How to Breed Blue Fin Killi Fish

Blue fin killifish, also known as blue fin topminnows, are small fish, only growing to about 2 ½ inches long. They are brightly colored with a stripe-like marking. These little fish are peaceful and active, making them interesting additions to the home aquarium. They spawn in the same way as other types of killifish spawn, in a method called mop spawning. This breeding method is usually easy to reproduce in a captive environment when the correct steps are taken.

Things You'll Need

  • Breeding aquarium
  • Breeding mops
  • Thermometer
  • Killifish foods
  • Egg aquarium
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Instructions

    • 1

      Select a male and female blue fin killifish to breed. You can determine the gender of the killifish by looking at the fins of the fish. Male killifish have bright blue fins. Their tail fins are often tinted a red or yellow color. Female blue fin killifish have clear or colorless fins and tails. Males are also longer and more slender than the plump, short females.

    • 2

      Place the killifish pair in a breeding aquarium by themselves. Place a breeding mop In the bottom of the aquarium. This mop can be made of soft plants, such as java moss. It can also be an artificial breeding mop, made of a soft material. These can be purchased at pet stores or made at home from materials such as yarn. The breeding mop will hold the eggs.

    • 3

      Install a thermometer in the breeding aquarium, and monitor the temperature. Blue fin killifish do well, and will breed, in water at a temperature between 61 and 72 degrees F. Water temperatures at the cooler end of this spectrum often encourage breeding.

    • 4

      Feed the blue fin killifish a nutritious diet of live, frozen or freeze-dried insects, such as bloodworms or brine shrimp. These highly nutritious foods will encourage the fish to breed.

    • 5

      Wait for the fish to breed. The killifish will spawn several times over the course of several days or weeks. They will lay their eggs on the breeding mop at the bottom of the aquarium.

    • 6

      Remove the breeding mop after eggs have been laid on it, replacing it with a fresh breeding mop for the next spawning. Place the breeding mop with the eggs on it in a separate aquarium. This aquarium should have the same water quality and temperature as the breeding aquarium. By removing the eggs from the breeding aquarium, you ensure that neither the eggs nor the newly hatched killifish will be eaten by their parents.