Korthausae Killifish

 Quick Care Facts

• Care Level: Easy   • Temperament: Peaceful   • Maximum Size: 2"
• Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons   • Water Conditions: 72-82° F, KH 5-8, pH 6.0-7.5
• Diet: Carnivore   • Origin: Africa   • Family: Aplocheilidae
• Species: Killifish   • Aquarium Type: Community

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The Korthausae Killifish is a nicely colored and hardy Killifish species. Their ease of care and gentle temperament (by Killifish standards) make them an excellent choice for beginning Killifish keeping hobbyists. Because of the temporary nature of the ponds, canals and flood plains of their native African habitat, the lifespan of the Korthausae Killifish is a rather short 9 to 12 months. They are however prolific breeders, as they are required to lay eggs before their habitat drys up in order for the next generation of fish to be born.

Their temperament or aggression corresponds to the size of their enclosure, with specimens exhibiting much more territorial behavior in smaller aquariums than larger ones. The temporary and often extreme nature of their natural habitat has also made the Korthausae Killifish able to thrive in a relatively wide range of water temperatures and pH.

Korthausae Killifish are popular within the hobby due to their brilliant coloration and ease of care. They make great additions to planted aquariums and smaller nano aquariums where they bring an amazing amount of color in a small package. They also make a great beginner species for hobbyists interested in a Killifish species only aquarium or hobbyists looking to try their hand at breeding Killifish.

While the Korthausae Killifish is considered one of the more peaceful species of Killifish, they can become more territorial and aggressive when housed in a very small aquarium. If kept in an aquarium of 10 gallons or more, a small group of Korthausae Killifish should get along with little trouble. As in nature a dominant male will establish territory over the entire or a portion of the aquarium depending on the size of the tank. The dominant male will tolerate immature males and females, but will fight with other mature males.

Being a carnivore, the Korthausae Killifish will need to be fed a diet of various meaty food stuffs. They should accept most live foods like blood worms and brine shrimp, along with prepared foods ranging from cyclop-eeze, tubifex worms, blood worms, brine, white worms and meaty commercially prepared flake and frozen foods. While Killifish prefer live foods, hobbyists should have little trouble feeding them prepared foods like frozen or freeze-dried worms and brine shrimp. Some conditioning and patience may be required to get them to consume flake and mini-pellet dry foods.

Being an annual species the Korthausae Killifish is a prolific breeder, as it needs to be in order to survive in the wild. To stimulate Korthausae Killifish to breed, a male and females should be added to a small aquarium with 2 to 3 inches of peat or similar substrate for the Killifish to bury their eggs in. After spawning the substrate containing the eggs should be removed and gently pressed to remove excess water. The substrate with the eggs should then be placed in a plastic bag or sealed jar for 3 to 4 months at room temperature.

At the end of the 3 to 4 month period, the substrate containing the eggs can be added to and aquarium and filled with properly conditioned water to hatch the fry. The fry will consume small micro-foods like daphnia or baby brine shrimp until they are about 1 month old.