TankBud

Patrizi's notho

Nothobranchius patrizii

Also known as Blue notho, Patrizi's killifish, Red-tailed turquoise notho, Red Tail Turquoise Killi

FreshwaterFish

Patrizi's notho (Nothobranchius patrizii)
Jokuyken15 · CC BY 4.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
72–79°F
22–26°C
pH
6.0–7.0
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
Native to seasonal coastal pools and floodplains in southern Somalia and northern Kenya.

Overview

Patrizi's notho is a small, comparatively peaceful annual killifish for a dim species tank. It needs a keeper with some experience.

Did you know

Patrizi's notho is one of the northernmost nothos, with a range that reaches into southern Somalia.

Caring for the Patrizi's notho

Set up a planted species tank of 11 gal (40 L) or more for one male Patrizi's notho and two or three females. Keep it dim, with a soft substrate and a firm lid. Bright overhead lighting stresses the fish, so a shaded tank brings out its best color and behavior.

Keep the water soft and slightly acidic, at 72 to 79°F (22 to 26°C) and a pH of 6.0 to 7.0. Feed live and frozen bloodworm, daphnia, brine shrimp and micro worm.

It does best in a quiet, single-species setup, so choose any tank mates with caution. Males have an electric blue body with contrasting red fins, while females are plain brown.

Patrizi's notho is an annual, and its eggs pass the dry season in diapause until rain refills the pools. Spawn it over peat and keep the eggs damp for a couple of months before wetting them. Breeding it is a moderate challenge.

Good to know

Patrizi's notho, Nothobranchius patrizii, belongs to the family Nothobranchiidae. In the hobby it is also called the blue notho, for the glowing blue of the males.

In the wild

Patrizi's notho lives in seasonal coastal pools and floodplains in southern Somalia and northern Kenya. These temporary rain pools on the coastal plain dry out for part of the year.

Common questions

What size tank does a Patrizi's notho need?

A Patrizi's notho needs at least 11 gal (40 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a Patrizi's notho need?

A Patrizi's notho is comfortable at 72–79°F (22–26°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.0.

What does a Patrizi's notho eat?

A Patrizi's notho eats live and frozen foods, such as bloodworm, daphnia, brine shrimp and micro worm.

How big does a Patrizi's notho get?

An adult Patrizi's notho reaches about 2.2 in (5.5 cm).

How can you tell a male Patrizi's notho from a female?

Males have an electric blue body with contrasting red fins. Females are plain brown.

How does a Patrizi's notho breed?

Patrizi's notho is an annual whose eggs rest in diapause through the dry season. Spawn it over peat and keep the eggs damp for a couple of months before wetting them. Breeding it is moderately difficult.

Related species