Breeding Gardner's Killi (Fundulopanchax Gardneri Gardneri) In The Aquarium

Location

This species lives in ponds, creeks, streams, wetlands in Cross River state in Nigeria. Those reservoirs are covered by tropical and moist forests.

Body description

This fish are variant or subspecies of Fundulopanchax gardneri. There are currently 4 subspecies/variants of this fish: Fundulopanchax Gardneri Lacustris, Fundulopanchax Gardneri Mamfensis, Fundulopanchax Gardneri Gardneri and Fundulopanchax Gardneri Nigerianus. All variants differ in colours and habitat. Colour of the male is blue-olive with small, red spots. All fins are blue with red dots. The dorsal, caudal and anal fins have red and blue borders. Male has elongated external rays of the caudal fin and he is a bit larger and more colourful than female. Colour of the female is grey-beige with light under-side and brown dots. These dots often are poorly visible. Female is thicker in the ventral parts.

Temperament and behaviour

This species is medium-aggressive. Males are more aggressive than females and are territorial towards each other and other species which swim at the same water levels. This fish like to annoy species with elongated and flowing fins and often nibble their fins. This fish swims very fast and is very active. You should keep it with bottom feeding species – corydoras, catfish etc. You may keep a group of these fish but for every male you should have 2-3 females. Males tend to bother females when they are sexually mature.

Aquarium decoration

This species prefers a spacious tank with a lot of plants, floating plants, dimmed light, dark substrate with layer of peat, dark decorative elements, gentle filtration system. You must cover the aquarium so your fish do not jump out. A partial water exchange should be done regularly.

Breeding

This is an oviparous species. You should breed these fish in a separate tank. Breeding aquarium should have 2/3 water level, soft water with pH=6.0-6.5, 24-26°C water temperature, small sponge filter with peat, plants with fine and soft leaves or mops, cover. You don’t need light. You can separate males from females around 1 week before spawning and you should feed them with plenty of live food. Then you transfer the most colourful male and the thickest females (2-3) to the breeding aquarium. The fish spawn near the water surface or by the substrate. Male chases females very intense. Male moves close to the female and tries to hold her with his dorsal and anal fins. The fish bend in the characteristic way. Female lays the eggs on the leaves or in the substrate. The spawn can last for few weeks. Usually it takes around 1 week. Female lays 10-30 eggs every day. You don’t have to remove the parents or the roe after spawning if you feed parents well. They will not eat the eggs when they are not hungry. Colour of the roe is amber, single egg has diameter of 3mm. The roe is very sensitive to light and fungal infections, so you must check and remove rotten eggs every day (bad eggs are white with lints). The eggs hatch after 14-21 days (it depends on the water temperature) and the larvae immediately starts feeding. You should initially keep larvae in very shallow water and you should gradually increase the water level. You should systematically do a partial water changes. The fish can also breed in the general aquarium but then the efficiency will be poor.