Above: In the picture is a young mature male premium quality Gardneri Killifish, swimming in one of our aquariums, when one of us snapped this picture.

Click here to shop for a female Gardneri Killifish.

Comments: The males, such as the one shown above, are fabulously colored fish, but the females are drab.

Origin: The ancestors of these Killifish came from the Nigeria, but they're being produced by professional fish breeders, and now they live in aquariums all over the world.

Maximum Size: In aquariums Killifish can grow to be about 2" long.

Behaviors: Killifish are sometimes semi-aggressive fish, and the males quarrel with each other but do not harm other types of fish.

Compatibility: Some recommended tank mates include community fish and catfish such as Corydoras and a smallish Pleco.

But very often Killifish are kept in a group with a couple of males and several females with no other species of fish in a small aquarium.

Click here to read more about compatible groups of pet fish.

Temperature: Killifish live best from about 75 to 80-degrees F. with 78 being perhaps ideal.

Click here to learn about aquarium temperature, aquarium thermometers, and aquarium heaters.

Feeding: Premium Fish Food Flakes is the best food to feed these fish.

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Water Conditions: Killifish seem to be tolerant of a wide range of water conditions. Probably a pH of about 7 with moderate hardness is best.

Most water in the US has a higher pH and is harder but seems to be OK, so it's probably best NOT to adjust the pH or the hardness of the water.

Here in our facilities the water is hard and the pH is usually about 7.8. We ship them in this water.

Click here for a lot more information about aquarium water conditions.

Aquarium Size: Killifish can do well in an aquarium with only 5-gallons of water, but of course bigger is better.

Decor: Killifish do not need gravel, and a layer of gravel more than 1/4" thick will usually fill with bits of uneaten food that will contaminate the water.

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Live plants are beautiful and improve the water quality.

Aquarium Filter: A small Sponge Filter is highly recommended.

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Killifish like these do well with a male or two males and a few females in a 5-gallon aquarium with a sponge filter.

The addition of a few small pieces of Lava Rock will keep nitrates in the ideal range.

Click here to learn more about using Lava Rocks in aquariums.

Life Span: Killifish can live for a couple of years. Keep the water conditions excellent and feed them premium foods, and they may produce the next generation.

Gender: When mature, the males become more colorful and have more extended fins than females.

Breeding: These fish have been proven to be very successful at breeding in captivity. Certain water parameters are needed to make their breeding successful.

It often helps to gradually add small amounts of low mineral water such as distilled or RO-water.

Click here for a lot more about breeding various tropical fish in aquariums.

Popularity: Killifish are not really popular, but there are many aquarists, who specialize in keeping and breeding Killifish.

Long ago the Bailey Brothers, who own this web site, specialized in breeding Killifish, and they bred over 100-species producing many thousands of Killifish.

Names: The scientific name for this Killifish is Fundulopanchax gardneri.

Variations: There are at least two color variations of this Killifish in the hobby. One variation has yellow hi-lites and other has blue.

Both variations are very nice. We usually ship the yellow variation.

Click here for a lot more information about keeping and caring for Killifish, including a picture gallery.

We hope you've enjoyed reading these comments.