Norman's lampeye

Water parameters

Tolerated range for this species. Aim for the middle of each band rather than the extremes.

Tank and habitat

Substrate: any.

Behavior

Plant interaction: plant safe.

Typically wild-caught; acclimate slowly.

Feeding

Micro pellets, crushed flake, frozen baby brine shrimp, frozen daphnia, frozen cyclops, and live micro-foods. The mouth is small; crush food appropriately. They feed in the upper water column. In community tanks with faster feeders, they may need targeted feeding. Feed twice daily in small amounts. Live food produces the best condition and coloring.

Compatibility

• Tiny, peaceful killifish that occupies the upper water column. The glowing blue-white eye is the visual hook; in a dimly lit tank, a school of lampeyes with their eyes catching the light is distinctive.
• Nano species. At 3–3.5 cm, they belong with other small, calm fish: ember tetras, chili rasboras, pygmy corys, and shrimp. Larger or boisterous species stress them.
• Groups of 8+ for proper schooling. In small numbers they scatter and hide. In larger groups they hover in the open and the eye-glow effect is amplified.
• Not a typical killifish in behavior; they're schooling fish that shoal in the upper midwater, not territorial cave-dwellers or surface-lurking predators.

Origin and habitat

One of the most widespread African lampeye species, found across West and Central Africa in countries including Senegal, Gambia, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Mali, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Central African Republic, Benin, Togo, and the White Nile in Sudan. Occurs in both Nilo-Sudanic river systems and Congo Basin rainforests. Inhabits small rivers, streams, and swamps with dense vegetation over sandy or muddy bottoms. Named in honor of ichthyologist John Roxborough Norman (1898-1944) of the British Museum, who sent specimens to Ahl for description. Described by Ahl in 1928. Originally placed in Aplocheilichthys; now classified in Poropanchax within the family Procatopodidae, the African lampeyes. The defining feature is the iridescent blue crescent on the upper iris, the "lampeye" that appears to glow under aquarium lighting. Grows to about 3–4 cm. A non-annual species with a lifespan of roughly 2-3 years in captivity, up to 5 by some accounts. Micro-predators in the wild, feeding on small invertebrates and insect larvae; in captivity they accept newly hatched artemia, daphnia, and fine dried foods. Peaceful and best kept in groups of at least six.

Breeding

Egg depositor that attaches eggs among fine-leaved plants and moss over a period of days. A conditioned pair produces a few eggs daily. Eggs are small, clear, and adhesive, attached to java moss, floating plant roots, or spawning mops. Adults eat eggs if they find them, so dense plant cover increases survival. Eggs hatch in 10-14 days at 24–26°C. Fry are tiny and need infusoria or paramecium for the first few days before moving to baby brine shrimp. In a well-planted species tank, fry appear periodically without intervention. Dedicated breeding in a separate tank with frequent egg collection improves yield. Not difficult to breed once conditions are stable.

Common problems

Sensitivity to water quality. Lampeyes are less tolerant of ammonia and nitrite spikes than many common community fish. Keep the tank mature and stable before adding them. Ich appears in stressed new arrivals; treat with gentle temperature elevation. The eye-glow effect doesn't photograph well and isn't visible in brightly lit store tanks, which means the fish looks unimpressive at purchase. The visual payoff only comes in a properly set up home tank with dim lighting. Short lifespan (2-3 years) means colony maintenance requires ongoing breeding.

Bioload

Further reading

• How to cycle a fish tank
• Stocking ideas by tank size