All fish / Nothobranchiidae

Striped Nothobranch

Nothobranchius taeniopygus

Also known as striped nothobranch, striped killifish, taeniopygus killifish, nothobranchius taeniopygus

This is a stocky annual killifish. Males have bluish scales edged in red, red fins and a black band along the edge of the tail, while females are plain brownish grey. Killifish keepers like it because the males are colourful and the species is tougher and lives longer than many other Nothobranchius.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

5.5 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

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

1 to 2 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Tanzania, Lake Victoria and Lake Tanganyika basins and inland drainages; also reported from Zambia

Breeding

It is an annual species. The fish lay eggs in soft peat on the bottom, and the peat is then kept slightly damp for about three to five months before water is added to hatch the eggs. Once you have the hang of the peat routine it is fairly easy, and the fry grow very quickly on newly hatched brine shrimp.

Good to know

Males can be rough with each other and with females, so give them cover and do not keep it with small or long-finned tankmates. It is short-lived, and populations collected from different localities should be kept apart.