• Scientific name: Aphyosemion bivittatum
• Synonyms: Aphyosemion bivittatum hollyi, Aphyosemion bivittatus, Aphyosemion hollyi, Fundulus bivittatus
• Common name: Twostripe lyretail
• Group: Killifish
• Habitat: West-Africa; southeastern Nigeria and southwestern Cameroon
• Size: 4,5-5 cm
• Biotope: Inhabits in the coastal plains in well shaded pools which are rich in vegetation, between Cameroon and Nigeria, including the Korup and Cross River National Parks. These habitats have calcium rich soil, and are fairly constant in temperature.
• Social behavior: A very peaceful and shy fish. Should be kept in a species tank.
• Diet: Omnivorous; They will eat small live and frozen foods, also good quality flake foods.
• Breeding: Quite easy
• Tank: Minimum 30 litres
• Population: 1 male and 2-3 females for 40 litres
• Decoration: Use dark substrate (peat), and plant the tank densely, with a cover of floating plants to diffuse the light. Provide hiding places with wood and roots.
• Temperature: 22-24 °C
• pH: 6-6.5
• Hardness: 1-6 NK°
• Lifespan: 3-5 years

Description: Cameroon populations are more colourful than those found in Nigeria, with more orange color in the caudal fin replacing the usual blue coloration. Twostripe lyretail’s unpaired fin extensions have a yellow or orange coloration. Females have brownish body color, with two dark horizontal bands. Many populations lack the dark stripes in the male, and their coloration varies depending on the mood of the fish, so it is hard to give an accurate color description. Males have extremely elongated dorsal and anal fins, and a lyre-shaped tail. It has been observed that at higher temperatures the fish will hang near the surface.

Aphyosemion bivittatum can be bred in small tanks (12 litres) without lighting. Water should be soft and acidic (pH 6.0-6.5) with a temperature of 22-25 °C. The female will deposit her eggs in the substrate or attached them to plants, so the spawning medium can either be a layer of peat moss or large clumps of Java Moss or spawning mops. The eggs should be incubated in damp peat for 15-20 days before placing the eggs into shallow water, where they will hatch within 48 hours. The fry are 5 mm in lenght, and at one month 2 horizontal bands will appear on their body. The fry should initially be kept in very shallow water but the level can be raised as the fry grow. At 7 weeks the young will start to show sexual differences, and at 11 weeks first attempts at spawning were observed.