All fish / Nothobranchiidae

Robust Nothobranchius

Nothobranchius robustus

Also known as robust killifish, nothobranchius robustus, robustus killi, nothos robustus

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This is a stocky annual killifish from seasonal pools around Lake Victoria. Males are bright, with red scales edged in blue and red patterned fins, while females are plain brownish. Killifish keepers prize it for its colour and its unusual annual life cycle.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

5.5 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 2 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Lake Victoria basin: Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania

Breeding

It spawns into soft peat on the bottom, and the eggs need a dry resting period of a few months in damp peat before they are wetted to hatch. This is fairly straightforward for keepers who are used to annual killifish.

Good to know

Males can be rough with each other and with females, so give plenty of cover. The lifespan is short, so keep the line going by breeding regularly, and keep collection locality codes separate.