All fish / Nothobranchiidae

Kikambala nothobranch

Nothobranchius interruptus

Also known as kikambala killifish, interruptus killifish, nothobranchius interruptus kikambala, n. interruptus, ノソブランキウス・インテルプトゥス, 间断假鳃鳉

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Males of this small annual killifish have a pale bluish body with a red-brown scale network and red-edged fins with a dark border, while females are plain brownish. Hobbyists keep it for the bright colours of the males and because it is a seldom-seen species from a tiny range in coastal Kenya, so killifish clubs work to keep captive lines going.

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; flake taken reluctantly

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

Under 1 year to about 18 months

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Coastal Kenya (Kikambala area near Mombasa)

Breeding

It is an annual species that lays eggs in soft peat on the bottom. You collect the peat, keep it slightly damp for roughly two to four months while the eggs go through diapause, then soak it in water to hatch the fry. Not hard for experienced killifish keepers, but the timing and moisture of incubation need care.

Good to know

Males can be rough with each other and with females, so give plenty of cover and keep only one male per small tank. The fish live for a short time, and in the wild the species is threatened by habitat loss, so captive strains matter.