Lyretail killifish

Care at a glance

The lyretail killifish from the coastal swamps of Gabon is orange-brown with red speckling and owes its name to the lyre-like extensions on the male's tail. The orange bred form you often see is a variety of the same species.

Unlike killifish from temporary pools it lives in permanent water and reaches a few years of age. It likes cooler, soft and slightly acidic water with plenty of planting, and needs small live or frozen foods; it lays its eggs among fine-leaved plants or clumps of moss.

Good to know

• Hard to wean onto dry food
• Known jumper — cover the tank

Related species

• Bluefin notho killifishNothobranchius rachovii
• Flame tetraHyphessobrycon flammeus
• Glowlight danioDanio choprae
• Head-and-taillight tetraHemigrammus ocellifer
• Doctor fish (garra rufa)Garra rufa
• Pearl danioDanio albolineatus