Bluefin Notho

• ExerciseModerate

  An active swimmer that appreciates open swimming space.

• GroomingAttentive tank care

  Sensitive to water quality — stay on top of testing and maintenance.

• Living spaceNano-tank friendly

  Happy in a small, stable, well-filtered tank.

• Owner experienceFor experienced owners

  Rewards owners who know the ropes.

• Commitment1–2 years

  Plan for a long, loving relationship.

Health to watch: Ich (white spot) · Fin rot · Skin conditions

The Bluefin Notho (Nothobranchius rachovii) comes from seasonal floodplain pools in Mozambique and reaches about 4 to 5 cm. It is a true annual killifish: in the wild its pools dry out completely each year, the adults die, and the species survives as drought-resistant eggs buried in the mud that hatch when rain returns. Its lifespan in an aquarium is normally around a year, sometimes stretching toward two. That life cycle is the honest headline. Anyone buying this fish should know it is not a long-term pet, and keepers usually maintain it by collecting eggs, storing them damp in peat for a few months and then wetting them to hatch the next generation. Keep a male with two or three females in a 40 litre or larger tank at 22-26C with a pH of 6.0 to 7.0, soft water, dim light and a peat or sand spawning area. Feed live and frozen foods almost exclusively, such as bloodworm, daphnia, brine shrimp and blackworm. Males are aggressive toward each other, and this is a species-tank fish.

• How active is a Bluefin Notho?

  Moderate. An active swimmer that appreciates open swimming space.

• How much maintenance does a Bluefin Notho need?

  Attentive tank care. Sensitive to water quality — stay on top of testing and maintenance.

• What tank size does a Bluefin Notho need?

  Nano-tank friendly. Happy in a small, stable, well-filtered tank.

• Is a Bluefin Notho a good fit for first-time owners?

  For experienced owners. Rewards owners who know the ropes.

• How long do Bluefin Notho live?

  1–2 years. Plan for a long, loving relationship.

• What health issues affect the Bluefin Notho?

  Keep an eye out for Ich (white spot), Fin rot, Skin conditions. These are worth raising with your vet, along with any screening they recommend.

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