Epiplatys bifasciatus
Epiplatys bifasciatus is a very shy fish that needs an aquarium that is densely planted on the edges and background so that it can hide between those plants. In the middle, you should leave very much free swimming space. Since it is a good jumper, an aquarium lid is a requirement. With the slightest disorder, the animals are startled and then don’t show up for a long time.
Synonyms: Haplochilus bifasciatus, Aplocheilus bifasciatus, Epiplatys bifasciatus bifasciatus, Panchax bifasciatus, Haplochilus baudoni, Epiplatys baudoni, Panchax baudoni, Panchax taeniatus, Epiplatys bifasciatus taeniatus, Panchax steindachneri, Epiplatys steindachneri, Epiplatys ndelensis, Epiplatys longianalis.
Origin
Africa; Benin, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Gambia, Ghana, Guinee, Cameroon, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Togo, Chad, Senegal and Sudan.
Diet
Live food should be given as food. Small (wingless) fruitflies and small moths should be on their diet.
Breeding Epiplatys bifasciatus
Breeding Epiplatys bifasciatus is not difficult. Even in a not-too-densely populated aquarium with enough fine-leaved plants, a few young ones regularly appear. If you want to breed them in larger numbers, a pair must be housed in a breeding aquarium. The eggs are laid and fertilized in fine-leafed plants such as Java Moss. These eggs can be removed and placed in an incubator with an antifungal. As soon as the fry have hatched they can start eating newly hatched brine shrimp. They grow fast.
Author
Jan Bukkems – Aquavisie
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