Order Cyprinodontiformes
Superfamily Cyprinodontoidae
Family Nothobranchiidae
Continued…
Genus Epiplatys. African Pike-heads — Epiplatys. Epi.
— Epiplatys maeseni [Poll, 1941] — Maesen’s Aphyosemion. Code: MAE. Synonyms: Archiaphyosemion maeseni, Roloffia, Aphyosemion maeseni. Northwestern Liberia. 5 cm. Bronze-brown with silvery scales and a bluish-green sheen on the lower half of the body. Fins are spotted with a black-and-blue border. It is best kept in a spacious, planted species aquarium. Since the fish are good jumpers, it is necessary to cover the aquarium tightly with a glass lid. It is advisable to keep one male and several females. Aeration, filtration, and a weekly 20% water change are required; adding salt is recommended.
— Epiplatys sexfasciatus [Gill, 1862] — Sixbar Panchax. Code: SEX. Synonym: Aplocheilus, Haplochilus, Panchax sexfasciatus. (Eng. Sixbar Panchax, Six Barred Panchax). Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon. 7-8 cm, females are larger. The body shape, strong paired fins, and powerful tail provide the pike-heads with high starting speed, amazing maneuverability, and hunting success. A characteristic flat back and a relatively low dorsal fin set back towards the caudal peduncle allow the predator to press closely against the water surface, almost exposing its defiantly large upturned mouth.
Vertical banding, more or less pronounced in the pattern, serves as excellent camouflage in the aquatic environment, and the shiny occipital spot acts as an effective lure attracting flying insects. The fish acquire their true coloration in the second year of life.
3 subspecies are known: — E. sexfasciatus baroi (Code: BAO). Eastern Cameroon. 8 cm. Males are blue to green with a metallic sheen, featuring 6 dark vertical bands and red dots along the body. Unpaired and ventral fins are orange-red with a narrow dark border; — E. sexfasciatus rathkei (Code: RAT). Cameroon. 9 cm. Males are yellow-orange with a bluish-green sheen and 7-10 dark vertical bands. More yellow color in the fins; — E. sexfasciatus togolensis (Code: TOG). Ghana, Togo. 7-8 cm. Gray-blue coloration from Nigeria and reddish-brown from Togo. Females are less intensely colored, with six vertical bands crossing the lower body; similar, though fainter bands sometimes appear in males, and fins are rounded.
Keep them both in species aquariums and moderately stocked community tanks. An aquarium with lush vegetation and floating plants is needed. This will allow strong specimens to show off in all their glory, while weaker ones can find a decent hiding place. They stay in the upper layer of the water, where they lie in wait under plants for flying insects. They are prone to jumping, so the aquarium must be covered securely.
Males can behave aggressively toward each other, but otherwise, they are peaceful. However, you don’t need to worry about any fish of decent size — at least half the length of the pike-heads: they rarely become victims of attacks. Water for keeping pike-heads should be soft, very slightly acidic or neutral, preferably older. Strong aeration and filtration in the aquarium often lead to fish malaise.
Young fish are sensitive to sudden changes in water quality and often suffer from bacterial fin rot. Additional aeration is not required; they are content with relatively low dissolved oxygen concentrations. Pike-heads eat any live food, bloodworms, glassworms, mosquito larvae, etc. Moreover, not only live but also frozen foods are accepted. Most importantly, flakes and small granular feeds are also readily taken.
These predators search for food not only near the surface but also in the middle layers. Along with regular live foods, the fish readily eat young livebearing fry. They mature at about 7-8 months of age. Compared to other members of the genus, they mature very late for spawning. Eggs are spawned on plants with dissected leaves. Lifespan is 3-4 years. T 21-23°C; pH 6.0-7.5; dGH 4-13°. In harder and more alkaline water, they become sluggish and will often stand with clamped fins.
— Epiplatys singa [Boulenger, 1899] — Black-spotted Epiplatys. Code: SIN. Synonyms: Epiplatys macrostigma; Aplocheilus ansorgii, macrostigma, ornatus, chinchoxcanus, singa. Gabon, Cameroon, Congo. 6 cm, females are slightly smaller. Body is elongated, pike-shaped. Coloration is variable. The main body color ranges from pale to lemon yellow, with rows of dark red dots. At the base of the anal fin, there is a dark spotted pattern.
Males can be found where the dotted pattern forms thin vertical lines. Red dots on the body can sometimes turn black. Unpaired fins are yellow-green with red spots. Caudal fin is paddle-shaped. Females are paler than males, light olive-brown in color with rows of brownish spots, fins are rounded.
Sociable. The fish are somewhat timid. They stay in the upper water layer, are good jumpers, and love shady spots. Can be kept in a general, securely covered aquarium, but not with small fish. Food: live food and substitutes. They mature at 3-4 months, or according to other sources, 8 months. Spawning can take place in a general aquarium, but it is preferable in a spawning tank with floating plants and thickets where the female can hide from the male’s pursuit. Eggs are deposited on floating plants. Water temperature 22-24°C. Hardness 5-10°, pH 6.6-6.8.
Fundulopanchax amieti, Fundulopanchax arnoldi, Fundulopanchax batesii.
Epiplatys fasciolatus, Epiplatys grahami, Epiplatys longiventralis. 
