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No federal permit to keepTwostripe lyretail
Aphyosemion bivittatum
Fishes › Killifish and livebearers (Cyprinodontiformes) › Nothobranchiidae (African killifish)
Aphyosemion bivittatum (twostripe lyretail, two-banded killi, red lyretail) is a species of freshwater fish belonging to the family Aplocheilidae.
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 2.0 in / 5 cm).
- Water: Freshwater.
- Temperature: 72–75°F (range recorded for this species).
- pH: 6–6.5.
- Hardness: 1–6 dGH.
- Layout: Uses both the bottom and open water: give open swimming space plus cover near the substrate.
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
- Difficulty: Not enough data to rate (Seriously Fish rating).
From the Seriously Fish profile for this species, which has the full habitat, maintenance, diet, behaviour and breeding write-up 167
African killifish
Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: African killifish occupy permanent small streams and swamps as well as seasonal floodplain pools that dry out, where annual Nothobranchius survive as eggs. Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.
Housing & setup
- For an Aphyosemion australe pair or trio, provide at least a 45 × 25 cm (18 × 10 in) footprint; a Nothobranchius rachovii pair needs at least 45 × 30 cm (18 × 12 in).
- Fit a tightly sealed cover: lyretails are accomplished jumpers.
- Provide floating vegetation to shade the water and plants or spawning mops; Epiplatys use surface vegetation for egg laying.
- Use gentle aeration or filtration; maintain clean water and separate breeding species and locality strains.
- Collect annual N. rachovii eggs in spawning medium for separate incubation; its profile specifies 5–7 months of storage before wetting.
Climate & lighting
| Water | 70–75°F |
Diet
- Live or frozen Daphnia and Artemia.
- Chopped bloodworms and appropriately sized worms.
- Small insects for surface-feeding Epiplatys; tiny live foods for small fry.
Social life
- A. australe can be kept as a pair or trio with carefully selected peaceful companions; breeding tanks should hold one species and locality strain.
Health watch
- Velvet susceptibility in A. australe fry.
- Fungal loss of incubating eggs.
- Nutritional deficiencies from an unsuitable diet.
Understanding the animal
About this animal
About this animal
It is found in rivers in southeastern Nigeria and southwestern Cameroon. It was originally described as Fundulus bivittatus by Swedish zoologist Einar Lönnberg in 1895.
Quoted from the Wikipedia article “Aphyosemion bivittatum” (CC BY-SA 4.0) 174
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. Uses both the bottom and open water. Restricted to brooks in the coastal rainforest with a calcium containing soil. |
| Water it lives in | Freshwater, 72–75 °F (22–24 °C), pH 6–6.5, hardness 1–6 dH. |
| Climate | Tropical climate. |
| Behavior to plan for | Breeding: open water/substratum egg scatterers. |
What this means for care
- Keep water within its wild range, 72–75 °F.
Native climate (measured)
Native climate (measured)
| Warm-season highs | about 89°F (up to 91°F in the hottest sampled areas) |
| Cool-season lows | about 71°F (down to 69°F in the coldest sampled areas) |
| Average temperature | 78–80°F across sampled records |
| Relative humidity | 82–86% on average (driest month about 78%) |
| Rainfall | about 2601 mm a year |
Measured at 38 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 | Aphyosemion bivittatum (twostripe lyretail, two-banded killi, red lyretail) is a species of freshwater fish belonging to the family Aplocheilidae. It is found in rivers in southeastern Nigeria and southwestern Cameroon. It was originally described as Fundulus bivittatus by Swedish zoologist Einar Lönnberg in 1895. The holotype was discovered near a waterfall in the Ndian River in Cameroon and currently is located in the Stockholm Museum. — 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 |
| Appearance and size | A. bivittatum has an elongated, brightly coloured body with two dark bands made up of red spots running along each side, with the colors varying between populations. Individual males are commonly found with golden-brown dorsal surfaces, bluish sides, and golden ventral surfaces. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Biology | Restricted to brooks in the coastal rainforest with a calcium containing soil. Not a seasonal killifish. Is difficult to maintain in aquarium. — FishBase |
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.
pH
Water hardness
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 — aphyosemion australe Experienced keeper or breederAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Seriously Fish — nothobranchius rachovii Experienced keeper or breederAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- American Killifish Association — The AKA Beginners Guide 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.
- Wikipedia (species article) Community referenceFree encyclopedia; useful overviews with their own citations. Intro text is quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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