Tag Archives: killifish

Fundulopanchax spoorenbergi

14. June 2019

Only extremely rarely, this pretty, maximum 7 cm long killifish is offered in the trade. Formerly, Fundulopanchax spoorenbergi was placed in the genus Aphyosemion. The species appears from Nigeria to Cameroon.

No fear of short-lived Killifishes: this species is approximately as long-lived as other popular aquarium-fish, like Guppys or Platys. It should be noted that the males of Fundulopanchax spoorenbergi like to quarrel and are always ready to mate. Therefore, numerous hiding places in the aquarium for inferior males and annoyed females have to be provided. Even if killifish in general are not well suited for typical community aquariums (they simply get lost there), they can still be kept problem free together with small tetras and barbs of the region.

For our customers: the animals have code 314283 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Chromaphyosemion bitaeniatum LAGOS

22. February 2019

This beautiful killi is only very occasionally available as German bred. Currently we have some of these bred ones in stock. They are descendants from the population from Lagos (Nigeria). Our fish are large, full in colour and very pretty. This species is suitable for community tanks with peaceful, small fish (barbs, tetras, catfish etc.).

For our customers: the fish have code 305303 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Pachypanchax sakaramyi – one of the rarest fish in the world

2. November 2018

Although the species Pachypanchax sakaramyi – it originates from the Sakaramy River on Madagascar – was described as early as 1928, it could not be found for decades afterwards and even was referred to the realm of legends. It was not until the 1990s that they were found again. From these animals (5 pairs), which Paul Loiselle was able to collect in October 1994, all animals living today in aquaria originate.

Unfortunately, the population in nature has developed very negatively. At present, the species is considered “critically endangered”. After that only “extinct” remains! One of the last populations was destroyed by drinking water withdrawals for private residences and a monastery, now there is only one confirmed occurrence of the species in a river section between Ambohitra and the village Sakaramy. Originally this beautiful killi probably occured along a mountain range (the Ambohitra mountains). There it is said to have been exterminated by introduced Guppies and Gambuses, which eat the young fish of Pachypanchax; the incessant deforestation gave the remaining populations the rest.

Fortunately, P. sakaramyi can be traded freely, so you can contribute to the conservation of the species without the hassle of bureaucracy by buying these beautiful fish. The requirements of the species are easy to meet: medium-hard water, pH around 7.5 and temperatures between 20 and 25°C are acceptable. They are robust killis, which can also be well maintained in community tanks, but not with very small and delicate fish.

For our customers: the animals have code 342452 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade. Only available in small quantities!

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Epiplatys dageti monroviae

16. February 2018

This panchax belongs without any doubt to the most popular killifish at all. There are many reasons for that: the beautiful coloration, the small size (4-5.5 cm), the fact that these fish can be kept in community tanks, and the adaptility to many different water conditions are some of them. The Red Chinned Panchax is a killifish with a „normal“ long lifespan, they live as long as guppys, mollies or swordtails under aquarium conditions.

The subspecies „monroviae“ differs from the nominal form by differences in the pattern, basically the fact that they have 5 instead of 6 bars on the flanks. There are additional differences (for example the red throat in males in monroviae), but one should keep in mind that wild collected specimens are hardly ever available (the subspecies has been described from around Monrovia in Liberia) and that of course breeders will always select what they feel are the most pretty fish for breeding purposes.

We have a very nice strain of bred fish in stock on a regular basis.

For our customers: the fish have code 323522 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Aphyosemion punctatum

5. February 2018

This gorgeous killi originates from Gabon. We can currently offer very nice German bred ones. The beautiful red and yellow colours fit perfect in the x-mas time, don´t they? Keeping and breeding the up to 4.5 cm long species can be compared with the by far better known lyretail killi, Aphyosemion australe.

For our customers: the fish have code 313302 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Aphyosemion gabunense marginatum

26. January 2018

The concept of subspecies is denied by many recent ichthyologists. They argument that there are either differences – in that case the fish are full species – or there are no differences – in that case they don´t have to be named at all. However, this argumentation does not consider the existing fact that both may be true: there are clear differences that may be found in a peculiar geografic range, but also intergrades that may be found in border-regions between two neighbouring populations. In many species of killifish the coloration is diagnostic for geografic populations, but these populations can usually interbreed with other populations at least under aquarium conditions.

There do exist descriptions of three subspecies of the Gabon killi: A. gabunense gabunense, A. g. boehmi, and A. g. marginatum. We obtained now beautiful animals from a breeder under the name of A. marginatum. Do they represent a subspecies of A. gabunense or a separate, full species? We don´t now and – honestly speaking – we don´t mind too much. From our point of vew it is of much greater interest that the fish are healthy and look great!

In respect of the aquarium biology A. g. marginatum can be compared best with its much better known cousin, A. australe (the Lyretail killi). Like that species, A. g. marginatum is a substrate spawner. The eggs can be hatched under water, they do not need a dry phase necessarily. These killifish become 2-3 yars old under aquarium conditions and are – in this respect – comparable with guppy & co.

For our customers: the fish have code 311503 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Procatopus aberrans

23. October 2017

We obtained very nice Procatopus aberrans from Nigeria. These lampeyes are very peaceful schooling fish that live near the water surface or at least in the upper third of the water column. In contrast to most other species of lampeye that have an iridescent blue zone in the iris, in P. aberrans the iridescent zone in the eye is copper red. This is seen best when the light comes from top. It is recommended to keep lampeyes in general in a tank in which at least a few hours per day natural sunlight can shine in. Under these conditions the brillant turquoise flanks and the bright copper red eyes shine in a way the delights the heart of every real aquarist! Males become considerably larger than the females, the latter have moreover a differently shaped, much shorter anal fin.

For our customers: the animals have code 343102 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Nothobranchius eggersi Kubiti-Utete 07

11. October 2017

Among the most variable species of kiliifish is Nothobranchius eggersi, the Orchid nothobranch. This species has been discovered on an expedition in winter 1980/81 by Lothar Seegers, Gerd Eggers, and Christel Kasselmann in eastern Tanzania. One year later L. Seegers described the species scientifically. The species lives endemic in the Rufiji river basin. The type locality is south of Kibiti on the bank of the Ruhoi river. Here the first four specimens  were collected in a ditch.

Due to the high degree of variability it is very important to spread offspring with a correct locality/collecting site information: this has a long tradition among killifish freaks. Even we in the wholesale trade try our best to use this naming wherever possible.

Keeping and breeding Nothobranchius eggersi is comparable to that of other species of nothobranch; the species is usually not very much demanding. Although the lifespan in the wild is usually only a few weeks they can live in the aquarium up to 16 months. If young fish are feed heavily they can reach sexual maturity at an age of 20 days. They are about 22 mm long then. Maximum size reported is 4-5 cm (males), females always stay much smaller.

For our customers: the animals have code 330503 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade. Available in small numbers only!

Text & Photos: Frank Schäfer

Rivulus punctatus

13. February 2017

This charming dwarf killi – it becomes only 3-4 cm long – reached us from Paraguay. The species is remarkable for several reasons. First of all this is the species of Rivulus that can be found most far in the south. R. punctatus can tolerate temperatures as low as 12°C for a short time. These are the temperatures a freshwater fish has to face in these southern parts of South America temporarily.

Another special feature of the species is the fact that the males can have very different patterns in the caudal fin.

Keeping and breeding Rivulus punctatus is rather easy. The species belongs to the subgenus Melanorivulus. However, there is one thing one must keep always in mind: these fish are excellent jumpers! This passion often costs their lifes. In the wild the fish wander through wet grasses and can often be found found from an open water. So the tank for R. punctatus must be covered absolutely closely.

For our customers: the fish have code 344002 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer