Easy to intermediate
Chocolate Cherry Shrimp (Neocaridina davidi)
18–26°C · pH 6.5–8 · 30L
£13.99
Uruguayan annual killifish supplied over 4 cm. Best in a covered, cool-water species setup at 18-23 C with live/frozen foods and peat or coco-coir spawning media.
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.
Garcialebias viarius
Variable Pearfish bond and breed in male/female pairs. Buying a pair gives them the social structure they need — and you get a better price per fish.
Uruguayan annual killifish supplied over 4 cm. Best in a covered, cool-water species setup at 18-23 C with live/frozen foods and peat or coco-coir spawning media.
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
Variable Pearfish, also sold in the trade as Blue-Ban Pearfish, is the Petra-listed Cynolebias viarius. Current FishBase and specialist killifish indexing now place this fish under Garcialebias viarius, while Cynolebias viarius remains important older-name context for supplier labels and hobby searches. Some databases still show Austrolebias viarius, so this listing keeps those names together instead of pretending the older label never existed.
This is a cool-water South American annual killifish from Uruguay, supplied at over 4 cm. Mature males can reach about 8 cm total length, with a deep pearly body, blue-violet tone, vertical pale barring and rounded fins. It is not a busy community-tank impulse fish; it is best chosen by aquarists who want a planned species setup and understand the seasonal life cycle of annual killifish.
The exact Petra source image for this SKU shows the visual character buyers should expect from the stock label: a compact male with a blue to violet body, pale vertical side bars, pearly spotting and rounded unpaired fins. The fish is more robust and deeper-bodied than many surface-dwelling killifish, and the colour improves in a calm aquarium with dimmer light, dark cover and good food.
The existing scene images remain in the gallery as supporting views, but the source photo is the factual reference image for this listing. No old image has been removed; the aim is to make the page more accurate while keeping the visual depth already built for the product.
Garcialebias viarius is associated with temporary freshwater habitats in Uruguay. These seasonal waters fill, mature and eventually dry, which is why the fish has evolved the annual-killifish strategy: adults grow quickly, spawn into the bottom substrate, and the next generation survives the dry period as eggs in damp mud or peat-like material.
That life cycle is the reason this fish should be described honestly. The aquarium can be compact, but the care is specialist because the fish benefits from cool stable water, a quiet routine, live or frozen food, a tight lid and a breeding plan if you want to preserve the line beyond the adult fish's natural lifespan.
Use a dedicated covered aquarium rather than a busy mixed display. A 30-40 litre tank can work for a pair or trio if the layout is calm and easy to maintain; use more space and heavy visual breaks if keeping more than one male. A dark base, leaf litter, moss, floating plants and fine-rooted plants help the fish settle and show better colour. Flow should be gentle, with stable oxygenation and regular small water changes.
For breeding, give the fish a soft spawning medium. Many keepers use peat fibre, coco coir or a removable container of fine spawning material so eggs can be collected and incubated damp. Keep the tank securely covered, because killifish can jump through surprisingly small gaps.
This is a subtropical annual killifish, so avoid running the tank too warm for long periods. Clean, stable water is more important than chasing a perfect number, but the cool-water range should guide the setup from the start.
Feed small live and frozen foods as the foundation of the diet. Daphnia, brine shrimp, mosquito larvae, grindal worm, blackworm and appropriately sized bloodworm are all useful options. Some individuals may learn to take prepared food, but live and frozen foods are still the better choice for condition, colour and breeding readiness.
Offer modest portions once or twice daily and remove leftovers. Annual killifish can grow and condition quickly, but stale food in a small tank will undo the benefits of careful feeding.
Keep this species-first. The old community-tank wording has been removed because it was too casual for a seasonal annual killifish. Females need cover, males may display or spar, and the fish is easily outcompeted by fast-feeding community species.
If you are not breeding, a calm species tank is still the neatest choice. Avoid fin nippers, large fish, hard-water species, fast barbs and tetras, boisterous livebearers, predatory fish and ornamental shrimp small enough to be eaten. The safest compatibility plan is one that protects feeding time, breeding behaviour and the fish's short seasonal rhythm.
FishBase records this species as a bottom spawner with a 2-4 month incubation period. In practice, breeding means conditioning the adults with live foods, letting them dive or press into the spawning medium, then storing the collected medium damp rather than submerged. The eggs are usually re-wetted after the incubation period, and the fry need tiny foods such as infusoria or newly hatched brine shrimp once free-swimming.
That process is part of the appeal for killifish keepers. It is also why this listing uses specialist wording instead of broad community-fish promises.
Livestock orders are packed for the weather and sent by suitable live-animal courier service when conditions are safe. The page, checkout and order communications will show the current availability and delivery options. Our Live Arrival Guarantee applies when the delivery requirements are followed, giving buyers a clearer, calmer route than vague delivery claims in the product copy.
Choose Variable Pearfish if you want a rare Uruguayan annual killifish with real seasonal behaviour, compact aquarium needs and a rewarding breeding story. It suits aquarists who enjoy species tanks, live-food feeding and source-backed care detail. It is less suitable for a warm, noisy community aquarium or for anyone wanting a long-lived beginner fish.
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