Eggers Killifish (Nothobranchius eggersi)
The Egger's Killifish is peaceful, hardy, somewhat timid, and an extremely colourful fish. Their small size makes them perfect for the nano or planted aquarium. Beginner aquarists can keep this Killifish, although they may find breeding them and raising the fry challenging.
These Killifish will thrive in a species only aquarium with one male and 3 to 4 females; however, if you prefer, you can house these fish with smaller peaceful fish such as Rasboras, Danios, smaller Tetras and Corydoras Catfish as well as Shrimp and Aquatic Snails. Nevertheless, it would be best to avoid keeping them with long-finned species as they may get nipped at and larger, more aggressive tank mates as they may be picked on and outcompeted for food.
Eggers Killifish prefer an aquarium with a very slow-moving to still water current. They will not eat or bother aquatic plants and will appreciate dim lighting, so floating plants would be ideal. These fish are excellent jumpers, so you must ensure your aquarium has a tight-fitting lid.
There are two colour variants of Eggers Killifish: red and blue. The red variant has a silvery blue body colouration contrasted with many red dots and lines. In addition, their dorsal, anal and pelvic fins are bright red with white edging, and their caudal fin is solid red. The Blue variant has a greenish-blue body with the occasional red marking on it, and their fins are also greenish-blue with slight red markings on them and white edging. The females of both variants are much duller, have no patterning, and have transparent fins.
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| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Nothobranchius eggersi |
| Year Described | 1982 |
| Other Names | Red Eggers Killifish, Blue Eggers Killifish, Orchid Nothobranch |
| Classification | Actinopterygii |
| Order | Cyprinodontiformes |
| Family | Nothobranchiidae |
| Genus | Nothobranchius |
| Origins | Tanzania |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Aquarium Level | Top |
| Difficulty | Beginner - Intermediate |
| Shoaling | No |
| Best kept as | Trios |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Reproduction | Egg-Layer |
| Lifespan | 12 - 18 months |
| Water Parameters | |
|---|---|
| Water Type | Freshwater |
| PH | 7.0 - 8.0 |
| GH | 5 - 20 |
| TDS | 179 -536 |
| Temperature | |
|---|---|
| 73 - 79℉ 22.8 - 26.1℃ | |
Feeding
In the home aquarium, the Eggers Killifish will readily accept most good quality dried foods such as granules, flakes and sinking pellets. These modern food products have been developed to provide all adequate nutrition to maintain your fish's health and dietary requirements.
Providing additional foodstuffs such as live, frozen, and freeze-dried meals such as bloodworm, daphnia, and tubifex once or twice a week will provide additional benefits to your fish's health and well-being but is not a must for this fish.
It should be noted that bloodworms should only be given as an occasional treat and should not be used as the staple diet as they are difficult for fish to digest and can potentially cause blockages.
This fish is an omnivore in the wild, meaning it will consume some vegetable matter. Although most modern fish foods take this into account and include them in their products, you can still supplement your fish's diet with blanched vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, and zucchini. Ensure you do not overfeed your fish and remove any leftovers the following day.
Sexual Dimorphism
It is effortless to differentiate between the male and female Eggers Killifish. The males are much brighter in colour and are somewhat larger, and they exhibit patterning; these patterns can vary depending on the location from which the fish originated. In contrast, the females are smaller, have very little to no colour and lack the patterning of males.