The Annual Lifecycle
Wild annual killifish (Nothobranchius, Austrolebias) live 3 to 9 months in seasonal pools.
Eggs laid in pool mud survive dry season and hatch when rains return.
Aquarium breeders mimic this with peat moss substrate and controlled drying.
Peat Setup
Boil peat moss to sterilize, squeeze dry, and place 2cm layer in a small breeding container.
Introduce pair. Spawning occurs in peat over 1 to 2 weeks.
Drying Phase
Remove peat, squeeze to damp (not wet), seal in plastic bag.
Store at 22 to 25°C for 3 to 6 weeks depending on species.
Wet Activation
Add cool soft water to peat in a shallow dish. Fry hatch within hours.
Transfer fry to grow-out tank within 24 hours.
Some eggs remain dormant — redry peat and reactivate for second batch.