Iridescent Toothcarp

The iridescent toothcarp is a killifish that lives in springs, spring-fed streams and slow-moving waters from southern and southeastern Türkiye to the Levant and Mesopotamia. With their navy bodies that are almost black and the bright blue-silver spots scattered over this background, males are among the showiest toothcarps; females are gray-silver with dark spots. It used to be placed in the genus Aphanius; today it is listed in the genus Paraphanius and the family Aphaniidae. Although it is not endemic to Türkiye, its local populations are under pressure from springs drying up: it should not be collected from the wild, should be obtained only from captive-bred lines and should not be released into the wild.

• At least 60 liters for a group of 4–6.
• Hard, alkaline water; limestone or coral sand helps maintain hardness.
• No heater is needed; 18–26°C is ideal, and cooling down in winter is natural.
• Dense plants, good lighting, a layer of algae and a tight lid.

Omnivorous. Frozen brine shrimp, daphnia and bloodworms should be given together with spirulina flakes; it also grazes the fine algae in the aquarium.

Males are territorial; they flare their fins at and chase each other and are persistent towards females. A divided, planted layout reduces tension. It lays its eggs on plants.

Good companions: a group of its own species; a species tank is best.

Avoid: other toothcarp species (hybridization), tropical fish that need soft water, large and aggressive species.