TankBud

Kisaki nothobranch

Nothobranchius flammicomantis

Also known as Flammicomantis killi, Kisaki killi

FreshwaterFish

Kisaki nothobranch (Nothobranchius flammicomantis)
The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
72–79°F
22–26°C
pH
6.5–7.8
Adult size
2.2 in
5.5 cm
Minimum tank
11 gal
40 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Middle
Diet
Carnivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Egg burier · Medium
Rarity
Rare
Family
Nothobranchiidae
Origin
Kisaki floodplains, Tanzania

Overview

The Kisaki nothobranch is a brightly colored annual killifish for a species tank. It is manageable for a keeper with a little experience.

Did you know

The name flammicomantis means roughly flame-haired. It points to a real feature of the male Kisaki nothobranch, whose anal fin looks as if it were catching fire.

Caring for the Kisaki nothobranch

Keep the Kisaki nothobranch as a pair, or as one male with two or three females, in 11 gal (40 L) or more. Give it a warm, gently filtered tank over a soft peat or sand base, with planting and cover to break the light.

Keep the water neutral to slightly hard and slightly alkaline, at 72 to 79°F (22 to 26°C) and a pH of 6.5 to 7.8. Feed live and frozen foods such as bloodworm, mosquito larvae, daphnia and brine shrimp.

The Kisaki nothobranch is mostly peaceful, but males display and spar. Keep one male to a small tank, or add cover and extra females, since two or three females soften his relentless courtship. A species tank is safest, and any company should be calm fish of a similar size, added with caution.

Males carry orange, thread-like extensions on the anal fin. Pairs spawn into the substrate, and the eggs survive the dry season resting in damp peat, then hatch once rehydrated. This staged routine makes breeding a moderate challenge.

Good to know

The Kisaki nothobranch, Nothobranchius flammicomantis, is a true annual killifish in the family Nothobranchiidae.

In the wild

The Kisaki nothobranch comes from seasonal pools on the plains inland of Dar es Salaam, near Kisaki in eastern Tanzania. These shallow, rain-fed waters on the Kisaki floodplains dry out for part of the year.

Common questions

What size tank does a Kisaki nothobranch need?

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

What temperature and pH does a Kisaki nothobranch need?

A Kisaki nothobranch is comfortable at 72–79°F (22–26°C) with a pH of 6.5–7.8.

What does a Kisaki nothobranch eat?

A Kisaki nothobranch eats live and frozen foods, such as bloodworm, mosquito larvae, daphnia and brine shrimp.

How big does a Kisaki nothobranch get?

An adult Kisaki nothobranch reaches about 2.2 in (5.5 cm).

How can you tell a male Kisaki nothobranch from a female?

Males have orange, thread-like extensions trailing from the anal fin.

How does a Kisaki nothobranch breed?

Kisaki nothobranch pairs spawn into the substrate. The eggs rest in damp peat and hatch once rehydrated, a staged routine that makes breeding moderately difficult.

Related species