Cubanichthys cubensis Care Guide
Cubanichthys cubensis, the Cuban killifish, is a hardy Cuban species of vegetated fresh and brackish waters, easy to keep.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Cubanichthys cubensis, the Cuban killifish, is endemic to Cuba. FishBase records it at up to 8.0 cm total length, notes it is not a seasonal killifish, and describes it as easy to maintain in the aquarium.
Taxonomy
- Family: Cyprinodontidae
- Genus: Cubanichthys
- Scientific name: Cubanichthys cubensis
Habitat
Wikipedia and FishBase describe the species as endemic to Cuba, predominantly in the western part of the island and more localised centrally. It favours fresh water with dense macrophyte or algal vegetation in open sunny spots, and is occasionally found in brackish water.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 40 L (about 11 gal)
- Temperature: 23-28 °C (73-82 °F)
- pH: from about 7.0 (FishBase)
- GH: 5-15 °dGH
- Lifespan: 3-4 years
Diet
Wikipedia describes the species as larvivorous, feeding significantly on mosquito larvae, which makes it useful as a biological control agent. In aquaria it takes small live, frozen and prepared foods.
Compatibility
A peaceful top-dwelling species suited to calm, well-planted tanks with small companions such as tetras and rasboras. As with most killifish, a secure cover is recommended.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 2020), per FishBase and Wikipedia.
Cubanichthys cubensis Breeding Guide
Overview
Cubanichthys cubensis, the Cuban killifish, is endemic to Cuba, mainly the west of the island, where Wikipedia reports it from densely vegetated freshwater (occasionally brackish) with open, sunny areas. FishBase classifies it as a non-seasonal killifish and notes it is easy to maintain; the IUCN lists it as Least Concern (2020).
Sexing
Wikipedia gives males at about 3.6 cm with females slightly smaller, and describes the marbled greenish body with bright fin edges of mature fish; males are the more strongly marked sex.
Conditioning
The species is larvivorous, with mosquito larvae forming a significant part of its diet, so conditioning on small live and frozen invertebrates is effective. FishBase lists a temperature range of 23-28 C and pH of 7.0 and above for the species.
Breeding Setup
A densely planted tank with macrophytes or algae suits this hardy rivulid, which tolerates a wider parameter range than most. Fine-leaved plants or spawning mops provide the egg-laying sites it favours.
Spawning Behaviour & Trigger
Wikipedia states that spawning extends over several days, with females depositing up to ten eggs daily, laid individually on plants. The eggs are relatively large at about 1.4 mm in diameter, transparent and adhesive. This continuous, non-seasonal pattern means no dry phase is required.
Egg & Fry Care
Adhesive eggs can be left on plants in a low-predation tank or collected daily for separate incubation. On hatching, fry take microscopic foods followed by newly hatched brine shrimp.
Common Challenges
The low daily egg count means harvesting eggs steadily over days yields more fry than waiting for a single batch. Otherwise the species is undemanding, and clean, well-planted water with stable parameters supports reliable spawning.