All fish / Procatopodidae

Big-scale Lampeye

Procatopus nototaenia

Also known as bigscale lampeye, procatopus, nototaenia lampeye, lampeye killifish

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This is a small, slim African lampeye killifish. Males show iridescent blue scales and orange-edged fins, and both sexes have a bright reflective eye. Keepers like it as a lively, peaceful surface shoaler for a quiet, well-oxygenated tank with some current.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

4.5 cm

Temperature

22 to 26 °C

pH

6 to 7.5

Smallest tank

60 litres

Keep as

Group of 6 or more, with more females than males

Diet

Carnivore: small live and frozen foods such as daphnia, brine shrimp and bloodworm, plus fine flake

Swims

Top of the tank

Lifespan

2 to 3 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Coastal rainforest streams of western Cameroon

Breeding

It lays eggs on and over several days, pushing them into crevices, wood cracks or spawning mops. The eggs take about two to three weeks to hatch. Breeding is fairly straightforward once you have healthy adults, but the fry are tiny and need infusoria first.

Good to know

It is sensitive to poor water quality and to warm, still water, and it can jump, so keep a tight lid. It is rarely sold outside killifish societies.