Nothobranchius furzeri Care Guide
Nothobranchius furzeri, the turquoise killifish, is an annual fish noted as the shortest-lived vertebrate kept in captivity and a model organism for ageing research.
Overview
Nothobranchius furzeri, the turquoise killifish, is an annual fish of the family Nothobranchiidae native to Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Males display turquoise scaling. It is widely cited as the shortest-lived vertebrate kept in captivity and reaches sexual maturity within about 14 days of hatching, the fastest among vertebrates.
Taxonomy
- Family: Nothobranchiidae
- Genus: Nothobranchius
- Scientific name: Nothobranchius furzeri
Habitat
The species inhabits ephemeral pools in semi-arid areas of Zimbabwe and Mozambique with scarce and erratic rainfall. FishBase records it from pans in the Gonarezhou area of southeastern Zimbabwe and reports it from the Save River, noting that it is extremely rare and threatened locally by habitat destruction and insecticide spraying. The pools fill seasonally and dry out completely.
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: 4-6 cm
- Lifespan: about 1 year
Diet
The species is a carnivore. In captivity it is fed primarily on bloodworm, with other live and frozen foods such as Daphnia and brine shrimp; pelleted alternatives are also used in research colonies. Feed about twice daily.
Compatibility
It is best kept as a single male with several females in a quiet species tank. The species should not be combined with aggressive tankmates.
Breeding
Nothobranchius furzeri is an egg-burying bottom spawner. Eggs are desiccation-resistant and can remain dormant in dry mud through a period of diapause, hatching at the onset of the next rainy season. This adaptation, together with its very rapid maturation, makes it a common model organism for the study of ageing.