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Walker's killifish

Fundulopanchax walkeri

Also known as Walkeri killi

FreshwaterFish

Walker's killifish (Fundulopanchax walkeri)

Care at a glance

Temperature
68–77°F
20–25°C
pH
5.5–7.0
Adult size
2.4 in
6 cm
Minimum tank
14 gal
54 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Egg burier · Medium
Rarity
Rare
Family
Nothobranchiidae
Origin
Ghana and Ivory Coast forests

Overview

Walker's killifish is a colorful, mostly peaceful West African killi for a planted species tank. It is a step up from the easiest fish.

Did you know

Walker's killifish eggs can rest through a dry spell in damp peat. That lets a keeper pause the fish between generations and hatch the next batch when it suits.

Caring for the Walker's killifish

Keep Walker's killifish as a single pair, or as a harem of one male with two or more females. A pair settles into a tank of at least 14 gal (54 L), and a harem appreciates more room. It moves through the middle and lower levels among plants and wood, and it is a strong jumper, so keep the lid tight.

Give it a dark substrate, cover and cool water, which suit both the fish and its spawning. Add wood, floating plants and gentle flow. Keep the water soft and acidic to neutral, at a pH of 5.5 to 7.0 and 68 to 77°F (20 to 25°C). Leaves or peat help hold the tannin stain.

Feed live and frozen foods such as bloodworm, brine shrimp, daphnia and whiteworm, and it will take some dry food too. It is mostly peaceful and does well in a species tank, or with small, calm fish that will not compete with it at feeding time.

Walker's killifish is a semi-annual soil spawner. Its eggs can be buried and given a damp rest, like an annual's, or laid on mops. Hatching them on schedule keeps breeding at a moderate level.

Good to know

Fundulopanchax walkeri belongs to the family Nothobranchiidae. It sits toward the western edge of its genus's West African range.

In the wild

Walker's killifish comes from small streams, swamps and ponds in southwestern Ghana and southeastern Ivory Coast. It lives in coastal rainforest and forest savanna, in soft, shaded, slow waters over leaf litter.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The Walker's killifish is a mostly peaceful, social 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 Walker's killifish need?

A Walker's killifish needs at least 14 gal (54 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a Walker's killifish need?

A Walker's killifish is comfortable at 68–77°F (20–25°C) with a pH of 5.5–7.0.

What does a Walker's killifish eat?

A Walker's killifish eats live and frozen foods, such as bloodworm, brine shrimp, daphnia and whiteworm. It will take some dry food too.

How big does a Walker's killifish get?

An adult Walker's killifish reaches about 2.4 in (6 cm).

How does a Walker's killifish breed?

Walker's killifish is a semi-annual soil spawner, so its eggs can be buried and rested damp, or laid on mops. Hatching them on schedule makes breeding moderately difficult.

Related species