Clown Killifish
Epiplatys annulatus
Nothobranchiidae
FishDifficulty: ●●●○○Data: well-established
About
The clown killifish, also called the rocket killifish, is a tiny non-annual surface dweller from the soft, tannin-stained coastal streams and swamps of West Africa (Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia). Reaching barely 3.5 cm, it wears bold vertical bands and finishes with a blue-and-red rocket-tipped tail. Peaceful and gregarious, it hovers just beneath the surface of a still, densely planted blackwater nano tank and hunts small invertebrates with an upturned mouth.
Care
Keep a group of 8+ in a still, densely planted blackwater nano tank with soft, acidic water and a tight lid — these are determined jumpers. Avoid current and boisterous tankmates.
Diet
Surface micropredator; feed small live and frozen foods such as baby brine shrimp, Moina, daphnia and micro worms, plus tiny floating micro-pellets. Match food size to its very small mouth.
Tankmate compatibility
Gets along with (33)
Banjo CatfishBlack Neon TetraBlack Phantom TetraBlack Ruby BarbBlack Skirt TetraBlackline RasboraBlue Tiger ShrimpCheckered BarbCherry BarbCochu's Blue TetraCongo Dwarf CichlidCrystal Red ShrimpEmperor TetraFlame TetraGlass CatfishGolden Dwarf CichlidGolden PencilfishHarlequin RasboraHead-and-Tail-Light TetraJulii CoryKeyhole CichlidLambchop RasboraLemon TetraLittle CorydorasNeon TetraPanda CorydorasPenguin TetraPurple Emperor TetraPygmy CorydorasSerpae TetraSkunk CoryStriped KribensisUmbrella Dwarf Cichlid
Possible with care (114)
African Butterfly CichlidAgassiz's CoryAgassiz's Dwarf CichlidAmano ShrimpBamboo ShrimpBetta (Siamese Fighting Fish)Bladder SnailBleeding Heart TetraBlood Parrot CichlidBloodfin TetraBlue AcaraBlue Velvet ShrimpBoesemani RainbowfishBolivian RamBorneo SuckerBrichard's TeleogrammaBristlenose PlecoBronze CorydorasBuenos Aires TetraBuffalohead CichlidButterfly Hillstream LoachCardinal TetraCelestial Pearl DanioCheckerboard CichlidCherry ShrimpChili RasboraChinese Algae EaterChocolate CichlidChocolate GouramiClown PlecoCockatoo Dwarf CichlidCongo TetraConvict CichlidDenison BarbDiamond TetraDoctor FishDojo (Weather) LoachDwarf Chain LoachDwarf Flag CichlidDwarf GouramiDwarf Neon RainbowfishDwarf Orange CrayfishDwarf Pea PufferDwarf RasboraElephantnose FishEllioti CichlidEmber TetraEmerald CoryFestivum (Flag Cichlid)Firemouth CichlidForktail RainbowfishFreshwater ClamGerman Blue RamGhost ShrimpGlowlight DanioGlowlight TetraGold BarbGolden TetraGreen Neon TetraHoney GouramiJapanese Trapdoor SnailKissing GouramiKribensisKuhli LoachLeopard DanioMacmasteri Dwarf CichlidMarble HatchetfishMedaka RicefishMoonlight GouramiOdessa BarbOtocinclusParadise FishParaguay EartheaterPeaceful BettaPearl DanioPearl GouramiPeppered CorydorasPolka Dot LoachPort CichlidRainbow CichlidRainbow SharkRed Whiptail CatfishRed-Tail SharkRedhead CichlidReticulated Hillstream LoachRosy BarbRosy TetraRubber Lip PlecoRummynose TetraSalt and Pepper CoryScarlet BadisScissortail RasboraSeverumSiamese Algae EaterSilver Tip TetraSparkling GouramiSterbai CorydorasStrawberry RasboraSveni EartheaterT-Bar CichlidThai Micro CrabThick-lipped GouramiThreadfin AcaraThreadfin RainbowfishThree-spot GouramiTiger BarbUpside-down CatfishVampire ShrimpVenezuelan CoryWhite Cloud Mountain MinnowWrestling HalfbeakX-ray TetraYoyo LoachZebra Danio
Avoid (124)
Acei CichlidAdonis PlecoAfrican ButterflyfishAltum AngelfishAngelfishAssassin SnailAuratus CichlidBala SharkBlack Moor GoldfishBlue Dolphin CichlidBorleyi (Redfin Hap)Brevis Shell DwellerBrichardi (Fairy Cichlid)Bumblebee CichlidBumblebee GobyCalvus CichlidCelebes RainbowfishClown LoachCobalt Blue ZebraColombian Ramshorn SnailComet GoldfishCommon GoldfishCommon PlecoCompressiceps CichlidCuckoo CatfishCylindricus CichlidCyprichromisDemasoni CichlidDemon EartheaterDiscusDogtooth CichlidDuboisi TropheusDwarf Petricola CatfishElectric Blue AhliElectric Yellow LabElongate MbunaEndler's LivebearerEndlicheri BichirEven-spotted SynodontisFantail GoldfishFeatherfin SqueakerFigure-8 PufferFive-bar CichlidFrontosaGoby CichlidGolden JulieGolden Wonder KillifishGreen DiscusGreen Spotted PufferfishGreen TerrorGuppyHeckel DiscusHongi CichlidIridescent SharkJack DempseyJaguar CichlidJewel CichlidJohanni CichlidKenyi CichlidKoiLeast KillifishLemon CichlidLivingstoniMaingano CichlidMalawi EyebiterMalawi HawkMalaysian Trumpet SnailMarlieri CichlidMasked JulieMollyMultifasciatus Shell DwellerMystery SnailNerite SnailOcellatus Shell DwellerOranda GoldfishOrnate BichirOscarPeacock BassPeacock CichlidPictus CatfishPike CichlidPlatyPowder Blue CichlidRabbit SnailRamshorn SnailRanchu GoldfishRed DevilRed EmpressRed RainbowfishRed TerrorRed Zebra CichlidRegan's JulieReticulated Flying FoxRostratusRosy Red MinnowRoyal PlecoRusty CichlidRyukin GoldfishSailfin MollySailfin PlecoSalvini CichlidSand-sifting XenotilapiaSaulosi CichlidShubunkin GoldfishSilver ArowanaSilver MoonySimilis Shell DwellerSpotted HoploStar SapphireStriped Raphael CatfishSulawesi Cardinal ShrimpSunshine PeacockSwordtailTaiwan Reef CichlidTelescope GoldfishTexas CichlidThreadfin PetrochromisTropheusTurquoise RainbowfishUaru (Triangle Cichlid)Venustus (Giraffe Cichlid)Wolf CichlidZebra MbunaZebra Pleco
Computed by the AquaSage engine for a spacious reference tank — always check the full verdict for your exact setup in the calculator.
Telling males from females
What works for this species, most reliable first.
- Colour and patternStrong · from about 6 months, and only on a settled fish
In rainbowfish, killifish and several barbs the male carries the colour — deeper and more saturated, intensifying further when he displays.
- Extended finsStrong · from about 8 months, and later in a suppressed male
On many cichlids and killifish the male's dorsal and anal fins draw out into trailing points as he matures, while the female's stay rounded.
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Frequently asked questions
- What tank size does a Clown Killifish need?
- A Clown Killifish needs an aquarium of at least 20 litres (5.3 US gallons) with a footprint at least 45 cm (17.7 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.
- What water parameters does a Clown Killifish need?
- Clown Killifish does best at 20–26 °C (68–78.8 °F), pH 4–7 and a general hardness of 1–10 °dGH.
- What group size does a Clown Killifish need?
- Clown Killifish is a social species — keep a group of at least 8 so natural behaviour emerges and stress stays low.
- Is the Clown Killifish suitable for beginners?
- Clown Killifish sits in the middle of the difficulty scale — manageable for a careful beginner who has done the reading, but it has specific needs worth researching first.
Sources
Water & tank
Temperature20–26°C
Optimal temp.22–25°C
pH4–7
Hardness (GH)1–10°d
Carbonate (KH)0–6°d
Adult size3.5 cm
Min. volume≥ 20 L
Min. tank length≥ 45 cm
Group size≥ 8
Swimming zoneTop
TemperamentPeaceful
Water typeFreshwater
FlowLow
Lifespan~3 yrs
Try in the calculator