Setup for Killis

[Firefly]

Hi all.

I saw some Kilifish at a LPS and really wanted to get some.
How would one go about setting up a tank for some?
Thanks

[MItchell]

What type were they? Aphysemion, Nothobranchius, etc....?

[Firefly]

I think Notho...Could be wrong.

[Dirk Bellstedt]

Hi Firefly,

For Nothos you need a bare bottom tank, preferably not high lighting. You do not need a large tank, but this depends on the species. You then put a small margarine bakkie with peat in it and the male will hang over this container most of the time and will try to persuad the female to dive into the peat with him...... Depending on the species you can keep more than one pair together, but you can also keep one male and a number of females. Additionally you could add some moss and some floating plants. Feeding with some flakes and granulates as well as frozen BW and BS. Filtration with a corner filter. Not too difficult. Ask whether they were supplied by Errol Scholtz, an old friend of mine in the vicinity.

Kind regards,

Dirk

[Firefly]

Thanks @Dirk. They came from campcon (I think) Is it possible to have a cm of silica in the tank? Heater? Would like to make a small 1.5ft display tank.

[Dirk Bellstedt]

No heater necessary, one mostly overheats these fishes in any case.

gravel is not good as they try to nosedive into it and then damage their skin/scales, but this depends on which killi this is. If you can get them from campcon you could be getting anything including mongrels.

Kind regards,

Dirk

[MItchell]

They are Aphyosemion Gardneri, I got myself a pair. Still young and quite pricy at R35 each.

[Dirk Bellstedt]

Whoooooops,

If they are Aphysemion gardneri, then you need an almost airtight lid on the tank or else they will jump out, if they have not jumped out by now in any case. The price that you have been charged is ridiculous as they breed like rabbits. If you have a lot of moss in the tank and feed well, the babies will just start popping out soon. I would however advise that you buy a second pair, so that you are not without a male or a female all of a sudden.

Aphysemion gardneri come from various sources in nature and they are normally sold with these names. You should ask about this because you should keep the different strains separately. I would advise the you check out the American Killifish Association (AKA) site for more advice.

But now you must first go and close the tank, IMMEDIATELY!

Kind regards,

Dirk

[Firefly]

Thanks for clearing that up Mitchell. Prof, what size tank would you advise for 4 fish? I can spare a 1.5ft tank. Would this be adequate? Thanks

[Dirk Bellstedt]

1.5 m would be total overkill, you can keep them in a 60 cm tank easy. If the tank is a little deeper, 30 cm or even more, it would be better.

Kind regards,

Dirk

[Firefly]

1.5 m

I meant 1.5ft. I do have a spare 60cm tank so I will use that if I end up getting some. Have been feeding sponge filters for 2 weeks now encase I get any thing new.

[Dirk Bellstedt]

45 cm should also be ok for starters...

[MItchell]

I put my pair in a 60cm, filled it to 20cm, left a 10cm gap for jumping, the lid is not airtight. The tank has no heater or filter. I hope they will grow quickly so that they can start breeding. At the LFS there is no lid and the water level is quite high, I can guarentee they will have fish biltong on their floor soon.

[Firefly]

They/we usually do have lids but that tank was for neons. Let me know how they turn out.

[Dirk Bellstedt]

Whatever you do Mitchell, is you MUST put in a filter, a corner filter will be fine. If you don't the fishes will die as they are very sensitive to ammonia and nitrite and you need to feed them quite strongly. You MUST also get the lid closed as best you can with glass pieces. Even the smallest gaps will be used for escape and then you will have dried fish on the carpet in no time. I would fill the tank to the top as the 10 cm gap means nothing to these fishes in terms of jumping, and the extra volume will be better.

Kind regards,

Dirk

[MItchell]

Check my Random Fish Pics topic for awaiting confirmed ID of these fish. Firefly Pioneer still has 2 pairs left, but I have about 12 babies from a pair I got, Ill be able to swop a pair for a pair of Eggersi :-)

[Trevor Pleco]

I have no experience with Killis, but I took over some Nothobranchius through a work project and they are doing extremely welll in a 750lt planted co2 tank with other peaceful small fish. Dolphin put the same stock in a 15lt nano and they are also doing excellently.

[Trevor Pleco]

Dolphin put the same stock in a 15lt nano and they are also doing excellently.

Sorry not Dolphin, rather Aqua Zoo !