Observations on Pronothobranchius seymouri: A Study in Thermal Precision
The cultivation of Pronothobranchius seymouri in the aquarium demands exactitude. My investigations reveal that a temperature range of 80–82°F is not merely preferable but essential for the successful incubation of its eggs and the vigor of its fry. This is no trivial detail; it is the cornerstone of reliable breeding, a fact substantiated by my own rearing of three generations from the 2019 WAC collection. Errors in prior reports, such as those fixated on the 1970s, stem from neglecting this thermal parameter.
Methodology and Findings
Consider the conditions: soft acidic water, live blackworms as sustenance, and a five-month egg storage period in a quart of moist peat-coir mixture—maintained at 82°F. These yield consistent hatches, albeit modest at 25 fry per clutch, with balanced sex ratios when raised in tanks of 10–30 gallons. Aggression, often cited as a barrier, diminishes markedly in such volumes. This is a systematic approach, not a haphazard one, and it refutes the outdated notion that small tanks suffice for killifish.
Conclusion
The decline of seymouri in the United States reflects not its inherent difficulty but a failure to apply these principles. Its persistence in Spain and Bulgaria underscores their utility. Precision in temperature and tank size is the key—nothing less will do.