Page 174 - Encyclopedia of Aquarium and Pond Fish, 3rd Edition

172 FRESHWATER FISH DIRECTORY

Nothobranchius palmqvisti
LONG-LASTING EGGS
Palmqvist’s Notho red caudal fin and a bluish body covered with a
meshlike pattern of red lines. Females are smaller Life is a brief affair for annual killifish
ORIGINS East Africa, found in coastal regions of Kenya and duller in color than the males, which are (see p.171), because the adult fish die each
and Tanzania. quarrelsome by nature. The care of these fish is year when their pools dry up. However, the
SIZE 2 in (5 cm). straightforward, although they often do better in population itself survives, thanks to the
DIET Small live foods and prepared diets. slightly brackish water. When breeding Palmqvist’s way in which the killifish spawn on the
WATER Temperature 64–68°F (18–20°C); soft and other nothos, place the fish in a relatively substrate as the water level falls. Drying
(50–100 mg/l) and acidic (pH 6.0). small aquarium; it should be only about half full mud encases the eggs (shown magnified
TEMPERAMENT Aggressive. of water and have a peat base. Offer the fish below) and protects them until the rains
plenty of live foods, and allow the water to return, perhaps as much as two years later,
Nothobranch killifish can be distinguished from evaporate naturally. The falling water level should filling the pools and allowing the next
Aphyosemions by their broader bodies. Palmqvist’s trigger spawning behavior, and the female will generation of killifish to hatch. The young
Notho is an annual killifish (see p.171) with a lay her eggs in the peat substrate. fish grow rapidly, feeding largely on insects,
and may reach maturity in just six weeks.

Nothobranchius korthausae Nothobranchius guentheri Epiplatys annulatus
Korthaus’ Notho Gunther’s Nothobranch Banded Panchax

ORIGINS East Africa, restricted to swamp areas of Mafia ORIGINS East Africa, from Mombasa, Kenya, to the ORIGINS West Africa, in streams in parts of Sierra Leone,
Island, Tanzania. Pangani River in Tanzania, and on the island of Zanzibar. Nigeria, Liberia, and Guinea.
SIZE 2 ⁄2 in (6 cm). SIZE 2 in (5 cm). SIZE 1 ⁄4 in (4.5 cm).
1
3
DIET Small live foods and prepared diets. DIET Small live foods. DIET Small live foods and prepared diets.
WATER Temperature 73–79°F (23–26°C); soft WATER Temperature 73–79°F (23–26°C); soft WATER Temperature 73–79°F (23–26°C); soft
(50–100 mg/l) and acidic (pH 6.0). (50–100 mg/l) and acidic (pH 6.0). (50–100 mg/l) and acidic (pH 6.0).
TEMPERAMENT Aggressive. TEMPERAMENT Aggressive. TEMPERAMENT Relatively peaceful.
Highly colorful, yet variable in appearance,
these killifish should be kept in groups of
several females and one male. They will
spawn in peat but often die soon afterward.
To hatch the eggs, dry the peat, rewet, and dry
again before placing in a tank. Some eggs only Male
hatch on a second contact with water; this strategy
helps to protect wild populations from being Scales evident Red horizontal
lines on caudal fin
in darker areas
wiped out if their pool dries up prematurely.
The distinctive patterning of Banded Panchax—
There are several morphs of this killifish. The four broad, dark bands separated by paler
example above is one of two red-tailed forms; the areas—allows them to be identified with ease.
other has a blue body. In brown morphs, the body Males have more colorful fins than females
lines are brown rather than red, and the caudal fin and also possess blue irises. Banded Panchax
is brown and yellow. Males are always brighter than should be kept in a well-planted tank, under
females. The dependence of notho killifish on subdued lighting. They tend to swim close to the
seasonal pools of water in the wild means that the surface and will spawn among the vegetation, or
water chemistry in the tank is crucial for these on a spawning mop. These killifish will not eat
fish. They can live for a couple of years in aquariums. their eggs, which should hatch after eight days.

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