Lampfish (African Lampfish) Care Guide | Schooling, Water Quality & Breeding Fundamentals | ブリちょく
Tropical Fish| ✍️ BreederDirect Editorial
Lampfish (African Lampfish) Care Guide | Schooling, Water Quality & Breeding Fundamentals
Lampfish (Poropanchax normani) are small African killifish with beautiful eyes that glow in a bluish-white hue. They are popular as beginner fish due to their stunning schooling behavior, low cost, and ease of breeding. This guide covers water quality, lighting, tank mates, and breeding methods in detail.
Key Takeaways
Lampfish (Poropanchax normani) are small African killifish with beautiful eyes that glow in a bluish-white hue. They are popular as beginner fish due to their stunning schooling behavior, low cost, and ease of breeding. This guide covers water quality, lighting, tank mates, and breeding methods in detail.
What Kind of Fish Are Lampfish?
Lampfish (Poropanchax normani) are small freshwater fish native to West Africa (around Nigeria and Cameroon) and are classified as killifish.
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Their most distinctive feature is their glowing bluish-white fluorescent eyes (upper half), which gives them their name. When schooled, their glow creates a fantastical, undulating shimmer near the water's surface, creating a "curtain of light" effect even in small tanks.
Basic Information
Item
Details
Scientific Name
Poropanchax normani
English Name
Norman's Lampeye Killifish
Origin
West Africa (Nigeria and Cameroon)
Body Length
3–4 cm (females slightly larger)
Lifespan
2–3 years
Care Difficulty
Easy (beginner-friendly)
Behavior
Schooling in upper to mid-water layers
Water Temperature
22–28°C
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Water Quality & Environment for Care
Lampfish are highly adaptable to water quality and easy for beginners to maintain. However, they are sensitive to sudden water parameter changes, so maintaining a stable environment is key to long-term care.
Water Parameters
Parameter
Target Value
Water Temperature
22–28°C (optimal: 24–26°C)
pH
6.5–7.5
Hardness
Soft to moderately hard water (GH 5–15)
Ammonia / Nitrite
Undetectable
Nitrate
Maintain below 20 ppm
Compatibility with Blackwater: Lampfish thrive in slightly acidic water containing tannins and humic acids (blackwater). They pair excellently with naturalistic planted setups using almond leaves and driftwood.
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Selecting Tank Size and Equipment
Recommended Tank Size
Tank
Number of Fish
30 cm tank (approx. 13 L)
10–15 fish
45 cm tank (approx. 34 L)
20–30 fish
60 cm tank (approx. 57 L)
40–60 fish
To maximize the beauty of their schooling, we recommend keeping at least 10 fish. With fewer individuals, they tend to hide and lose much of their appeal.
Filter and Water Flow
Lampfish prefer gentle water flow. If using a power filter (canister or hang-on), reduce the outlet flow with a sponge. You can also adjust the angle of shower pipes or use sponge filters.
Lighting
Choosing lighting to bring out the eye's fluorescence is the real joy of keeping lampfish.
- White LED lights: Make the bluish-white eye glow stand out
- UV/violet lights: Further enhance fluorescent coloration, but consider effects on aquatic plants
- Backlighting: Placing a black background screen behind the tank makes the fluorescence even more striking
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Feeding
Lampfish have small mouths, so feed them finely-sized foods.
Recommended Foods:
- Small tropical fish flake food (can also crush food for Corydoras)
- Micro-granule pellets (TetraMin, medaka food, etc.)
- Frozen brine shrimp: Excellent nutritional balance and ideal for breeding preparation
- Frozen daphnia: Highly palatable
Feeding Tips: Feed twice daily, offering only what they can consume in 2–3 minutes. Remove uneaten food to prevent water quality deterioration. Since lampfish swim in the upper to mid-water layers, non-sinking flake and small pellet foods are ideal.
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Tank Mates
Lampfish are calm and timid, so they are best kept with peaceful fish of similar or smaller size.
Compatible Tank Mates:
- Neon tetras and cardinal tetras (also enjoy schooling)
- Rasbora species (harlequin rasboras, chili rasboras)
- Corydoras (occupy the bottom, no interference)
- Cherry shrimp and Amano shrimp (compatible if specimens are large enough)
Fish to Avoid:
- Bettas and gouramis (may harass lampfish)
- Angelfish and cichlids (predation risk)
- Large carnivorous fish in general
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Breeding
Lampfish are relatively easy to breed and will spawn naturally in proper conditions.
Sexing
Feature
♂
♀
Body shape
Slender
Slightly rounder
Coloration
Vibrant
Dull
Belly
Slim
Swollen before spawning
Eye fluorescence
More vivid
Somewhat subdued
Breeding Steps
Prepare spawning substrate: Install fine-leaved plants like willow moss or hornwort, or multiple artificial spawning mops (sponge-based)
Confirm spawning: Females deposit sticky eggs one at a time on plant leaves
Egg collection: Transfer eggs along with plants to a separate container (breeder box or fry tank)
Rearing Fry
Eggs hatch in 10–14 days. Newly hatched fry should start on infusoria (paramecium) or commercial liquid fry food, transitioning to finely crushed flake food after one week. Frequent small water changes (10–20%) increase survival rates.
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The Charm of Lampfish: Summary
Lampfish are affordable (approximately 100–200 yen per fish), and schooling creates an exceptionally cost-effective visual display. Even in a small 30 cm tank, 20 or more fish create a fantastical scene with bluish-white light particles dancing across the water surface.
Breeding is also relatively straightforward, making it worthwhile to attempt as an introduction to tropical fish breeding. Gaining experience with sexing, egg management, and fry rearing will significantly deepen your aquarium knowledge.
Whether in planted tanks, blackwater setups, or community tanks with small fish, lampfish blend seamlessly into any aquascaping style. We encourage you to add them to your tank.
