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Maximum size : 5 cm
Gabon Jewelfish - Aphyosemion cyanostictum : Complete Fish Profile & Care Guide
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Introduction
Gabon Jewelfish is a visually striking and attractive species popular among fishkeepers specialising in keeping and breeding Killifish. Their unique blue-spotted appearance, peaceful temperament, and relative ease of care make them an excellent choice for both beginner and experienced aquarists. Gabon Jewelfish would do best in a species-only aquarium; however, you can still keep them with other small to medium peaceful fish in a community aquarium. These tankmates could include smaller Barbs, Tetras, Rasboras, Dwarf Cichlids and Dwarf Gouramis, as well as Corydoras and smaller Plecos. However, it would be best to avoid housing these fish with much more significant, aggressive or boisterous species; otherwise, they will easily outcompete them for food. The Gabon Jewelfish is best maintained in a soft water aquarium with plenty of plants and bogwood. Peat filtration is highly recommended, and the water movement should be gentle to simulate the slow-moving waters that these fish inhabit in the wild. These Killifish will also appreciate some surface cover from floating plants, and you must make sure your aquarium has a tight-fitting lid, as these fish are fantastic jumpers. The body of the Gabon Jewelfish is slender and elongated, with a slightly compressed shape. The body colour is generally brownish-red, with iridescent green or blue highlights. In addition, the body is covered in small blue or green spots, which give the fish its common name. These spots are irregular in shape and size and may vary in colour intensity depending on the light. In addition, their dorsal fins are large, and all their fins match the body colour of these fish and also have spotted patterning except for the pelvic fins that lack these spots.Gabon Jewelfish Photos
Sexual Dimorphism
It is very straightforward to differentiate between the male and female Gabon Jewelfish. Males are more brightly coloured than females and have longer dorsal, anal and caudal fins. In contrast, the females are paler and lack the patterning of the males.Quick Facts
| Scientific Name | Aphyosemion cyanostictum |
|---|---|
| Year Described | 1968 |
| Other Names | Blue-Spotted Killifish |
| Classification | Actinopterygii |
| Order | Cyprinodontiformes |
| Family | Nothobranchiidae |
| Genus | Aphyosemion |
| Origins | |
| Max Size | 5 cm |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Aquarium Level | Middle - Top |
| Difficulty | Beginner - Intermediate |
| Shoaling | No |
| Best kept as | Groups 5+ |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Reproduction | Egg-Layer |
| Lifespan | 3 - 5 years |
Water Parameters
| Water Type | Freshwater |
|---|---|
| PH | 5.5 - 6.5 |
| GH | 2 - 12 |
| KH | |
| TDS |
| ℉ | 77 - 95 |
|---|---|
| ℃ | 25 - 35 |
Natural habitat
Gabon Jewelfish are endemic to the Ivindo river drainage system between Ovan and Bélinga, northern Gabon, in the Republic of the Congo in Africa. These Killifish inhabit small, primarily swampy brooks in the rainforest.How to breed the Gabon Jewelfish
It is relatively easy to breed Gabon Jewelfish. You can quickly spawn a pair in an aquarium; however, it is recommended that you breed them in trios, although the yield tends to be lower when it's bred this way, probably because the fish that is not spawning are consuming some of the eggs. Many breeders do not use filtration in killifish breeding setups, but using a small, air-powered sponge filter to avoid stagnation is a good idea. Water should be slightly acidic with a somewhat higher temperature and dimly lit. It would be best to condition your fish on a varied diet of live and frozen foods; you will need to separate the males and females and place them in separate tanks. Then choose the best male and fattest female before placing them in the spawning tank. This method will allow females to recover between spawnings. Spawning will occur near the water's surface, and the females will lay one egg at a time on the spawning mops or vegetation by a sticky thread. Females can apply anything from 20 to 50 eggs daily, which continues over a few weeks. The adults do not prey on the eggs if well-fed, so they can be left in the breeding tank until you want to remove them. However, if you wish to move the eggs to another raising tank, they are firm and can be hand-picked off the mops and plants. It is more practical to separate the eggs; if you wish, you can add methylene blue into the raising tank to prevent your eggs from getting fungus. If any eggs start to fungus, you should remove them as soon as possible with a pipette to prevent them from spreading to other eggs. Spawning should exhibit no specific problems if water conditions are right and the fish are well-conditioned. The eggs can be left in the aquarium to hatch with their parents; however, some may get eaten. If you want to increase the yield of the fry, you should remove the eggs. Ten to twenty eggs are usually deposited daily for around two weeks, and you should remove these gently as soon as you notice them. It is best to allow breeding pairs to spawn for about a week before returning them to the conditioning tank, as spawning is challenging for the fish, especially the female. Once removed, you can incubate the eggs by placing them on a damp layer of peat moss in a small container or leaving them in the water. Fewer eggs tend to fungus if you keep them in the water, although you should still remove these fungus eggs as they are noticed. If incubating in water, you can transfer the eggs to a small aquarium or a container containing water from the spawning tank. Adding a couple of drops of methylene blue to the container is advisable as this helps to keep the eggs in good condition. It would be best to keep the aquarium or container in darkness as the eggs are susceptible to light, and you will need to check the eggs daily for fungus eggs, which you should remove with a pipette. The eggs will hatch in around 12 days, depending on the temperature. If you decide to incubate on peat moss, make sure you put the container in a dark warm place and leave it for around 18 days, after which the eggs will be ready to hatch. Hatching can usually be induced by simply placing the eggs in the raising aquarium after 18 days, where the wetting of the eggs stimulates hatching. If this is unsuccessful, blowing gently into the water through a piece of airline or straw can trigger hatching.Diet & feeding
Gabon Jewelfish will readily accept most good quality dried foods in the home aquarium, such as granules, flakes and sinking pellets. These modern food products have been developed to provide all adequate nutrition to maintain your fish's health and dietary requirements. Additional foodstuffs such as live, frozen, and freeze-dried meals such as mini bloodworm, daphnia, and tubifex once or twice a week will provide other benefits to your fish's health and well-being but is not a must for this fish. This fish is an omnivore in the wild, consuming some vegetable matter. Although most modern fish foods consider this and include them in their products, you can still supplement your fish's diet with blanched vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, and zucchini. Ensure you do not overfeed your fish and remove any leftovers the following day.Other Killifish you maybe interested in
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