Brichard's Lampeye

About

Brichard's Lampeye (Aplocheilichthys brichardi) is a tiny killifish relative from the heart of central Africa, native to the slow-moving streams, brooks, and swampy backwaters of the Congo River basin, including the Ruki drainage and the lake systems of Tumba and Mai Ndombe. Like others in the lampeye group, it owes its common name to the iridescent sheen on the upper portion of the eye. A subtle but genuinely appealing feature on such a small fish. Unlike many killifish, this species is not seasonal, meaning it does not follow the annual wet-dry cycle of drying pools and does not need to be raised from eggs stored in dry peat. In the wild it favors heavily vegetated habitat, and a well-planted aquarium with soft, acidic water is the starting point for keeping it successfully. That said, this species has a reputation for being genuinely challenging to maintain long-term in captivity, so it is best suited to keepers who already have some experience with small, sensitive fish. If you can meet its needs, a small group in a calm, species-appropriate setup can be a rewarding project. But this is not a forgiving beginner fish.