TankBud

Mafia killifish

Nothobranchius korthausae

Also known as Korthaus' notho, Mafia Island killifish, Red Mafia killifish, Nothobranchius korthasae, Korthasae killi

FreshwaterFish

Mafia killifish (Nothobranchius korthausae)
Andrew Bogott · CC BY-SA 4.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
72–79°F
22–26°C
pH
5.8–6.5
Adult size
2 in
5 cm
Minimum tank
10 gal
38 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Middle
Diet
Carnivore
Difficulty
Easy
Breeding
Easy
Rarity
Rare
Family
Nothobranchiidae
Origin
Endemic to Mafia Island off the coast of Tanzania, where it lives in pools, ditches, and small streams that shrink in the dry season.

Overview

The Mafia killifish is a dwarf annual killifish for a planted species tank, and one of the more forgiving nothos.

Did you know

Hobbyists often suggest the Mafia killifish as the best Nothobranchius for someone trying annual killifish for the first time. It is easy to keep, feed and spawn.

Caring for the Mafia killifish

Keep the Mafia killifish as a pair or trio in a planted species tank of 10 gal (38 L) or more. Give it a soft substrate, dim light and a secure lid. It tolerates its own kind better than most nothos, so a small group can share a tank.

Keep the water soft and acidic, at 72 to 79°F (22 to 26°C) and a pH of 5.8 to 6.5. Change 20 to 30 percent of the water regularly to keep it healthy. Feed live and frozen daphnia, brine shrimp, bloodworm and micro worm.

The Mafia killifish is mostly peaceful, but choose any tank mates with caution. Males come in a red form and a yellow form, both with fine dark markings.

Good to know

The Mafia killifish, Nothobranchius korthausae, is one of the smaller annual nothos in the family Nothobranchiidae. It is endemic to a single small island, which makes it vulnerable to habitat change.

In the wild

The Mafia killifish lives on Mafia Island, off the coast of Tanzania, in shallow seasonal waters over soft ground. Its pools, ditches and small streams shrink in the dry season.

Common questions

What size tank does a Mafia killifish need?

A Mafia killifish needs at least 10 gal (38 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a Mafia killifish need?

A Mafia killifish is comfortable at 72–79°F (22–26°C) with a pH of 5.8–6.5.

What does a Mafia killifish eat?

A Mafia killifish eats live and frozen foods, such as daphnia, brine shrimp, bloodworm and micro worm.

How big does a Mafia killifish get?

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

How can you tell a male Mafia killifish from a female?

Males come in a red form and a yellow form, and both carry fine dark markings.

Related species