Care
The Steel Blue Killifish is known from brooks, streams, and swamps within humid rainforests and highland savannahs. This is a relatively hardy killifish which will bring activity and colour to the upper levels of the aquarium. They are best maintained in a species-only situation, with 2 or more females to every male. If keeping more than one male in the same aquarium, do ensure that the tank is heavily decorated in order for rival males to retreat to safety if necessary. If tankmates are desired, West African dwarf cichlids such as Pelvicachromis or Nannochromis work well in larger tanks and prefer the lower regions of the aquarium. They are, however, not suitable for the general community. The aquarium itself should be heavily planted (include floating species) with the incorporation of plenty of bogwood. The use of botanicals such as Catappa leaves is suggested to help keep the water soft, acidic and tannin stained, all of which will help to show the fish in their best colours. Tight fitting coverslides are a must as these fish are expert jumpers. There are many different geographical colour forms, several of which have been described as nominal subspecies. Some of the wild strains include "Akaram", "Akure", "Enugu", "Kluge", "Lafia", "Makurdi", "Nsukka", "Okwoga" and "Udi Mountain". There are also gold and albino aquarium-bred strains. The fish pictured above is a beautiful male "Akure". This is an excellent introductory species for hobbyists who are just starting out into the world of killifish keeping. May also been seen on sale as Blue Lyretail or Gardner's Killifish.
Feeding
Small frozen foods such as mosquito larvae, daphnia, cyclops, baby brineshrimp, vitamin-enriched brineshrimp etc. Can be shy at feeding times, so ensure that tankmates are not too boisterous and check that your killifish are receiving their fair share of the food.
Breeding
A separate softwater spawning tank should be set up with dense clumps of Java moss and/or spawning mops. Gentle filtration should be used, with a peat medium wherever possible. Every few days, the moss/mops should be checked and the eggs removed to a separate container and stored at 22 °C in damp peat moss for 14-21 days (ensure the container is opaque as the eggs are light sensitive). After this time, the amber coloured eggs may be transferred to the water in a hatching tank. The length of time it will take for the eggs to hatch will vary depending on tank temperature, but this usually occurs within 48 hours. This method of incubating the eggs in warm damp peat and then wetting after two-three weeks seems to yield a much higher success rate than by simply placing the eggs directly into a water filled hatching tank. It also ensures that the majority of the eggs hatch within a couple of days of each other at the most.
