Two-lane Aphiosemion (Aphyosemion Bitaeniatum)

2023 Author: Molly Page | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-11-27 22:49

The two-lane aphiosemion is an elegant and bright fish native to West Africa. Differs in a rather calm character and endurance. Prefers bodies of water with slow flowing or stagnant water. Can be kept in shared aquariums. Side lighting. Eats only live food.

Habitat: West Africa (Benin, Nigeria, Togo).

Habitat: fresh water bodies and irrigation ditches (forests and shroud) with slow flow or stagnant water (low water level, pH 6.3), overgrown with vegetation along the banks (including floating). They are also found in temporary reservoirs (puddles). Occasionally found in brackish coastal lagoons.

Description: the two-striped aphiosemion has an elongated body (slightly flattened on the sides), the forehead is flattened. Upper mouth. Males are brightly colored with elongated fins.

There are 9-10 rays in the dorsal fin, 27-28 in the anal.

In nature, there are many isolated populations that differ in both the shape of the fins and the color.

Color: the main body background is green, yellow, red to purple. In both sexes, two longitudinal dark stripes run along the body.

Size: 4-5.5 cm

Lifespan: up to 2.5 years.

Related article Aphyosemion australe

Aquarium: species aquarium, covered with a lid on top.

Sizes: from 60-80 cm with a water level not higher than 25 cm, from 5 liters per steam.

Water: old (light amber) peat, dH 2-15 °, pH 6.0-7.2, presence of salt (1-2 tsp per 10 liters of water). Once a week, up to 25% of the water is changed. The change is done gradually, since a sharp change in the water parameter can lead to shock and death among aphiosemions.

Temperature: 19-24 ° C.

Soil: a mixture of boiled peat, 2 cm thick.

Plants: thickets of small-leaved living plants, including floating ones.

Lighting: lateral diffused.

Decoration: requires an open swimming area, driftwood and grottoes can be placed in the aquarium.

Feeding: it eats live food - tubifex, earthworms, cortetra, frozen bloodworms, enchitreus, daphnia, moina, fruit flies, scraped lean beef, fillets of sea fish.

Not all aphiosemions eat dry food. Once a week they organize a fasting day.

Behavior: can be kept in a common aquarium, but without shelter they become shy.

Character: lively, peace-loving fish. Males compete for the female with the help of spreading fins.

Water zone: middle and upper water layers.

Not to be kept with: aggressive and large fish.

Photo © Ian Tomlinson

Breeding fish: before spawning, producers are seated for several weeks and abundantly fed with live food. Two-lane aphiosemion - phytophil, sticks eggs to plants.

Sexual differences: males are bright and colorful, females are paler.

Puberty: At 9-12 months, the first signs of sexual dimorphism appear at 6-8 weeks.

Spawning aquarium: from 10-15 liters, water level 10 cm, dH to 8 °, pH 5-6, T 20-24 (night and day), live small-leaved plants, incl. floating.

The ratio of males to females: 1: 2-4.

Number of eggs: the female lays several eggs a day for 1-4 weeks.

Related article Afiosemion gularis, or yellow gularis (Fundulopanchax gularis)

Incubation: 2-3 weeks, water level 3-5 cm. It is necessary to check the eggs and remove whitened or infected with fungus.

Offspring: if hatching is delayed, then it can be stimulated by watering the eggs with colder water (by 2-4 degrees), but of the same composition.

Growth rate: fast, at 4-5 months the fry grow to 4-5 cm. As they grow, the level and hardness of the water increase.

Feeding juveniles: the larvae of the two-lane aphiosemion are small - they take "live dust", after 5-6 days - brine shrimp nauplii, then the cut tubifex.

Jumping from parents: Breeders usually do not eat eggs and fry.