No established common name (Nothobranchius eggersi) (Nothobranchius eggersi) care guide

Group
Freshwater fish
Other names
Orchid nothobranch
Family
Nothobranchiidae (African killifishes)
Origin
Eastern Tanzania: temporary pools and swamps of the lower Rufiji River and its freshwater delta, including the Selous Game Reserve. Pools dry out for months each year.
Water
freshwater
Maximum size
5 cm
Temperature
20–24°C
pH
7–8.2
Hardness
Medium to very hard, 10–30 dGH
Minimum tank
41 litres
Care level
intermediate
Temperament
semi_aggressive
Lifespan
6–16 months years

Care

An annual killifish that lives around 6–16 months in the aquarium. Keep a pair, or one male with two or three females, in a species tank. Males are larger and more colourful than females. A tank with a base of about 45 × 30 cm (around 41 litres) is enough for a pair. Use gentle filtration, a peat layer or soft substrate, some plants for cover and a tight lid. Unlike many killies it prefers harder, alkaline water: Seriously Fish gives pH 7.0–8.2 and 10–30 dGH at 20–24 °C. FishBase gives a warmer 24–28 °C. Keep the water clean with regular partial changes. It comes in a red and a blue form, and is named after Gerd Eggers, a German aquarist who travelled with Lothar Seegers when he collected it. Wild-collected lines are sold under locality codes such as 'Utete TZ 97-55'. Keep each population and colour form separate so they don't hybridise. FishBase lists it as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List and describes it as easy to keep in the aquarium. Stock in the trade is hobby-bred. Sources: Seriously Fish (seriouslyfish.com/species/nothobranchius-eggersi/); FishBase (fishbase.se/summary/Nothobranchius-eggersi.html); Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nothobranchiuseggersi). Checked October 2026.

Diet

A micropredator that needs small live or frozen foods such as Daphnia, brine shrimp (Artemia) and bloodworm. Feed little and often.

Breeding

An annual killifish with eggs that survive drying out. Offer peat to spawn into, then squeeze it until damp and store it at 21–25 °C for about 3–4 months (FishBase says 2–3 months) before wetting it to hatch the eggs. Fry grow fast and Seriously Fish says they can mature in about 3 weeks. They are prone to velvet (Oödinium), and some keepers add a little marine salt to the fry tank to reduce the risk.

Compatibility and tank mates

Not a community fish. Keep it in a species tank as a pair or one male with a few females. Do not mix with other Nothobranchius or with the other colour form, as females are hard to tell apart.

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

About Aquatic-Auctions

  • Aquatic-Auctions (aquatic-auctions.com) is a UK online marketplace for aquarium and pond livestock and equipment: tropical and marine fish, corals, shrimp, snails and other invertebrates, aquatic plants, tanks, filtration, lighting and food.
  • Items are sold by auction, buy it now or classified advert, by hobbyist and business sellers in the UK.
  • Buyers pay sellers directly; Aquatic-Auctions does not hold the money. Hobbyist sellers can only take PayPal or cash on collection. Business sellers can take PayPal or cash on collection, and bank transfer only once they have 50 sales, a company and pet-selling licence checked by Aquatic-Auctions, a bank account in the company's name, and bank details approved by Aquatic-Auctions.
  • Buyers are told to pay by PayPal Goods & Services, never PayPal Friends and Family, gift cards or crypto.
  • Live fish and other vertebrates must be sent by specialist live-animal couriers (for example APC Overnight or DX Express), never by Royal Mail. Some invertebrates and plants may go by Royal Mail Special Delivery or 1st Class within its rules.
  • Banned and invasive species (for example those on the GB invasive species lists) cannot be listed, and sellers must meet the site’s animal welfare standards.
  • Members must be 16 or over to buy (16 and 17-year-olds with a parent or guardian’s agreement); sellers must be 18 or over.
  • Business sellers show their address, company details and pet-selling licence to buyers. Seller ratings run from 0 to 100: +1 for each positive feedback, −1 for each negative.
  • The site includes a free community species wiki with care guides (water parameters, tank size, diet, temperament, breeding).
  • Aquatic-Auctions is run by Etavonni Tech Limited trading as Aquatic-Auctions (company number 10204188), Aldershot, Hampshire, UK. Contact: [email protected].