Does anyone know anything about killifish?

[loopy119]

I'm thinking about buying a few pairs of them to put into a 10g planted tank. I'm really leaning towards some chocolate australes that a guy is selling on Aquabid.com. It has been really hard finding any info on these guys and the most that I have gathered is that they like to be in pairs (which they will) and they are mop spawners (which doesn't matter too much because I just like the way they look--if they breed, it's a plus and I might keep a mop in there for them). Does anyone have these, or know anything about them??? I'm pretty sure their scientific name is "Aphyosemion australe" but that still really doesn't help me much... I just kinda want to know about their temperament and what the max size group is for a 10g... I kinda want as many pairs as I can get in there without them killing each other because they are such an attractive fish! If anyone has any info, please post it! I'm thinking about ordering them when my leg gets better so that I can get around and do what I want. I have also e-mailed the seller about these, but he hasn't e-mailed me back yet...

Rebekah

[Cameo]

Re: Does anyone know anything about killifish?

fishysue does

[Mzungu]

Re: Does anyone know anything about killifish?

KILLIFISH ARE THE BEST!!!!  

But really, they are great fish. And there are so many different kinds. The kind you're talking about isn't an annual, as far as I know, which IMO is good because you get to keep them a bit longer and they're easy to breed by just letting them do their thing. Annuals, on the other hand, have a special process. I've never tried them. However, I do have some Lampeyes from West Africa, and lots of native killies.

Here's a couple articles I found looking for pictures of the particular species you're talking about:

http://www.petfish.net/articles/Killifish/aus.php

http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/killi/aphyosemion.php

As far as the spawning mop, it's up to you. I use them when I want to harvest the eggs and isolate them so other fish can't eat them. Usually, with good water quality, you'll get eggs daily from killies. When I want to just let the eggs fend for themselves...MOSS! Enough moss in a tank and some are bound to survive. It also seems to hamper fungus, which tends to grow on killi eggs. (Of course, this may just be luck, and have no scientific basis, but oh well!) Moss is like a live spawning mop.  :)  Actually, I've unknowingly transferred killi eggs to other tanks when moving moss around, and find out when I see the little guys swimming around.

I'm sorry I don't have any personal experience with these guys, so I don't really know what the recommendation would be for a 10g. I have...(counting in my head)...14 Aplocheilichthys (changing to Poropanchax?) normani in one ten gallon, since I'm waiting for my one lone male in another tank to, uh, pass on his genes (He's the only one left from my former group). But I plan on putting them all in an 18 gallon heavily planted tank soon. But then again, these guys are not at all aggressive that I've seen. Aphyosemions may be different.

Hopefully someone else is keeping Aphyosemions and can help you more!

[Mzungu]

Re: Does anyone know anything about killifish?

Oh, thanks Cameo, that's good to know! We'll wait for FishySue's review...!  

[thomas]

Re: Does anyone know anything about killifish?

I love it too. They are very peaceful and gently in my tank.

[Juicy]

Re: Does anyone know anything about killifish?

Hey loopy, I have several clowns and I love them but at first I had a hard time finding much info on them....I joined this killie forum...

http://www.killies.com/forum/index.php

it's helped me out a lot!


Juicy

[loopy119]

Re: Does anyone know anything about killifish?

Cool! Thanks guys!! Well, I reckon I don't need any mops then because I have a moss wall as a background for that tank (it came with it!!). The more I think about it, the more this tank seems perfect for these killifish! It has a tight-fitting lid with no holes for jumpers to escape from, it has the moss wall for spawning, it has a dark substrate that the killies like, and it has somewhat subdued lighting that they like from being native to forests. I did A LOT of research about them last night, and found out all of these things. It said to keep them in pairs of three or more to spread out the aggression between the males (if there is going to be any).

I will probably only have killifish in this tank...I'm thinking about maybe some hillstream loaches too, but I'm still undecided because of the size of the tank... I know hillstream loaches are coldwater fish too, before any of you jump me about it, but Mike said it would be OK. lol! I know that if I put kuhlii loaches in there I would never see them again because the substrate is so fine. lol! I'm really undecided about what bottom dweller to put in there though...but I'm really leaning towards hillstreams if Mike can get them for me... I was really liking the idea of wood/bamboo shrimp, but I'm too afraid that the killies would pick on them...lol!

Well, anyway, thanks for the info, guys! I guess I just need to figure out how many pairs I can cram into a 10 gallon now LOL! I really do want to get the maximum number so this tank doesn't look empty. So, I guess I'll just keep searching the internet to find out my answer until someone on here finds it first LOL!

Rebekah

[hdannels]

Re: Does anyone know anything about killifish?

If I may....

Killifish are my absolute favorite fish. I have more thank 20 tanks devoted to them, and I avidly breed these beauties...

Killies will mostly likely try to eat anything that can fit in their mouths (and they have big mouths). I would not keep shrimp with them at all. 2-3 pairs sounds like a good number for a 10g, though you could probably keep up to 5 if you layed the tank out right. I have 2 Australe EBT (same as the chocolates, basically, but different color) pairs in a 2.5 (I know, that goes against all stocking rules) and they do just fine. Then again, I keep them to breed them, so the tank also has 5 mops in it. The fish hardly ever see each other, unless they are breeding, obviously. Nice thing about Aphyosemions, they stay rather smaller (around 3 inches, which is small for killies).

They will spawn whether you provide them with mops or not. The mops just make it easier for you to collect the eggs (which is the really fun part for me )

Aphyosemion Australe are NOT an annual killifish. They are from South America (I believe) and will live around 2-3 years, or longer if you take care of them really well.

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask. I love sharing information with others...I can talk all day about killies!!

The killi world is so big, it will blow your mind. Here are a few pics of my favorites that I keep (each is a different species). Hope you enjoy!!

Fundulopanchax Walkeri Kutunse GH 2-74


Aphyosemion Striatum


Fundulopanchax Sjoestedti (I have a personal attachment to this particular fish...I saved his life)


Aphyosemion Australe EBT (different color variation from what you are interested in)


Aphyosemion Australe Orange (another color variation)


Aphyosemion Bivittatum Funge (probably my all time favorite)

[Zulaab]

Re: Does anyone know anything about killifish?

Absolutely stunning pictures :)

[rrocket2002]

Re: Does anyone know anything about killifish?

I really like the one in the last picture.  Aphyosemion Bivittatum Funge

Do you sell the eggs?  Isn't that the way they are usually obtained?  What do you feed the fry?

Raul

[rrocket2002]

Re: Does anyone know anything about killifish?

I really like the one in the last picture.  Aphyosemion Bivittatum Funge

Do you sell the eggs?  Isn't that the way they are usually obtained?  What do you feed the fry?

Raul

[dblondfemme]

Re: Does anyone know anything about killifish?

I don'tthink I would want just eggs unless that is the safest way to ship.  Do you have to do anything special once you get the eggs? Or rather... do the eggs come with instructions?

[Brownsnoutuk]

Re: Does anyone know anything about killifish?

Dont you just have to put the eggs in water for them to hatch?

[Zulaab]

Re: Does anyone know anything about killifish?

Most killifish lay eggs before the dry season in nature.. ie the pools of water they live in dry out... once the wet season returns the eggs are covered again and the life cycle starts.  Killi eggs are usually shipped in a small amount of soil, but that is about it.  You will put them in a small 5.5 or 10G tank and voila they hatch  :)
The eggs have to be out of the water for them to start hatching once submersed again.

[Brownsnoutuk]

Re: Does anyone know anything about killifish?

Is that why the life cycle is so short? Because they would have died in the same pools as their eggs?