Killifish are among the most vibrant fish in freshwater aquariums, so why aren’t they as well as known as livebearers or African cichlids given their astounding variety of colours and patterns?
They are top-dwelling fish that prefer to jump out of the water, therefore you must have a tight-fitting lid and seal even the smallest opening to prevent their escape, according to many seasoned fish keepers.
Additionally, because annual killifish only live for a short time after you hatch their eggs, they can be more difficult to maintain.
Fortunately, not every species has such brief lifespans, so to assist you in getting started, we have produced a list of our favourite killies that are simple to locate, care for, and breed in your home aquarium by using the extensive research done by Aquarium co op.
1. Orange Australe Killifish
Scientific Name; Aphyosemion Australe
This lyretail panchax colour variant is distinguished by its bright orange body, red spotting, and tail with elongated tips told to Aquarium co op. They can reach a maximum length of 2.5 inches (6 cm), therefore two of them can coexist in an aquarium that holds 10 to 20 gallons.
Multiple pairs and trios can be housed together in a bigger fish tank. They can readily eat Vibra Bites, frozen brine shrimp, bloodworms, freeze-dried bloodworms, and other meaty fish meals because they have larger jaws.
Use a spawning mop to remove the eggs of your killifish in preparation for hatching if you intend to maintain them in a community aquarium with other fish. However, if you place a colony of them in a setup where only one species is present, simply add some dense aquarium plants which you can order from the Aquarium co op.
For example, floating water sprites and Pogostemon stellatus ‘octopus’) to hide the fry, and their numbers should organically rise over time.
2. Gardneri Killifish
Scientific Name; Fundulopanchax gardneri
The males of this 2.5-inch (6 cm) fish can vary in colour from a pale pink to a blue-green to a purple sheen with noticeable red dots all over, making it impossible to describe the kaleidoscope of hues they embody.
As long as you keep them in colder temps, have a tight aquarium top, and feed them meaty diets, we believe they are among the easiest killies to reproduce. See the Aquarium co op website for more information about this tip. Don’t mix them with smaller nano species because they may even consume little fish because their mouths are larger than you think.
Use a lot of aquarium plants and taller ornaments to break up the line of sight and reduce violence because males can be a little bit combative. The additional shelter will also aid in the survival of more infants.
If you feed the fry a lot of live baby brine shrimp as they grow, you shouldn’t have any trouble selling these stunning killies to your neighbourhood fish shop or other hobbyists or maybe at the Aquarium co op.
3. Golden Wonder Killifish
Scientific Name; Aplocheilus lineatus
This stunning golden-yellow fish may grow to a size of 3 to 4 inches (8 to 10 cm) and is a larger killifish according to Aquarium co op. They can coexist peacefully with medium-sized tankmates like blood parrot cichlids and Bala sharks and are quite active.
They are hardy and adaptable to a variety of water conditions, which makes them popular with large pet store chains. They eat primarily meat, much like the larger killies, and will attack your nano fish and dwarf shrimp if they fit in their mouths.
Killifish have vibrant colours that rival those of saltwater fish. Just be aware that, depending on the species, they typically live for around 2 to 5 years. Reduce the temperature to lengthen their life, and continue passively reproducing them, so you may enjoy them for as long as possible.
While we do not transport live fish, you can view the most recent fish that our recommended online vendors have in stock by visiting their websites at Aquarium co op.
4. Clown Killifish
Scientific Name; Epiplatys annulatus
The clown killi is the smallest killifish on our list, measuring only 1.4 inches (3.5 cm), and it can live in nano tanks that are as tiny as 5 gallons. They are also known as “rocket killifish” due to the male’s stunning, flame-like tail.
They are dubbed the “banded panchax” due to their unique, vertical bands of dark brown and tannish-yellow colouration. They love slightly cooler waters between 67-79°F (19-26°C) and, depending on the temperature of your space, may not require an aquarium heater. See the Aquarium co op website to link for more on this.
For breeding purposes, we like to get a group of six clown killies, ideally consisting of two males and four females. Put a homemade spawning mop in the aquarium and give the fish a lot of tiny meals, such as frozen cyclops, live baby brine shrimp, and nano pellets, to get them ready to spawn.
To stop the adults from devouring the eggs, place them in a breeding box or a separate grow-out tank as soon as you notice them in the mop. Read the comprehensive care guide at Aquarium co op official blog site for more information.
5. Blue Gularis Killifish
Scientific Name; Fundulopanchax sjoestedti
The biggest killi on our list can reach lengths of 4-5 inches (10–13 cm), and they have a robust, obstinate personality to match. The males’ tails feature an eye-catching orange band running across the centre and are primarily blue with dense clusters of red spots and vertical stripes.
Give a pair of these killies a 29-gallon aquarium or larger with lots of aquatic plants and decorations for cover seeing through Aquarium co op. This will ensure that the male does not harass the female excessively.
Similar to the garderni killifish, this species enjoys eating flesh and will happily devour brine shrimp, bloodworms, and even tiny nano fish.
They might be more difficult to locate, so try looking for them at fish shops, your neighbourhood aquarium society, online merchants, and online auction sites like Aquarium co op and AquaBid.
Take Away
To know more about 5 Colorful Killifish That Every Fish Keeper Should Try, go ahead on the official site of the aquarium co op. We are sure that you would find some amazing content there that would help you to learn more about aquarium stuff.
