Persian Killifish (Aphaniops mento) Care Guide
A hardy West Asian killifish of hard alkaline waters, with iridescent males and aggressive spawning best suited to a single-species tank.
Overview
Aphaniops mento is a toothcarp of Western Asia, formerly placed in the genus Aphanius. Males carry iridescent turquoise spots over a darker body. The species is hardy in hard, alkaline water and reaches a maximum total length of about 5 cm.
Taxonomy
- Family: Cyprinodontidae
- Genus: Aphaniops
- Scientific name: Aphaniops mento
- Common synonyms: Aphanius mento, Paraphanius mento, Lebias mento
Habitat
The species is recorded across Western Asia, including Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria and Turkey. It occupies a wide range of fresh and slightly brackish habitats: springs, streams, coastal lagoons, marshes, irrigation canals, small lakes and rivers, often where dense vegetation and algae grow. It was first described in 1843 with a type locality of Mosul, Iraq.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 60 L
- Temperature: 16-28 °C (61-82 °F)
- pH: 7.5-8.5
- GH: 15-30 °dGH
- Lifespan: 3-5 years
Sources report the species tolerates a broad temperature range and unsuitable acidic conditions should be avoided. A winter cool period is beneficial. A single male is best housed with several females.
Diet
It is an omnivore with a vegetarian tendency, grazing on algae and plant matter in the wild. In aquaria it takes Spirulina-based dried foods alongside regular small live or frozen items such as Artemia, Daphnia and bloodworm.
Compatibility
Males are highly aggressive and may fight to the death; unreceptive females can be harmed without sufficient cover and decor. Because it also harasses other species, it is best maintained alone as a single-species group, avoiding long-finned community fish.
Breeding
Like related toothcarps, it is a fractional spawner producing eggs over a long season. Eggs are attached to algae by filaments and incubate for roughly one to two weeks. Free-swimming fry accept Artemia nauplii immediately.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 2014).