All fish / Nothobranchiidae

Poll's Nothobranch

Nothobranchius polli

Also known as poll's killifish, polli killifish, nothobranchius polli, polli nothobranch

A small annual killifish from seasonal pools in the southern Congo basin, with males showing bluish scales edged in red and coloured, often banded unpaired fins, while females are plain brown. Killifish enthusiasts keep it for the striking male colours and its short, intriguing annual life cycle.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

4.5 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 other small invertebrates

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

Under 1 year

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Southeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (upper Lualaba/Congo basin, Katanga)

Breeding

An annual soil spawner: pairs dive into a peat substrate to lay eggs, which are then stored in damp peat for several months before rewetting to hatch. It is not hard for experienced killifish keepers, but timing the egg incubation takes practice.

Good to know

Males can be rough with each other and with females, so give cover and avoid keeping several males in a small tank. It lives only a few months to about a year, and it is rarely seen outside killifish society circles.