{"product_id":"steel-blue-killifish-pair-fundulopanchax-gardneri-steel-blue","title":"Steel Blue Killifish Pair | Fundulopanchax gardneri 'Steel Blue'","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eSold as a bonded pair, the Steel Blue Killifish is one of the best introductions to the world of killies — the male shimmers electric steel-blue scattered with red flecks, while the female is a quieter fawn. Reaching around 5–6 cm and relatively hardy for a killifish, it is a jewel-like choice for a soft, planted, securely lidded tank.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eFundulopanchax gardneri is native to Nigeria and western Cameroon, where it lives in small, shaded forest streams, swamps and seasonal pools. These soft, slightly acidic, gently moving waters are often heavily vegetated, and the fish typically stays in the upper and middle layers.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe male is the showpiece — a glowing steel to turquoise-blue body dusted with red spots and edged in yellow along the fins, with a distinctive lyre-shaped tail. Females are smaller and plainer, in soft brown with faint spotting, which makes telling the sexes apart easy.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eGenerally peaceful, though males can be feisty toward one another, so keep a single male or a group in a larger, well-planted tank where sightlines are broken up. It works in a calm soft-water community, but its small size means tank mates should be gentle and not large enough to bully it.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eA micro-carnivore that does best on small meaty foods. Offer frozen and live daphnia, cyclops, brine shrimp, blackworm and small bloodworm; many will also take good-quality flake and micro-pellets. A varied diet keeps the male's colours vivid and the pair in breeding condition.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eProvide a planted aquarium of at least 40 L, ideally 60 L or more, with gentle filtration, soft dim lighting and plenty of cover. Keep the temperature at 22–26 °C, pH 6.0–7.0 and soft, slightly acidic water. A tight-fitting lid is essential — like most killies this is an accomplished jumper. It is plant safe.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eOne of the easiest killifish to breed, which is why it is such a popular starter species. It is a plant-spawner (not an annual), depositing eggs among fine-leaved plants, moss or spawning mops over several days. Eggs can be hatched in water in around two to three weeks, or collected and incubated slightly damp; the fry grow quickly on baby brine shrimp and micro-foods.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003ctable\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFundulopanchax gardneri\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSteel Blue Killifish, Blue Lyretail, Gardner's Killi\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNigeria and western Cameroon\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAround 5–6 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3–4 years with good care\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePeaceful (jumper; males can spar)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIntermediate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e40 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e60 L or larger, planted\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCarnivore (micro): live and frozen daphnia, brine shrimp, blackworm, bloodworm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e22–26 °C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6.0–7.0\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSoft, around 3–10 dGH\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable (freshwater)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSoft-water planted, securely lidded aquariums\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eYes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003c\/table\u003e \u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eSuitable tank mates include small peaceful species such as tetras, rasboras, pencilfish, corydoras and dwarf shrimp in a calm soft-water tank.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eAvoid keeping with large or aggressive fish, boisterous fin-nippers, and additional males in a small tank. Always keep the tank tightly covered to prevent jumping.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55232878477603,"sku":"BA8287","price":29.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55232878510371,"sku":null,"price":34.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/Steel_Blue_Killifish_Pair_40fc6352-aed7-4a7f-9023-1092df894081.jpg?v=1781701783","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/steel-blue-killifish-pair-fundulopanchax-gardneri-steel-blue","provider":"Nicks Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","version":"1.0","type":"link"}