Banded Lampeye Care Guide - Aquarium Setup, Diet & Breeding

The Banded Lampeye is a small, elegant African killifish named for the dark vertical bands that cross its silvery body. Its most striking feature is the bright reflective spot in the eye, which flashes as the fish turns in the light. The body is slender and slightly flattened, with translucent fins and a subtle blue, green or gold sheen that becomes more noticeable when the fish is settled and displaying.

This species is peaceful and active, usually moving through the upper and middle levels of the aquarium in a coordinated group. Males often display to one another and to females, extending their fins and showing stronger colour, but serious aggression is uncommon when the fish have enough space and companions.

In nature, Banded Lampeyes live among aquatic vegetation and overhanging roots in calm coastal waterways. Their ability to occur in both fresh and slightly brackish environments reflects the changing conditions of estuaries and lagoons, where salinity can vary with tides, rainfall and seasonal flooding.

Although less commonly seen than some brightly coloured lampeyes, Aplocheilichthys spilauchen is valued for its shimmering eyes, gentle temperament and natural schooling behaviour. A planted aquarium allows the fish to display its most appealing behaviour while providing cover and a sense of security.

Banded Lampeyes are native to coastal West Africa, including parts of Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana, Benin and nearby countries. They inhabit slow-moving freshwater and mildly brackish coastal waters, such as lagoons, mangrove creeks, estuaries and vegetated backwaters.

A group should have at least a 60-litre aquarium, with a footprint of roughly 60 × 30 cm or larger; a longer tank is preferable to provide swimming room. Use a secure lid because these active upper-level fish can jump. Keep the water gently filtered with modest flow, and include dense planting, floating plants, fine-leaved cover, driftwood and shaded areas. A dark, fine-grained substrate helps their colours stand out, while open space at the front and a calm surface allow natural schooling behaviour. They tolerate freshwater to mildly brackish conditions, but salinity should be changed gradually and kept stable.

Males reach about 6 cm (2.4 inches) in length, while females are usually smaller at around 4.5–5 cm (1.8–2 inches).

Banded Lampeyes are small omnivores with a preference for tiny aquatic prey. Offer a varied diet of finely crushed quality flakes or micro-pellets supplemented with baby brine shrimp, daphnia, cyclops, mosquito larvae and other suitably sized frozen or live foods. Small live foods are particularly useful for bringing out their colour and encouraging spawning, while meals should be small enough for their narrow mouths.

Banded Lampeyes can be kept with other peaceful small fish, including Norman's Lampeyes, small African tetras, peaceful rasboras, dwarf corydoras and other non-aggressive community species of similar size. Avoid large fish, fin-nippers, boisterous tankmates and predatory species, which may harass or eat them. They are also poor companions for strongly territorial fish and should not be housed with species that require very different water conditions.

Banded Lampeyes are egg-scattering fish that readily spawn among fine-leaved plants, Java moss or spawning mops. Provide gentle filtration and offer small live foods to condition the adults. They may eat their eggs, so move the spawning material to a separate container or remove the adults after spawning. Eggs usually hatch in around 10 to 14 days, and the tiny fry need infusoria or another suitably fine first food before progressing to baby brine shrimp and larger foods.

Males are generally larger and more vividly marked, with longer, fuller fins and stronger colour, especially during displays. Females are shorter-bodied, plainer and typically have a rounder abdomen when carrying eggs.