Home / Fishes / Killifish and livebearers / Large finned lampeye
No federal permit to keepLarge finned lampeye
Procatopus nototaenia
Fishes › Killifish and livebearers (Cyprinodontiformes) › Procatopodidae (Lampeyes)
Care follows the lampeyes guide below.
Care at a glance
Species-specific aquarium care
- Tank: At least 24 in long and 12 in front to back for one adult (adults commonly reach about 2.4 in / 6 cm).
- Water: Freshwater.
- Temperature: 68–77°F (range recorded for this species).
- pH: 6–6.5.
- Hardness: 1–3 dGH.
- Layout: Uses both the bottom and open water: give open swimming space plus cover near the substrate.
Calculated from this species' own FishBase record: tank size from its typical adult length and swimming zone, water values from its recorded ranges. The group guide below fills in general care.
Care guide
Species care notes
- Tank: a base of at least 24 × 12 in (roughly 14 US gallons); space needed is rated “modest tank”.
- Water: a fairly wide range, from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline, 68–77 °F, pH 5.8–7.5, 1–10 dGH.
- Behaviour: a shoaling fish best kept in a group of six or more.
- Difficulty: Easy (Seriously Fish rating).
Short excerpts from the species profile:
- Setup: “This species does well in heavily-planted aquaria in which the growth of aquatic plants provides plenty of shaded areas.”
- Diet: “The upturned mouth and keeled body shape suggest that this species feeds primarily on small invertebrates taken from the water surface in nature.”
- Tankmates: “This species does well in a community of other peaceful species that enjoy similar conditions.”
- Breeding: “For breeding purposes a bare, gently filtered tank with dim lighting is all that is needed.”
From the Seriously Fish profile for this species, which has the full habitat, maintenance, diet, behaviour and breeding write-up 167
Lampeyes
Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: Norman’s lampeye inhabits densely vegetated African savanna streams, small rivers and swamps. Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.
Housing & setup
- For P. normani use at least 50 L with open swimming areas among dense plants.
- Provide floating vegetation, roots and cover for retreat.
- Fit a completely closed lid because Norman’s lampeyes jump.
- Use filtration and gentle water movement; monitor ammonia, nitrite and other water-quality measures.
Climate & lighting
| Water | 71.6–78.8°F |
Diet
- Newly hatched Artemia.
- Cyclops and small sieved Daphnia from safe cultured supplies.
- Small dry foods after confirming acceptance.
- Infusoria for tiny newly hatched fry.
Social life
- Keep P. normani in groups of at least 8–10 with similar-sized peaceful companions; avoid predators.
Health watch
- Stress-associated illness in solitary individuals.
- Nutritional deficiencies from unsuitable food.
- Freshwater white spot and other external parasites.
Understanding the animal
In the wild
In the wild
From this species’ own FishBase record (habitat, bottom type, water and breeding data), not its family. Good care copies these conditions.1
| Where it lives | Lives in freshwater. Uses both the bottom and open water. Occurs in small rivers and brooks under forest cover, mainly in streaming parts of the river system. |
| Water it lives in | Freshwater, 68–77 °F (20–25 °C), pH 6–6.5, hardness 1–3 dH. |
| Climate | Tropical climate. |
| Behavior to plan for | Breeding: brood hiders. |
What this means for care
- Keep water within its wild range, 68–77 °F.
Native climate (measured)
Native climate (measured)
| Warm-season highs | about 87°F (up to 93°F in the hottest sampled areas) |
| Cool-season lows | about 70°F (down to 67°F in the coldest sampled areas) |
| Average temperature | 75–80°F across sampled records |
| Relative humidity | 83–87% on average (driest month about 84%) |
| Rainfall | about 2274 mm a year |
Measured at 8 wild occurrence records sampled against WorldClim 2.1 climate data (1970–2000 averages). Air conditions in the range are ecological context, not enclosure settings: microhabitats such as burrows, leaf litter or basking rocks can be cooler, warmer or more humid.
From the sources
From the sources
Quoted from the matching sections of reputable sources for this exact species. Specialist databases are used first; Wikipedia (community-edited, CC BY-SA 4.0) only fills gaps. Other sources are short credited quotes.
| Where it lives | Home ranges Population dynamics Growth parameters Max. ages / sizes Length-weight rel. Length-frequencies Mass conversion Recruitment Abundance Life cycle Reproduction Maturity Maturity/Gills rel. — FishBase |
| Biology | Occurs in small rivers and brooks under forest cover, mainly in streaming parts of the river system. Not a seasonal killifish. Is very difficult to maintain in aquarium. — FishBase |
Data and studies
The numbers
The numbers
Each bar is what one source reports. Where several sources weigh in, the dashed gold band marks their average.
Adult length
Maximum recorded length. Measured as total length. Fish in home aquariums often stay smaller than wild records.
Water temperature
Range the species tolerates in nature; aim for the middle.
Minimum tank footprint
Seriously Fish recommends a tank base of at least 24 × 12 in (about 14 US gallons).
Sources for this sheet
- FishBase (Froese & Pauly, eds.), version 24.07 Peer-reviewed researchThe global scientific database on fishes, maintained by a consortium of research institutions; every value is referenced.
- Seriously Fish species profiles Experienced keeper or breederLong-running aquarium reference written and peer-checked by experienced fishkeepers and ichthyologists; each profile covers habitat, tank size, water, diet, behaviour and breeding.
- Poropanchax normani — Finn Milvertz Experienced keeper or breederAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Poropanchax normani — Fishipedia Experienced keeper or breederAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Disorders and Diseases of Fish — Merck Veterinary Manual Zoo, university or veterinaryAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Parasitic Diseases of Fish — Merck Veterinary Manual Zoo, university or veterinaryAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.