Argentine Pearl Killifish Care Guide
Austrolebias nigripinnis is an annual killifish of the lower Parana and Uruguay basins, formerly Cynolebias nigripinnis, with dark males dotted with pale pearl spots.
Overview
Austrolebias nigripinnis is an annual killifish of the family Rivulidae, described by Regan in 1912 and historically known as Cynolebias nigripinnis. According to FishBase it is a seasonal fish of temporary waters in northern Argentina and Uruguay. Males show dark fins covered in white pearl-like spots.
Taxonomy
- Family: Rivulidae
- Genus: Austrolebias
- Scientific name: Austrolebias nigripinnis
- Author: Regan, 1912
- Former combination: Cynolebias nigripinnis
Habitat
FishBase records the species from the lower Parana and Uruguay River basins in South America. It is an annual fish of temporary pools; like other Austrolebias it completes its life cycle in a single wet season and survives drought as buried eggs.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 40 L
- Temperature: 18-24 °C (64-75 °F); FishBase reports a subtropical 18-22 °C range
- pH: 6.0-7.5 (FishBase 6.0-7.0)
- GH: 4-12 °dGH (FishBase 5-12 dH)
- Size: 5-7 cm (FishBase max 7.0 cm TL)
- Lifespan: 1-2 years
Diet
The species is a carnivore. FishBase reports that adults feed on worms, crustaceans and insects. In aquaria it is best fed live and frozen foods such as bloodworms and brine shrimp.
Compatibility
It is a peaceful, diurnal killifish best maintained as a single-species harem of one male with several females. Its preference for cooler water makes it a poor companion for tropical fish that require higher temperatures.
Breeding
Austrolebias nigripinnis is an egg-burying annual fish. FishBase reports that it is a bottom spawner with an incubation period of about two to four months; the eggs survive in the substrate during dry periods and hatch when water returns.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Near Threatened (assessed 19 February 2021). FishBase notes the species is used in the aquarium trade and is described as easy to maintain.