- Common name
- Amiet's lyretail
- Scientific name
- Fundulopanchax amieti
- Category
- Freshwater fish
- Group
- African killifishes
- Environment
- Soft freshwater aquarium
- Origin
- Lower Sanaga River system in western Cameroon
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- Up to 7 cm total length
- Expected lifespan
- Multi-year; a dependable species-specific maximum was not located. Preserve lineage records and plan for several years of secure covered housing.
- Minimum housing
- At least 60 litres for a pair or trio, with a long footprint and tightly fitted lid
- Temperature
- 22–28 °C
- pH
- 5.8–7.2
- Hardness / minerals
- Unknown as a full range — wild habitat has been measured near 0.2 °dH; maintain soft, stable water
- Salinity
- Freshwater; no routine salt addition
- Lighting
- Subdued with floating or overhanging cover
- Placement / zone
- Middle and upper water
- Filtration
- Use mature biological filtration sized for the complete adult amiet's lyretail group, with guarded intakes and accessible mechanical capture. Keep flow gentle with calm covered surface zones where the fish lives, and maintain undetectable ammonia and nitrite.
- Aeration
- Maintain reliable surface agitation and oxygen exchange at all times. Increase aeration during warm weather, medication, transport recovery, heavy feeding or any sign of rapid breathing.
- Maintenance
- Perform regular matched-water changes guided by nitrate and waste, remove uneaten food and trapped detritus, clean mechanical media without disrupting the biofilter, and record feeding, body condition, respiration and aggression.
Identity and search names
Use only for Fundulopanchax amieti. Preserve locality and strain records and do not mix unrelated lines casually.
Search names: Amiet's killifish, Aphyosemion amieti, Amieti killifish
Environment and housing
Use a tightly covered aquarium with plants, floating cover, wood, leaf litter and gentle filtration. Leave no escape gap.
Social structure: One male with one or more females can work where females have multiple refuges. Separate any fish under persistent pressure.
Feeding and nutrition
Feeding ecology: Small aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates plus accepted quality prepared foods
Feeding routine: One or two measured feeds daily unless the feeding plan states otherwise
Breeding, reproduction or spread
A non-annual substrate or spawning-mop spawner. Eggs generally require several weeks of incubation before hatching.
Detailed care and app-ready planning
- Identity scope
- Use only for Fundulopanchax amieti. Preserve locality and strain records and do not mix unrelated lines casually.
- Adult size and space
- Plan around 7 cm adults. A pair or trio needs at least 60 L with several visual barriers and surface cover.
- Social structure
- One male with one or more females can work where females have multiple refuges. Separate any fish under persistent pressure.
- Swimming zone or placement
- Middle and upper water, often beneath cover.
- Feeding ecology
- Predator of small invertebrates falling or moving through calm water.
- Feeding plan
- Use varied appropriately sized foods one or two times daily and verify females retain body condition.
- Water stability
- Maintain 22–28 °C and pH 5.8–7.2 in soft water. Avoid abrupt mineral or pH adjustment.
- Habitat structure
- Dense plants, floating cover, spawning mops, gentle current and a completely secure lid.
- Compatibility plan
- Avoid boisterous fish, fin nippers and species that require hard alkaline water.
- Breeding or reproduction plan
- Prepare mops or peat-free spawning media, label eggs by strain and date, and have tiny live foods ready for fry.
- Quarantine
- Quarantine separately with a fitted lid and monitor appetite, fins, respiration, skin and waste.
- Welfare checks
- Check jumping attempts, male pressure, female hiding, body condition, fin damage and feeding access.
- Biosecurity and release
- Never release fish, eggs, fry, plants, aquarium water or sediment into drains, dams or waterways. Verify current Australian import and South Australian possession, sale and movement rules before obtaining stock.
- Main risk
- Escape through a lid gap and chronic male harassment.
- Adult projected load
- Project biological load from the full adult amiet's lyretail group, adult body mass, feeding pattern, activity and social requirement rather than juvenile sale size. The body load is modest, but rich foods, breeding groups and escape-proof low-flow housing require disciplined feeding and waste removal.
- Filtration
- Use mature biological filtration sized for the complete adult amiet's lyretail group, with guarded intakes and accessible mechanical capture. Keep flow gentle with calm covered surface zones where the fish lives, and maintain undetectable ammonia and nitrite.
- Aeration
- Maintain reliable surface agitation and oxygen exchange at all times. Increase aeration during warm weather, medication, transport recovery, heavy feeding or any sign of rapid breathing.
- Maintenance
- Perform regular matched-water changes guided by nitrate and waste, remove uneaten food and trapped detritus, clean mechanical media without disrupting the biofilter, and record feeding, body condition, respiration and aggression.
- Overridable warnings
- Non-overridable: do not accept persistent ammonia or nitrite, oxygen distress, starvation, chronic aggression or inadequate adult space. Different equipment, stocking or maintenance methods may be used only when measured water quality and adult welfare remain equivalent or better. Every cable, lid and filter opening must remain escape-proof, and persistent male pressure requires separation.
- Identity
- Accepted species Fundulopanchax amieti; Aphyosemion amieti is a historical combination.
- Environment
- Use a tightly covered aquarium with plants, floating cover, wood, leaf litter and gentle filtration. Leave no escape gap.
- Feeding
- Offer small frozen or live invertebrates and suitable prepared food. Vary foods and prevent dominant fish monopolising meals.
- Breeding
- A non-annual substrate or spawning-mop spawner. Eggs generally require several weeks of incubation before hatching.
- Adult size and space
- Plan around 7 cm adults. A pair or trio needs at least 60 L with several visual barriers and surface cover.
- Biosecurity and release
- Never release fish, eggs, fry, plants, aquarium water or sediment into drains, dams or waterways. Verify current Australian import and South Australian possession, sale and movement rules before obtaining stock.
- Welfare Risk
- Insecure covering, mixed strain identity and lack of refuge can cause preventable loss.
Compatibility, welfare and risk
Compatibility: Best in a species-focused setup or with calm soft-water fish too large to be prey
Welfare: Insecure covering, mixed strain identity and lack of refuge can cause preventable loss.
Main warning: An exceptional jumper. A loose lid, cable gap or uncovered filter opening can cause death within minutes.
Biosecurity and release
Never release fish, eggs, fry, plants, aquarium water or sediment into drains, dams or waterways. Verify current Australian import and South Australian possession, sale and movement rules before obtaining stock.