American Flagfish Breeding Guide
How to breed Jordanella floridae: sexing, a warm planted tank, continuous fractional spawning onto algae, eggs attached by filaments, and 7-14 day hatch.
Overview
Jordanella floridae is a North American killifish relative endemic to Florida, where it lives in shallow, well-vegetated freshwater such as backwaters, marshes, canals and ditches, occasionally entering slightly brackish water. It is a fractional spawner: females deposit eggs on a more-or-less continuous basis as long as warm temperatures are maintained.
Sexing
Males have more extended dorsal and anal fins and significantly brighter coloration, especially when spawning. Females are rounder-bellied and have a dark blotch in the posterior part of the dorsal fin that males lack.
Conditioning
Maintain warm temperatures within the 18-30°C range, with the warmer end favouring continuous spawning, and feed a varied diet. Dominant males establish temporary territories and show intense coloration when ready to spawn.
Breeding Setup
- Warm temperature within 18-30°C, the warmer end encouraging continuous spawning
- Plenty of plants and algae for the eggs to attach to
- A separate hatching tank matching the adults' water chemistry and temperature
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
Males set up temporary territories to entice females to spawn. Eggs are released singly or in small batches and attached to algae or other surfaces by means of small filaments. Spawning continues over an extended period rather than occurring as a single event.
Egg & Fry Care
The incubation period is influenced by temperature but is usually 7-14 days. The fry are large enough to accept Artemia nauplii and microworm as soon as they become free-swimming. Moving eggs to a separate hatching tank matching the adult water protects the spawn.
Common Challenges
Because spawning is continuous and eggs are scattered onto algae and plants over many days, locating and protecting the eggs takes ongoing attention; a separate hatching tank simplifies rearing.