Turquoise Killifish

Nothobranchius furzeri holds the record as the shortest-lived vertebrate, surviving only 3–9 months in nature. This extreme brevity makes it a key model organism in ageing and gerontology research. Males are dazzling in turquoise blue with red-orange scaling, and the species is amenable to breeding in captivity with proper peat spawning substrate.

Water: 18–24°C, pH 6.0–7.5, moderately hard; cooler water extends lifespan noticeably. Tank: 40L minimum, peat substrate or spawning mops, 5cm peat layer for egg storage. Feeding: Carnivore — live and frozen daphnia, cyclops, bloodworm; micro-pellets accepted. Behaviour: Males aggressive toward each other; keep individually. Compatibility: Best as a dedicated annual killifish setup; avoid long-term tankmates that outlive it.