Aphyosemion cognatum Care Guide
Aphyosemion cognatum is a small non-annual killifish from the Congo basin, suited to soft, warm, well-planted aquaria.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Aphyosemion cognatum is a small Central African killifish of the family Nothobranchiidae. FishBase records it at up to 5.0 cm total length and states it is not a seasonal killifish and is easy to maintain in the aquarium.
Taxonomy
- Family: Nothobranchiidae
- Genus: Aphyosemion
- Scientific name: Aphyosemion cognatum
Habitat
FishBase places the species in the lower and middle Congo River basin in the Republic of the Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where it occurs in brooks, swamps and rainforest pools.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 40 L (about 11 gal)
- Temperature: 22-25 °C (72-77 °F)
- pH: 5.5-7.0
- GH: 1-8 °dGH
- Lifespan: 2-3 years
Diet
A carnivorous micropredator. In the aquarium it is fed small live and frozen invertebrates appropriate to its small mouth.
Compatibility
A peaceful top-dwelling species best kept in calm, dimly lit tanks with small, non-aggressive companions. A tight cover is recommended, as killifish are prone to jumping.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 2009), per FishBase.
Red-spotted Killifish Breeding Guide
Overview
Aphyosemion cognatum is a small non-annual killifish of the family Nothobranchiidae from the Congo region of Africa. Like other plant-spawning Aphyosemion it lives in still and slow waters and breeds continuously rather than seasonally.
Sexing
As in plant-spawning killifish generally, the males are the larger, more colourful sex, while females are plainer with rounded fins. A single male with one or two females is the standard breeding group.
Conditioning
AquaInfo notes the species takes live food and rejects dry food, so conditioning is done on live foods. Tropical Fish Hobbyist recommends generous feedings of live and high-quality foods before spawning. The fish are noted to be rather susceptible to parasites.
Breeding Setup
A small spawning tank is furnished with a spawning mop. Because the fish are good jumpers a cover is needed. AquaInfo cautions that excessively high temperatures shorten the fishes' lifespan, so moderate warmth is kept. Tropical Fish Hobbyist gives a general range of about 80-200 ppm hardness and 20-27 C for plant-spawning killifish.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
Eggs are deposited in the spawning mop. The mop is then transferred after a few days to a separate hatching tray. Tropical Fish Hobbyist describes plant-spawners depositing eggs continuously, with eggs handled a few hours after spawning thanks to their tough chorion.
Egg & Fry Care
AquaInfo reports the fry emerge from the transferred mop after about 14 days and can be reared on Artemia nauplii. Tropical Fish Hobbyist notes plant-spawner eggs hatch in roughly two to six weeks depending on species and temperature, with newly hatched brine shrimp suitable as a first food.
Common Challenges
AquaInfo flags parasite susceptibility; adding a little salt to the water is suggested as a precaution. Avoiding overly high temperatures preserves adult longevity, and a tight cover prevents jumping losses.