Clown Killifish

Epiplatys annulatus

Also known as: Rocket killifish, Banded panchax, Clown killi

Water Parameters

• Temperature: 22–26°C
• pH: 5–7
• Hardness (GH): 18–89 ppm (1–5 dGH)

Values above are general hardness (GH). For carbonate hardness (KH), the buffer that keeps pH stable, see the water parameters guide.

Care Summary

A miniature jewel that looks like nothing else in the hobby: a 3cm killifish striped boldly in black and cream along the body, with a tail flagged in red and blue that gives rise to its other name, the rocket killifish. Clown killis hang motionless at the surface of soft, still, blackwater pools in the wild, darting to snatch tiny prey, and they want the same in the aquarium: soft acidic water, gentle flow, floating plants for cover, and small live or frozen foods to suit their upturned, minute mouth. They are peaceful, jump-prone, and unsuited to the hard tap water of much of Australia without softening, which places them just beyond beginner territory. Kept in a group in a quiet, planted nano tank, ideally a species setup or with calm lower-level tankmates, a shoal of clown killifish hanging beneath the surface is a singular and rewarding sight.

Tankmates

A tiny, peaceful, strictly surface-dwelling killifish that hangs just beneath the waterline waiting for small prey. Because it lives at the surface, its main compatibility issue is competition there: avoid other surface-feeders such as gouramis, bettas, and livebearers, which outcompete or harass it, and avoid anything large enough to eat a 3cm fish. The best tankmates occupy the lower water column and are equally peaceful: chili rasboras, ember tetras, celestial pearl danios, pygmy corydoras, otocinclus, and dwarf shrimp, with which it is safe (it may take the smallest shrimplets). A tight-fitting lid is essential, as clown killifish are accomplished jumpers, and a calm, planted, soft-water tank with floating plants suits them best.

Compatible with

• Chili Rasbora
• Ember Tetra
• Celestial Pearl Danio
• Pygmy Corydoras
• Otocinclus
• Cherry Shrimp

Avoid keeping with

• Betta
• Guppy
• Dwarf Gourami
• Angelfish
• Large Cichlids
• Any Larger Fish

Common Problems

• jumping from uncovered tanks
• preference for small live or frozen foods over dry
• poor health in hard, alkaline water
• being outcompeted by other surface-feeders

Sources: seriouslyfish.com, fishbase.org · Last updated: 2026-06-20