Bluefin Notho (Nothobranchius rachovii) Species Profile & Care Guide
The Bluefin Notho is an ideal fish for the nano or planted aquarium and will add some vibrant colour and activity to it. However, This Killifish is a shy little fish, and you should choose their tankmates carefully as they can be out-competed for food so they would probably fair better with the same or similarly sized species.
This Killifish is not demanding and can adapt to a wide variety of water conditions.
Most individuals of this species are blue and orange, exhibiting vertical dark orange splashes along with their bright blue bodies. The fins of this Killifish are typically blue with dark orange splotches, and the caudal fin is edged in orange. There is also a black variety which has much darker colours and a red variety which has a redhead with turquoise highlights.
| Quick Facts | |
| Scientific Name | Nothobranchius rachovii |
| Other Names | Bluefin Nothobranch, Rachovii Killifish |
| Family | Nothobranchiidae |
| Genus | Nothobranchius |
| Origins | South Africa |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Aquarium Level | Bottom |
| Difficulty | Beginner - Intermediate |
| Shoaling | Yes |
| Best kept as | Groups 5+ |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Reproduction | Egg-Layer |
| Lifespan | 1 -2 years |
| Water Conditions | |
| Water Type | Freshwater |
| Temperature | 68 - 75 ℉ (20 - 23.9 ℃) |
| PH | 6.0 - 7.5 |
| GH | 3-10 |
| KH | 3 - 8 |
Natural Habitat of the Bluefin Notho
The Bluefin Notho comes from Beira, Mozambique, Pungwe River and also between the Kruger National Park, South Africa to the Kwa-Kwa River north of the lower Zambezi delta. These Killifish inhabit temporary, water-filled holes, pools and swamps frequently located in lowland floodplains.
Other Killifish of interest
Diet
A natural micro predator meaning small live or frozen foods such as artemia, chopped bloodworm and daphnia should be their main diet and if your lucky they may accept some dry flake foods. They will also gladly accept chopped earthworms. Feeding these fish a variety of live foods will help to assure optimum colouration and health.
Sexing the Bluefin Notho
It is relatively straightforward to determine males from females. Males grow larger and are far more colourful than females, whereas females are more subdued and neutral in colour and form.
Breeding the Bluefin Notho
In the wild when its natural habitat becomes desiccated during the dry season the fish often die. Adults will leave behind fertilised eggs buried in the available substrate. These eggs will lay dormant until the rainy season returns some five to six months later. Throughout the rainy season, the eggs hatch and the fry grow very fast reaching sexual maturity at around three weeks old.
In the home aquarium, peat moss is sometimes used to encourage spawning. After breeding has transpired, remove the peat moss from the tank and store it in a plastic bag or a glass jar for several months, opening it once in a while to replace the air. After the dry season, rewet the moss and the eggs should hatch and develop quickly if appropriately fed.
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