Order Cyprinodontiformes
Superfamily Cyprinodontoidae
Family Nothobranchiidae
Genus Fundulopanchax – Fundulopanchax. Fp.
— Fundulopanchax amieti [Radda, 1976] — Amiet’s Lyretail Killi, orange-blue killi. Code: AMI. Synonym: Paraphyosemion, Aphyosemion amieti. (English: Amiet’s Lyretail Killi). West Africa, Cameroon, Sanaga River basin. Semi-annual species. Body length up to 7 cm. Body cylindrical, laterally compressed, somewhat resembling a pike. Mouth superior, forehead flattened. Dorsal fin shifted closer to the tail.
Back of males blue-green, flanks yellow or pale green, belly golden yellow or bright orange. Short horizontal stripes of red-brown dots are located on the body. Red dots are scattered across the body and anal fin. A wide red-yellow stripe runs from the middle of the caudal fin to the chin.
Head with red streaks. Anal fin and tail with red-blue border, dorsal fin green-yellow with a red stripe at the base and red rays. Caudal fin blue with a dark red stripe. The yellow zone occupies part of the caudal and anal fins. Male fins are elongated, the caudal has extended outer rays. Males are larger than females, brightly colored. Females are brownish-yellow or brownish-gray with small red dots, with rounded fins.
In the aquarium, dense vegetation including floating plants creating shaded areas is recommended. Substrate up to 2 cm thick, coarse sand covered with boiled peat on top. Predatory schooling fish. In cramped aquariums (and with a shortage of females), males often fight among themselves. Males frequently rival each other, so it is best to keep a group of one male and two to three females. They stay in the upper and middle water layers. Water should be old, peaty, slightly acidic, medium hardness. Regular water changes are necessary; about 10% daily is preferred.
They prefer live food. Sexual maturity: males at 8-9 months, females at 6 months. The higher the water temperature, the faster the life cycle of the fish (they mature faster and live shorter). First sexual differences can already be observed at 2 months of age. Breeding requires experience. Most Fundulopanchax species are best bred in soft, acidic water. Eggs are spawned on fine-leaved plants or in peat. Fry are hardy and easy to raise. dH 2-12°; pH 5.8-6.8; T 22-25°C.
— Fundulopanchax arnoldi [Boulenger, 1908] — Arnold’s Lyretail Killi. Code: ARN. Synonym: Paludopanchax, Fundulus, Aphyosemion arnoldi. (English: Arnold’s Lyretail Killi). Southeast Togo (swamps), Benin, Nigeria (Niger delta region), Southwest Cameroon. 6 cm. This killi is represented by two varieties. Both are characterized by a bright blue body with randomly scattered carmine-red specks and streaks, lyre-shaped tails, as well as drab coloration of females, which have a rounded caudal fin.
Differences lie in fin coloration: in one variety, the dorsal fin is olive-green with red speckles, anal and caudal fins are mostly orange, while in the second variety, fins are mostly blue. A burgundy stripe located in the lower half of the caudal fin is parallel to its lower filament and is significantly thinner. The male differs from the female in brightness of coloration and pointed fins.
Peaceful. Voracious fish, eating almost all types of aquarium food (gammarus, tubifex, bloodworms, various prepared dry foods). Eggs are spawned in a layer of peat crumbs about 2 cm thick. Water should be old, hardness 3-7°, pH 6.4-7.0; temperature 22-25°C.
— Fundulopanchax batesii [Boulenger, 1911]. Code: BAT. Synonym: Fundulopanchax, Aphyosemion batesii, beauforti, gustavi, splendidum; Raddaella batesii. (English: Bates’ Killi). Cameroon, Dja and Boumba rivers, Gabon, Nigeria, Congo. Inhabits forest areas in puddles and swamps with a large amount of mud and low water level. Inhabits shallow water bodies with soft, slightly acidic (pH 5.5-6.8) water that completely disappear during the dry season. Water temperature in the rainy season ranges from 18 to 22°C. With the onset of heat, it rises to 24-26°C and the spawning season begins. Length up to 7.5 cm, females slightly smaller. Elongated cylindrical body slightly flattened at the caudal peduncle. Head rounded, with a fairly wide mouth.
Males are colored much brighter than females. Basic coloration is light brown, turning to brownish-red on the back, and light blue to whitish closer to the belly. Six longitudinal stripes with a violet or blue-green sheen run along the body, dotted with reddish-brown spots made of brown-violet points. The length of the stripes increases from bottom to top. The jaw is outlined with a reddish-brown border, the lower part of the head is silvery.
The coloration of all fins except the pelvic ones is very saturated and represents a contrasting alternation of burgundy, yellow-orange, and turquoise stripes. The first rays of the dorsal fin are strongly elongated, the rest are shorter with a rounded end. Red-brown spots are scattered across the yellow-gray background of the dorsal fin. Pectoral fins are rounded, translucent, light-brown; pelvic fins are small, of the same color, with brownish-red streaks. The anal fin is wider due to elongated rays in the front part, gradually narrowing towards the tail. Its base is yellowish-gray, edges are orange, and a dark cherry stripe runs in the middle.
The caudal fin is lyre-shaped, yellow-gray at the base, with irregular dark burgundy spots on the upper lobe. A burgundy stripe runs along the lower lobe, below which there is a yellowish-orange field. The main body color of females is light sandy with fine reddish-brown speckles. Fins are gray with barely noticeable reddish dots, sometimes a border with a matte bluish sheen appears on the edges.
With a lack of food, they are prone to cannibalism and predation. With good feeding, they can live in a community aquarium with fish of the same size. The diet in nature consists mainly of flying insects that have accidentally fallen onto the water surface. Breeding requires experience. Sexual maturity at three months with a length of 5 cm. Water should be old, slightly acidic, and soft. Eggs are laid in peat. Young grow very quickly, and after a month they can be distinguished by sex. They live up to three years. Keep at a temperature of 20-26°C, pH <7.
Fundulopanchax cinnamomeus, Fundulopanchax filamentosus, Fundulopanchax mirabilis.
Epiplatys maeseni, Epiplatys sexfasciatus, Epiplatys singa. 
