Gardneri killifish care guide

Plan a tank with gardneri killifishSee all tank mates

Gardneri killifish quick facts

• 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.

Numbers are bioload limits only. Males fight, so keep one male, alone or with several females.

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.

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.

• seriouslyfish.com
• fishbase.de
• aquariumglaser.de
• en.wikipedia.org