Gardneri Killie

Perhaps one of the most popular Killie Fish, the Aphyosemion gardneri gardneri was described by Boulenger in 1911. Originally from Nigeria, most are now farm/hobbyist raised. The Gardneri tolerates most water conditions and prefers a heavily planted aquarium. The male is aggressive towards other males and even will bother “unripe” females, so it is best to keep this fish in a harem fashion with plenty of extra females. They will generally accept meaty prepared foods and small live insects/daphnia. In addition to their unusual coloration, most keepers of Killie fish do so in order to spawn the fish and raise the babies. The Gardneri will behave as both a substrate spawner and as an adhesive spawner. This means you can provide a small container of peat for the fish to act as a substrate spawner. After the fish spawns, you remove the peat container and keep the peat moist in a plastic bag for 3 weeks. Then place the peat in a hatching aquarium and wait for the fry to hatch. Freshly hatched baby brine shrimp is a good first food for the Killie fry. You can also use a spawning mop for adhesive spawning, removing the yarn mop to a bog for 3 weeks and then hatching the fry in a grow out aquarium. Killie fish are often thought of as “annual” fish, living a short time and then breeding before their pools dry up in the African dry seasons. In the aquarium, they can live for much longer.

Approximate arrival size for Gardneri Killie: .75" - 1.5"