Redtail Notho

Redtail Notho key facts

Care level

Intermediate

Lifespan

About 1 years

Size

3-3.5cm

Temperature

22〜25℃

Diet

Artemia, Daphnia, frozen bloodworm

Tank

It reaches only about 3.5cm, and a tank that can hold a fine substrate suits its habit of spawning into the bottom.

Water Temperature & Quality

FishBase records 22-25C, pH 6.0-7.0 and 4-10dH in the wild.

Tank Mates

In the wild it preys on mosquito larvae and plankton, so anything small enough to swallow will be treated as food.

Diet & Feeding

In the wild it eats mosquito larvae and other plankton. In aquaria it takes small animal foods such as Artemia, Daphnia and frozen bloodworm.

Breeding & Spawning

It is a bottom spawner, and FishBase gives an incubation period of three to four months. As an annual species that passes the dry season as drought-resistant eggs, breeding requires collecting and storing the eggs.

Health & Notes

FishBase notes that it is popular with aquarists yet difficult to maintain. The IUCN assessed it as Endangered in 2018, and because its range is a single island, captive-bred lines should be chosen.

About Redtail Notho

The Redtail Notho is a small egg-laying killifish endemic to Tanzania's Unguja Island. Known for the male's vivid red tail, it follows an annual life cycle with drought-resistant eggs and is considered an intermediate-level fish to keep.

7 things to know before welcoming a Redtail Notho

1. 1A Short Annual Life Cycle

   The Redtail Notho is an annual killifish adapted to seasonal pools that dry up during the dry season. Adults live through a fast generation cycle, and their eggs carry the species through the dry months. Its life cycle moves differently than most aquarium fish, so it's worth understanding before you start.

2. 2Eggs Built to Survive Drought

   This species lays eggs that can remain dormant in dry substrate without dying. If you want to breed them, use peat moss as a spawning medium and let the eggs dry out for a period before rehydrating them to trigger hatching. This process differs quite a bit from breeding most tropical fish.

3. 3Males Flash a Bright Red Tail

   Mature males develop the vivid red tail fin the species is named for, along with brighter overall coloring. Females stay a plain silvery brown, making the sexes easy to tell apart when you keep a mixed group.

4. 4Lively but Best Kept with Care

   Males can spar over territory, flaring their fins at each other, so keeping several together works best in a roomier tank or with numbers kept modest. Avoid pairing them with slow-moving, long-finned tankmates and stick to similarly active species.

5. 5Prefers Soft, Slightly Acidic Water

   Reflecting the still pools of its native Tanzania, this fish does best in soft, slightly acidic to neutral water. Peat filtration or a soil-based substrate helps recreate conditions closer to its natural habitat.

6. 6A Compact Build

   Adults reach about 3 to 3.5 cm, small enough for a compact aquarium. That small size also makes them sensitive to sudden shifts in water quality or temperature, so smaller volumes need more frequent monitoring.

7. 7Why It's Considered Intermediate-Level

   Its fast generation cycle and the drought-based egg management required for breeding call for knowledge that differs from most aquarium fish. It suits keepers who enjoy regular water-quality checks and want to try their hand at breeding.

Frequently asked questions about Redtail Notho

Q.Is this species suitable for beginners?

A.It's generally considered an intermediate-level fish, so some prior experience with water quality management and tropical fish keeping helps. Its life cycle and breeding process call for knowledge that differs from more common aquarium fish, so it's best approached after keeping other species first.

Q.Can it be kept with other fish?

A.Males can be territorial toward each other, so keep group size and tank space in mind if housing several together. Avoid slow-moving, long-finned tankmates, and pairing it with similarly active fish tends to work well.

Q.How large does it grow?

A.Adults reach roughly 3 to 3.5 cm, making it a small species. Because of its small size, it's sensitive to sudden changes in water quality or temperature, so regular monitoring matters.

Q.Can it be bred at home?

A.Breeding involves using peat moss as a spawning medium and letting the eggs dry for a period before rehydrating them to trigger hatching. Once you understand this annual species' egg process, home breeding is achievable.

Q.Is this species regulated under CITES?

A.No, the Redtail Notho is not subject to CITES.

Useful tools for Redtail Notho care

Learn more about Redtail Notho in the encyclopedia

More in this category