All fish / Rivulidae

Sabrefin Killifish

Terranatos dolichopterus

Also known as sabrefin killi, sabre fin killifish, austrofundulus dolichopterus, sickle-fin killifish, terranatos

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This is a small annual killifish. Males have very long, sickle-shaped dorsal and anal fins and a bluish body covered in fine dark spots. Specialist killifish keepers prize it for those striking fins and for its unusual seasonal life cycle.

Care at a glance

Care level

Hard

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

3.5 cm

Temperature

22 to 26 °C

pH

6 to 7

Smallest tank

20 litres

Keep as

One male with two or three females, in a species tank

Diet

Carnivore: live foods such as brine shrimp, daphnia, bloodworm and white worms, with frozen foods once settled

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

Under 1 year

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Venezuela (seasonal pools in the Orinoco basin llanos)

Breeding

Pairs spawn into a deep layer of peat on the bottom. The eggs are then stored slightly damp for several months of diapause before they are wetted again to hatch. The eggs need careful handling, and fry and adults are both fragile, so breeding is challenging.

Good to know

It is short-lived and delicate, so keep it alone in a soft-water species tank. It is seldom sold outside killifish societies.