The jewels of the natural aquarium

There is a family of small freshwater fish among the most beautiful, yet little known to the public.

For they are not very happy in a traditional "living room" aquarium, with its unstable ecosystem supported by increasingly complex and expensive pumps and filters.

These "community" aquariums have a few neon tetras alongside two angelfish in a cramped space and a swarm of overlit guppies!

The killifish, as they are commonly called, do not appreciate this technology, these artificial and overly maintained decorations.

These fish, generally of modest size, are particularly colorful and not widely available in the market. They are true gems, but the pet store tank does not showcase them at all and is not suitable for them.

And this precisely because they are very attached to natural maintenance conditions.

One can therefore say that killifish, poorly suited to traditional aquaristics, are on the other hand the star fish of the natural aquarium.

No filter (or a very small corner filter), soft lighting (it's even prettier!), a tangle of plants living their life (Najas is perfect), and natural food.

 
"Depending on the species, you will need very soft and acidic water (a bit of rainwater and some alder tannin fruits) or water closer to that of the tap. Some species live at 20°C without heating, while others prefer more warmth."

Most swim little and therefore need a small aquarium.

Above all, and this was once the main difficulty that made them rare in trade: they absolutely want natural food, small prey like in nature.

Keeping one male and two females in 30 to 50 liters is often the norm.

Living food avoids polluting the water and does not rot when it is not eaten, and the plants are enough to consume all the nitrates of this very simple little ecosystem.

Observing them is fascinating. Instead of swimming back and forth all day long, they pose, hide, hunt a daphnia in ambush, half-bury themselves in the peat, and lay eggs continuously.

Their reproduction is original, unique, and incessant. Their eggs can generally be kept out of water, even... sent by mail!

Certain species are threatened or extinct in their natural habitat, and it is only thanks to enthusiasts that they survive.

Don't hesitate to visit the KCF website, which is the reference club in France.

But beware: if you enter this exciting world... you won't be able to leave it!