Foersch's Nothobranch (Nothobranchius foerschi)

Overview

Foersch's Nothobranch (Nothobranchius foerschi) is a small Tanzanian annual killifish supplied here at approximately 2.5-3.5 cm. Mature males are famous for the bright red tail, pearly blue-green body sheen and spotted fins that make this species stand out in a quiet planted aquarium. It is best treated as a specialist seasonal-pool fish rather than a general community-tank extra.

FishBase lists Nothobranchius foerschi from eastern Tanzania, probably around the upper Ruvu, Mpiji and lower Rufiji drainage areas, with a maximum length around 5 cm and a 22-26 C reference range. Our stock records give 21-25 C, pH 5.8-7.2 and a supplied size of 2.5-3.5 cm. Specialist aquarium sources also keep it on the cooler side of that range. The practical routine advice below uses 21-25 C, stable clean water and a species-first setup.

Who This Fish Suits

Choose Foersch's Nothobranch if you want a vivid annual killifish with real behaviour, fast colour development and a breeding project behind it. It suits aquarists who can offer a covered, quiet tank, small meaty foods, soft spawning media and a plan for egg incubation. It is less suitable for a busy mixed aquarium where faster fish take the food or where nobody wants to manage annual-killifish eggs.

Quick Facts

• Scientific name: Nothobranchius foerschi
• Common name: Foersch's Nothobranch
• Family: Nothobranchiidae
• Native range: eastern Tanzania
• Habitat: seasonal pools, swamps and floodplain water bodies
• Supplied size: approximately 2.5-3.5 cm
• Adult size: about 5 cm total length; males can be slightly larger than females
• Care level: difficult/advanced because breeding and egg storage are specialist
• Temperature: 21-25 C for routine care
• Water: aim around pH 6.5-7.5; keep water stable and clean
• Minimum aquarium: around 40 litres for a pair or trio; larger for groups
• Diet: carnivore; small live and frozen foods are strongly preferred
• Tank level: lower and middle areas, especially around cover and spawning media

Appearance And Source Photo

The original reference photo has been added as an additional image for this SKU. It shows the stocky male shape, pale metallic body, red tail, patterned dorsal fin and darker anal fin typical of the fish being supplied. Females are usually smaller and plainer, with tan or grey-brown colour and shorter fins, so the strongest colour display comes from mature males in good condition.

The existing planted-aquarium gallery remains in place as supporting presentation imagery. Those images help show aquarium mood and scale, while the source photo anchors the listing to the supplier line.

Natural Habitat

Nothobranchius foerschi is an East African seasonal-pool fish. In the wild, nothos live in temporary habitats that appear with rain and may dry later in the year. Adults grow quickly, feed heavily and spawn into the bottom. The eggs survive in damp substrate while the adult fish disappear with the drying water, then hatch when the habitat floods again.

That life cycle shapes aquarium care. This is not a high-flow river fish and it does not need a bright, exposed display. It does best in a mature, calm tank with cover, soft spawning material, gentle filtration and stable water quality.

Aquarium Setup

A 40 litre aquarium can work for a pair or trio, but more water volume makes feeding, territory and water quality easier. Use a tight lid, because killifish can jump. Add Java moss, floating plants, fine-leaved cover and visual breaks so females and weaker males can rest away from display pressure.

For breeding, add a small removable container of peat, coir, fine sand or another soft spawning medium. This lets eggs be collected and incubated separately without dismantling the whole aquarium. Keep filtration gentle, avoid strong current and make sure the tank is fully cycled before the fish arrives.

Water And Maintenance

Use 21-25 C as the practical routine range. FishBase gives pH 6.5-7.5, while our stock records give pH 5.8-7.2 and hardness up to 15 dGH, so the safest home-aquarium approach is stable, clean water around neutral rather than chasing extremes. Sudden changes are more risky than being slightly outside a printed number.

Because annual killifish eat rich foods and have a fast metabolism, small aquariums can foul quickly. Feed carefully, remove leftovers, siphon lightly around the spawning container and use regular small water changes. Keep ammonia and nitrite at zero and nitrate low.

Feeding

This species is a micropredator. Offer small live and frozen foods such as daphnia, Artemia, baby brine shrimp, mosquito larvae, grindal worms and finely chopped bloodworm where suitable. Quality micro pellets may be accepted as a supplement, but live and frozen foods are usually much better for colour, condition and breeding.

Feed small portions once or twice daily. In a mixed community, faster fish often take the best food first, which is one reason a species-first aquarium is recommended.

Behaviour

Foersch's Nothobranch is not a bruiser, but males display strongly and can pressure one another in a bare tank. Aquarium Glaser notes that specialised nothos do not fit well in ordinary community aquariums and are most impressive in a one-species setup. Keep groups with cover, sight breaks and enough females to reduce constant chasing.

The short adult lifespan is part of annual-killifish biology. Plan to enjoy the adults while they are in colour, and decide early whether you want to collect eggs. Without egg incubation, the line will not naturally continue for long.

Compatibility

The best choice is a species-first tank. If you attempt community keeping, use only very calm, similarly sized fish that do not compete hard for food and that tolerate the same warm, stable water. Avoid large fish, aggressive fish, fin-nippers, fast feeders, most shrimp and tiny fry. Shrimp and fry are prey-sized and are not a sensible match for a carnivorous notho.

Breeding Notes

Nothobranchius foerschi is a bottom-spawning annual killifish. FishBase records substrate spawning and a 2-4 month incubation note, while Aquarium Glaser reports that eggs can hatch after roughly 6-10 weeks of drying in aquarium practice. Treat that as a range, not a fixed promise: incubation varies with temperature, moisture and population.

Condition breeders with small live foods, provide soft spawning media, then store the damp medium carefully. Fry are small and need tiny first foods before moving onto newly hatched brine shrimp. This breeding work is the main reason the page marks the species as difficult/advanced even though settled adults can be straightforward in the right setup.

Source-Backed Care Notes

This page was checked against FishBase for accepted identity, range, size, temperature, pH and spawning notes; FishBase synonym detail for the original combination; Seriously Fish and Aquarium Glaser for practical aquarium size, temperature, feeding and species-tank caution; WildNothos for Tanzanian type-locality and habitat context; and our stock records for supplied size, source image and current stock row. The wording is written for Nothobranchius foerschi, not as a generic killifish template.

Delivery And Arrival

Foersch's Nothobranch is sent by live-animal courier when weather, route timing and livestock condition are suitable. Orders are packed around oxygen, temperature and journey time, and livestock is covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee. Please have a mature covered aquarium ready before dispatch day, with small frozen or live foods and spawning media if you want to continue the line.