▷ Cape Lopez / Colorful Magpie | Information, husbandry and rearing

Data sheet Cape Lopez / colorful magpie

German name:
Cape Lopez / Colorful Magpie

Scientific name:
Aphyosemion australe

Origin:
Africa (shady streams of the coastal lowlands of Gabon in tropical West Africa)maximum 6 cm

Size:
maximum 6 cm

Aquarium

Length:
from 60 cm edge length

Contents:
from 50 liters content

water values

Temperature:
21-24ºC

pH:
6.0 – 7.2 pH

GH:
5 – 12 °dGH

Behave

Area:
lower area, near the ground

Lining:
small live food, frozen food, mosquito larvae

Behave:
Males can become aggressive towards each other, they like to jump, they can easily socialize with fish of about the same size

Number:
in the group at least 3 animals, per male at least 2 females

Difficulty level:
Advanced, also suitable for beginners

Mirko Rosenau – stock.adobe.com

naming

The scientific name for Cape Lopez is Aphyosemion australe.

Other husbandry conditions for Cape Lopez

Aphyosemion australe male – Cape Lopez Source: Image on Wikimedia Commons License: CC Attr. SA 3.0 Author: Violaine Alfero

2 males and 4 females can be kept in a 60 cm aquarium. The tank must be well planted and offer hiding places.

As for almost all killifish, the water should be soft. However, Cape Lopez are quite tolerant of the water parameters.

Table salt should not be added to the water. The pH should be neutral or slightly acidic.

The floor should not be too light. Cape Lopez like a layer of peat or leaves on the bottom.

However, a layer of peat is not absolutely necessary. So that the peat does not swim in the aquarium, it is boiled twice for 10 minutes and spread on the aquarium floor.

Aphyosemion australe gold Source: Image on Wikimedia Commons License: CC Attr. SA 3.0 Author: Alexander Prokoshev

The peat initially swirls through the water, but settles to the bottom after about a day.

After settling, the filter is cleaned.

Air-operated filters have proven themselves as filters. Because they have a slower current, the peat won’t be stirred up again as quickly.

The lighting should be rather weak.

Cape Lopez like to stay in the upper and middle layers of water.

Aphyosemion australe f. gold female Source: Picture on Wikimedia Commons License: CC Attr. SA 3.0 Author: Violaine Alfero

They like to eat from the water surface or take floating food.

Cape Lopez should be fed a varied diet with lots of live and frozen food.

They eat flake food only reluctantly.

Red mosquito larvae are particularly popular.

Temperatures of 28° are tolerated for a short time, but the temperature should be lower over the long term.

rearing

Aphyosemion australe f. gold male Source: Picture on Wikimedia Commons License: CC Attr. SA 3.0 Author: Violaine Alfero

Cape Lopez spawn z. B. in java moss or a spawning mop. Aphyosemion are detention spawners, so a dry break is unnecessary.

A plastic container with a capacity of approx. 5 liters is already suitable for rearing. A small aquarium with 12 liters is better.

Sand is suitable as soil. Some java moss is useful. Water is filled in from the adult animal tank until the water level is about 10 centimetres.

The spawning substrate, e.g. B. java moss or spawning mop, and the eggs are laid in the basin.

The pool is only very finely aerated, e.g. B. with a sponge filter.

The young usually hatch after about 14 days. However, it can also take up to 30 days.

Aphyosemion australe f. gold male Source: Image on Wikimedia Commons License: Public domain Author: Melanochromis

From the 2nd day after hatching, the young are first fed with powdered food.

Algae powder can also be given. Later the young eat newly hatched Artemia, thawed Cyclops and Bosmids.

The breeding tank must always be clean. Water must be changed daily. The water level can be slowly increased up to the normal level.

Aphyosemion australe:

Aphyosemion austral mating, fighting or strange behavior:

Aphyosemion austral mating:

Aphyosemion australe chocolate:

Aphyosemion australe chocolate mating in the morning:

Aphyosemion australe Gold-Red:

Fundulopanchax gardneri and Aphyosemion australe: