Lyretail panchax
Small colourful freshwater killifish from Gabon
The lyretail panchax is a small freshwater fish native to Gabon. It belongs to the family Aplocheilidae and is prized in the aquarium trade for its bright colours and ease of care. Hobbyists value both wild brown forms and bred orange variants.
- Native to Cape Lopez in Gabon
- Males reach six cm with lyre tails
- Gold form bred in 1952 by Hjerssen
- Fry hatch in 14 days at 26 C
- Popular and easy aquarium killifish
What it is
This species is a small freshwater fish known as the lyretail panchax. Males grow to about six centimetres, while females remain slightly smaller. The caudal fin has a distinctive lyre shape, a trait common to its genus. Wild specimens display a brown hue, often called chocolate by hobbyists. A bred golden variant appears orange. Females are less vibrant, showing brownish tan or light tan bodies with rounder fins.
Where it lives
The fish inhabits freshwater systems in Central Africa. Its natural distribution centres on Cape Lopez in Gabon. It also occurs in nearby regions within the country. These waters support the wild brown population that serves as the genetic base for aquarium strains.
How it lives
In captivity, this killifish adapts well to various diets. It accepts commercial flakes and frozen options but thrives on live foods. Clean cultured or caught live prey offers the best nutrition. The species is peaceful and suits community tanks with similar sized tank mates.
Breeding and life cycle
Breeding occurs readily in home aquariums across many water conditions. Adults lay eggs among fine-leafed vegetation such as aquatic moss. At a temperature of 26 degrees Celsius, the young hatch after fourteen days. This ease of reproduction has helped spread the species globally among enthusiasts.
Fish and people
Aquarists prize this fish for its beauty and hardiness. A Finnish breeder named Hjerssen developed the gold form in 1952 from a spontaneous mutation. Later, an albino strain emerged from this line around 2022. Darker chocolate and spotless varieties also exist. Experts note these are colour forms, not separate species.
Questions people ask about Lyretail panchax
Where does the lyretail panchax come from?
This fish is native to Gabon in Central Africa. It is found specifically around Cape Lopez and in the surrounding freshwater areas of the country.
What do lyretail panchax eat?
They accept commercial flakes and frozen foods but prefer live foods. Cultured or clean caught live prey provides the best nutrition for these fish in captivity.
How long does it take for the eggs to hatch?
The fry emerge after fourteen days. This hatching period occurs when the water temperature is maintained at a preferred level of 26 degrees Celsius.
Good reading and sources
- Aphyosemion australe on WikipediaEncyclopedia
- More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
- Wikidata recordOpen data
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Aphyosemion australe", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryFish rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes, and figures change over time. Nothing here is investment or buying advice. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-11-15.
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