Killifish are great to own because they’re hardy, and they look really nice. You likely already know that there are a number of different types of killifish out there that you can buy.
Some of these fish are rather rare, while others are a bit more common. You can sometimes find killifish being sold at aquarium stores, but not all killifish are so readily available.
You might be interested in the idea of breeding killifish. Perhaps you’d like to try to make a hybrid killifish that is a cross of two different types.
Is it possible to do this? Read on to learn everything that you need to know about killifish hybrids.
Can You Make Killifish Hybrids?
It is possible to make killifish hybrids, but many people think that it’s something you shouldn’t do. There are a number of enthusiasts who say that it’s better to preserve a pure line of killifish than it is to pursue hybridization.
Regardless, this is technically possible to do if you want to pursue it. It isn’t necessarily easy to do with all types of killifish, though.
To hybridize the fish, you’ll need to choose certain types of killifish that are compatible. Some killifish will be able to be kept in the same fish tank as other killifish.
Generally, it’s fine to keep killifish from the same genus in a fish tank together. If the fish can get along, you have a chance to see if you can hybridize them.
How Do You Make Killifish Hybrids?
To hybridize fish, you need to put a male killifish in a fish tank with female killifish that belong to a different species. Then you can see if it’s possible to get the fish to mate and produce offspring.
Some types of killifish won’t be able to mate. Others will be easy to hybridize.
Hybridizing killifish isn’t much different than hybridizing any other type of fish. However, there isn’t a lot of information out there about this process.
This is because most groups actively discourage the hybridization of these fish. Groups such as the American Killifish Association do their best to keep people from doing this.
Maintaining the purity of the different lines of killifish is considered to be important. This is because so many types of killifish have died out over the years.
It’s said that people should only attempt to hybridize these fish if it’s for scientific or research purposes. Knowing this, you might want to give up on the idea of making hybrid killifish.
If you do wish to proceed, you can attempt to breed two killifish and see what happens. You don’t have a guarantee of success, though, and there aren’t enough resources out there to help you figure things out without trial and error.
What Are the Pros and Cons?
Most would agree that the potential positives don’t outweigh the negatives. The reason some people want to make hybrid killifish is that they’re curious to see if they can create a fish that looks interesting.
This is a common practice with many other types of fish. People specifically breed certain types of angelfish to get them to have interesting patterns or colors.
The downside to this is that killifish are already struggling. Maintaining the purity of the species is important.
Creating a hybrid species muddies the waters and makes it harder to maintain purity. So many killifish enthusiasts are against hybridization.
If you attempt to hybridize killifish, there’s a good chance that you’d be ostracized from most killifish communities. At the very least, people would disapprove of what you’re doing.
You Could Simply Breed Killifish Normally
Instead of attempting to create a hybrid killifish species, you could simply breed killifish normally. This is something that can be rather satisfying.
Killifish can be bred in captivity fairly easily. Some killifish lay their eggs on floating plants.
You can replicate this by purchasing spawning mops and placing them in the fish tank. The eggs take around three weeks to hatch after they’ve been laid.
Other types of killifish bury their eggs in the ground. You’ll need to provide a peat moss substrate that is deep enough so these fish will lay their eggs.
These are the types of eggs that are produced by annual killifish. They have to go through a dry period just like they do in nature.
Then you add water to the peat moss to help the killifish eggs finish hatching when the time is right. It can be a bit trickier than simply breeding the killifish that lay their eggs on spawning mops.
Breeding killifish and preserving the purity of the species falls in line with what most killifish enthusiasts say is right. If you want to do things the right way, breed killifish normally.
There Are Many Great Killifish Types Already
It’s also good to know that there are already so many great killifish types out there. You can find killifish that come in so many different colors.
Many of the fish have interesting patterns, and it’s simply great to have so many to choose from. You don’t have to create a hybrid species to find a fish that will look amazing in your aquarium.
Final Thoughts
You’ve learned a lot about why people don’t like the idea of hybridizing killifish. It can, indeed, be done, but it’s frowned upon.
Choosing to hybridize killifish is thought to be morally wrong. It’s said that you should focus on preserving the purity of the species that exist right now.
There are many killifish types out there that you might be interested in owning. Perhaps breeding those species normally without hybridizing them is the best route to take.
You won’t find a lot of information out there about hybridizing these fish. This is because killifish groups do their best to discourage others from making hybrid fish.
Now that you know this, it’s up to you to decide what to do. You can attempt to hybridize the fish yourself if you want to give it a shot.
Or maybe you now think that hybridizing isn’t the best path to take. Make your decision, and then proceed.
Jeff has always enjoyed having pets, but as a child, he was drawn to his family’s fish tank. Being able to maintain a small ecosystem and observe the behaviors and interactions in the underwater world peaked his interest early on and has kept him hooked until this day. On Avid Aquarist, Jeff shares everything he’s learned about helping aquatic life survive and thrive in a home aquarium.