Blue lyretail (Fundulopanchax gardneri) care guide

Group
Freshwater fish
Other names
Steel-blue killifish, Steel-blue killi, Gardner's killi, Steel-blue aphyosemion
Family
Nothobranchiidae (African killifishes)
Origin
Nigeria and Cameroon: Cross River system and the Benue drainage, in creeks, swamps, streams and pools in rainforest and highland savanna.
Water
freshwater
Maximum size
5.5 cm
Temperature
20–26°C
pH
6–7.5
Hardness
Very soft to medium, 1–10 dGH
Minimum tank
54 litres
Care level
beginner
Temperament
semi_aggressive

Care

Often called Gardner's killi or the blue (or steel-blue) lyretail, this is one of the hardiest, most colourful and easiest killies to breed, and a classic first species. It was long sold as Aphyosemion gardneri and you will still see that name. Males are quarrelsome with each other, so keep one male with two or three females, or a larger group of females in a bigger tank. Seriously Fish gives no tank size; FishBase suggests a tank of at least 60 cm (around 54 litres). The set-up can be simple: plenty of plants, moss or wool mops for cover, and gentle air-driven sponge filtration, which will not harm eggs or fry. It is a prodigious jumper, so cover the tank well. Keep it at about 20–26 °C in soft to medium, slightly acidic to neutral water (pH 6–7.5). Males are larger and brightly coloured, steely blue with red spots and wavy lines and yellow or orange fin edges, with extended fins; females are smaller and brownish with spots. The species is very variable and there are several subspecies (gardneri, nigerianus, lacustris and mamfensis). Fish are normally sold under the name of their collecting locality, such as Lafia, Akure, Nsukka, Makurdi, Enugu, Okwoga or Udi Mountain, and the nigerianus forms are the most common. Line-bred 'gold' and albino strains also exist. Keep each population separate and label it, so that pure strains are not lost to crossing. FishBase lists the species as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Sources: Seriously Fish (seriouslyfish.com/species/fundulopanchax-gardneri-gardneri/); FishBase (fishbase.se/summary/Fundulopanchax-gardneri.html); Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fundulopanchaxgardneri). Checked October 2026.

Diet

A micropredator of small crustaceans, worms and insect larvae. It takes dried foods readily, but give plenty of live or frozen brine shrimp, Daphnia and bloodworm for condition and colour.

Breeding

A 'switch' or semi-annual spawner: the eggs survive a period of drying but will also develop if kept under water. Spawns readily among plants, moss or synthetic mops, or in a small tray of peat that can be taken out and dried afterwards. Remove the eggs daily, as the adults eat any they find. In water they hatch in about 14–21 days depending on temperature; on damp peat the usual storage time is 3–4 weeks before wetting. The fry swim almost at once and take newly hatched brine shrimp and microworm as first foods.

Compatibility and tank mates

Robust but not a general community fish. Males fight each other and can harass slow-moving or long-finned tankmates, especially when frustrated. Best in a species tank, or with small, quick, peaceful fish that occupy different levels and are too large to be eaten. Keep only one male in a small tank.

Last updated 4 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.

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