All fish / Nothobranchiidae

Janpap's Nothobranchius

Nothobranchius janpapi

Also known as janpapi killifish, nothobranchius janpapi, janpap's killifish, janpap's notho, n. janpapi, ノソブランキウス・ヤンパピ, 詹帕琴尾鳉

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A small annual killifish whose males have bluish scales edged in red, giving a netted look, with reddish unpaired fins. It is kept by killifish enthusiasts for its colour and its unusual seasonal life cycle, and suits a small species-only tank.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

4 cm

Temperature

22 to 26 °C

pH

6.5 to 7.5

Smallest tank

20 litres

Keep as

One male with two or three females

Diet

Carnivore: live and frozen bloodworm, daphnia, brine shrimp and mosquito larvae; some take small pellets

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

Around 1 year

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Coastal Tanzania and Kenya (lower Rufiji, Ruvu and Wami river areas)

Breeding

Pairs spawn into a soft peat substrate, and the eggs are then stored in damp peat for roughly two to four months before being wetted to hatch. Fry grow quickly on newly hatched brine shrimp, so it is fairly easy once the incubation routine is learned.

Good to know

It lives only about a year, so keep breeding it to maintain the line. Males can squabble, and females look very like those of other Nothobranchius, so keep populations labelled and separate.