Table of Contents
Selecting Killifishes Aphyosemion
Fundulopanchax
SA Annuals
Epiplatys
Nothobranchius
Hybrids
Quality
General Maintenance
Housing
Plants and Aquascaping
Lighting
Aeration and Filtration
Temperature
Water Conditions
pH
Hardness
Feeding Killifish
Feeding Adult Killifish
Brine Shrimp
Daphnia
Mosquito Larvae
Tubifex Worms
Black Worms
White Worms
Fruit Flies
Beef Heart Paste Foods
Dry Foods
Food for Newly Hatched Fry
Newly Hatched Brine Shrimp
Microworms
Vinegar Eels
Infusoria
Grindal Worms
Breeding Killifish
Plant Spawners
The Mop Method
Harvesting Eggs, Incubation and Fry
The Water Incubation Method
The Vaporizing Method
The Permanent Set-Up Method
The Peat Moss Method
Soil Spawners
Harvesting Eggs, Incubation and Fry
Peat Divers
Preparing the Breeding Aquarium
Harvesting Eggs, Incubation and Fry
Selecting Killifishes
Pet shops, with some exceptions, do not carry many killifishes. They may occasionally have Aphyosemion australe, Fundulopanchax gardneri, or Fundulopanchax sjoestedti (Blue Gularis) and once in a while other species may be found. The best source of killies is the Fish and Egg Listing (F&EL) found in the Business Newsletter of the AKA. The BNL is sent to all members of the AKA each month. For more unusual or rare species, the New and Rare Species Committee of the AKA is a good source. Finally, if you become acquainted with other killie enthusiasts, or if you can join a local killie group (see the Affiliate Clubs link at the top of the page), this is an excellent source of both fish and advice.
It can be difficult for beginners to know exactly what fish to purchase because killifish are generally referred to (especially amongst enthusiasts) by their scientific names and some familiarity is needed to know what fish these names represent. As you read about the various species in publications like the Journal of the American Killifish Association (JAKA) and a variety of books that are available, you will develop a sense for the fish.
When the time comes to choose your first killies, do so with care. Needless to say, choose healthy fish, but be careful also to choose fish that are correctly identified. Many species and strains of killifish look very similar and killies sold in pet stores are frequently misidentified. Furthermore, many killifish are maintained as known locality strains. For example Nothobranchius rachovii Beira '91, a very beautiful fish, represents a particular strain of this species identified by the locality and the year in which it was collected. It is strongly felt, in the killie hobby, that such strains not be crossed with others, even when they appear to be the same fish. Such crossings can produce hybrids, which may be sterile, or at least are fish that nature never produced.
The remainder of this section will briefly discuss some of the genera of killifish, and some of the species found within them, with a particular emphasis on those that are suitable for beginners.
Aphyosemion
This is one of the most popular of the killifish genera among hobbyists, and it contains a large number of species that are maintained in the hobby. These species hail from west Africa, many are beautiful and relatively easy to maintain and breed. Most are spawned on floating mops (see below).
One of the most commonly seen and a suitable beginner's fish, is Aphyosemion australe, one the few killies that does have a common name, the Lyretail. This species spawns in floating mops. It comes in three color strains. The Chocolate is the natural form, while the Gold and the Orange were developed in aquarium populations. Other species in this genus that are suitable for beginners are A. calliurum, A. ahli, and A. bivittatum. Aphyosemions with the same species name are often identified as coming from specific populations or locations. Different populations may or may not be genetically identical.
Fundulopanchax
This genus contains several very colorful species that are suitable for beginners. These include the popular Fp. gardneri, Fp. filamentosus, and the emblem fish of the AKA, Fp. sjoestedti. Many of the strains of Fp. gardneri are relatively easy to maintain and breed as is Fp. filamentosus. Fp. sjoestedti is a little more challenging, although it can be hard to resist its charms. All of these species come in several strains. Some Fp. gardneri are top spawners, while Fp. gardneri nigerianus and Fp. gardneri garderni are switch (top/bottom) spawners. The other two species mentioned are bottom spawners.