Splendid Killifish

About

Found in the remnant lakes of central Anatolia, Lakes Tuz, Eğirdir, and Beyşehir among them, this little-known fish, Aphanius splendens, is a survivor of ancient geological upheaval. Its ancestors were isolated when a vast prehistoric lake fragmented across the Anatolian plateau millions of years ago, and the resulting populations have since adapted to harsh, alkaline waters with high carbonate and sulfate content. That history shows in the fish's body: slim and elongated with a distinctive angular lower jaw and reduced scalation, traits shared with close relatives in what researchers call the A. anatoliae species complex. The reduced scale coverage is thought to be a product of relaxed selective pressure in predator-free environments, and the extent of scalation can actually vary between individuals of the same species. You won't find this fish at most retailers. Specialist breeders or conservation-focused hobbyist groups are your best bet. Keeping it is genuinely considered difficult despite its beginner care rating, and the strong recommendation from those who know it best is to dedicate a tank to the species alone, with an emphasis on captive breeding. Females spawn continuously through the warmer months, but adults will eat eggs and fry, so daily monitoring and careful egg removal are part of the routine. Males are relatively peaceable compared to related species, and a group with more females than males works well.