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Gardneri Killifish
Fundulopanchax gardneri
- Temperature
- 22–26 °C
- pH
- 6 – 7.5
- Min. tank size
- 40 L
- Lifespan
- 2-3 years
- Diet
- carnivore
- Care level
- moderate
| Scientific classification | |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name: | Fundulopanchax gardneri |
| Family: | Nothobranchiidae |
| Origin: | West Africa (streams and pools of Nigeria, Cameroon) |
| Care Characteristics | |
| Care Level: | moderate |
| Diet: | carnivore |
| Max Size: | 6.50 cm |
| Water Type: | freshwater |
| Temp Group: | tropical |
| Temperament: | semi aggressive |
| Min Group: | Can be kept alone |
| Varieties: | Four subspecies are recognised, and the trade distinguishes them along with numerous collection locations. The nominate Fundulopanchax gardneri gardneri is the common one, joined by the Ejagham, Mamfe and Nigerian forms, each differing in the extent of red spotting, the ground colour and the fin margins. Location codes such as "Nsukka", "Makurdi", "Jos Plateau" and "Akure" are attached to specific collected populations, and killifish keepers maintain these strictly separate — mixing locations is considered poor practice, since the value of the maintained lines lies in their provenance. Selectively bred forms including gold and albino strains are also produced. Killifish are largely traded between hobbyists rather than through shops, and specialist associations distribute eggs by post, which is a good route to well-documented stock. Elsewhere in the group, Aphyosemion australe, the lyretail killifish, is the other standard beginner's species, and it too is non-annual. |
| Lifespan: | 2-3 years |
Quick Tips
- Bioload:Low
- Min Tank:40 L
- Substrate:Dark substrate; planted with floating cover and a tight lid
- Plant Safe:Plant-safe
- Filtration:Low to moderate
Gardneri Killifish (Fundulopanchax gardneri) is a species of fish in the family Nothobranchiidae. It is native to West Africa (streams and pools of Nigeria, Cameroon). The gardneri killifish is the killifish to start with. Males are turquoise-blue overlaid with wavy lines of red spots, with yellow-edged fins; females are a plain brown with darker spotting. It reaches 6.5 cm total length and comes from tributary streams and marshes of the Benue and Cross River basins in Nigeria and Cameroon. The reason it makes a good introduction is its reproductive strategy. It is a "switch" or semi-annual species: the eggs can survive a drying period, as a true annual killifish's must, but they also remain viable fully submerged. That means you can breed it either way, and a mistake in method is rarely fatal to the clutch. It is apparently easy to maintain and breed, and best kept in a species tank.
Compatibility
- Temperament
- semi aggressive
- Keep in
- Can be kept alone
- Swims
- middle
- Fin nipper
- No
- Delicate fins
- No
Species similar to Gardneri Killifish
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