Normans Lampeye Killifish

 A quite peaceful yet lesser-known Fish found in the Fishkeeping community, the Norman’s Lampeye Killifish or Aplocheilichthys normani whose small size makes it absolutely perfect for small planted aquariums.

Their name refers to the horizontal crescent at the top of its eye that seems to “glow” under the aquarium light. Native to Central and Western Africa, this hardy fish is excellent for even beginners. It will often spawn in the aquarium.

The Norman’s Lampeye Killifish occupies the top level of the water column almost exclusively. It is not afraid to jump, so it must be kept in an aquarium with either a lid/hood/canopy or at least a significantly lowered water level. It will not eat or bother plants and it will appreciate the cover, especially with floating plants.   They are best suited for a heavily planted aquarium.

Norman’s Lampeyes are a relatively delicate fish and require stable water conditions with plenty of cover in the form of driftwood and plants. Water movement must be kept as gentle as possible, and dark substrate and décor choices will help to bring out the vibrant blue colour in the upper irises of these tiny fish. Despite the small adult size of these fish, the tank itself should be fairly spacious, as they are an active species, especially when breeding. Lighting should be fairly dim, although brighter lighting can be employed if there is plenty of surface cover

They need their tank temperature to stay around 71-78 Fahrenheit, have a pH of 6.0-7.5, and a hardness of 5-12 ° dGH . Also, they have a minimum tank size of about 16 Gallons or 60 Liters.

While many killifish are kept in pairs, the Norman’s Lampeye Killifish seems to thrive and show the best coloration in groups. It will feel most secure when kept in groups of 6 or more. It is safe with adult dwarf shrimp, but like most fish, it may eat some shrimp fry.

The Norman’s Lampeye Killifish is not necessarily a picky eater, but it requires a varied diet of foods that can be consumed at the top of the water column. They can take foods like cyclops, Brine Shrimp, Daphnia, Bloodworms, and white mosquito larvae. Some specimens will also take crushed flake and micropellets.