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Etymology: Unknown.

Synonyms: Epiplatys chaperi

Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) Order: Cyprinodontiformes Family: Aplocheilidae (Rivulines), subfamily: Aplocheilinae

First European import: Germany, 1908, by Carl Siggelkow.

Description:See pictures. Another subspecies is known as Epiplatys dageti dageti, Poll, 1953. The difference between the two subspecies is unknown to me.

Care: Very easy fish to keep, suitable for the community tank, if not kept together with very small fish. The fish do well in slighlty acidic, soft water, but can also be kept in harder, slightly alkaline water. A dark soil and some floating plants for the fish to hide in, and a tight tank cover are necessary. The fish jump very well!. They will inhabit the upper regions in a tank, and are in general not as aggressiv as some other Epiplatys species.

Temperature:21-24°C

Feeding:Omnivorous, Epiplatys dageti accepts flake food!

Size: Up to 7 cm.

pH: 6.0-7.5

Breeding: Extremely easy. The fish will continuously breed in community tanks. To raise some fry remove the substrate and transfer it to a small breeding tank. The eggs will hatch in 8-10 days, the fry are reasonably large and can immediately be fed artemia nauplii. On average the ratio male/female is around 50/50. If Riccia is used in the community tank, or dense platgrowth is present in the back of the tank, usually some fry survive without any intervention.

Sexual dimorphism: Males larger and more colorful.

Prices: 1.5-2.5€

Additional:

Picture references:All pictures E. Naus

References: Baensch, H. A., Riehl, R.(1982): Aquarien Atlas I. Mergus Verlag, Melle, Germany.(click on the link to buy this book)

www: Http://www.fishbase.org