Care and Breeding of Killifish
Interesting Fish but Difficult to Breed in an Aquarium
Although Killifish can live and breed in many diverse habitats in the wild, it is a challenge to raise the fry in an aquarium setting.
Killifish Characteristics
Most Killifish have elongated bodies and are divided into two types. The species that live and swim near the surface have a pronounced undershot mouth. The species that are middle and bottom swimmers only have a slightly undershot mouth.
Most Killifish prefer a soft and slightly alkaline water with a PH of 6 to 7. There are two exceptions to this and that is the species from Lake Tanganyika and types located in deserts. They need a hard alkaline water PH of 7 to 9.
Killifish Habitat
Killifish can be found almost worldwide except for Australia, Antarctic and the Arctic. They seem to be able to live in places no other type of fish can live and still survive. Killifish can be found in mud puddles with no circulation or current or they can be found in lakes or streams. Puddles have a tendency to dry up but when the puddles fill up again, Killifish can be found.
Popular Killifish Species
There are many types of Killifish but here are a few of the more popular species for aquariums:
- Steel-Blue Aphyosemion grows to a size no longer than three inches and should be kept in a 20 inch long tank at a water PH of 6 to 8.
- Aphyosemion Striatum grows to a size of two inches and should be kept in a 12 inch tank (2 gallon) at a PH of 6 to 8.
- Epiplatys Dageti Monroviae grows to about 3 inches and should be kept in a 2 foot long tank (15 to 20 gallon) at a PH of 6 to 8
- Rivulus Xiphidius grows to 1 ½ inches and should be kept in a 12 inch (2 gallon) tank for a pair
Killifish Compatibility in the Aquarium
The larger species of Killifish can be safely combined with most small catfish, or schooling types of non-territorial fish (tetras, barbs) and with your larger type of dwarf cichlids. The smaller types of Killifish should be kept alone.
Killifish are not lively swimmers. Males are very aggressive and territorial and will fight to the death with other males if there are too many males in the tank or if the tank is too small. Killifish aquariums should be heavily planted plus they should contain wood and rock for hiding places. For good measure, floating plants should be added in case the species of Killifish are top swimmers.
Breeding Killifish
In the Killifish world, there are bottom spawners and substrate spawners. The bottom spawners will deposit their eggs in soft bottom material like sand or plants. Substrate spawners will lay their eggs in cracks of wood or on rocks with cracks or in heavily planted areas.
Killifish do not look after their young so you will need to feed them a special diet. This seems to be the biggest problem with raising them.
Raising Killifish Fry
Raising Killifish fry can be challenging in terms of finding the right foods. You can usually start the fry out on Artemia and after a week, keep feeding them Artermia but add other small foods like Cyclops white worms and baby brine. This seems to give the most success with Killifish fry. They can be fed regular fish food once they reach adult size.
Although challenging, Killifish are an interesting fish to breed.
