I have been keeping Jordanella floridae for about 7 or 8 months now and have really enjoyed the fish.

Coloration: It may be found locally, but I still find the colors fairly exotic. The body is a checkerboard of color. The unpaired fins have great, orange, veinage. The female is usually smaller and less colorful. This is consistent with many killifish. When scared, the fish can “checker up” and hide in sand, mulm, and other natural substrates. The female has a spot mid body and the rear portion of her dorsal, while the male usually only has one on the center of his side.

Body shape: This fish has the shape common among the Cyprinodonts. It is a rather full bodied, diamond shape.

Breeding: I found egg production best with one pair in a ten. Fill the ten gallon all the way up with water, and then half way up with fluffy, hair algae. The male will hang over an area and wait for the female. When she comes along, they breed somewhat like Nothobranchius and the female will drop multiple eggs, spasmodically. When they are done the male chases the female away and guards the eggs. The breeding goes on indefinitely. Eggs harvest very easily from the hair alga, and should be placed in a shallow dish of water to hatch. Use hard water. These fish exist in both salt and freshwater, so salt won’t hurt.

Culture: These fish are fine in any size container 5 gallon and larger. They should be kept in hard water and given light and hiding places. I use them in my 55 gal. aquarium to control hair alg:ae, as they eat it as well as breed in it. Mid to upper 70’s (F) are fine temps.Enjoy these fish they are fun!!! (Click for photos of this fish)

Note of interest: I have observed the male doing a ‘headstand’ on the egg ‘nest’ and beating a wave of water on the eggs with his tail.

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Top: A male displaying for his mate.
Top Middle: Eggs (some are eyed up.)
Bottom: Male "sitting on" eggs.