Hjersseni Lyretail Killifish (Aphyosemion australe)

Hjersseni Lyretail Killifish is the orange-gold aquarium strain sold by the supplier as Aphyosemion australe “hjersseni”. The accepted species is Aphyosemion australe; “hjersseni” is a trade strain label, not a separate accepted species or a wild locality. This listing is for one unsexed fish per quantity in the size option selected. Sex, a male-female pair and exact colour are not guaranteed.

This is a small, non-annual West African killifish for a mature, covered aquarium with subdued areas, plants and calm companions. It is a rewarding choice for an aquarist who can keep stable, soft-to-moderately-hard water and offer suitably small foods. The secure lid matters as much as the water values: lyretail killifish are capable jumpers.

Hjersseni Lyretail Killifish at a glance

Identity: what “hjersseni” means

Aphyosemion australe is the valid species name. It is widely known as the Lyretail Killifish, Lyretail Panchax or Cape Lopez Lyretail. FishBase records chocolate and gold forms in the aquarium trade, while the supplier identifies this particular stock with the strain label “hjersseni”. That label should be kept in quotation marks or treated as a cultivar-style name rather than written as a third part of the scientific name.

The species occurs naturally in western-central Africa, including Gabon, the Republic of the Congo and areas extending south towards Angola. The orange-gold Hjersseni form is an aquarium strain. The species’ wild range therefore describes the biological origin of A. australe; it does not mean the fish in this listing are wild collected or collected from a named locality.

Mature males usually show the strongest orange-gold colour, red markings and longer extensions to the upper and lower edges of the tail. Females are generally plainer with shorter fins. Juveniles and newly moved fish can be less intensely coloured, and appearance varies with sex, age, condition, lighting and background. The gallery is representative rather than a photograph of the exact fish dispatched.

What arrives with your order

Each quantity adds one fish of the chosen size to the basket. The multi-buy display is a quantity-pricing tool; it does not certify a bonded pair and does not guarantee one male and one female. Select the number your aquarium can support and treat every fish as unsexed unless a size option explicitly says otherwise.

The size selector describes dispatch size, not final adult length. FishBase records a species maximum of about 6 cm total length, while the supplier’s smaller figure reflects its commercial stock information. Plan the mature aquarium for the larger published species figure rather than assuming a dispatch-size fish is fully grown.

Aquarium setup

Use a mature aquarium with a tight cover, gentle filtration and plenty of structure. FishBase gives a minimum aquarium length of 60 cm for the species. That footprint is a more useful starting point than a small litre figure because it provides swimming room, planted boundaries and space for fish to move away from one another. A larger aquarium is prudent for a group, more than one male or any mixed community.

• Cover: fit a lid or cover glass and close gaps around cables, pipes and filter returns.
• Planting: use fine-leaved plants, floating cover and shaded retreats while leaving open feeding space.
• Hardscape: wood and leaf litter can create visual breaks, provided the materials are aquarium safe.
• Flow: keep circulation gentle but maintain good oxygenation and reliable biological filtration.
• Lighting: subdued areas and a darker background help the fish settle and show colour naturally.
• Maintenance: prioritise stability, clean water and regular partial water changes over chasing a single exact number.

Water parameters

A practical maintenance target is 21-24°C, pH 6.0-7.0 and roughly 5-12 dGH. These values align with the FishBase species profile and sit within the supplier’s broader 20-25°C, pH 6.0-7.0 and up-to-12 dGH data. Avoid sudden changes. If your aquarium is outside that range, compare the supplier water with your tank and make any adjustment gradually.

Do not keep this fish persistently hot merely because it is sold as tropical. Higher temperature accelerates metabolism and leaves less dissolved oxygen. Stable temperature, clean water and calm conditions are more valuable than trying to hold the aquarium at the top of a permitted range.

Temperament and compatible tank mates

Lyretail killifish are generally peaceful, but “peaceful” does not mean they are suitable with every small fish. Males can display and chase, particularly in confined space or without sight breaks. A species-focused planted aquarium is the easiest arrangement. A quiet community can also work when every inhabitant shares the same temperature and water requirements.

Watch feeding response, fin condition and access to cover after any introduction. Separate fish if one is repeatedly chased, hidden, losing weight or excluded from food. Shrimplets and very small fry may be eaten, so this is not a risk-free choice for a breeding shrimp aquarium.

Feeding Hjersseni Lyretail Killifish

Wild Aphyosemion australe feed on small animal prey including worms, crustaceans and insects. In the aquarium, offer suitably sized live or frozen foods such as daphnia, Artemia, mosquito larvae and small bloodworm, while taking care that every item is appropriate to the fish’s mouth size. Quality flakes or micro-pellets can add variety when the fish accepts them; the British Killifish Association notes that the species can take good flake food.

Feed small portions that are eaten promptly and observe each fish. A varied diet supports condition and colour, but uneaten rich food quickly harms water quality. Newly arrived or shy fish may respond more readily to moving live or frozen food than to dry food at first.

Breeding behaviour

This is a non-annual killifish. A compatible, conditioned pair or trio may deposit eggs among fine-leaved plants or spawning mops instead of burying eggs for a mandatory dry diapause. The British Killifish Association records spawning across different levels of the breeding aquarium and hatching in roughly 12-14 days at about 22°C; development time varies with temperature and conditions.

Breeding is not guaranteed by buying two fish. The listing is unsexed, so two fish may be the same sex, may not be mature and may not be compatible. If breeding is the aim, first learn to identify the sexes, provide several spawning sites and prepare appropriately small live foods for fry before eggs are collected.

Choosing between Lyretail Killifish listings

This Hjersseni listing is for a named orange-gold strain of Aphyosemion australe. Other products may represent the standard species, a separate gold supplier line, a named locality or a different killifish species. Do not assume that every product containing “lyretail”, “gold” or “panchax” is interchangeable. Compare the scientific name, strain or locality label, dispatch size and current availability.

You can browse the live Killifish collection or compare a different species such as Gardner’s Killifish. Keep distinct strains and locality forms labelled accurately if you plan to breed them, and avoid accidental crosses.

Delivery and image note

Live livestock orders are packed and carried under the current Delivery and Live Arrival Guarantee policy. Check that page before ordering for the current delivery window, receiving requirements and claim evidence. The gallery images are representative views based on the reference image. They illustrate the orange-gold form but do not show the exact individual that will be sent, and a two-fish image does not mean the product is sold as a sexed pair.

Sources and further reading

• Eschmeyer’s Catalog of Fishes for the accepted species name and distribution.
• FishBase: Aphyosemion australe for adult length, water range, diet, non-annual life history and aquarium length.
• British Killifish Association: Aphyosemion australe for specialist maintenance and breeding observations.