Nothobranchius patrizii Care Guide
Nothobranchius patrizii is a small annual killifish from coastal pools of Kenya and Somalia, with a powder-blue body, red speckling and a lemon-yellow tail.
Overview
Nothobranchius patrizii is a small annual killifish of the family Nothobranchiidae, found in East Africa. Males show a powder-blue body with red speckling and a lemon-yellow tail. According to FishBase, it is an annual species adapted to seasonally drying pools.
Taxonomy
- Family: Nothobranchiidae
- Genus: Nothobranchius
- Scientific name: Nothobranchius patrizii
Habitat
FishBase records the species from Kenya and Somalia, with reports from the Wabi Shebele basin in Ethiopia. It is a freshwater fish of temporary pools, swamps and ditches in the coastal plains, in waters of about 23-30 °C. These habitats fill during the rains and dry out completely afterwards.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 30 L
- Temperature: 22-26 °C (72-79 °F)
- pH: 6.5-7.5
- GH: 5-15 °dGH
- Adult size: 3-5 cm
- Lifespan: 1-2 years
Diet
The species is a carnivore, with a trophic level of about 3.2 reported by FishBase. In the hobby it takes 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, and should not be combined with aggressive tankmates.
Breeding
Nothobranchius patrizii is an egg-burying bottom spawner. The eggs survive in moist substrate during the dry period and hatch when re-wetted. FishBase notes that the species is very difficult to maintain in the aquarium.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern, assessed in January 2019.