Always Keep CLOWN KILLIFISH in Good Company!

Photo  by Joel Carnat 

Clown killifish is a very calm and quiet fish and can stay with other species without any problem. It is small in size, growing just up to 1.5 inches and is mainly found in fresh water.

The scientific name for clown killifish is Pseudepiplatys (Epyplatys) annulatus. It is also known as rocket killifish among the fish keepers.

Clown Killifish is a non-annual killifish, so its life cycle is not very short like many other varieties of annual killifish. It requires a lot of bright light every day, which intensifies the color of the fish.

The fish is comfortable with aquariums which are planted heavily and provide clean and soft water. Like other varieties of killifish, this fish also loves to jump. So you need to provide a tight lid to your aquarium otherwise it can easily access your living room!

Clown killifish will happily eat live food like white-worms or brine shrimp and occasionally they can eat flaked or frozen food. You should provide mainly the food which will float in the water so that the fish can easily catch it.

Usually, the males are bigger in size than the females. Males have bright colors with black or yellow stripes which resemble a bumblebee. The fins are also covered with red and blue stripes. The females are mostly in dull colors and they are not as active as males.

You can keep clown killifish in a community tank but you should select the other species very carefully. As clown killifish is a peace-loving shy fish, you should not put it in the tank where there are vigorous and powerful fish species. You can safely put it along with Corydoras, dwarf cichlids, or other varieties of killifish which are small in size.

There are two opinions about the conditions of water for clown killifish. Some people think that the fish is very sensitive and it requires clean and well-treated water. Some others differ and say that the fish can sustain in hardy water and can tolerate variations in the conditions of water. It is always advisable to provide a clean environment to the fish to avoid health problems.

While breeding the fish, you should provide a separate tank. The temperature of the tank should be around 80 °F and the ph level of the water should be around 5.5. In contrast to the normal aquarium, this special aquarium should be provided with dim light and a lot of floating plants covering the water surface. There is no necessity to add a substrate and normal filtration devices are sufficient.

It will breed in the aquariums at a very fast rate. The female will lay its eggs on the mops or on java moss. It will take about two weeks for the eggs to hatch. As the fish loves to swim below the surface of the water, you should provide floating plants which will help the fish for hiding.

Before transferring to the breeding aquarium, the fish should be 'conditioned' by providing a lot of live food. In the breeding tank, you should arrange two females and one male. The spawning is almost continuous every day and will continue for up to two weeks. The eggs should be removed very gently and once the spawning period is over, the adults should be transferred to the normal aquarium. After spawning the females will become tired and weak and need special nutrition.

The eggs should be shifted to a small tank and that tank should be checked thoroughly every day for locating fungus, which should be immediately removed.

You can feed the fry with infusoria initially and then you can feed them baby brine shrimp. You can gradually increase their diet as they grow and after about three weeks you can offer them the food of adults. The fry grows very slowly and they are delicate. You should always put them in a separate tank because they can be attacked and eaten by aggressive species of fish. Even the adults are sometimes so small in size that they can make a snack of other big sized fish.

The only precaution while keeping clown killifish is to ensure that they are kept in good company. They are slow moving and peacefully living species and fast-moving or aggressive fish will put them under stress.

By Chintamani Abhyankar Chintamani Abhyankar is a goldfish enthusiast and has been raising and breeding goldfish for many years. He is an expert on their care and an advocate for raising healthy goldfish the natural way Article Source: EzineArticles

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GOLDEN PHEASANTS Are the Beauty of Your Aquarium

Fundulopanchay - Photo: Wikimedia

Golden pheasants are also known as Blue Gularis Killifish or Fundulopanchax. They are mainly found in Africa and they like to stay in streams or water holes in nature.

Actually, the word killifish does not indicate a killer fish but it is taken from a Dutch word which means a ditch. Likewise, Golden pheasants or Blue Gularis Killifish love to stay in shallow waters or in marshes.

They are a very good addition to your aquarium because of their different and attractive colors and swift actions. The males are usually found in red and blue colors and they have yellow fins. The females are usually in brown or gray colors and they have a few spots on their body.

They are not demanding by nature and they can adjust to living under different conditions of water. The only requirement which should be fulfilled for them is to install many plants in the aquarium. They are happy to live in water containing some salt.

Live food is their favorite diet. If you regularly supply them brine shrimps or white worms, they will be very happy to live. Occasionally you can feed them with flaked food and frozen food items.

They are large in size and they can grow up to 6 inches. So they should be kept in a bigger aquarium or a pond. If you can provide a 10-gallon tank for a pair, they are happy to stay in.

When they are six months old, they are ready to spawn. Younger Golden pheasants can also spawn but they will be producing a lot of infertile eggs. If you want to get a higher percentage of fertile eggs, you should take a pair of at least 10 months old.

You should keep the male and the female separately before actual spawning. You can do this by putting a partition in the aquarium. During this time you should provide good food to both of them and you should also keep the temperature of the water around 75 F.

They usually like to lay eggs on mops for on a substrate of peat. You can use a plastic container for the peat moss and put it at one corner of the aquarium. Otherwise, you can use two mops alternatively and collect the eggs from them every day.

Usually, it takes about 10 to l2 weeks for hatching the eggs. However, it all depends on the conditions you have created in the aquarium. You should keep these eggs in smaller containers with about 5 inches of well-treated water. The young ones will start eating immediately and you should feed them with baby brine shrimp.

The young ones will grow very fast and you should look after them very well by providing them good food and clean water. You should change the water frequently and use a powerful water filter to keep it clean. Once they are six weeks old, you can treat them as adults and you may shift them to the main aquarium.

You should always keep small ones of different sizes in separate compartments because the larger fry may attack and hurt the smaller ones.

If you want to develop a colorful aquarium with different varieties of fish, you should select Golden pheasants as they will not demand much from you and their presence will please all members of your family.

By Chintamani Abhyankar Chintamani Abhyankar is a goldfish enthusiast and has been raising and breeding goldfish for many years. He is an expert on their care and an advocate for raising healthy goldfish the natural way. Article Source: EzineArticles

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Gulf KILLIFISH - Fundulus grandis

Gulf Killifish - Fundulus grandis

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AFRICAN CARP Care - How To Manage An Aquarium With African Carp

Photo  by Dornenwolf 

The Genus Aphyosemion African Tooth Carp which is not only a hot favorite among fish breeders but also the prettiest one to be found in the market is one species which can be bred in communities. This species has a short lifespan and it is advisable to keep them in separate tanks. The fish will start contracting their fins and hide in the aquarium corners. The aggressive males of this species fight amongst themselves and therefore have a male put with only other females.

For those fish lovers who want to breed these carps in a tank would do well to have them bred under shade and among plants which float. Fill the tank bottom with overcooked peat and fill with water which is slightly hard or acidic. For one gallon of water, add a teaspoon of salt(table salt mind you!) to make the water alkaline in which certain fish love to breed in. Some fish are short-lived to have them placed in aquariums separately. They can be categorized as which breed at the surface, mid-level and bottom. The eggs of the first spawn will attach themselves to the leaves of the floating plants. For the second spawn provide fine leaf plants for the eggs to stick to. The third should be allowed to stick to the peat at the bottom of the aquarium.

Bottom and surface spawners love to live in glass tanks. Since carps eat their own eggs, have them removed to another tank. Maintain the temperature at 25 degrees Fahrenheit. If the peat dries up the eggs won't survive so maintain the temperature at 65 degrees. Keep shaking the peat while refreshing with soft water and have the temperature kept at 75 degrees Fahrenheit.

Fish that breed at the bottom love to move around floating plants and can be bred in smaller tanks. After the female carps have delivered have them separated and clear the water. Carefully remove the water using a small tube to keep the eggs and peat safe. Keep the temperature at a constant of 70 degrees Fahrenheit for the required period. Finally, have the peat broken up but maintain the temperature at 65 degrees Fahrenheit. While you transfer the eggs keep adjusting the temp. to 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

This species is for people with lots of experience at fish breeding so it is advisable that first-timers avoid this species. There are other simpler carps like the Brachydanio Rerio or Zebra Danio found in the eastern waters of India, which first-timers can have in their aquariums. This variety which is small can grow up to a length of 1 3/4 inches and comes not only in attractive colors like silver, gold, blue and black but it also has a cylindrical body shape. The Reiro species are the best type for people new to keeping fish as these are undemanding as the eat everything provided and can adjust to all types of water conditions.

By Abhishek Agarwal - Article Source: EzineArticles

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FIREMOUTH KILLIFISH - Epiplatys dageti monroviae

Firemouth Killifish - Epiplatys dageti monroviae

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Corporate Wisdom From KILLIFISHES

Pseudoepiplatys - Photo   by   Joel Carnat 

Even if I cannot achieve, I ensure my successors achieve and make success continuously happening is the corporate message, the Killifishes conveys. The interesting point about the Killifish is that they live in temporary pools or water bodies. Indeed they are a group of small fish.

One may wonder why the evolution and nature have favored some fishes to live in temporary pools. Fishes are strictly aquatic. Water in any temporary pools will dry soon and once the water dries, the killifishes live in them will definitely die.

Many scientists would have wondered about the unique choice or preference of the killifishes to live in temporary creeks or pools. Whatever be the science, it has a management message for the corporate world. Perhaps, nature would have created killifishes, may be to educate the corporate people about what kind of leadership style they must practice and follow.

The killifishes are really smart. Better than anyone, they know where they live and the risk of water getting dried soon in the temporary pools. Before the water getting dried off, the killifishes lay their eggs in the water. The interesting point is that unlike the eggs of other fishes, the eggs of killifishes can withstand dry environment without getting desiccated. Like the seeds of many plants, the eggs remain dormant when water is not there in the pool. With the onset of the arrival of water during the next rainy season, the eggs hatch out and again the temporary pond will be filled with Killifishes.

The newly born killifishes eat insects and other water creatures in the pool and before the water dries off, lay eggs and the same 'legacy and saga' would continue without any aberration.

The management message to be learned is that the success is not what one achieve for oneself alone but what one ensures and empower others also to achieve. In corporate, the leaders should develop more leaders. One being an extraordinary leader is not enough but they should make many others also as extraordinary leaders.

How the killifishes lay eggs before they die, the corporate leaders must develop leaders to lead and leaders to make many more leaders even after they leave the organization. Once this management lesson is learned by the corporate from the Killifishes, the limitation becomes an opportunity and opportunity become a success.

Because of the above leadership quality only, it appears, the killifishes have evolved to live in temporary pools. The state of 'temporary' or state of 'permanence' has nothing to do with achievements. Winners never believe in such philosophy as well.

Dr. S Ranganathan, Director, ClinRise Derma Pvt., Ltd., Chennai Author of a management book - Jungle wisdom for corporate management by Swami Sukhabodhananda and Dr. S Ranganthan

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BLUEFIN NOTHOBRANCH - Nothobranchius rachovii

Bluefin Nothobranch - Nothobranchius rachovii

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Do Not Get Confused With the Complicated Names of KILLIFISH Species

Many killifish species are assigned with complicated names as compared to the other species of pet fish. Sometimes their names consist of two or three words and a number. If you are not an experienced fish-keeper and you visit a pet fish store, you will be confused with the long names and numbers. But remember, there is a logic behind their names.

Let us take an example of ‘Baira 98′. You may not be able to understand anything by reading this name. However if you just inquire with the pet shop staff, you will find the rationale behind it. Baira is the name of the village in Africa from which this fish was discovered and the number 98 represents the year in which it was found. So the fish was found in 1998 in that village.

Sometimes there is no number assigned. In that case, it indicates that the fish might have been found in many places in the world and no specific year can be attached to it. So if you find a name ‘Northobranchius rachovii’, it will mean that the fish does not have any specific place or year to relate.

However, things are not that easy all the time. Sometimes the species is known with different names. Let us take the name of Northobranchius andersonius. When the famous explorer Anderson visited Africa in 1915, he had seen the species and he gave this scientific name. However, some other explorer went to the same place in 1920 and when he found the same species, he named it as ‘Northobranchius victorii’. The reason behind such remaining was the memory of his wife Victoria. Now the same species is known with two different names!

"Nothobranchius rachovii male" by Andreas Wretström, 2003.  (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

There is one more reason for the change of name. There is one system called taxonomy under which all species can be placed. As we explore new things, the mistakes in the previous names are revealed. The testing of DNA may suggest that the fish which was named Northobranchius is not belonging to those specific genera. However, it is belonging to some other genus from Africa. In that case, the name is changed but the old name will still remain on the records and it will continue. In fact it may continue for years unless someone takes it up as a campaign to change it to the correct genre.

For all these reasons, in the fish-keeping community, it is common to use the popular names or common names instead of scientific names. For example, Pseudepiplatys annulatus is called clown killifish and it is famous with the common name itself. In the same way, Aphyosemion cinnamomeum is called Cinnamon killifish and Aphyosemion austral is called Lyretail killifish.

Do not nervous by scientific names. Just ignore them and get familiar with the common names. Life will be easier that way!

Chintamani Abhyankar is a goldfish enthusiast and has been raising and breeding goldfish for many years. He is an expert on their care and an advocate for raising healthy goldfish the natural way. Article Source: EzineArticles

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DIAMOND KILLIFISH - Adinia xenica

Diamond Killifish - Adinia xenica

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Breeding BLUE LYRETAIL KILLIFISH Is Slightly Tricky for Beginners

Fundulopanchax gardneri or Blue Lyretail killifish is a big species from the killifish group. There are a number of sub-species found in the nature. These sub-species are found in different parts of the world and there is noticeable difference among each of them. Each one has different color pattern on the body and the size also differs from region to region.

Fundulopanchax gardneri (male)
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The most popular amongst them is the one found in Jos Plateau. This species is originated from West Africa are, mainly from Nigeria. They are famous for their blue body with red spots spotted all over. Their fins are also in sky blue color with a yellow border. Sometimes you will find red stripes on the fins which look very beautiful.

You can find all these bright colors in males. However the females are not very attractive. They are shorter in size and wider. They have dull colors and they are slow swimmers.

The original environment for Blue Lyretail killifish is ponds which are situated in forests. So when you keep them in the aquarium, you should see that the water is slightly acidic with the ph level of around 7.0 and the temperature should be in the range of 75-82° F.

There should be no movement in the water and the level of oxygen should be high. To maintain the oxygen level, you can keep air stone in the aquarium. As they are small in size, you can accommodate them in smaller aquariums.

Breeding Blue Lyretail killifish is slightly tricky. You should create a separate small tank for breeding purpose. Before shifting a pair of male and a female to this tank, you should feed them very well with live food and you should also see that the temperature of the water is slightly increased.

In the breeding tank the same temperature should be maintained. Keep the water clean with constant filtration. Ideally, you can change 40 per cent of the water every day. Feed the fish with nutritious diet containing flaked food as well as live food. If you feed large quantity of meaty food like brine shrimp, you can get bigger spawns. From the beginning, you should keep a spawning mop in the breeding tank so that the fish should notice it.

Usually, the spawning continues for about two weeks and the eggs will be laid on the mops or on the bigger leaves of plants around them. They will spawn about 20 eggs every day. The female will release the eggs during morning and evening. The eggs look clear and they are about three millimeters in size.

Breeders of Blue Lyretail killifish make constant experiments to get best results. The most popular method is to pick the eggs after spawning and keep them in a bowl with low level of water. You should transfer the eggs gently without damaging them. You should change part of the water from the bowl every day. For changing the water you should use the water from the breeding tank for easy hatching.

As the time passes, the eggs will become darker and you may be able to notice dark eyes through. You should watch the eggs carefully because if there is any egg which is white or carrying fungus, you should immediately remove it from the bowl.

The eggs will hatch if the temperature of the water is correct (around 75 to 80° F). Once the fry start coming out, shift them to another tank and they should be fed right from the first day. They will start swimming around and you should feed them with young brine shrimp. The water of the tank should be changed frequently and the food which is leftover at the bottom should be immediately removed from the tank.

In three weeks, the fry and will grow up to half inch and in about five weeks they will grow up to 1 inch in size. Some fry will grow faster than others but you can keep all of them in the same aquarium. The grown-ups will not eat the small ones.

By Chintamani Abhyankar Chintamani Abhyankar is a goldfish enthusiast and has been raising and breeding goldfish for many years. He is an expert on their care and an advocate for raising healthy goldfish the natural way. Article Source: EzineArticles

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Tips on Caring For Your RACHOW'S NOTHOBRANCH - KILLIFISH

Rachow's nothobranch or othobranchius rachovii belongs to the family Aplocheilidae. These fish are natives to regions of Africa where lakes and ponds evaporate and dry up in the dry season.

Because of their environmental challenges, the nothobranch has become commonly referred to as a killifish or an annual. If you are familiar with gardening you will know that an annual only lives a single season. They survive in nature by releasing their pollen to insure subsequent generations.

„Nothobranchius rachovii male“ von Andreas Wretström, Wikimedia Commons

Nature has equipped the killifish to adapt to their hostile environmental conditions in much the same manner. This species flourishes during the wet season. As the wet season draws to an end their habitat begins to disappear. They lay their eggs in the mud before the last of the water evaporates. Then they perish for lack of water. Their eggs, however, survive insuring the survival of the species. The eggs baked in dried up lake beds until the rains return. Undergoing this dry period has proven to be essential to the eggs hatching. When the wet season returns and the ponds and lakes start to fill back up the eggs hatch and the Rachow has triumphed over nature.

Killifish are found in every region of the world except northern Europe, Australia, and Antarctica. There are several genera and different species within each of these genera. A small number of species will shoal while most are territorial to varying degrees. Each has its own breeding habits and life span determined by it specific environmental conditions. But the Rachow's nothobranch killifish is known as an annual because it dies every year. Even in the relative safety of an aquarium the Rachow's nothobranch is victim to its evolution. They only live to 1-1.5 years.

These are small fish. A fully grown adult is only about two inches long. They thrive in slightly acidic water; pH 6.5 with a temperature range between 74-79 °F. They are considered a peaceful fish but a heavily planted mono-species aquarium is recommended.

Rachow's nothobranch are carnivores. They will readily eat live food such as brine shrimp, tubifex and bloodworms. They will also eat freeze-dried, frozen and meat based tropical flake food.

Breeding Rachow's Nothobranch

Breeding these unique fish is done differently than just about any other commercially available fish. Start by placing a 2-3 inch layer of peat on your existing substrate. The peat is for spawning. The killifish will bury their eggs in it. Once they eggs are deposited into the peat remove it from the aquarium. Allow the peat to dry and then place it in a plastic bag. Make sure there is no moisture left in the bag to prevent mold growth. Store the bag for 3-4 months.

After the eggs have undergone an extended dry period remove the peat from storage and place it in a breeding tank. Fry can be fed newly hatched shrimp brine, powdered fry food, or powdered eggs. Allow them to mature enough to hold their own before introducing them to the adult population in the main tank.

By Stephen J Broy The latest trend among Saltwater Tank enthusiasts is raising pet jellyfish. Jellyfish need specially designed Jellyfish Fish Tank Aquariums. Jellyfish tanks are easier to maintain than traditional saltwater setups. Moon Jellies are the most popular jellyfish among home aquarists both for their exotic beauty and their ease of care. They have become so popular that two US based websites are now tank raising them to meet the growing demand. Pet Moon Jellyfish look absolutely incredible under a fading LED lighting system. Article Source: EzineArticles

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KILLIFISH Are of Interest to Experienced Fish-Keepers

Killifish are basically medium sized fish. They have a peculiar cylindrical shape. With their upward turning mouths and habit of swimming near the surface of the water, they are very unique in the fish community. They are found mainly in Africa and North as well as South America and some parts of Asia.

Killifish (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

They are famous for their unique behavior while breeding. Most of them are the annual killifish and they live for a short time. They follow a peculiar life cycle.

Killifish as such are happy to stay in soft but acidic water and if there is any extract of black water in it, it makes an ideal condition for their living. If the temperature the water is lower, it suits them. So if they are kept in an indoor aquarium which is not heated, they can live a bit longer.

They are not 'social' in nature. If you keep them with other species of fish, they will usually ignore them. However, some will be aggressive with other males in the breeding season. They cannot be considered as schooling fish also. In fact, male and female will swim together but they will totally ignore other mates in the aquarium and other species too.

Killifish will not eat plants so they are suitable for aquarium with a lot of plants. They should not be kept in a tank with higher temperatures because that will shorten their life.

They lay their eggs for reproduction. These eggs are very tough and they can survive even in the times of partial dehydration. In fact some of the eggs may not hatch if they are not out of water for a certain period of time.

There are two types of killifish on the basis of their breeding pattern - some are egg hangars. They will lay eggs on the plants and these eggs can survive several seasons. The other type is called bottom layers which will live in bodies of water which will get dry during some part of the year. They will bury their eggs in the mud and those eggs will survive until the period of rain starts.

If you want to breed killifish, find out whether they are egg hangars from your pet store. For this type of killifish, the breeding process is relatively easy. You should keep them in a tank which is having plenty of plants with big leaves. The eggs will develop eventually and they will hatch within a period of three weeks.

If you are trying with the other type of killifish, you should provide peat moss in the tank which will be an ideal place for them to bury the eggs. It will take a period of several months for the eggs to hatch as they should be placed in dry conditions and thereafter again in water to hatch. After the dry season, if you provide soft and slightly acidic water with modest temperature, that will be an ideal environment for the eggs to hatch.

Killifish are not very difficult to keep but beginners usually like to stay away from them as their life cycle is short and their breeding is not in normal way like other species. Experienced fish-keepers like them because of their unique breeding pattern and their colorful and lively presence in the aquarium.

By Chintamani Abhyankar Chintamani Abhyankar is a goldfish enthusiast and has been raising and breeding goldfish for many years. He is an expert on their care and an advocate for raising healthy goldfish the natural way. Article Source: EzineArticles

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Non-Annual KILLIFISH Is Convenient to Keep

There is a big difference in the species of killifish. One is called annual and the other non-annual. The difference is due to conditions of living around them. The species which are used to live in the permanent and stable bodies of water are non-annual, and they will have a different lifestyle than the ones living in the temporary bodies.

Fundulus auroguttatus, a non-annual North American killifish (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

If the supply of water is for a short period of time in the year, killifish living in such water are labeled as annual killifish. They will prefer to place their eggs deep in the mud. The eggs will stay there for some time when the pond gets try. Eggs will continue to develop during this time but will not hatch.

As the rain comes back again after some time, these eggs will hatch. Some tough eggs will even wait for the second fall of rains before hatching. Once hatched, the fry will start growing quickly and they will be very aggressive because they will have a very short period of time at their disposal to complete their life cycle.

The beginners should avoid these annual killifish. As the conditions under which had they grow are variable in different parts of the world, you may not be able to replicate them in your small aquarium.

In contrast, the non annual killifish are colorful and will swim with grace. If you provide them normal conditions for living, they will lay eggs frequently. These eggs will be hatched in a period of three weeks.

The new ones will start looking out for food immediately after coming. The eggs are hard and the new ones will consume all the nutrients from it before they come out. As the eggs will be laid many times, the fry will be of different ages. This is the reason for low availability of non-annual killifish. You may not find them in many pet fish shops.

However, if you are lucky to get a pair, you can breed it successfully and get new arrivals continuously over a period of time. Remember, if you miss out, you may not find the same variety easily in the market. Many breeders will not sell a single male or female. The costs of shipping of killifish may even exceed the initial price you paid!

Some experienced fish-keepers make a third classification as some semi-annual killifish. Their eggs will survive above the water surface. These eggs will be attached to the plants and rocks which are near the surface of water. During the rainy season, as the level of water raises to the plants or the rocks, the eggs will be submerged in the water and they will hatch. This variety of killifish is not suitable for keeping at home at all.

So now you are familiar with the annual and non-annual varieties of killifish. The annuals will be difficult to keep as their life is short and you may not be able to breed them successfully. On the other hand, the non-annuals will live for a long time and if you correctly breed them, you will be able to get a continuous supply of new ones.

The only thing you should remember about them is about their availability. They may not be available easily and they are expensive also. You should keep in mind all these considerations before deciding to keep killifish in your aquarium.

By Chintamani Abhyankar Chintamani Abhyankar is a goldfish enthusiast and has been raising and breeding goldfish for many years. He is an expert on their care and an advocate for raising healthy goldfish the natural way. Article Source: EzineArticles

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GOLDEN LYRETAIL KILLIFISH Are Not Very Hard to Keep

Golden Lyretail killifish is found in Africa are especially in Angola, Cameroon, Gabon and Congo. In nature, they love to live in marshes and in water holes. So just like any other killifish, they love to live in ditches and channels.

A golden lyretail killifish (Aphyosemion australe) in an aquarium. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The scientific name for Golden Lyretail killifish is Aphyosemoin australe. They are not very hard to keep. They are small in size - can grow up to 2 1/2" inches. They are comfortable in the water having a ph level of around 6.0 and the temperature in the range of 77-83° F.

Their body is cylindrical and it is in elongated form which differentiates between a male and a female. They are surface feeders so their mouth usually faces upwards. The males will have multiple colors, predominantly golden, brown and orange. They will have all their fins - dorsal, coudal, and anal in a pointed shape. The females will have rounded fins and their colors will be dull.

They are peace-loving fish and they can live with any other species of fish in a community aquarium. So if you want to make your aquarium populated with colorful and multi-shaped varieties of fish, Golden Lyretail killifish should be your choice.

You can feed them with a variety of food. Usually they love to eat live food like brine shrimp or blood-worms but you can also feed them with dry and flaked food for their nutritional needs. Sometimes, you can feed them with boiled vegetables and they will be happy to eat them.

Even though they are not of demanding nature, you should provide them clean and well-treated water. There should be adequate filtration in the aquarium. As they are surface feeders, particles of food will escape and accumulate at the bottom of the aquarium. These particles will contaminate the quality of water. You should regularly clean the aquarium so that the level of toxic elements is kept under control.

Golden Lyretail killifish do not like to live in bright lights. So you should not provide too much lighting in your aquarium. You should also ensure that there is no direct sunlight hitting the aquarium water.

The breeding of Golden Lyretail killifish is not a difficult process. If you keep subdued lighting and a reasonable range of temperature, they will spawn. It is advisable to keep a group of a few females and one male in order to get good results. You should not keep more than one male in the aquarium because they may fight with each other.

The eggs will take about a couple of weeks to hatch. The new ones should be immediately shifted to a new tank. You should provide them food right from the first day. You should take special care in keeping the water clean and well treated because they will be very delicate for the first few weeks to sustain in tough conditions.

Golden Lyretail killifish are one of the most beautiful tropical fish and if you have a moderate-size tank, they will be happy to live with other species of fish.

By Chintamani Abhyankar Chintamani Abhyankar is a goldfish enthusiast and has been raising and breeding goldfish for many years. Article Source: EzineArticles

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Keep CHOCOLATE LYRETAIL KILLIFISH for Easy Breeding and Feeding

If you want to keep a fish with stunning colors, Chocolate Lyretail killifish should be your ideal choice. Even though chocolate color is dominant, you will get orange and red colors on their body to complement it. As it goes with the other varieties of killifish, the male Chocolate Lyretail killifish will bear these colors.

As the name suggests, the fish will have a lyre tail with spiking dorsal fins. The anal fin is also pointed and all the colors will be looking very attractive on the background of chocolate color. The size of a grown-up fish is usually small (about 2-3 inches) like any other killifish.

By Alexander Prokoshe  (CC)

Chocolate Lyretail killifish can easily adapt to a number of conditions of water and this quality makes them a good choice for the beginners as well as the experienced fish-keepers. Further, they can get along with other species of fish very easily because they are peaceful by nature.

Just like most of other killifish varieties, Chocolate Lyretail killifish can be found in shallow waters in the wild. You should remember this origin when you set up your aquarium. You should provide a long but shallow aquarium with a lot of decorative items like driftwood, rocks and gravel. You should also provide floating plants so that the fish will have enough places to hide.

The size of the aquarium should be reasonably big. There should be enough area for the fish to swim around. If you over-populate your aquarium with many varieties of fish, Chocolate Lyretail killifish will get stressed and they will look inactive with dull colors.

You should also cover your aquarium properly so that they will not get any opportunity to jump out. Like any other killifish, they are fond of jumping and they cannot live out of water for a long time.

They are non-annual killifish meaning their life cycle is not limited to one year. So they prefer to stay in the permanent bodies of water in the nature. In your aquarium also, you should not keep currents in the water which will disturb their swimming activity.

They are comfortable in the subdued light so you should see that there is no direct sunlight hitting the aquarium continuously.

The breeding process for Chocolate Lyretail killifish is very easy. The only precaution you should take about their breeding is you should arrange them in the proportion of at least two to three females against one male.

They are continuous breeders and they will lay their eggs on the leaves of a plant or even on the mops.

Sometimes the experienced fish-keepers increase the temperature of the aquarium which will act as a trigger for spawning. After spawning, you need not remove the eggs out of your main aquarium. The eggs will take about a month to hatch.

As the fry come out, you should shift them to another aquarium. This new aquarium can be small and it need not have dense plants. The newly born fish should be fed with live brine shrimp from day one and you should look after them every day. You should clean the tank water daily and keep the levels of toxic elements under control.

As the fry grow, you will be able to easily identify between males and females because of their colors. The females will not have pointed fins but they will have rounded fins.

Chocolate Lyretail killifish will not live longer after spawning. Within about a couple of months after spawning, they will die.

If you use dark substrate, the bright and colorful Chocolate Lyretail killifish will shine very well. If you feed them with live food frequently, their happy and graceful swimming and jumping will keep your aquarium lively all the time.

By Chintamani Abhyankar Chintamani Abhyankar is a goldfish enthusiast and has been raising and breeding goldfish for many years. He is an expert on their care and an advocate for raising healthy goldfish the natural way. Article Source: EzineArticles

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