Page 172 - Encyclopedia of Aquarium and Pond Fish, 3rd Edition

170 FRESHWATER FISH DIRECTORY

KILLIFISH

These narrow-bodied, often highly colorful fish
deserve to be far more popular. Their small size means
that they do not need to be accommodated in a large,
expensive tank. In addition,
many of the more widely
available killifish are easy to
maintain, and they can often be
persuaded to spawn in home
aquariums. Their main drawbacks are that
some are highly aggressive toward their own kind,
and, since they feed naturally on small invertebrates
in the wild, it can be difficult to wean Some killifish, such as the
them onto substitute diets. Sexing is Red-Striped Killie (Aphyosemion
striatum), can be kept at near
simple, since the fins of the males are room temperature. Keeping them
too warm dulls their color and
more pointed than those of the females. shortens their life span.

Aphyosemion australe Aphyosemion striatum Aphyosemion bivittatum
Common Lyretail Red-Striped Killie Two-Striped Killie

ORIGINS West Africa, found in parts of Gabon, ORIGINS Occurs in West Africa, restricted to pools and ORIGINS West Africa, found in parts of Cameroon,
Cameroon, and Zaire. swamps in northern Gabon. Nigeria, and Togo.
SIZE 2 ⁄2 in (6 cm). SIZE 2 in (5 cm). SIZE 5 cm (2 in).
1
DIET Live foods and prepared diets. DIET Live foods and prepared diets. DIET Live foods and prepared diets.
WATER Temperature 64–75°F (18–24°C); soft WATER Temperature 64–72°F (18–22°C); soft WATER Temperature 22–24° C (72–75° F); soft
(50–100 mg/l) and acidic (pH 6.0–6.5). (50–100 mg/l) and acidic (pH 6.0–6.5). (50–100 mg/l) and acidic (pH 6.0–6.5).
TEMPERAMENT Peaceful and social. TEMPERAMENT Nonaggressive. TEMPERAMENT Peaceful.
Variable spotted Bright red horizontal stripes running along the Dorsal fin folded down Male
patterning
body and a blue background help to distinguish
male Red-Striped Killies. Females are a dull
golden-brown shade, with rounded fins. Like other
killifish, they eat small live foods, even
freeze-dried items. The water should be
slightly brackish, and their tank must be Lower stripe is
Brightly colored Male densely planted. It must also be kept covered, less well defined
sides to the tail
since these fish can jump. Java Moss (Vesicularia
Male Common Lyretails are much more brightly dubyana) is a good spawning medium. The color of these killifish is highly variable, but
colored than females and have pronounced caudal- in all cases males have more elaborate fins than
fin rays that give the tail a lyrelike shape. They need Tall dorsal fin females. The upper stripe on the fish’s body is
a slightly brackish environment and a densely more prominent than the lower, which runs along
planted tank. They are usually kept in a single- the underparts. As in other related aphyosemions,
species setup, partly because their small size spawning is a lengthy process that takes place over
limits the choice of tankmates, but also so they the course of several days amid aquatic plants. For
do not hybridize with other killifish. Lyretails breeding purposes, several males should be housed
tend to live for about three years—longer Fins are with a single female. The eggs start to hatch after a
yellow
than most types of killifish. Male and red period of three weeks.

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