All fish / Nothobranchiidae

Elongate nothobranch

Nothobranchius elongatus

Also known as elongate nothobranch, elongated killifish, nothobranchius elongatus, elongate killifish

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This is a slim annual killifish from seasonal pools in coastal Kenya. Males have bluish scales edged in red, giving a netted look, and fins in red with pale or yellow edges, while females are a plain brownish grey. Killifish enthusiasts keep it because it is colourful, has an unusual life cycle and is fairly rare in the hobby.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

5 cm

Temperature

22 to 26 °C

pH

6.5 to 7.5

Smallest tank

40 litres

Keep as

One male with two or three females

Diet

Carnivore: live and frozen bloodworm, daphnia, brine shrimp and mosquito larvae

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

1 to 1.5 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Coastal Kenya (Sabaki and lower Tana area)

Breeding

Pairs or trios lay eggs in soft peat at the bottom of the tank. Remove the peat and keep it slightly damp for a few months to let the eggs rest, then soak it in water to hatch the fry. This is not hard once you understand the drying period, but because the fish live only a short time you need to keep breeding them regularly.

Good to know

Males fight each other, so avoid keeping several males in a small tank. The species has a short natural lifespan, and you should keep strains with their collection location codes so they are not mixed.