INDEX
KILLIFISH
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THE FISH
Killifish (C. occidentalis)
(Golden Pheasant)
Callopanchax occidentalis
| HABITS |
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A stunning species from Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, these fish are not really suited to a community aquarium. Not only are they predatory to small fish but they can be aggressive with others of a similar size and only robust tankmates should be considered. Males are 'psycho' towards each other and females can also be savage. They are best kept as trios, 1 male with 2 females, with plenty of refuge for the oppressed. Even in a group of thirty, total carnage has been reported, with not a single fish surviving, only 1 hour after apparent communal bliss! Water conditions preferred are soft and slightly acidic with a pH level of 6.3 - 6.8 and temperatures between 68ºF and 75ºF. The lifespan for these fish is less than 1 year because they live in seasonal ponds which evaporate completely in the dry seasons and their accelerated life cycle is geared to this. As with most killies, these fish can jump.
Text supplied by the BKA for more information about killifish, visit the British Killifish Association website at www.bka.org.uk
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| SIZE |
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These fish grow up to 8 cm, but breed at under half this size.
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| FOOD |
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See recommended sera Foods below,
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FOOD
TYPES |
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| SEXING |
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Males look like an explosion in a paint factory, being a riot of colour, while the females have crimson-purple markings on their bodies and fins. The females' fins are shorter and more rounded than those of the males.
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| BREEDING |
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A male and 2 females will spawn in a soft substrata, such as boiled peat, when placed in a 4 gallon tank that has been filled with water from the high end of the temperature range mentioned above. The easiest way to collect the breeding matter is put it in the tank in a plastic container at a depth of about 2 cm and remove it after about a week, replacing it with fresh matter. The peat should then be gently squeezed until just damp and left on a sheet of paper to dry slightly for a day before being stored in a plastic bag for about 3 months to simulate the dry season. If possible, check the small eggs for signs of embryo development from 2 months onwards. After 3 months or so, the eggs, which are less than 1 mm in diameter, should be ready to hatch. Place the peat in a tank with 2-3 cm of water and hopefully, within 48 hours, the fry will emerge. They will be tiny and require infusoria and microworm for the first week. Often, it is worth redrying the peat and wetting it a few weeks later as not all the fry will hatch the first time. For the adult females' safety, it is advisable to separate them from the male regularly to give them a break from his harassment.
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The Fish
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