Two-striped Killifish Breeding Guide

How to breed Aphyosemion bivittatum, a non-annual West African killifish that deposits eggs on plants or mops near the bottom, hatching in water in about 10-14 days.

Overview

Aphyosemion bivittatum is a non-annual Nothobranchiidae killifish from Cameroon and Nigeria, where it occupies temporary pools and swamps. AquaInfo gives an adult size of about 3-4 cm. It is a plant-spawning species, not an annual soil spawner.

Sexing

AquaInfo describes males as vividly coloured with a blue-green base, red striping on the head and gill covers, and elaborate fin patterns. Females are plainer, with rounded fins, a yellowish ground colour and two clear dark longitudinal stripes.

Conditioning

The species is carnivorous and prefers black and white mosquito larvae and Daphnia, so conditioning is done on these live foods. Tropical Fish Hobbyist advises generous feeding of live and high-quality foods before pairing.

Breeding Setup

AquaInfo notes a substrate is usually unnecessary, though well-boiled peat may be used, and recommends two or three spawning mops per breeding container. AquaInfo gives 22-24 C as optimal, with pH 6.0-7.0 and GH 5-7; it warns that higher temperatures shorten lifespan.

Spawning Behavior & Trigger

Eggs are deposited on plants or mops in the immediate vicinity of the bottom. After about three weeks of spawning, AquaInfo advises removing the pair, then lowering the water level and reducing temperature toward about 18 C for the egg phase.

Egg & Fry Care

AquaInfo reports the eggs hatch after about 10-14 days. Fry are reared on Artemia nauplii, sieved Cyclops, Daphnia and grindal worms. Tropical Fish Hobbyist confirms newly hatched brine shrimp can be fed to plant-spawner fry from the first day.

Common Challenges

Keeping temperatures moderate is important, as AquaInfo notes that higher temperatures shorten the fishes' lifespan. As with other killifish, a tight cover prevents jumping losses.