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No federal permit to keepSpanish toothcarp
Apricaphanius iberus
Fishes › Killifish and livebearers (Cyprinodontiformes) › Aphaniidae (Aphanius killifish)
The Spanish toothcarp (Apricaphanius iberus), also known as the Spanish pupfish or Iberian killifish, is a small species of ray-finned fish in the family Aphaniidae endemic to Spain.
Intro from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Care at a glance
Species-specific aquarium care
- Tank: At least 24 in long and 12 in front to back for one adult (adults commonly reach about 2.2 in / 5.5 cm).
- Water: Freshwater (tolerates brackish).
- Temperature: 50–90°F (range recorded for this species).
- pH: 6.5–7.5.
- Hardness: 8–10 dGH.
- Layout: Uses both the bottom and open water: give open swimming space plus cover near the substrate.
- Diet: A predator: feed meaty foods sized to its mouth (frozen fish, shrimp, worms); it will eat tankmates that fit in its mouth. FishBase classes it as a carnivore.
Calculated from this species' own FishBase record: tank size from its typical adult length and swimming zone, water values from its recorded ranges. The group guide below fills in general care.
Care guide
Species care notes
- Tank: a base of at least 47 × 12 in (roughly 29 US gallons); space needed is rated “large tank”.
- Water: a fairly wide range, from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline, 36–86 °F, pH 7–9, 10–30 dGH.
- Behaviour: a shoaling fish best kept in a group of six or more.
- Difficulty: Moderate (Seriously Fish rating).
Short excerpts from the species profile:
- Setup: “Even for long-term maintenance a simple set-up will suffice.”
- Diet: “Apricaphanius species are basically micropredators feeding on small aquatic crustaceans, worms, insect larvae and other zooplankton although algae and other plant material is also taken at times.”
- Tankmates: “Its particular water requirements and aggressive spawning behaviour make A.”
From the Seriously Fish profile for this species, which has the full habitat, maintenance, diet, behaviour and breeding write-up 167
Aphanius killifish
Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: These toothcarps occupy vegetated Mediterranean coastal lagoons and inland Anatolian springs, streams and lake margins with locality-dependent salinity (fasciatus, anatoliae). Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.
Housing & setup
- For fasciatus/anatoliae groups use a footprint of at least 120 × 30 cm; fasciatus pairs/trios can use 60 × 30 cm (fasciatus, anatoliae).
- Fill substantial space with spawning mops or fine-leaved plants to break male sightlines (fasciatus, anatoliae).
- Provide hard alkaline water: fasciatus pH 7.5–9.0, anatoliae 7.0–8.5; both 10–30 dGH (fasciatus, anatoliae).
- Set salinity from collection locality, rather than treating every population as freshwater (fasciatus, anatoliae).
- Use gentle filtration for anatoliae and preserve a seasonal cool winter period (anatoliae).
Diet
- Live or frozen Artemia and Daphnia (fasciatus, anatoliae).
- Bloodworms (fasciatus, anatoliae).
- Spirulina-containing dried food and filamentous algae (fasciatus, anatoliae).
Social life
- Maintain species/locality breeding groups, with two or three females per male for anatoliae and refuges from dominant males (anatoliae).
Health watch
- Ammonia toxicity from inadequate biofiltration (fish_health).
- Parasitic skin and gill infections (fish_health).
- Nutritional deficiencies from unsuitable diets (fish_health).
Understanding the animal
In the wild
In the wild
From this species’ own FishBase record (habitat, bottom type, water and breeding data), not its family. Good care copies these conditions.1
| Where it lives | Lives in freshwater and brackish water, in rivers and streams, marshes and swamps, estuaries. Uses both the bottom and open water. Inhabits lagoons, salt marshes, swamps, estuaries and freshwaters. Euryhaline, occurring in water bodies with salinities ranging from freshwater to 57 ppt. |
| Water it lives in | Freshwater / brackish water, 50–90 °F (10–32 °C), pH 6.5–7.5, hardness 8–10 dH. |
| Climate | Temperate climate. |
| Wild diet | Hunting macrofauna (predator). |
| Behavior to plan for | Breeding: open water/substratum egg scatterers. |
What this means for care
- Keep water within its wild range, 50–90 °F.
- It tolerates or needs brackish water; check salinity needs before setup.
Native climate (measured)
Native climate (measured)
| Warm-season highs | about 84°F (up to 87°F in the hottest sampled areas) |
| Cool-season lows | about 39°F (down to 38°F in the coldest sampled areas) |
| Average temperature | 59–63°F across sampled records |
| Relative humidity | 72–72% on average (driest month about 67%) |
| Rainfall | about 504 mm a year, spread fairly evenly |
| Winters | Cool to cold winters (lows around 39°F) in much of its native range. Seasonal slowdown may be relevant, but species-specific biology determines whether brumation or hibernation occurs. |
Measured at 5 wild occurrence records sampled against WorldClim 2.1 climate data (1970–2000 averages). Air conditions in the range are ecological context, not enclosure settings: microhabitats such as burrows, leaf litter or basking rocks can be cooler, warmer or more humid.
From the sources
From the sources
Quoted from the matching sections of reputable sources for this exact species. Specialist databases are used first; Wikipedia (community-edited, CC BY-SA 4.0) only fills gaps. Other sources are short credited quotes.
| Overview | The Spanish toothcarp (Apricaphanius iberus), also known as the Spanish pupfish or Iberian killifish, is a small species of ray-finned fish in the family Aphaniidae endemic to Spain. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Where it lives | Home ranges Population dynamics Growth parameters Max. ages / sizes Length-weight rel. Length-frequencies Mass conversion Recruitment Abundance Life cycle Reproduction Maturity Maturity/Gills rel. — FishBase |
| Wild diet | The Spanish toothcarp is an omnivore, and eats insects, crustaceans, worms and algae. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Reproduction | The lifespan of a Spanish toothcarp is short, reaching sexual maturity at merely 3 months of age. The females spawn repeatedly each season, producing from 100 to 900 eggs. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Appearance and size | The Spanish toothcarp is a small fish, rarely more than 5 cm in length. Females are longer than males of the same age. It has an oblong body and rounded fins. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Biology | Adults inhabit lagoons, salt marshes, swamps, estuaries and freshwaters. Euryhaline, occurring in water bodies with salinities ranging from freshwater to 57 ppt. They occur in lowland water with little current. — FishBase |
| History and naming | The genus Apricaphanius contains three species. One of them, A. saourensis, is found in Algeria, and the other two are endemic to Spain. The other Spanish species is A. baeticus; it was not recognized as distinct from A. iberus until 2002. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Conservation | The risk of extinction of the Spanish toothcarp is one of the greatest of any Iberian vertebrate. Its limited range, coupled with the drastic population decline the species has suffered in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, has caused it to be placed on endangered species lists, both in Spain and internationally. Its conservation status in the south of the Iberian Peninsula has notably worsened. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
Data and studies
The numbers
The numbers
Each bar is what one source reports. Where several sources weigh in, the dashed gold band marks their average.
Adult length
Maximum recorded length. Measured as total length. Fish in home aquariums often stay smaller than wild records.
Water temperature
Range the species tolerates in nature; aim for the middle.
Minimum tank footprint
Seriously Fish recommends a tank base of at least 47 × 12 in (about 29 US gallons).
Sources for this sheet
- FishBase (Froese & Pauly, eds.), version 24.07 Peer-reviewed researchThe global scientific database on fishes, maintained by a consortium of research institutions; every value is referenced.
- Seriously Fish species profiles Experienced keeper or breederLong-running aquarium reference written and peer-checked by experienced fishkeepers and ichthyologists; each profile covers habitat, tank size, water, diet, behaviour and breeding.
- Seriously Fish: Aphanius fasciatus Experienced keeper or breederAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Seriously Fish: Aphanius anatoliae Experienced keeper or breederAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Disorders and Diseases of Fish Zoo, university or veterinaryAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Management of Aquarium Fish Zoo, university or veterinaryAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Wikipedia (species article) Community referenceFree encyclopedia; useful overviews with their own citations. Intro text is quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- iNaturalist (captive observations) Community referenceCommunity observation platform run by the California Academy of Sciences and National Geographic; observations marked captive show animals living in homes, zoos and aquariums.
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