Clown Killifish

Give Your Fish Friend a Happier Home!

Your fish deserves more than just a bowl! Explore our collection of aquariums designed to create a healthier, more vibrant habitat for your aquatic friends. Easy to maintain, visually stunning, and perfect for every home.

Click image to enlarge

Looking for easy to maintain tropical fish combinations?

Scientific Name

Pseudepiplatys annulatus

Min. Tank Size

15 gallons

Personality

Peaceful

Temperature

72-79°F

pH

5.0-7.0/2-12°dGH

Size

1.5"

Diet

Carnivore

Breeding

Egglayer

Compatibility

Best kept in a species tank; if kept in a community tank, choose smaller, peaceful community species such as Rasboras, Characins, Dwarf Cichlids, and Corydoras.

Clown Killifish

The Clown Killifish is one of the most easily identified Killifish species. The bodies of these fish are ornamented with thick black and white vertical bands and the fins exhibit a combination of colors including red, yellow, blue and orange. The dorsal fin is typically yellow, while the caudal fin may exhibit a central orange band rimmed in a thin stripe of red bordered in blue on both sides. Sometimes called the Rocket Panchax, this species is native to Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone where it can be found in coastal swamps. Because these fish typically inhabit permanent bodies of water, they are not an annual species.

Tank Set-Up

Clown Killifish can be kept in the community tank as long as their tank mates are not too vigorous. However, a species tank with several of its own kind would be the best option. The ideal tank mates for these fish include small, peaceful Rasboras and Characins, Dwarf Cichlids and other peaceful Killifish. In the home aquarium, this species prefers dark substrate and peat-filtered water. The tank should be decorated with plenty of live plants and the tank must be covered to prevent the fish from jumping out.

Feeding

Clown Killifish often accept dried and flake foods but prefer live and frozen foods such as Daphnia, tubifex, brine shrimp and bloodworms. Feed a varied diet to promote optimum health and coloration.

Breeding

Breeding this species is somewhat more difficult than other Killifish species. For the best chances of success, the breeding tank should be kept at a pH around 5.5 at a temperature between 79 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit. The tank should also be dimly lit and decorated with plenty of floating plants to provide cover. Condition a trio of two females and one male on live foods and add them to the spawning tank. If spawning occurs, it will happen on a daily basis with eggs being deposited every 24 hours for about two weeks. Remove the eggs as soon as they are deposited and incubate them in a small tank filled with 1 to 2 inches of water treated with Methylene blue to prevent fungus. The eggs should hatch between 10 and 14 days after spawning and the young can be fed infusoria.