A dark streak running along each side of the body and a slightly golden area on the side of the head behind the eye help to distinguish this tiny catfish. The body is otherwise sufficiently transparent to allow the green eggs in the female’s reproductive tract to be visible prior to spawning.
These fish are similar in their habits to the mbuna cichlids of Lake Malawi, feeding on algae growing on rocks around the lake’s perimeter. The many different morphs, which vary widely in appearance, are often named after the area of the lake in which they occur.
These narrow-bodied, often highly colorful fish deserve to be far more popular. Their small size means that they do not need to be accommodated in a large, expensive tank.
The egglaying Cyprinodonts have always been regarded as difficult because they are believed to require special conditions, namely soft acid water, but while this is true for some species it certainly isn’t the rule for all of them. Many are exceptionally colourful and this alone makes them good aquarium fishes, but to see them at their best requires dedication on the part of the aquarist. It takes a lot of time and patience to maintain banks of small species aquaria, remove eggs from spawning mops, or dry out peat and then raise the fry. For those of us who have kept killifishes the work involved is worth it. If you haven’t very much space, then try with a single species tank.
The water of the East African lakes is generally hard and alkaline, although actual conditions vary from lake to lake. Lake Victoria is only moderately hard with a neutral to slightly alkaline pH; water clarity is poor and quality unexceptional.
