FishForums.com - View Single Post

**TheOldSalt** · 03-01-2005, 09:33 AM

I never was much into the Panchax and Fundulidids, so I haven't kept them much. Fundulopanchax as a genus has been largely replaced with Aphyosemion, so if you mean Aphyosemion gardneri, then I'm with you all the way; I like those guys!

I know it's pretty generic, but I usually kept killies in very soft, peaty water with a pH around 5.5-6.0, although sometimes I'd try to match the conditions as exactly to the fishes' specific preferences as I could. I used distilled water to get the low hardness required, and once mixed with the peat/soil/gravel it absorbed enough minerals to be safe for the fish.

I usually used 5 gallon or even ten gallon tanks instead of the little 2.5 gallon ones favored by most serious killie keepers.

I'd make sure the background and gravel were very dark to make the fish feel comfy and to make their colors stand out more. Decor would usually consist of a few short, squatty plants and a few big clumps of java moss. If I had a nice small piece of driftwood I would sometimes include it, but just as often I wouldn't.

Filtration would be simple, usually undergravel filters or sponge fiters, but never outside box filters. You don't want a lot of water current in a killie tank, since they live in puddles. Many serious killie breeders don't use any filtration at all, but instead do lots of water changes.

This sort of setup should be okay for gardneris.

Hatching eggs you get through the mail isn't as hard as it sounds. The hatching methods for each species are different, but an instruction sheet usually comes with the eggs. Think of them as really big brine shrimp.

Because these fish are so short-lived, buying adults can be disappointing. Yes, it's easier, but they don't last as long as they would if you hatched them yourself.
The truth is, killies aren't really good beginner fish at all. It takes an experienced hobbyist to raise the fry and breed the adults. However, if you can raise, say, danios, then you can raise killies.
They're not difficult at all once you know how.

Here in the states the easiest places to find them are Aquabid and the AKA ( American Killifish Association ) website.
There is a similar organization in Britain; I think it's the BKA? it should be easy to find with a little web searching. Once you find either of these resources, you'll be able to learn anything you'd ever want to know about keeping and getting these wonderful fish.

03-01-2005, 09:33 AM	#11
TheOldSalt Darth Ichthyos Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 4,010 User Feedback: (5)	Re: what are killifish I never was much into the Panchax and Fundulidids, so I haven't kept them much. Fundulopanchax as a genus has been largely replaced with Aphyosemion, so if you mean Aphyosemion gardneri, then I'm with you all the way; I like those guys! I know it's pretty generic, but I usually kept killies in very soft, peaty water with a pH around 5.5-6.0, although sometimes I'd try to match the conditions as exactly to the fishes' specific preferences as I could. I used distilled water to get the low hardness required, and once mixed with the peat/soil/gravel it absorbed enough minerals to be safe for the fish. I usually used 5 gallon or even ten gallon tanks instead of the little 2.5 gallon ones favored by most serious killie keepers. I'd make sure the background and gravel were very dark to make the fish feel comfy and to make their colors stand out more. Decor would usually consist of a few short, squatty plants and a few big clumps of java moss. If I had a nice small piece of driftwood I would sometimes include it, but just as often I wouldn't. Filtration would be simple, usually undergravel filters or sponge fiters, but never outside box filters. You don't want a lot of water current in a killie tank, since they live in puddles. Many serious killie breeders don't use any filtration at all, but instead do lots of water changes. This sort of setup should be okay for gardneris. Hatching eggs you get through the mail isn't as hard as it sounds. The hatching methods for each species are different, but an instruction sheet usually comes with the eggs. Think of them as really big brine shrimp. Because these fish are so short-lived, buying adults can be disappointing. Yes, it's easier, but they don't last as long as they would if you hatched them yourself. The truth is, killies aren't really good beginner fish at all. It takes an experienced hobbyist to raise the fry and breed the adults. However, if you can raise, say, danios, then you can raise killies. They're not difficult at all once you know how. Here in the states the easiest places to find them are Aquabid and the AKA ( American Killifish Association ) website. There is a similar organization in Britain; I think it's the BKA? it should be easy to find with a little web searching. Once you find either of these resources, you'll be able to learn anything you'd ever want to know about keeping and getting these wonderful fish.