All fish / Nothobranchiidae

Palmqvist's Notho

Nothobranchius palmqvisti

Also known as palmqvist's nothobranch, palmqvisti killifish, palmqvist killi, nothobranchius palmquisti, palmqvist's killifish, ノソブランキウス・パルムクヴィスティ, 帕氏假鳃鳉

This is a small annual killifish. Males have bluish scales edged in red, and their fins and tail are a bright red-orange. Females are a plain brownish grey. Keepers like it because the males are very colourful and it is one of the hardier Nothobranchius species.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

5 cm

Temperature

20 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; some will take pellets

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

1 to 2 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Coastal lowlands of south-eastern Kenya and north-eastern Tanzania

Breeding

Pairs spawn into a peat substrate. The peat is then kept slightly damp for roughly three to five months while the eggs go through diapause, and wetting it again hatches the fry. This is fairly easy once you have the method worked out.

Good to know

Males can be rough with females and with each other, so keep this fish in a species tank with several females to each male. It lives a short life even with good care.