With all the various beautiful species of killifish available, it is bewildering to a beginner to know just which species he should first try.
Most killi-fanciers have their favorite fish, but most can suggest a few species that have proven hardy and fairly easy to keep and to breed. The “experts” recommend these as ideal choices for beginners.
Fundulopanchax gardneri, an old standby in the killi community, is available in several color forms-red, yellow, blue, and albino. They grow to 3″ or so; the males are colorful and display well; the females show scattered red spots. They will readily spawn in mops or plants, and are (usually) tolerant of their own fry. Incubation of the eggs is about three weeks.
Aphyosemion scheeli. These slightly larger and paler fish than F. gardneri are similar in habits and requirements and just as easy to breed. The females show some color in the form of numerous red dots or spots. The eggs hatch in about two weeks.
Aphyosemion striatum. The name striatum says it all-these fish are brilliantly horizontally striped in red and blue-green. Several populations are available, but all are prolific and easy to breed, with about a two week incubation.
Oryzias latipes (one of the richfishes, and technically no longer a killifish, but still a good beginners’ fish, according to Roger Sielof) is a nice little yellow-pink fish. The female produces an egg cluster that hangs beneath her until she finds a suitable spot to hide them. An easy, pleasant fish to have around.
Aphyosemion bitaeneatum. These fish, according to Wright Huntley, “make babies like mad, with almost no attention, in tanks with mops and lots of java moss.” The juveniles will eat eggs and fry, but this doesn’t’ seem to be a problem, since they spawn so freely.
For breeding killifish the recommendation is almost always to maintain a species tank, but this is not essential. If you’re not concerned about egg production and fry, many killies will successfully live in community tanks with fish of similar size, temperament, and requirements.
– G.C.K.A. Newsletter, July 1997