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Bluefin killifish

Lucania goodei

Also known as Blue fin killifish

FreshwaterFish

Bluefin killifish (Lucania goodei)
Tarragons · CC0

Care at a glance

Temperature
64–77°F
18–25°C
pH
6.5–7.5
Adult size
2 in
5 cm
Minimum tank
11 gal
40 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Shoaling
Swim level
Middle
Diet
Carnivore
Difficulty
Easy
Breeding
Egg depositor · Easy
Rarity
Common
Family
Fundulidae
Origin
Southeastern USA: peninsular Florida, with sporadic Atlantic-coast populations to South Carolina and SE Alabama

Overview

The bluefin killifish is a mostly peaceful schooling killifish for a cool, densely planted tank. It is an easy fish to keep.

Did you know

The bluefin killifish takes its name from the males, which flare bright blue and red in their fins. The color show is a group affair, and a lone male stays drab. Put several together and they spend the day sparring and displaying, which is when the blue really comes out.

Caring for the bluefin killifish

Keep bluefin killifish in a group of six or more, in a tank of at least 11 gal (40 L). Males color up and display best with company and dither fish nearby. Plant the tank densely and add some floating cover, since they are a bit shy and use the plants to feel secure. They hold to the middle of the water column.

Run the water cool, at 64 to 77°F (18 to 25°C), and soft to moderately hard, at a pH of 6.5 to 7.5. They are a cool-water, subtropical fish, so most homes need no heater at all. Skip the heated tropical setup, since long-term warmth shortens their lives.

Bluefin killifish are micropredators. Feed small live, frozen and prepared foods such as daphnia, baby brine shrimp and micro pellets. Pair them with small, calm, cool-tolerant tank mates, and avoid large or pushy fish that will outcompete them at feeding.

They are continuous spawners, laying eggs into fine-leaved plants over an extended season with no parental care. Breeding them is easy. This is a North American native, so never release them or their water into local waterways. Check your local rules before keeping or moving them.

Good to know

The bluefin killifish is a small North American killifish in the family Fundulidae. Wild fish are reported up to about 6 cm, though aquarium adults usually settle near 4 to 5 cm. A well-kept fish lives a few years, and cooler water tends to lengthen that.

In the wild

Bluefin killifish come from quiet, heavily planted waters across peninsular Florida. Scattered populations also live up the Atlantic coast into South Carolina, and in southeastern Alabama. They live in slow springs, ditches and weedy pond margins thick with vegetation.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The bluefin killifish is a mostly peaceful, shoaling species that keeps to the middle. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a bluefin killifish need?

A bluefin killifish needs at least 11 gal (40 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a bluefin killifish need?

A bluefin killifish is comfortable at 64–77°F (18–25°C) with a pH of 6.5–7.5.

What does a bluefin killifish eat?

A bluefin killifish is a micropredator. It eats small live, frozen and prepared foods such as daphnia, baby brine shrimp and micro pellets.

How big does a bluefin killifish get?

An adult bluefin killifish reaches about 2 in (5 cm).

Does a bluefin killifish need a group?

Yes. A bluefin killifish is a shoaling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.

How does a bluefin killifish breed?

Bluefin killifish spawn continuously over an extended season, laying their eggs into fine-leaved plants. The parents give the eggs no care, and breeding them is easy.

Related species