Hi Spec,
Killies are great and many are not difficult at all. They need, for the most part, the same soft acid RO water cp's do and like temperatures between 68-75F. They do not need large tanks. They do best in a single species tank. They love lots of live plants. Many species will simply lay eggs and let the fry grow up all around them. Some, like the annual soil spawning species -- my favorites -- lay their eggs in peat moss which must be taken out of the tank, stored away in a moist state and then put in water after several months for the developed eggs to hatch. Killies can be small -- under an inch -- or fairly large -- 6 inches. Most are gorgeously colored and all are fascinating to breed.
For information, start by checking the American Killifish Association's webpage <
www.aka.org>. There is a link there to an online complete "beginner's guide" that is excellent and last month's "fish and egg listings" that shows species members have to sell and trade. Also, look at the "Affiliate Clubs" link and check out the BAKA -- Bay Area Killifish Association. You are in the Bay Area right, Spec? Well, there is a great local killifish club in your area then full of people who raise great fish. They have monthly meetings and there is a fish auction at each meeting. Members are also good about getting newbies started with some easy to keep and breed fish like Fundulopanchax gardneri, Aphyosemion australe (chocolate), Aphyosemion striatum, Simpsonichthys (Nematolebias) whitei, Nothobranchius foerschi, etc.... I know several people in the club and if you ever get a chance to go and let me know I will give them a heads up you are coming. Every April, the BAKA hosts a big killifish show, auction and convention in the Bay Area. It was suppose to be great this year. The show results are on the BAKA webpage. They bring in speakers on killifish from around the world and all kinds of new species.
In addition, check out the Northwest Killies club. It covers Northern Calif., Oregon, and Washington. They have great members too -- some have fishrooms of 400 tanks all devoted to killies.
You can join the AKA from the webpage if you want to. They have a good magazine and a great fish and egg listings. If you like killies you live in a great area for them. There are many fine breeders all around you.
Other good sites are: <
http://thearkfoundation.org/SAA/public/index.html>> for information on South Ameircan annual killifish.
<
http://home10.inet.tele.dk/kdinesen/index.html> for information on a neat group of killies once called "Roloffias".
<
http://users.pandora.be/marc.bellemans/index.htm> for great detailed information on East African killies called Nothobranchius.
And <
http://www.killifish.f9.co.uk/Killifish/Killifish Website/Index.htm> for lots of information on all West African killies.
All these sites are full of great pictures.
I am setting up some annuals to breed today so in a few months I may have some you can have.
Bobby