Moderate
Gardner's Killifish Gold (Aphyosemion gardneri gold) - Killifish
22–26°C · pH 5.8–7.2 · 20L
£9.99
A colourful West African killifish for covered planted aquariums. Best kept as a pair/trio or carefully structured group with gentle flow, floating cover and regular live/frozen foods.
Adult size is the maximum length this species reaches at full maturity (scientific sources). The livestock you receive will be younger and smaller — pick a size variant above for the actual shipping size. Photos are AI-enhanced, so the animal may show subtle colour or marking differences.
Fundulopanchax gardneri
Gardner's Killifish bond and breed in male/female pairs — buying a pair gives them the social structure they need.
A colourful West African killifish for covered planted aquariums. Best kept as a pair/trio or carefully structured group with gentle flow, floating cover and regular live/frozen foods.
Adult size is the maximum length this species reaches at full maturity (scientific sources). The livestock you receive will be younger and smaller — pick a size variant above for the actual shipping size. Photos are AI-enhanced, so the animal may show subtle colour or marking differences.
Maintain these water conditions for optimal health and vibrant colors
Gardner's Killifish (Fundulopanchax gardneri) is one of the classic West African killifish: colourful, hardy for a killifish, full of character and much more interesting than a generic small community fish. Males can show blue-green body colour, red spotting and a patterned lyretail, while females are usually plainer and better camouflaged.
This product is the parent listing for several size variants, with SKU 3007 supplied around 2-3 cm. The older local title used Aphyosemion gardneri; FishBase treats that as a synonym and lists the accepted name as Fundulopanchax gardneri. The synonym is useful for keepers searching old literature, but the listing now uses the accepted name in the main title.
| Scientific name | Fundulopanchax gardneri |
|---|---|
| Common names | Gardner's Killifish, Blue Lyretail, Steel-blue Killifish |
| Synonym often seen | Aphyosemion gardneri |
| Supplied size | Variant dependent; SKU 3007 is approx. 2-3 cm |
| Adult size | Up to about 6.5 cm total length according to FishBase |
| Minimum aquarium | 60 cm long / around 60 litres or larger for a pair or trio |
| Temperature | 20-26 C; avoid overheated tropical tanks |
| pH | Soft to neutral water, around pH 6.0-7.5 |
| Temperament | Confident and sometimes assertive; males need space and cover |
| Diet | Insectivore/carnivore leaning; small live and frozen foods are valuable |
| Care level | Moderate; a good first killifish for prepared keepers |
The source photo shows why this fish is so popular: a slender body with green-gold shine, red broken markings and patterned fins. Settled males can be far brighter than they look in a shop bag, especially under gentle light with floating plants above them.
Females are less colourful, but they are essential if you want a natural group. A single male can become restless in a bare tank. A pair or trio with cover, spawning mops and broken sight lines is usually more stable and more interesting to watch.
FishBase places Fundulopanchax gardneri in brooks, swamps, pools and streams in humid forest, highland savanna and rainforest regions. It is associated with Nigeria and Cameroon, and it is not the same care project as a short-lived annual killifish from a drying pool.
That distinction matters. Gardner's Killifish can use bottom-spawning behaviour and eggs may need an incubation period, but FishBase describes the species as not seasonal. Treat it as a hardy non-annual or semi-annual-style killifish: still specialist, still a jumper, still best with breeding cover, but not a fish that should be sold as a disposable seasonal novelty.
Use a mature, covered aquarium with gentle flow. Floating plants, Java moss, fine-leaved plants, roots, leaf litter, spawning mops and a dark base all help the fish settle. A tight lid is essential because killifish jump through surprisingly small gaps, especially during feeding or courtship.
A 60 cm aquarium is a sensible starting point for a pair or trio. Larger is better if keeping more than one male or mixing with calm tank mates. Keep the layout structured so a chased fish can break line of sight quickly.
Strong current is unnecessary. A sponge filter, guarded intake or gentle internal filter is usually enough. The key is stable clean water and calm surface cover rather than a high-flow display tank.
A practical range is 20-26 C, pH 6.0-7.5 and low to moderate hardness. Seriously Fish gives 20-26 C, pH 6.0-7.5 and 18-179 ppm hardness; Maidenhead Aquatics gives 22-25 C, pH 6.0-7.2 and softness up to about 12 dH. The old copy's cooler-water warning was partly useful, but the page now frames it more accurately: avoid overheating, but do not let the aquarium become unstable or cold.
Regular small water changes are safer than occasional large corrections. Keep ammonia and nitrite at zero, nitrate low, and temperature steady. If your room gets very warm in summer, plan shade, ventilation and surface movement before heat becomes a problem.
Gardner's Killifish are eager micropredators. Offer good small prepared foods, but use live and frozen foods regularly: daphnia, mosquito larvae, brine shrimp, cyclops, bloodworm, grindal worms and similar foods all help condition colour and breeding behaviour.
Feed small portions and remove leftovers. Rich foods can spoil a small aquarium quickly. A varied rotation is better than leaning on one food every day, and shy females should be watched to make sure the male is not taking everything first.
This is a confident killifish, not a timid shoaling tetra. Males can display, chase and compete, especially in cramped bare aquariums. A species-focused setup is safest, but calm community tanks can work when the tank mates are peaceful, similar-sized and not fast enough to steal all the food.
Avoid fin nippers, large predators, boisterous barbs, aggressive cichlids, very warm-water species and shrimp breeding tanks where tiny shrimplets must be protected. Adult shrimp may survive in some planted tanks, but fry and tiny shrimp are at risk.
This species is popular with killifish breeders because it is achievable without being dull. FishBase notes bottom spawning and around one month of incubation. Many keepers use spawning mops or soft spawning media, then move eggs or protect fry separately.
Condition adults with varied live/frozen foods, keep water clean and give females escape cover. Fry are small and need very fine foods at first, such as infusoria-style foods and newly hatched brine shrimp as they grow.
Dim the lights before opening the box. Float the sealed bag to equalise temperature, then add small amounts of aquarium water gradually. Do not rush killifish into a bright bare tank, and keep the lid secure from the first minute.
Eligible livestock orders are supported by the Tropical Fish Co Live Arrival Guarantee when the delivery and acclimation terms are followed. Because this is a jumping species, check every lid gap before the fish arrive.
Choose Gardner's Killifish if you want a colourful, characterful killifish that rewards a planted, covered aquarium and attentive feeding. It is approachable for a prepared keeper, but it still deserves specialist respect: stable water, good food, cover and sensible tank mates.
Reviewed against FishBase for accepted taxonomy, size, habitat and breeding notes; Seriously Fish for aquarium temperature, pH and hardness guidance; British Killifish Association and TFH for killifish context; and Google Search Central title/snippet guidance for natural SERP wording.
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