Blue Gularis

Looks how to spot one

Scaled, robust killifish

A large, powerfully built killifish. Males are richly coloured with long, pointed dorsal, anal and tail fins; females are smaller, plainer and fuller-bodied.13

Personality what they are like

A bold hunter. Males are rough with each other, but it lives well alongside peaceful fish too big to be eaten, such as larger characins, peaceful cichlids, Corydoras and plecos.13

Daily activity how busy a day looks

An accomplished jumper that needs a roomy tank with a secure lid.1

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

A secure lid is essential. Keep two or three females per male to spread out his attention.1

Home where they are happiest

Minimum tank base about 90 x 30 cm (around 80 litres). Temperature 23-26 °C, pH 6.0-8.0, hardness 5-20 dGH. In the wild it lives in swampy coastal rainforest.12

Food basics what goes in the bowl

Predatory. Base the diet on live or frozen foods such as daphnia and bloodworm; dried food is taken only now and then.13

Company who they like around

Keep as a trio or a male with several females.1

The story where it all began

Lönnberg described it in 1895. Its name honours Swedish naturalist Bror Yngve Sjöstedt, who collected the type specimen by a waterfall on the Ndian river in Cameroon.23

Recognised by the official bits

IUCN Red List

Endangered (assessed September 2019)2

Taxonomy

Family Nothobranchiidae; described by Lönnberg in 1895; formerly placed in Aphyosemion2