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: Tankmates with caution
Swim level: Middle
Difficulty: Medium
Breeding: Medium
Rarity: Rare
Origin: Kisaki floodplains, Tanzania
Family: Nothobranchiidae

Overview

The Kisaki nothobranch is a vivid annual killifish kept as a pair or as one male with two or three females, which softens his relentless courtship. Males display and spar, so keep one male to a small tank or add cover and extra females. Tankmates need caution: this fish is safest in a species tank, and only calm, similar sized company should be considered. It swims in the middle water. Feed live and frozen foods such as bloodworm, mosquito larvae, daphnia, and brine shrimp. A group is comfortable in a tank of about 40 liters.

In the wild

This killifish comes from seasonal pools on the plains inland of Dar es Salaam, near Kisaki in eastern Tanzania, shallow rain-fed waters that dry out for part of the year. 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, about pH 6.5–7.8 at 22–26 C, matching the range of its floodplain home.

Good to know

Nothobranchius flammicomantis belongs to the family Nothobranchiidae and reaches about 5.5 cm. It is a true annual killifish: pairs spawn into the substrate, and the eggs survive the dry season resting in damp peat before being rehydrated to hatch, a staged routine that makes breeding a moderate challenge. The male carries orange, thread-like extensions on the anal fin that give the species its name.

Did you know

The name flammicomantis means roughly flame-haired, and it points to a real feature: the orange, filament-like rays trailing from the male's anal fin, as if the fin were catching fire.