Redfin Notho Care Guide - Aquarium Setup, Diet & Breeding

The Redfin Notho is a striking annual killifish with a compact, slightly deep-bodied shape. Mature males develop a vivid red-orange coloration in the fins, often contrasted by a blue-green or metallic body and darker markings along the flanks. Females are more understated, with a silvery to pale brown body and translucent fins.

Males are active and display prominently, particularly when competing for the attention of females. They can be territorial toward one another, while females are generally more peaceful. Their short natural lifespan is closely linked to the seasonal cycle of the pools they inhabit.

In the wild, Redfin Nothos live in shallow, warm pools that appear after seasonal rains. These waters may be surrounded by floodplain grasses, leaf litter and soft mud, and their conditions can change considerably as the pools gradually evaporate.

Like other annual Nothobranchius, this species survives the dry season through eggs buried in the substrate. The embryos remain dormant until the next rains arrive, when they hatch into rapidly growing young fish. This unusual reproductive strategy makes the Redfin Notho especially interesting to aquarists who enjoy specialist species.

Nothobranchius rubripinnis is native to seasonal freshwater pools and floodplain habitats in Tanzania, in East Africa. These temporary pools fill during the rainy season and dry out periodically, which is reflected in the species' annual life cycle.

A pair or small group should have at least 40 litres, with a larger footprint of around 60 × 30 cm preferred for a group or community setup. Use a tightly covered aquarium because these fish can jump, and provide gentle filtration with subdued lighting. Fine sand or another soft substrate works well, with clumps of Java moss, floating plants, roots and other cover creating visual barriers. Leave an open area for swimming and include a shallow container of peat or another suitable spawning medium if breeding is intended.

Males can reach about 5 cm (2 inches), while females are usually smaller at approximately 4 cm (1.6 inches).

Redfin Nothos are primarily small insectivores and respond best to a varied diet of live or frozen foods. Suitable offerings include baby brine shrimp, adult brine shrimp, daphnia, mosquito larvae, bloodworms and finely chopped aquatic invertebrates. Some individuals learn to accept high-quality micro-pellets, but dry food should not be the sole part of their diet.

Redfin Nothos are best kept in a species aquarium, especially for breeding. A male can be housed with several females, but multiple males may quarrel in a small tank. If mixed with other fish, choose peaceful, similarly sized species such as small rasboras, pencilfish or other calm killifish, and avoid fin-nippers, boisterous fish and larger predators. Shrimp and very small fry may be eaten.

Redfin Nothos are annual killifish that spawn in peat or another soft, inert spawning medium. Keep a male with two or more females, collect the eggs regularly, and store them in slightly damp peat at room temperature. After several months, periodically check the eggs and wet a batch when the embryos are fully developed. The fry grow quickly and should be offered tiny live foods, with frequent feeding and water changes.

Males are larger and much more colourful, with red-orange fins and metallic blue-green or reddish body markings. Females are smaller and comparatively plain, usually appearing silver, grey-brown or olive with less strongly coloured fins.