Nothobranchius eggersi Care Guide
Nothobranchius eggersi is an annual killifish from temporary pools of the lower Rufiji River in Tanzania, best kept as a single male with several females.
Overview
Nothobranchius eggersi is an annual killifish of the family Nothobranchiidae, native to eastern Tanzania. Males show rich red flanks with blue scaling. According to FishBase, it is an annual species adapted to seasonally drying pools.
Taxonomy
- Family: Nothobranchiidae
- Genus: Nothobranchius
- Scientific name: Nothobranchius eggersi
Habitat
FishBase records the species from temporary pools and swamps of the lower Rufiji River, including its delta, in eastern Tanzania. It is a freshwater, benthopelagic fish of tropical climates. These habitats fill during the rainy season and dry out completely afterwards, which shapes the species' annual life cycle.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 40 L
- Temperature: 22-26 °C (72-79 °F)
- pH: 6.5-7.5
- GH: 5-15 °dGH
- Adult size: 4-5 cm
- Lifespan: 1-2 years
Diet
The species is a carnivore. Annual Nothobranchius readily take live and frozen foods such as bloodworm, Daphnia and brine shrimp, fed about twice daily.
Compatibility
It is best kept as a single male with several females in a quiet species tank. Multiple males may fight, and the species should not be combined with aggressive tankmates.
Breeding
Nothobranchius eggersi is an egg-burying bottom spawner. FishBase reports an incubation period of about 2 to 3 months, during which the eggs survive in moist substrate before hatching when re-wetted. FishBase notes the species is easy to maintain in the aquarium.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern, assessed in October 2018.