Black Pearl Killifish

[Alias] Black-finned Pearl Killifish

[Scientific name] Cynolebiasnigripinnis

[Geographical distribution] Argentina, South America

[Adult length] 5.0 cm

[Personality] Aggressive

[Suitable temperature] 16.0-22.0 °C

[pH level] 5.5-6.7

[Hardness] 1.0-8.0 dGH

[活动层次]中层

[繁殖方式]卵生

Black Pearl Killifish is aggressive and is best kept alone. The males may excessively chase females who reject their advances. Do not keep two males in the same tank. They can be kept with smaller catfish (Siluriformes) and small top-dwelling fish. Their diet consists of insects, worms, crustaceans, and flakes.

The male fish have striking colors during the breeding season. The colors of the males will generally darken and colored spots will appear. A mature pair of fish can be placed in a spawning box lined with peat soil and driftwood for the female to hide in. The water pH should be around 6.0, with a hardness of 1-4 dH, and a temperature of 24-26°C. The female will lay her eggs in the peat soil. The male and female fish are then removed, and the peat soil containing the eggs is dried for 3-4 months and then placed in a soft water tank in a dark area for incubation. Dry fish eggs can be stored for 3 months to 2 years or more. To obtain healthy fry, the peat soil should be placed 1.3-2.5 cm away from the water surface. Black Pearl Killifish are sensitive to water quality and require stable conditions, so frequent changes are not recommended.

Water temperature: Black Pearl Killifish is suitable to live in water environments with temperatures between 24-26℃. Water quality: They are sensitive to water quality and it is best to maintain stable water quality and avoid frequent changes. The pH value of the water should be around 6.0, and the hardness should be maintained between 1-4, which is the most suitable water environment for them. Feeding: Insect larvae, insects, worms, crustaceans, and flakes are all acceptable food for them.

Fish lovers recommend keeping black pearl killifish. Black pearl killifish is sensitive to water quality and needs to maintain stability, so frequent changes are not advisable. The black pearl killifish has numerous small white spots scattered on its black body, and its anal fin has a slight blue hue, giving it a unique flavor. It can be kept with small catfish (family Clariidae) and small surface fish. Black pearl killifish is aggressive and is best kept alone. Male fish may excessively chase females that refuse to mate. Do not keep two male fish in the same tank.

Melting Tail Disease

Melting tail disease is a common disease in tropical fish, which gradually deteriorates from the front of the caudal fin and shortens the tail fin. It is similar to the decay of the mouth. The disease is caused by columnar bacteria parasitizing in the cynolebiasnigripinnis. After infection, if it is not quickly detected and dealt with, it is easy to infect other individuals. As shown in the figure above, there is obvious missing at the end of the tail when the disease occurs, and the symptoms are obvious. At this time, it is necessary to immediately change the water, isolate the infected individuals, and use commonly used drugs on the market or take salt bath treatment.

Gum disease

The symptom of gum disease is the appearance of cotton-like attached objects on the fins, as shown in the figure above. The gum fungus adheres to the body surface and continuously destroys the epidermis, causing the injury to worsen. It is easy to invade when the fish is not in a good state, and the infected individuals are easy to transmit the bacteria to other fish. Once found, attention should be paid to isolation. It is prone to occur when the fish's physique is weak, so it is necessary to check if the fish have other diseases.

Pinecone disease

Pinecone disease, also known as scale-standing disease. When infected, the scales of the fish open and stand up, like pinecones. In the early stage of the disease, it only affects a part of the body, and in the late stage, it will spread all over the body. The black pearl killifish with weak resistance and poor physique is very susceptible to this disease, which is mostly caused by bacterial infection or fish injury. Once the disease occurs, it is difficult to cure, and the mortality rate is as high as more than 80 percent.

The eggs of the Black Pearl Killifish are larger (diameter 1.3-1.4mm, slightly larger for larger fish), and the hatched fry can easily eat the larvae hatched from brine shrimp eggs. The fry grow rapidly, and during the fry stage, they are fed brine shrimp three times a day and the water is changed every three days. As the fry grow larger, they can be fed with grindal worms. The main food for adult fish includes bloodworms, nematodes, grindal worms, white worms, mosquito larvae, and water fleas. With proper care, they can start laying eggs in about 1.5 months and reach peak production in about 3 months. Most geographically specific Black Pearls lay a lot of eggs, but some difficult ones (such as the Ibicuysito type) lay fewer eggs and are more difficult to maintain. Black Pearl Killifish have a slight aggressiveness in captivity, and occasional fights may result in torn fins but not fatal injuries. It is recommended to use a 30-40cm aquarium and place multiple spawning jars to reduce fighting. The Black Pearl Killifish does not have specific requirements for water quality as long as it is clean and not extreme. They prefer slow flow and it is best to use a sponge filter. They do not have specific requirements for lighting, but dim lighting can make the Black Pearls look more beautiful. In terms of temperature, the Black Pearls are resistant to cold but not too tolerant of heat. It has been reported that they can tolerate temperatures ranging from 4-24°C, but for practical purposes, it is recommended to keep them at temperatures between 15-26°C and avoid exceeding 30°C.