Australe Lyretail Panchax (Aphyosemion australe)

Decide whether this quiet killifish fits your aquarium

The Australe Lyretail Panchax is a small African freshwater killifish for keepers who can provide a mature, tightly covered and thoughtfully planted aquarium. Its scientific name is Aphyosemion australe, and FishBase places it in Nothobranchiidae, the African rivulines. Its distribution includes Angola, Gabon, Cameroon and Congo, and FishBase records a maximum of 6 cm total length. This peaceful, shy fish suits a calm aquarium where its feeding can be observed and vigorous companions will not displace it.

Seriously Fish also records the vernacular names golden lyretail and lyretail panchax. These names refer to the same species rather than separate animals. FishBase describes freshwater, benthopelagic and non-migratory habits and records worms, crustaceans and insects in its natural diet.

Check the decisive requirements

Keep routine aquarium water at 22–24°C, pH 6.0–7.0 and 5–10 dGH. This is the overlap of FishBase environmental values, the Seriously Fish species aquarium profile and OATA’s killifish guidance. Seriously Fish regards a base of at least 45 × 25 cm, approximately 28 litres, as acceptable for a pair or trio.

Its jumping ability, need for secure cover and preference for small foods are decisive parts of the choice. Plan the aquarium around the adult size and complete the layout, filtration and water checks before introducing the fish.

Understand the animal, adult size and purchase unit

One purchase supplies one animal. FishBase records a maximum of 6 cm total length, and the aquarium should be planned around that adult measurement.

Sex is guaranteed only when the selected option explicitly states male or female. This Australe Lyretail Panchax listing has no sex-guaranteed option.

That distinction matters when planning a pair or trio. Seriously Fish uses those social arrangements when giving its minimum footprint, while OATA recommends a female-biased ratio in its wider killifish guidance. Build a deliberate ratio only when the sex of every fish is known, and make sure the aquarium can support every individual without relying on a particular outcome.

Use the offer details in the right order

1. Count the animals: each purchase adds one fish.
2. Plan for adult size: reserve space for a fish reaching 6 cm total length.
3. Plan the social arrangement: calculate space, cover and feeding access for the full number of animals.
4. Prepare the aquarium first: complete maturation, water testing and lid checks before introduction.

The gallery images are representative, based on reference photographs of this species, so colours can look slightly different from the live animal.

Use the gallery to recognise the general form and markings, not as a promise of colour intensity, fin development or sex. Seriously Fish describes mature males as larger and more brightly coloured, with extensions to the caudal, dorsal and anal fins; females are smaller, plainer and rounder through the belly. These characteristics describe settled mature fish and do not create a sex guarantee for the animal supplied.

If you are comparing this fish with other members of the group, browse the killifish collection and compare adult size, water, social planning and feeding behaviour before choosing by colour or common name.

Plan the footprint around a pair or trio

Start with the aquarium base rather than choosing by litres alone. Seriously Fish regards base measurements upwards of 45 × 25 cm, approximately 28 litres, as acceptable for a pair or trio of Aphyosemion australe. Treat both parts of that guidance as important: a tall container with the same volume but a smaller base does not reproduce the stated footprint.

A 45 × 25 cm base covers 1,125 square centimetres. A 60 × 30 cm base covers 1,800 square centimetres, giving 675 square centimetres more floor area. That larger footprint creates more room to separate cover, feeding positions and lines of sight, although it does not by itself decide how many fish should be kept. Social behaviour, filtration and water quality still set practical limits.

Allocate space before adding equipment

The 6 cm maximum total length remains the adult planning reference. Every animal needs the full planned footprint, secure cover and established biological filtration from the beginning. Do not use a fish’s current length as a reason to start in an undersized or biologically immature container.

More water gives greater room to organise equipment and cover, but dimensions remain the first check for this species. Measure the unobstructed base after internal equipment and hardscape are placed. If a decorative feature removes a large part of the swimming area, assess the remaining footprint rather than the external glass measurement.

Complete the layout before introducing the fish. Repeatedly moving plants or equipment removes settled cover and can alter water flow. A finished plan should leave the lid easy to open for feeding while ensuring it closes securely every time.

Build cover, filtration and secure equipment

Use a dark substrate where practical and add floating plants to diffuse the light. Seriously Fish recommends both features for this species. Floating cover should shade part of the aquarium while leaving enough clear water for observation, feeding and normal equipment operation. Arrange the remaining plants so a shy fish can move between sheltered and open areas without crossing the full tank in exposed water.

Fit a very tight-fitting cover before livestock enters the aquarium. Aphyosemion australe is described as an accomplished jumper, so inspect openings around cables, airlines, filter pipes and feeding flaps. Recheck the cover whenever equipment is moved. A lid that sits correctly on an empty aquarium may lift or leave a gap after another cable is added.

Match filtration to the stated setup

The RSPCA explains why a well-established biological filter is vital: fish release toxic ammonia, beneficial bacteria convert it to nitrite, and a further bacterial stage converts nitrite to safer nitrate. Prepare and mature that filter before introducing the fish. Our first tropical aquarium guide sets out the preparation sequence.

The turnover and heater examples belong to the stated 28-litre setup. Recalculate for a different aquarium rather than carrying the same equipment rating across unchanged. Room temperature affects heater demand, while media, pipework and head height can affect delivered filter flow.

Watch how the fish uses the finished layout. It should be able to hold position, reach its food and withdraw into cover. If equipment placement blocks the feeding lane or leaves the fish exposed everywhere, reorganise the hardware and plants.

Set water values before introduction

Keep routine aquarium water at 22–24°C, pH 6.0–7.0 and 5–10 dGH. This is the overlap of FishBase environmental values, Seriously Fish species aquarium guidance and OATA’s killifish group guidance. Measure the aquarium rather than assuming tap-water values, compare the result with our water matcher, and use the water chemistry guide to understand what each reading means.

FishBase records 21–24°C, pH 6.0–7.0 and 5–12 dH for the species. Seriously Fish gives aquarium limits of 21–32°C, pH 5.5–7.0 and 1–10 dGH. The shared routine range stays within both sets of species-level figures.

Keep toxic waste at zero

OATA’s freshwater killifish sheet gives 22–27°C, pH 6.0–7.5, 4–12 dGH and 3–10 dKH for the group. It also sets ammonia and nitrite at zero mg per litre and says nitrate should not exceed 20 mg per litre above the normal tap-water level.

Record the readings before introduction and use the same test method during routine maintenance. A single test shows where the aquarium is at that moment; a written sequence shows whether pH, nitrate or temperature is moving over time. Investigate a trend before it becomes a large change.

Prepare replacement water with tap-water conditioner to remove chlorine or chloramine before it reaches the aquarium. Match routine replacement water to the established temperature and chemistry. If a reading falls outside the working range, adjust the preparation method consistently and remeasure before adding the fish.

Feed small foods without leaving waste

Offer foods that match this species’ recorded animal-based diet and small mouth. FishBase records worms, crustaceans and insects in nature. Seriously Fish says small live or frozen foods such as daphnia and bloodworm are preferred, while good-quality flake is accepted in most cases. OATA’s broader killifish guidance also includes quality granules, brine shrimp and tubifex.

Feed once a day and give only what the fish can consume within a few minutes. This schedule comes from OATA’s group guidance and provides a clear starting routine. Watch the entire meal rather than judging the portion by how quickly food disappears from the surface; vigorous companions may consume most of it before the Australe reaches a feeding position.

Build a useful rotation

Spread food where the Australe already feels secure. In a community, two small feeding points may reduce direct competition, but the total meal must still remain within the amount eaten in a few minutes. The useful measure is successful feeding by each animal, not the number of pinches added.

Remove food that remains after the feeding period. Uneaten material breaks down and adds waste, working against the zero-ammonia and zero-nitrite targets. Dense planting can hide leftovers, so inspect sheltered edges and the area beneath the normal feeding point during maintenance.

Review body condition and appetite together. A fish approaching food but repeatedly failing to swallow may need a smaller item. A fish that stays behind cover while companions clear the meal needs a calmer feeding arrangement or a compatibility change. Keep the diet varied, but introduce one practical change at a time so the response remains clear.

Prepare the aquarium and watch the first week

Finish the aquarium before introduction. The biological filter should be mature, ammonia and nitrite should both read zero mg per litre, routine water should sit at 22–24°C, pH 6.0–7.0 and 5–10 dGH, and the lid should close around every cable and pipe. Test these points again after the final equipment position is set.

Increase the aquarium population slowly. OATA warns that adding fish too quickly can leave the established bacterial population unable to process the increased waste and feeding load, causing new tank syndrome. Calculate the total number of animals being added and assess the filter and footprint for that complete increase.

Follow the arrival steps in order

1. Receive the parcel in person: live fish must not be left unattended.
2. Start filming before opening: show the sealed parcel and outer box, then film continuously as it is opened and while the fish remains inside the sealed bag.
3. Inspect it the same day: keep the continuous video running until the condition of the fish can be seen inside the bag.
4. Float the bag: float the bag for 20–30 minutes before releasing the fish.
5. Keep transport water out: never pour the bag water into the aquarium.

These arrival steps come from our delivery and Live Arrival Guarantee policy. Keep the aquarium ready before the parcel is received so the fish can move through the stated process without avoidable delay.

Use clear first-week checkpoints

Keep the first week predictable. Feed the established once-daily portion, avoid adding further livestock immediately, and record water readings so any movement can be seen. If the fish joins a community, observe who reaches the feeding area first and whether the Australe can retreat without being followed.

Use a repeatable weekly maintenance rhythm

Carry out a 25% partial water change at least once every week. OATA strongly recommends this schedule for killifish, alongside water testing at least weekly. Measure the amount changed rather than relying on a visual estimate, and treat replacement tap water with conditioner before it enters the aquarium.

Use a siphon to remove solid waste from accessible substrate, especially beneath the feeding area and around places where small foods settle. Keep the planted cover that makes the fish secure, but prevent trapped food and debris from accumulating unseen. Maintenance should restore water quality without dismantling the layout each week.

Follow the same sequence each time

1. Observe before disturbing the tank: note swimming, breathing, feeding response and social position.
2. Test the water: check ammonia, nitrite and the values that tend to move in your aquarium.
3. Measure the change: remove 25% while siphoning visible solid waste.
4. Prepare replacement water: use conditioner for chlorine or chloramine and keep the replacement within the planned chemistry.
5. Check the filter: inspect the intake and media for a blockage or reduced operation.
6. Restore the cover: close every lid opening and confirm equipment remains correctly positioned.

When filter media needs cleaning, rinse it lightly in aquarium water removed during the water change. Do not wash it under the tap, because chlorine or chloramine may damage the beneficial bacterial population. Avoid replacing all established media together; the biological filter depends on retaining those bacteria.

Use written readings to judge the routine. Ammonia or nitrite above zero calls for immediate investigation of filtration, stocking, feeding and recent maintenance. Rising nitrate indicates that the balance between waste production and removal needs attention. Make the next decision from the measured trend rather than increasing maintenance at random.

Respond early to changes in health

Learn the normal pattern of each fish by watching it before feeding and during the meal. OATA advises monitoring swimming, colour, temperament, breathing, appearance, body condition and food intake. A change in several of these areas deserves prompt attention even when the cause is not immediately obvious.

Pair each sign with a first action

Water testing comes first because ammonia and nitrite are toxic and should remain at zero mg per litre. Check recent feeding and maintenance at the same time: uneaten food, a blocked filter or a rapid increase in livestock can all change the load placed on the biological filter.

Social pressure can appear as feeding failure rather than open fighting. A shy Australe that repeatedly reaches the meal after everything has gone needs a practical change in feeding access or companions. Permanent exclusion from useful cover also requires action, even when the chasing itself is brief.

Record the water readings, the timing of the change, appetite, breathing and which animals are affected. If you are concerned about a health change, contact us with those observations for further guidance. Clear information supports a more useful next step than trying several treatments without a diagnosis.

Screen every community companion

Aphyosemion australe is described as very peaceful and shy, but that temperament does not make every peaceful-looking community suitable. Seriously Fish warns that it is easily outcompeted by more vigorous fish. Feeding speed, adult size and access to planted cover therefore matter as much as aggression.

The species profile lists small characins, rasboras, dwarf cichlids, peaceful catfish such as Corydoras, small loricariids and some anabantoids as possible choices. Treat each as a candidate category rather than a universal tank-mate promise. The individual species must share the planned 22–24°C, pH 6.0–7.0 and 5–10 dGH, fit the aquarium footprint and allow the Australe to feed.

Apply the same screen to every candidate

Avoid vigorous or boisterous companions that dominate food and keep the Australe confined to cover. OATA’s broader killifish guidance says these generally small, peaceful fish do not appreciate boisterous tank mates. It also advises against keeping killifish with other long-finned species because some males may be aggressive towards them.

Watch the first meals closely after any stocking change. A good result means the Australe leaves cover, takes correctly sized food and returns without persistent pursuit. Repeated hiding, missed meals, altered breathing or declining condition means the combination needs to change.

Species names alone do not decide the outcome; dimensions, numbers, cover, feeding method and individual behaviour all contribute. Contact us with the complete proposed stock list, aquarium dimensions and water readings for a stocking and compatibility assessment.

Plan social numbers without assuming a ratio

Seriously Fish gives a base of at least 45 × 25 cm, approximately 28 litres, for a pair or trio. OATA’s broad killifish guidance suggests keeping at least three, arranged as two females to each male to reduce stress on females and other inhabitants. Use the species footprint as the minimum spatial reference and apply OATA’s ratio only when the sex of each fish is known.

Begin with the exact number of animals and provide space for all of them. One purchase supplies one fish, which means three fish require room, cover and feeding access for all three. The aquarium needs enough planting and sheltered positions for each individual to withdraw and feed.

Choose a plan you can monitor

Seriously Fish describes mature males as larger and more brightly coloured, with extensions to the caudal, dorsal and anal fins. Females are smaller, plainer and rounder in the belly. Use these characteristics to understand observations among settled mature fish, while remembering that this offer carries no sex guarantee.

Watch for unequal access rather than waiting for serious injury. One fish remaining hidden through feeding, losing condition or being repeatedly displaced from the same shelter indicates that the arrangement is not working. Add useful cover, reassess the feeding pattern and separate individuals when pressure persists.

A larger group adds waste as well as behaviour. Increase livestock slowly so the filter’s bacterial population can adjust to the higher feeding and waste load. Continue testing ammonia and nitrite at least weekly and after a stocking change, with both values kept at zero mg per litre.

Check common buyer questions

How big does Australe Lyretail Panchax get?

FishBase records a maximum of 6 cm total length, so plan the aquarium around that adult size.

What size aquarium does Aphyosemion australe need?

Seriously Fish regards a base of at least 45 × 25 cm, approximately 28 litres, as acceptable for a pair or trio; use a mature filter and a very tight-fitting lid.

How many Australe Lyretail Panchax should I keep together?

Seriously Fish plans aquarium space for a pair or trio, while OATA’s group guidance suggests at least three with two females to each male; use that ratio only when the sexes are known.

Is Aphyosemion australe suitable for beginners?

Seriously Fish regards it as ideal for aquarists new to killifish, provided they can maintain stable water, a mature filter, secure cover and reliable access to suitable food.

What does Australe Lyretail Panchax eat?

Offer small live or frozen foods such as daphnia and bloodworm, with good-quality flake accepted in many cases. Feed once daily and only as much as it eats within a few minutes.

What temperature and pH does this fish need?

Keep it at the FishBase, Seriously Fish and OATA overlap of 22–24°C, pH 6.0–7.0 and 5–10 dGH; ammonia and nitrite must remain at zero mg per litre.

Is it aggressive or likely to nip fins?

Seriously Fish describes it as very peaceful and shy, but OATA advises against mixing killifish with other long-finned species because some males may be aggressive towards them.

Which animals can it live with?

Possible companions include small characins, rasboras, dwarf cichlids, peaceful Corydoras, small loricariids and some anabantoids, provided their water needs overlap and they do not outcompete it for food.

How does it arrive alive in the UK?

Someone must be present to receive it. Film every delivery continuously from the sealed parcel as it is opened, with the fish still inside the sealed bag; float the bag for 20–30 minutes before release and never pour the bag water into the aquarium.

Check the reference coverage

• FishBase: Aphyosemion australe — scientific identity, family, distribution, environmental values, natural diet and maximum recorded length.
• Seriously Fish: Aphyosemion australe — aquarium footprint, water range, layout, diet, behaviour, compatibility and sexual dimorphism.
• OATA: How to look after killifish — group guidance on water quality, social planning, feeding, introduction, maintenance and health observation.
• RSPCA aquarium environment guidance — biological filtration and the conversion of ammonia through nitrite to nitrate.