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Etymology: fasciolatus(L.): striped

Synonyms: Epiplatys fasciolatus huwaldi

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

First European import: Unknown.

Description: See picture

Care: This form isn't too difficult to keep, while other subspecies are really difficult. Soft and slightly acidic water, well planted tanks, well covered(!), with a little current. The fish inhabit the upper regions of the tank, and need some hiding places near the surface in between which they will form small territoria.

Temperature:22-28°C

Feeding: Live food only!

Size:Up to 8 cm.

pH: 6.0-7.5

Breeding: Best done with spawning mops. after 7-14 days remove the mop from the spawning tank to a separate tank, filled with water from the spawning tank. The fry can immediately be fed artemia. Separating larger fry from their smaller siblings is necessary, else only a few fry will survive.

Sexual dimorphism: Males larger and more colorful, females with round fins, smaller and brownish.

Prices: Unknown

Additional: According to fishbase all subspecies of Epiplatys fasciolatus are no longer valid. They are considered local varieties of the same species. For now I will keep it as a subspecies, especially comsidering the ever growing need for the ladies and gentleman Ichthyologists to produce new publications that have little to do with Ichthyology and a lot to do with funding of research.

Picture references: Picture 1: E. Naus

References:Baensch, H. A., Riehl, R.(1989): Aquarien Atlas III. Mergus Verlag, Melle, Germany.http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.cfm?ID=9828&genusname=Epiplatys&speciesname=fasciolatus