Killi fish?

Question

Hi, I'm curious about these Killi Fish. Are these freshwater fish, and can they survive in high ph (8)? Are they easy to hatch? Are they agressive? Will pet shops (like petsmart) take the extras if I try to sell them?

I have a community tank, with -
1 corycat, 1 pleco, 2 gourami's, 2 plattys, 4 zebra danios, & 1 redtailed shark, so far...

I'm thinking about getting a setup to hatch 50 killi eggs with the hatch container setup, but I don't know the first thing about these fish! Any and all info about them would be helpful and appriciated!
Thank you for your help!!!

I'm sorry. It's a 55 gallon tank.

Answer 1

As a group killifish are great little fish. I have kept and bred quite a few species of them. Most will do just fine in a higher pH like you have. Hatching and raising them varies a bit depending on the type you have, some breed in spawning mops, some in peatmoss on the bottom of the tank. Some eggs will hatch within days on being laid, some require a month or two in a damp, cool environment before they hatch.

There is no way you would be able to breed them in you community tank because the other fish will eat all of the eggs as fast as the killifish lay them. But, in Eurpoe Killifish are often called closet fish because people turn closets into fish rooms and keep tons on killies in just a little closet. With a sponge filter, many species will do great in just a 1-2 gallon tank. Up to a 5 gallon for most others and a few are large enough to require a 10 gallon. If you have a certain killifish in mind I will be happy to help you with the requirements for keeping and breeding them, or if you want suggestions for a first killifish to start off with, I'll be happy to help with that too.

Here'a alink to an awesome website run by the American Killifish Association. The links under The Basics on the left of the page will give you a starting place. Tons of great info available froim them about killies! I would HIGHLY suggest you check it out and be sure to check out the current fish and egg listings. I would also HIGHLY recommend Ed Warner's (RIP) book called "Success with Killifish" His wife still sells it on the fish and egg listings for just $10... it's worth double that easy.

I seriously doubt a place like Petsmart, Petco etc would buy them from you, they have to buy only from their suppliers, but local fish stores grab mine up like no tomorrow!

Hope that helps some and feel free to drop me a line if I can help more.

MM

http://www.aka.org/aka/modules/content/index.php?id=2

Answer 2

Killifish are freshwater fish and some are very pretty. There are several different ones and I have never, in all my years of keeping fish, and visiting aquarium stores, seen one for sale. I do know you can get them from www.liveaquaria.com .
You didn't say how big your tank was, but you've got more than enough fish right now unless your tank is a big one.