Norman's Lampeye Killifish (Poropanchax normani)

The Norman's Lampeye Killifish (Poropanchax normani) is a peaceful, tiny freshwater nano fish famous for the bright, iridescent blue crescent on the upper part of its eyes. Native to the slow-moving streams and swamps of Central and Western Africa, these fish stay near the top water column.

They look incredible in heavily planted tanks where their glowing eyes pop against dark green backgrounds.Unlike many other killifish, they are not annual fish and can live for 3 to 5 years with proper care.

(Note: Some sources mistakenly list them as annuals or Southeast Asian fish, but they are officially non-annual African livebearers/procatopodids).

Quick Species Overview

Adult Size: 1.2 to 1.6 inches (3 to 4 cm).

Lifespan: 3 to 5 years.

Temperament: Very peaceful and slightly timid.

Swimming Zone: Top to middle water column.

Water Parameters & Environment

Tank Size: Minimum 10 gallons (40 liters) for a small group.

Temperature: 73°F to 78°F (23°C to 26°C).pH Range: 6.5 to 7.2 (Prefers slightly acidic to neutral water).

Water Hardness: 4 to 15 dKH.

Flow: Gentle, slow water movement.

Tank Setup Essentials

Tight Lid Needed: They are notorious jumpers. A tight-fitting lid or lowered water level is required.

Heavy Vegetation: Provide lots of fine-leafed plants and mosses for security.

Floating Plants: Use species like Frogbit, Salvinia, or Water Lettuce. This diffuses the light, which makes the fish less skittish and highlights their glowing eyes.

Dark Substrate: Dark sand or gravel brings out their natural silver-blue body sheen.

Social Structure & Tank Mates

Norman's Lampeyes are strict schooling fish. You must keep them in a group of at least 6 to 8 individuals, though 10 to 15 is highly recommended if space allows. In small numbers, they become pale, stressed, and hide constantly.

Excellent Tank Mates:

Shrimp: Fully safe with adult Dwarf Cherry Shrimp (though they may snack on tiny, unprotected shrimplets).

Nano Fish: Ember Tetras, Pygmy Corydoras, Boraras Rasboras, and small Pencilfish.

Avoid: Anything large enough to fit them in its mouth. They are easily intimidated by active, large community fish like Discus or large tetras.

Diet & Feeding

They have upturned mouths designed for surface feeding. Because they are tiny, their food must be crushed very small.

Daily Staples: High-quality crushed flakes, micro granules, or crushed freeze-dried foods.

Live/Frozen Treats: They love baby brine shrimp, daphnia, cyclops, and micro-worms. Feeding live food brings out their best coloration

Breeding

They are continuous egg-layers and are relatively easy to breed in a home aquarium.

Males have longer, more pointed fins, while females are more rounded.

They deposit eggs daily into dense plants, mosses, or spawning mops.

In a heavily planted, mature tank, a few fry will often survive and grow alongside the adults without intervention.