Guenther's Notho

Nothobranchius guentheri

Also known as Guenther's Killifish, Red Notho

Animalia›Chordata›Cyprinodontiformes›Nothobranchiidae

Guenther's Notho is a small, colorful killifish native to East Africa, prized for its vibrant blue and red coloration and active behavior. These annual killifish are short-lived but captivating aquarium residents that thrive in planted tanks with gentle water flow. They are best kept in species-specific or peaceful community setups due to their small size and delicate nature.

Where it's from

Native to the George lake river basin

Uganda

At a glance

Size: 1.6 in; 4 cm
Min tank: 10 gal; 38 L
Temp: 68–75°F; 20–24°C
pH: 6.0-7.0
GH: 71–143 ppm; 4–8 dGH
Temperament: Peaceful
Swims: Middle
Lifespan: 1-2 yrs

Ammonia 0 ppm and nitrate under 20 ppm.

Care

Diet

Guenther's Notho are carnivorous and require small live foods such as microworms, daphnia, and small copepods as their primary diet. Frozen foods like bloodworms and brine shrimp can supplement their diet. Feed small portions 1-2 times daily, offering only what they can consume in a few minutes.

Behavior

These killifish are active, curious swimmers that spend most of their time in the middle water column exploring vegetation and substrate. They are generally peaceful but may exhibit mild aggression toward their own species, particularly males. They prefer dimly lit tanks with plenty of plants and are most active during dawn and dusk hours.

Breeding

Guenther's Notho are annual killifish that breed readily in captivity, laying eggs in peat moss or fine substrate. Breeding requires separate conditioning tanks with live foods and cooler temperatures around 20-22°C. Eggs can be stored in moist peat for several months before hatching, making them suitable for hobbyists interested in killifish breeding.

Tank mates

See all 5

Neon Tetra

Similar size and peaceful temperament; avoid larger tetras

good

Ember Tetra

Comparable size and water parameter requirements

excellent

Least Rasbora

Tiny, peaceful schooling fish with similar care needs

excellent

Otocinclus

Peaceful algae eater that won't compete for food

good

Amano Shrimp

Peaceful invertebrate; ensure adequate hiding spaces

good

Fits a 10-gallon tank Peaceful

No state or federal restrictions on record.

Not legal advice, and possibly incomplete or out of date. Rules vary by state and change over time; check with your state wildlife or agriculture agency before buying, keeping or shipping it.

The care information here is written with AI help, so it can contain mistakes. Spot one? Tell us and we'll fix it. Native range: Tedesco et al. 2017 (CC0).