I haven’t been in the aquarium hobby very long, but the first thing I really wanted to do was to breed some fish. At the first couple of meetings for the Tampa Bay Aquarium Society, I heard about how easy it was to breed the Killifish. So, I decided I wanted to try it.

I have two aquariums in my office. One is a five gallon and the other is a 2 1/2 gallon. I got a pair of Gardneri Killifish and watched them do their mating dance in the five gallon tank. They did this for about two days and then stopped. After a month went by, I called upon my fellow Tampa Bay Aquarium Society members to help me.

First they said I needed to feed them a variety of foods, especially blood worms. I cant stand blood worms, but my husband got me some frozen ones – this was okay, but the people at work didn’t exactly like to have these in their freezer! I also gave them brine shrimp and flake food. I felt like these fish were eating better than I was! The variety really didn’t work. They didn’t do their mating dance for another month!

Next, I tried putting them in the smaller tank with a mop (made by Bill Shields). Well, they started doing the dance again. It lasted for another two days. I decided to keep them in the tank for another two weeks and then put them in the bigger tank. Another month went by . . . .

Just when I decided to clean out the small 2 1/2 gallon tank, I saw some very small fry. I was so excited! I finally did it. It may have taken three or four months, but I was successful.

Now I am the happy mother of three Gardneri Killifish! If I can do this, anyone can do this. Just ask me!

P.S. Thanks to Mark, Bill, Jamie and Al for all of your help.