The genus Epiplatys is one of several Killifish genera, and many Epiplatys species are today kept by aquarists in species aquariums as well as in biotope and community aquariums. Most Epiplatys killifish species are easy to care for and are a good choice for the novice killifish keeper. The native home of the Epiplatys killifish species are located in East Africa.
Wild Epiplatys killifish eat insects that they catch near the waters’ surface. They are usually happy eaters in the aquarium and can for instance be fed worms and larvae. They will also eat fish, as long as the fish is not too big to fit into the mouth of the Epiplatys killifish. Training your Epiplatys killifish to accept flake food, frozen food, and dry-frozen food is usually very easy.
As mentioned above, Epiplatys killifish are often kept in community aquariums since they are peaceful and non-confrontational. You should however keep in mind that the Epiplatys killifish is a predator that will eat smaller fish. Since it has quite a large mouth, there are many fish species that will be considered prey. The biggest Epiplatys killifish species can grow to a length of 4 inches (10 centimeters).
It is important to have a tight fitting lid on your aquarium since all Epiplatys killifish species are capable jumpers. They often jump up from the water in the wild to catch insects. Another interesting capability in Epiplatys killifish is how they can “see” using a so-called third eye on their head. On the top of the head of an Epiplatys killifish, you will find a special form of a sensory organ that can detect changes in light. When something swims or fly over the Epiplatys killifish, it will, therefore, notice the change of light. You can see how it works by moving your hand over the place where your Epiplatys killifish is luring. (This should not be frequently repeated since it will stress your fish.) Since the Epiplatys killifish is very scared of predators that attack from the surface, it is very easy to catch in a net if you approach it from below.
Epiplatys killifish frequently spawn in aquariums. A well-planted aquarium is strongly recommended if you want to coax your fish into breeding. All the Epiplatys killifish species are plant spawners. To make sure that the offspring is not eaten by other fish, most professional breeders use separate breeding aquariums. If you keep your Epiplatys killifish in a well-planted community aquarium, you can, however, expect at least a few fry to reach adulthood.
When you set up a breeding aquarium for your Epiplatys killifish you should include spawning mops or plenty of java moss. As long as you keep feeding your Epiplatys killifish plenty of food, you can usually let them stay in the aquarium when the eggs have been fertilized since they will refrain from eating the eggs unless they are very hungry. Letting them stay with the eggs for roughly 10 days is common. The eggs will hatch after 12-14 days. Do not feed the large until they have consumed their yolk-sacs. Newly hatched Brine shrimp is a suitable first food for Epiplatys killifish fry.
