{"product_id":"american-flagfish-jordanella-floridae-freshwater","title":"American Flagfish (Jordanella floridae)","description":"\u003cdiv style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif;color:#1a1a1a;max-width:860px;line-height:1.7;\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"background:#E3F2FD;border-left:4px solid #1E88E5;padding:10px 14px;margin:0 0 14px;font-size:0.95em;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIn-store pickup only.\u003c\/strong\u003e Your order is reserved, we hold off on bagging until you arrive so it stays healthy in its display tank.\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eAmerican Flagfish\u003c\/strong\u003e (\u003cem\u003eJordanella floridae\u003c\/em\u003e) wears its patriotism on its sides: rows of red and iridescent green scales down a stocky little body, with a dark shoulder blotch standing in for the field of stars. This is a true North American killifish, not a tropical import, and it is one of the hardiest beginner fish we stock. It shrugs off cool room temperatures, it breeds readily in a home aquarium, and it is one of the very few fish that will genuinely graze hair algae and black beard algae. Browse the rest of our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/collections\/fresh-water\"\u003efreshwater livestock and supplies\u003c\/a\u003e to build the tank around it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #1E88E5;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eCare Guide\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTank size:\u003c\/strong\u003e 20 gallons minimum, and a 20 long beats a 20 tall. Floor space and plenty of sight breaks are what keep males civil with each other.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTemperature:\u003c\/strong\u003e 65 to 85°F. They come from Florida marshes that swing with the seasons, so most rooms need no heater at all. That makes them a great pick for a basement tank or an unheated setup.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWater parameters:\u003c\/strong\u003e pH 6.5 to 8.2, hardness 6 to 20 dGH. Genuinely adaptable, and hard tap water is no problem for them.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFeeding:\u003c\/strong\u003e omnivore with a heavy vegetarian streak. Build the diet around algae based gels and veggie flakes like \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/repashy-soilent-green-algae-gel-food\"\u003eRepashy Soilent Green\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/ocean-nutrition-spirulina-flake-food\"\u003eOcean Nutrition Spirulina Flakes\u003c\/a\u003e, then add frozen or live foods a couple of times a week.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStocking:\u003c\/strong\u003e one male with two or three females is the classic setup. A larger group works in a 20 long or bigger as long as the aquascape is dense enough to break up sight lines. Two males in a small bare tank will spar nonstop.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAlgae duty:\u003c\/strong\u003e keep them a little hungry on protein and they will work the hair algae hard. A flagfish that gets stuffed with pellets every day has no reason to bother.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLid:\u003c\/strong\u003e required. Killifish jump, and this one is no exception.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #1E88E5;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ctable style=\"border-collapse:collapse;width:100%;max-width:640px;\"\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eScientific name\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eJordanella floridae\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCommon names\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eAmerican Flagfish, Florida Flagfish, Flagfish\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFamily\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eCyprinodontidae, the North American killifish and pupfish family\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCare level\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eBeginner\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTemperament\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eSemi-aggressive, males are territorial with each other\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMax size\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e2 to 2.5 inches\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMinimum tank\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e20 gallons, 20 long preferred\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTemperature\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e65 to 85°F, no heater required in most rooms\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003epH\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e6.5 to 8.2\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHardness\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e6 to 20 dGH\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDiet\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eOmnivore, heavily herbivorous\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLifespan\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e2 to 3 years\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eFlorida peninsula, in marshes, canals, and weedy backwaters\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePickup\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eIn-store pickup at Squeaky's Aquatics\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #1E88E5;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eCompatibility\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePair flagfish with quick, short-finned tank mates that can get out of the way. Good matches include the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/zebra-danio-danio-rerio-freshwater\"\u003eZebra Danio\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/cherry-barb-puntius-titteya-freshwater\"\u003eCherry Barb\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/brilliant-rummy-nose-tetra-hemigrammus-bleheri-freshwater\"\u003eBrilliant Rummy Nose Tetra\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/boesemani-rainbowfish-melanotaenia-boesemani-freshwater\"\u003eBoesemani Rainbowfish\u003c\/a\u003e, and bottom dwellers like the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/panda-cory-corydoras-panda-freshwater\"\u003ePanda Cory\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/orange-laser-corydoras\"\u003eOrange Laser Corydoras\u003c\/a\u003e, which stay below the action entirely. They also make good coworkers for the rest of the cleanup crew, including the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/siamese-algae-eater-crossocheilus-oblongus-freshwater-fish\"\u003eSiamese Algae Eater\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/otocinclus-catfish-otocinclus-vittatus-freshwater-algae-eater\"\u003eOtocinclus Catfish\u003c\/a\u003e, and nerite snails such as the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/batman-nerite-snail-neritina-auriculata-freshwater\"\u003eBatman Nerite\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSkip anything slow with long flowing fins. Fancy guppies, bettas, and long-finned varieties are exactly the profile a bored male flagfish will nip at. Full grown \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/amano-shrimp-caridina-multidentata-freshwater\"\u003eAmano Shrimp\u003c\/a\u003e are usually fine, but assume any shrimplets become snacks. If you keep another killifish, our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/clown-killifish-epiplatys-annulatus-freshwater-nano\"\u003eClown Killifish\u003c\/a\u003e is a nano sized cousin for a separate tank.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #1E88E5;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eRecommended Foods \u0026amp; Supplies\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/repashy-soilent-green-algae-gel-food\"\u003eRepashy Soilent Green\u003c\/a\u003e algae gel, the closest thing to their natural diet\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/repashy-super-green-algae-gel-food\"\u003eRepashy Super Green\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/ocean-nutrition-spirulina-flake-food\"\u003eOcean Nutrition Spirulina Flake Food\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/hikari-algae-wafers\"\u003eHikari Algae Wafers\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/tlf-seaveggies-green-seaweed\"\u003eTwo Little Fishies SeaVeggies Green Seaweed\u003c\/a\u003e with a \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/two-little-fishies-veggiemag-magnetic-seaweed-clip\"\u003eVeggieMag clip\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #1E88E5;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eFAQ\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill it actually eat hair algae?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes, and there is a very short list of fish you can say that about. The trick is restraint: go easy on the protein foods so they keep grazing. Treat them as one working member of the crew alongside manual removal and fixing whatever is feeding the algae, not as a magic fix.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs the fish in the photo a male?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt is. Males carry the full flag pattern with red and green rows and a deeper body. Females are a softer olive and tan with a dark spot near the back of the dorsal fin. Let us know which you are after and we will do our best to net what you want.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDo I need a heater?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eUsually not. They are comfortable anywhere from 65 to 85°F, which covers most homes year round. A cool room or an unheated basement tank suits them better than it does most tropicals.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill they eat my plants?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThey will graze soft, fine-leaved plants if the veggie side of their diet is thin. Feed greens regularly and lean on tougher species like \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/java-fern-on-lava-rock-microsorum-pteropus-freshwater\"\u003eJava Fern\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/anubias-pinto-cup\"\u003eAnubias\u003c\/a\u003e, and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/java-moss-taxiphyllum-barbieri-freshwater-moss\"\u003eJava Moss\u003c\/a\u003e, and you will not have a problem.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Squeaky's Aquatics","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49000173338843,"sku":"SQ-FLAGFISH","price":5.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0767\/5209\/3403\/files\/5f560bba-6df5-47e0-bf48-9aaad1d91d77.png?v=1784875237","url":"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/american-flagfish-jordanella-floridae-freshwater","provider":"Squeaky's Aquatics","version":"1.0","type":"link"}