Rachov's Nothobranch care guide
Rachov's Nothobranch (Nothobranchius rachovii) — minimum tank 30 L, temperature 20-24 °C, pH 6-7.
Overview
The Rachow’s Notho (Nothobranchius rachovii) is a brilliantly coloured annual killifish from southern Mozambique. Males display intense red bodies overlaid with iridescent blue scales and a black-edged tail. Like other Nothobranchius, the species has a very short natural lifespan.
Taxonomy
- Family: Nothobranchiidae
- Genus: Nothobranchius
- Scientific name: Nothobranchius rachovii
- Common synonyms: Bluefin Notho
Habitat
Native to seasonal floodplain pools in the coastal lowlands of Mozambique and adjacent regions. These pools dry out completely during the dry season; eggs survive in damp soil and hatch when the pools refill.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 30 L (7.9 US gal)
- Adult size: 4-6 cm
- Temperature: 20-24 °C (68-75 °F)
- pH: 6-7
- GH: 2-8 °dGH
- Water flow: none
- Lifespan: 1-2 years
Diet
A carnivore. Offer live or frozen foods such as bloodworms, brine shrimp, daphnia, cyclops and mosquito larvae. High-protein feeding accelerates growth.
Compatibility
Best kept in species-only setups. House one male with two or three females; multiple males will fight. Conditions should be soft, slightly acidic and warm. Long-finned slow species and shrimp are unsuitable companions.
Breeding
An annual egg-depositor. Eggs are deposited in peat or sand and undergo a diapause; they can be stored damp for 2-4 months before being wetted to trigger hatching.