emerald green lampeye

Scientific name Poropanchax luxophthalmus
Descriptor Brüning
Year of description 1929
IUCN category (World) LC
Family Procatopodidae
Genus Poropanchax
Poropanchax luxophthalmus Poropanchax luxophthalmus

Introduction

The Poropanchax luxopthalmus, commonly known as the emerald green lampeye, is a small tropical fish native to Africa.

Who is it?

Morphology

  • Type
  • Average size
    3 cm
  • Maximum size
    4 cm
  • Longevity
    4 year
  • Type
  • Average size
    3 cm
  • Maximum size
    4 cm
  • Longevity
    4 year

How to recognize the emerald green lampeye ?

This species is very similar to the Poropanchax normani, but can be distinguished by the presence of blue lines along its flank.

The P. luxophthalmus has two lines below the midline, the P. rancureli has one below and one above the midline, and P. stigmatopygus has three blue lines.

Sexual dimorphism

Males are very colorful, especially with blue marking the upper part of their iris. They also have longer fins than females.

Females are more dull in color, with transparent and rounded fins. Their anterior body is rounded and they have a longer caudal peduncle.

Behaviour & Life cycle

  • diet
    carnivorous
  • Sociability
    living in shoals
  • territorial
    No
  • Way of living
    diurnal

The emerald green lampeye lives in schools and naturally resides close to the surface, in shallow waters.

In general, it is an independent fish that doesn't pay much attention to other species.

Reproduction

  • Reproduction
    ovipare qui pond en eau libre

This species lays eggs above plants and moss. Its eggs are relatively large compared to its size and therefore not very numerous.

Harmless species

This species does not represent any particular threats to humans when encountered in its natural environment.

Where to find it?

Conservation status of populations (IUCN)

World : LC

What is its habitat?

Natural environment characteristics

  • Temperature
    24 - 30 °C
  • pH (acidity)
    6 - 6.8
  • gh (hardness)
    3 - 15
  • Flow
    Slow and Stagnant

Biotope presentation

The Micropanchax luxophthalmus is found in small streams in the flooded savannahs of Central Africa. It inhabits areas where the water can reach particularly high temperatures, above 30°C during the dry season. It lives in small groups near the surface.

Species of the same biotope

Main recommendations for fishkeeping

Deontology

In order to preserve wildlife, if you acquire this animal, it must not be released into the wild. See also, the Fishipedia charter.

Fishipedia supports the practice of responsible and environmentally friendly aquarium keeping. We encourage maintenance if it is motivated by a desire to understand the biological functioning of living things and if it is done with respect for animal life.

We believe that aquaristics is an opening to the discovery of aquatic environments, especially freshwater, and that this knowledge is necessary to better protect and respect these environments. Logically, we refute the compulsive purchase of animals that would not find a sufficient and / or adapted place in the host aquarium.

Our recommendations

  • Min volume
    50 liters
  • Population min
    5
  • Temperature
    24 - 30 °C
  • pH (acidity)
    6.8 - 7.2

Characteristics

  • Difficulty breeding
    easy
  • Robustness
    tolerant
  • Behaviour
    peaceful
  • Availability
    standard

General reminders

It is strongly advised to read the complete dedicated file and to get information on the feedbacks of maintenance of the envisaged animal, this to avoid any potential conflict whose end result is generally the death of the individual (or the other inhabitants). It is important not to overload your aquarium to limit pollution. This will make maintenance easier.

In nature, animals are subject to weather conditions and live in waters with variable characteristics. The recommendations offered by our team for aquarium maintenance are a guidance and cannot be assimilated to scientific datas.

General reminder on maintenance datas

Le démarrage d'un aquarium est une partie primordiale pour l'équilibre et le bien-être des poissons. Lorsque l'on met en eau un aquarium, l'eau passe naturellement par un cycle biologique : le cycle de l'azote. Celui-ci dure environ trois semaines. Tous les 2 jours, nous vous conseillons de tester votre eau jusqu'à ce que le taux de nitrite soit à zéro pendant plusieurs jours d'affilée.

Pour accélérer ce cycle, vous pouvez utiliser un activateur de bactéries comme JBL Denitrol. Cette solution riche en bactéries vivantes et enzymes permet une mise en place rapide du cycle de l'azote. Les poissons peuvent alors être introduits plus rapidement.

Il est important de tester l'eau de son aquarium régulièrement pour maintenir un environnement sain pour les poissons et les autres habitants. Les tests d'eau permettent de mesurer les niveaux de différents paramètres tels que le pH, la dureté totale, ainsi que les taux de nitrates, de nitrites et d'ammoniaque.

Pour réaliser ces tests, vous pouvez utiliser des produits d'analyse spécialisés tels que JBL ProScan qui permet de réaliser un diagnostic de l'eau directement via un smartphone. Il existe également des coffrets de tests plus classiques de bandelettes, comme JBL PROAQUATEST.

En cas d’usage de l’eau du robinet, vous pouvez utiliser un conditionneur d’eau de type Biotopol de JBL pour éliminer les substances nocives comme le chlore, le cuivre, le plomb et le zinc. Les conditionneurs d'eau garantissent une meilleure santé aux poissons et une meilleure croissance des plantes.

Chlorine and chloramine are dangerous for the health of animals. Used to disinfect water, these agents are present in significant quantities in tap water. We recommend using an anti-chlorine agent every time you change the water. In addition to chlorine, treatments and medicines sold for aquarium use sometimes contain dangerous heavy metals in high doses.

Specific needs for the emerald green lampeye

The emerald green lampeye is a species which lives naturally at a temperature between 24 °C and 30 °C. For proper maintenance, the temperature should never exceed the 33°C for long periods. Nitrate levels should remain below 50mg/L. To keep the water clean and unpolluted, plan on changing 20% to 30% of the water volume each month.

Breeding this species is accessible to any hobbyist. It is recommended to follow some basic rules and to be rigorous to achieve a good maintenance.

This species is particularly common in the aquarium trade. Animals from long-term breeding are usually acclimatized at a temperature of about 26 °C in neutral water.

Jumping fish

Be careful, the emerald green lampeye is an excellent jumper, naturally using this faculty to change its living area or to escape from predators. The aquarium must be perfectly covered to prevent him from making a deadly jump...

Cohabitation & Environment

The emerald green lampeye is a fish which it is advisable to maintain in specific aquarium. Associating it with other species is not fundamentally impossible but a documentation work is necessary for the constitution of the population. Being a living in shoals fish, it is advisable to install at least 5 individuals in an aquarium of 50 liters minimum. Group maintenance is a prerequisite to ensure their well-being. Lonely individuals tend to quickly become stressed and become especially susceptible to disease. Although sometimes certain groups can "merge", mixing several gregarious species living in the same zone of life is not recommended if the volume is not consequent.

It should be noticed that this species should not be kept with large crustaceans or fish, as it would become a prey of choice. Smaller species should preferably be inserted in the aquarium some time before the larger ones. Moreover, if you want to breed it, it is better to put them in a specific aquarium.

The species enjoys a particularly vegetation-rich environment. The addition of plants will provide many useful hiding places for resting. These areas are also conducive to possible breeding in the aquarium. Floating plants such as Salvinia can be added to recreate the subdued atmosphere characteristic of its living conditions in the wild.

Tips for feeding

The emerald green lampeye is carnivorous.

This species can eat dry food (flakes, pellets), fresh food and frozen food. To avoid deficiencies, it is recommended to vary the types of food.

You should not overfeed your residents to avoid polluting the water. For most species, it is better to feed a few small portions each day rather than one large meal.

Food recommendations from our partner JBL - Products PRONOVO

Reproduction protocol

  • Maintenance difficulty
    easy
  • egg-laying protection
    No

Reproduction of this species in an aquarium is considered easy. Ideally, it takes place at a temperature of around 25 ° C for a pH of 6.5 .

Hybridization risks

In general, it is advised not to mix several species of the same genus or different varieties of the same species, to avoid the risks of hybridization.

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To go further

To read on the web

Sources & Contributions

Participation & Validation

The Fishipedia team and specialist contributors are committed to providing high-quality content. However, although the information comes from scientific sources or testimonials from specialists, the cards may contain inaccuracies.

Robert Allgayer

Robert Allgayer

Benoit Chartrer

Benoit Chartrer

Translation

Translation done with the valuable contribution of our translators, who make this information available to a wider audience. We sincerely thank them for their commitment.

In collaboration with : Fédération Française Aquariophilie

Bibliographic references

An unexpected new Poropanchax (Cyprinodontiformes, Procatopodidae) from the Kongo Central Province, Democratic Republic of Congo - JOUKE R. VAN DER ZEE - KIMBERLY BERNOTAS - PEDRO H.N. BRAGANÇA - MELANIE L.J. STIASSNY - bioOne - 2019.

IDENTIFICATION OF MICROPANCHAX SCHEELI (CYPRINODONTIFORMES: POECILIIDAE: APLOCHEILICHTHYINAE) WITH THE DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES OF THE GENUS POROPANCHAX - Rudolf H. WILDEKAMP - Francisco J. MALUMBRES - sfi-cybium - 2004.

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Same genus

Species of the same biotope

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