Gardneri killifish care guide
Also called: Steel-blue killifish, Blue lyretail, Gardner's killifish, Fundulopanchax gardneri
The gardneri killifish is a hardy, colorful West African killi and one of the easiest killifish for beginners. Males are blue-green with red spots and bright fin edges. It needs a tight lid, dense plants and more females than males.
Gardneri killifish need a tank of at least 10 gallons (38 L), and water at 21–25°C (70–77°F) with a pH of 6–7.5. They grow to about 6 cm (2.4 in) and are semi-aggressive.
Plan a tank with gardneri killifishSee all tank mates
Gardneri killifish quick facts
| Scientific name | Fundulopanchax gardneri |
|---|---|
| Family | Nothobranchiidae |
| Origin | Nigeria and western Cameroon, West Africa (Cross and Benue river systems); most sold are captive-bred |
| Adult size | 6 cm (2.4 in) |
| Minimum tank | 10 gallons (38 L) |
| Temperature | 21–25°C (70–77°F) |
| pH | 6–7.5 |
| Hardness (GH) | 3–10 dGH |
| Group size | Alone, or 1 male with several females |
| Temperament | Semi-aggressive; males fight each other |
| Swims at | Middle |
| Diet | Carnivore |
| Care level | Easy |
| Lifespan | 2–3 years |
| Safe with shrimp? | No, eats shrimp |
| Safe with plants? | Yes |
- Known jumper: keep a tight-fitting lid.
Tank setup
A trio of one male and two females fits a 10-gallon (38 L) tank, though 15–20 gallons (57–76 L) gives females more room to escape the male. Plant densely, add floating plants and some leaf litter, and keep the light soft. A tight lid is essential.
How many gardneri killifish in a tank?
The smallest common tank that suits gardneri killifish is a 10 gallon. Here is roughly how many fit in each size when they are the only fish, based on adult size and waste output. Leave room if you want tank mates.
| Tank | Gardneri killifish (alone) |
|---|---|
| 3 gallon | Too small |
| 5 gallon | Too small |
| 10 gallon | Up to 7 |
| 15 gallon | Up to 11 |
| 20 gallon | Up to 14 |
| 20 gallon long | Up to 14 |
| 29 gallon | Up to 21 |
| 40 gallon | Up to 29 |
| 55 gallon | Up to 40 |
| 75 gallon | Up to 55 |
| 125 gallon | Up to 92 |
Numbers are bioload limits only. Males fight, so keep one male, alone or with several females.
What you need for gardneri killifish
Sized for a 10 gallon tank, the smallest common size that suits gardneri killifish. For a different tank or a mix of fish, use the stocking calculator for a list sized to your plan.
Tank and equipment
- 10 gallon aquarium (tank or kit) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Bigger tanks are more stable and easier for beginners. How to choose
- Adjustable heater, 50 W (opens Amazon in a new tab)Holds about 73 °F (23 °C) in a room at 65 °F (18 °C). How to choose
- Aquarium thermometer (opens Amazon in a new tab)Check it daily: heaters can fail stuck on or off. How to choose
- Hang-on-back filter rated 40–60 GPH (opens Amazon in a new tab)Community tank: 4–6 times the tank volume per hour. How to choose
- About 25 lb of aquarium gravel (opens Amazon in a new tab)Enough for a layer about 2 in (5 cm) deep. Smooth gravel suits most community fish. How to choose
- Water conditioner (dechlorinator) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Removes chlorine and chloramine from tap water. Seachem Prime is a popular, concentrated choice. How to choose
- Liquid test kit (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Liquid kits are more accurate than strips. The API Freshwater Master Test Kit is the common choice. How to choose
- Gravel vacuum (siphon) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Cleans the gravel and does the water change in one go. How to choose
- LED aquarium light, about 20 in long (opens Amazon in a new tab)Match the light to the tank length. Basic LEDs grow easy plants. How to choose
Food and extras for gardneri killifish
- Tropical fish pellets (opens Amazon in a new tab)A good staple for medium community fish.
- Freeze-dried bloodworms or brine shrimp (opens Amazon in a new tab)A treat that carnivores and insect eaters love. Feed it a few times a week.
- Tight-fitting lid for a 10 gallon tank (opens Amazon in a new tab)Gardneri killifish can jump out of an open tank.
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Water parameters
Keep them at 21–25 °C (70–77 °F), pH 6.0–7.5 and 3–10 dGH. They like slightly cooler water than many tropical fish, and keepers find they live longer when not kept warm all year. Use gentle filtration, such as a sponge filter.
Best tank mates for gardneri killifish
These popular species share gardneri killifish' water needs and temperament. See the full list of 68 good matches.
Nerite snail
2.5 cm (1 in) · 22–27°C (72–81°F)
Guppy
5 cm (2 in) · 22–27°C (72–81°F)
Neon tetra
3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 21–25°C (70–77°F)
Panda corydoras
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 21–25°C (70–77°F)
Bristlenose pleco
12 cm (4.7 in) · 22–26°C (72–79°F)
Bronze corydoras
7 cm (2.8 in) · 21–26°C (70–79°F)
Zebra danio
5 cm (2 in) · 18–25°C (64–77°F)
Tiger barb
7 cm (2.8 in) · 22–27°C (72–81°F)
Avoid keeping gardneri killifish with
- Cherry shrimp: Gardneri killifish eats small shrimp like cherry shrimp.
- Oscar: Oscar can eat gardneri killifish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Boesemani rainbowfish: They need different temperatures: Gardneri killifish 21–25°C (70–77°F), boesemani rainbowfish 26–29°C (79–84°F).
- Discus: They need different temperatures: Gardneri killifish 21–25°C (70–77°F), discus 28–30°C (82–86°F).
- Electric yellow cichlid: Electric yellow cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Gardneri killifish don't belong in that setup.
- German blue ram: They need different temperatures: Gardneri killifish 21–25°C (70–77°F), german blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F).
Feeding
They are micropredators of small worms, insect larvae and crustaceans. Most accept flakes and micro pellets, but give live or frozen foods such as baby brine shrimp, daphnia and bloodworm several times a week.
Behavior
Males are bold, spar with each other and can wear out a female that has nowhere to hide. Keep one male with two or three females, or several males only in a larger, well-planted tank. Choose calm tankmates of a similar size, and expect them to hunt shrimp.
Breeding
Easy to breed. Pairs lay a few eggs daily in fine plants, moss or a spawning mop, and the adults eat eggs, so collect them. Eggs hatch in about 2–3 weeks in water, or can be stored on damp peat for 3–4 weeks and then wetted. Fry eat baby brine shrimp or microworms from the start.
Tips from experienced keepers
- Cover every gap in the lid. Gardneri are skilled jumpers and escape through small openings.
- Keep more females than males so no single female is chased all the time.
- Do not add them to a shrimp breeding tank. They hunt small shrimp and shrimplets.
- Aim for about 22–24 °C (72–75 °F). Save warmer water for breeding, since constant warmth seems to shorten their life.
Frequently asked questions
Are gardneri killifish good for beginners?
Yes. They are among the hardiest killifish, accept prepared foods and handle a range of water. Their main needs are a tight lid and enough cover for the females.
How many gardneri killifish should I keep?
One male with two or three females is the standard setup. A single male can also live in a calm community tank on his own.
Can gardneri killifish live with shrimp?
It is risky. They hunt shrimplets and small shrimp such as cherry shrimp. Larger shrimp like amano shrimp are usually safer.
Sources
We checked these references when writing this page. Values are for healthy long-term keeping, not survival limits. Last reviewed 2026-10-13. See our editorial policy.