Bluefin Notho

Extreme Geographical Origin:

In nature, Kruger National Park or Mozambique transform into arid savannas. In holes left by elephants or depressions in the ground, the first rains trigger the eggs that have been dormant for months. From a tiny larva, the *N. rachovii* must fight, feed on mosquito larvae, grow to 5 cm (2 inches), and breed before the sun dries everything back into hard, cracked mud in just 3-4 months. A crazy evolutionary triumph.

The Short Life Cycle (The Warning):

Buying this fish in a store often means buying an animal already halfway through its life. No matter how perfect the tank is, one year after hatching the fish will become deformed, lose weight and color (accelerated senescence), and die of old age. The only purpose in keeping Nothos is to enjoy the chromatic spectacle and, primarily, to preserve the species by engaging in their peat reproduction.

The Practice of Diapause (Eggs in the Dirt):

The aquarium must contain a deep layer of boiled peat or coconut fiber (or at least a jar filled with substrate if the tank has a bare bottom for hygiene). The male will "push" the female down into the peat where they will bury the eggs. Every couple of weeks, you will have to collect this dirt, squeeze it to remove excess water (it must remain moist like pipe tobacco), and store it in sealed bags in a drawer for a good 4 or 5 months. The eggs need this "dry" period (diapause) to develop the embryo. By immersing the peat again in new, fresh water months later, the dust will magically come to life with dozens of tiny fry ready to grow in just 5 weeks.

Illness and Salt:

Nothos are perpetually exposed to attacks by the pathogen *Piscinoodinium* (Velvet). Many breeders dissolve 1 or 2 grams of sea salt or non-iodized salt per liter of water right from the setup to inhibit the parasites without harming the fish, thus prolonging those few precious months.