plus colourful fins edged in red and yellow, while females are plainer brown. Keepers like it for its bright colours and its modest size, and it suits a small, planted species tank.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

5 cm

Temperature

20 to 24 °C

pH

6 to 7

Smallest tank

40 litres

Keep as

One male with two or three females, or a small group in a species tank

Diet

Carnivore: live and frozen foods such as daphnia, bloodworm, brine shrimp and fruit flies; some take flake

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

2 to 3 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Gabon and Republic of the Congo (Ogooué basin and nearby coastal drainages)

Breeding

It is a non-annual species that lays eggs among fine plants or spawning mops over several weeks. The eggs hatch after about two to three weeks, either in water or after a short spell on damp peat, and breeding is fairly straightforward for anyone used to killifish.

Good to know

It prefers cool, soft, slightly acidic water and does poorly if kept too warm. Keep the tank tightly covered as killifish jump, and keep populations with locality codes separate so strains are not mixed.