Breeding the black-fin pearl killifish
An annual killifish: the pair dives into peat or mud to lay eggs. The eggs rest in damp peat in diapause, a pause in development that lets them survive the dry season, and hatch when water is added; without a dry period breeding fails.
Step by step
One male with 2-3 females.
20 L tank with a bowl of peat and cool, soft water.
Cool water and live food.
Eggs are stored in damp peat for about 2-4 months before wetting (sometimes much longer); in nature they can survive dried soil for up to about 3 years.
Baby brine shrimp from day one.
- Warm water
- Not enough dry storage
- Hard water
Male or female
Males are blue-black with many iridescent blue-white spots and dark fins; females are paler yellow-grey to light brown with irregular dark brown spots on the body. A beaten male can turn very pale but never shows the female spots.
Can I breed it in my tank?
- Takes some experience.
Day-by-day plan
Typical for killifish (egg buriers)
- Day 0Spawning in peat
Pairs lay eggs in peat or coco fibre over several days.
- Day 1Dry the peat
Squeeze the peat damp-dry and store it in a bag at room temperature.
- Day 60Wet the peat
After 1–4 months (depends on the species), add cool soft water. Fry hatch within hours.
- Day 61First food
Feed infusoria, then baby brine shrimp from day 3.
A general guide for this breeding type. Days change with temperature and species.
Simulator: guided
Pairs lay eggs in peat or coco fibre over several days.
Simulator: try it yourself
Set up a virtual breeding tank and see what would likely happen.
- Without live or frozen food the parents aren't in breeding condition.
An educational estimate from the breeding rules, not a promise.