Described By: |
(Boulenger), 1911 |
😊 Description
Temperament |
Peaceful Predator |
Colour Form |
Varied Bright Colours.
Males - Coloured Bodies and Tails ♂️
Females - Brownish in colour ♀️
|
Lifespan |
Roughly 5 years
|
Diet |
🥩 Carnivores - feeds on pellets, live foods and frozen foods.
|
Minimum Tank Size |
20 Litres
|
Tank Setup |
Plants - Such as Duckweed, Anubias or Java Fern with many rocks and woods. Such as Dragon Stone, Dragon Wood, Quan Woods.
|
Compatibility |
Peaceful - However due to the size please be aware that it can be eaten by bigger fish.
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⚠️ This is an aquarium strain - this means that the strain of fish has been farm raised by many generations. The location for which this Killifish is caught has been lost.
The Fundulopanchax gardneri Killifish is native to the Cross River system in southeastern Nigeria and western Cameroon plus the Benue River drainage in central Nigeria.
The Gardneri Killifish, also known as Aphyosemion gardneri is an attractive fish that adds vibrancy to the community aquarium. This species of killy lives in Africa and was named after a Dutch word for channel or ditch because its native habitat is small of water. Fundulopanchax gardneri Killifish adds vibrant colour to the community tanks with their bright blue/green bodies spotted with red spots.
The male lyretail anthias are a vivid blue/green with many red spots over their body. The tips of the dorsal, anal and caudal fin have golden fringes that run along with them. Meanwhile, females are less intensely coloured with small brown spots covering their bodies instead of complex patterns like males do. This species is known for having short extensions on its tail fins which result in an effect called "lyretails." There's such variety between color varieties it can be hard to keep track!
😊 Tank Requirements
Gardneri Killifish are not picky and can adapt to a variety of water conditions. These fish prefer heavily planted tanks with softer, acidic water.
To start with the setup you can cover the aquarium with plants and mops. Filtering that uses air is recommended since it won’t harm eggs or fry while they grow in size. Lighting isn't necessary but if used shouldn't be harmful to the growth of filamentous algae either.
😊 Reproduction
The Gardneri Killifish is not an annual species. Their eggs do not need to be removed from the water after spawning - they can simply lay their eggs within a spawning mop or java moss, which are common types of vegetation in fish tanks. The parents don't even have to eat during this time period! It's very easy for their breed and once hatched, place the fry into a small tank with a newly hatched brine shrimp as a food source. Be sure that you cover your holding tank because these babies will jump out if given half the chance!
😊 Similar Species of Killifish:
Many species of Fundulopanchax gardneri and other members in the genus are found throughout Africa - amieti, arnolde, fallace, filamentosum mireabileis puerzli robertsoni rubrolabbiales sjoedstedti walkeri
😊 Are Gardneri killifish aggressive?
While the Killifish is a rather peaceful fish they can become aggressive to other female Killifish as well as other fish when breeding. If you want an all-male community tank, however, keep them with unassuming and colourless fishes like plecos or loaches.