Meinken's lyretail
Fundulopanchax oeseri
The Three-lined Aphyosemion features vibrant red and blue horizontal stripes along its body, complemented by elongated fins.
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About the Meinken's lyretail
Fundulopanchax oeseri is a small West African lyretail killifish endemic to Bioko (Equatorial Guinea). Aphyosemion trilineatum (often misspelled “trilineatus”) is a junior synonym of this species; other historical names include Aphyosemion meinkeni and Aphyosemion santaisabellae. Males show blue‑green flanks with fine red lines, and this expert jumper prefers cool, very soft, acidic water.
Also known as
Quick Facts
Size
8 cm
Temperament
Peaceful
Difficulty
Advanced
Min Tank Size
6 gallons
Lifespan
3 years
Origin
West Africa
Diet
Carnivore - live or frozen micro foods like Artemia, Daphnia, bloodworms
Water Parameters
22-26°C
6-6.6
2-4 dGH
Need a heater for this species?
This species needs 22-26°C in a 6 gallon tank. Use our heater calculator to find the right wattage.
Calculate heater sizeCare Notes
- Cover the tank tightly and block every gap; Meinken's lyretail are expert jumpers.
- Keep water in the cool, soft, acidic range: 22–26 °C, pH ~6.0–6.6, and 0.5–7 dGH.
- A 6-gallon or larger freshwater tank suits this small species (up to about 8 cm); extra volume adds stability.
- They are carnivores—offer live or frozen micro foods like Artemia, Daphnia, and bloodworms.
- Peaceful fish, they do best with calm tankmates that also like soft, acidic water; avoid fin-nippers that target lyretails.
- Males flash blue-green sides with fine red lines; good condition and correct water bring out the color.
- Expect around a 3-year lifespan. Aim for 22–26 °C and very soft, acidic water; avoid sustained temperatures above this range.
Compatibility
Good Tankmates
- Small, peaceful bottom dwellers from soft, acidic water (pygmy Corydoras like C. pygmaeus, C. habrosus, C. hastatus).
- Small, peaceful algae grazers like Otocinclus in a mature, stable tank; they occupy the glass and leaves, not the surface.
- Very small, calm soft-water tetras (embers, green neons) in a larger, quiet, well-planted setup.
- Small pencilfish (Nannostomus spp.) kept in a calm, dim tank with floating plants; avoid crowding the surface.
- Peaceful micro-rasboras (Boraras spp.) that do well at 22-26 C in soft, acidic water and will not outcompete them.
Avoid
- Fin-nippers or hyperactive fish that harass long fins, and hard-water livebearers that mismatch water (tiger barbs, serpae tetras, giant danios, guppies/mollies).
- Territorial surface-dwellers like male bettas or other surface killifish that compete at the top.
- Large or predatory fish (most cichlids, larger gouramis) that may view small killifish as food.
- Dwarf shrimp and other tiny inverts, which are likely to be eaten by this micro-predator.
Origin and natural habitat
Meinken's lyretail (Fundulopanchax oeseri) is a small West African killifish native to the island of Bioko. The name Aphyosemion trilineatus is now treated as the same fish. Males show blue-green sides with fine red lines, a classic lyretail look. In nature and in aquaria they do best in coolish, very soft, acidic freshwater.
Aquarium setup and water conditions
This is a small species that reaches about 8 cm and can live around 3 years. A single pair or small group can be maintained in a compact tank, but water quality and chemistry matter more than volume. Start with at least 6 US gallons and keep the water soft and mildly acidic. Stability within the recommended range is more important than chasing exact numbers.
Energetic jumper: use a tight-fitting lid and block even small gaps around cables and filter pipes.
- Temperature: 22-26 C
- pH: 6.0-6.6
- Hardness: 2-4 dGH
Diet and feeding
Carnivorous. Offer small live or frozen foods such as Artemia (brine shrimp), Daphnia, and bloodworms. Rotate items to cover nutrition and keep portions modest to avoid fouling the soft, low-mineral water they prefer.
Behaviour and tankmates
Peaceful but on the small side, so choose tankmates with care. Stick to calm, similarly sized fish that can live in soft, acidic water and will not outcompete them at feeding time. Avoid large or boisterous species and any known fin-nippers, as males carry elongated lyretails.
Common problems and how to avoid them
- Jumping losses: a secure, gap-free cover is mandatory.
- Water chemistry drift: very soft, acidic water can change quickly. Make adjustments gradually and keep up with small, regular maintenance.
- Wrong parameters: hard or alkaline water and sustained heat outside 22-26 C lead to long-term stress.
- Inadequate diet: they need live or frozen micro foods. Relying on dry foods can result in poor condition.
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