TankmateChecker

Can platies live with killifish?

Verdict

Yes, with care

Yes, with care. Platies and killifish can share a tank, but watch one thing. Water chemistry is a squeeze. The only pH that suits both is around 7.

Platy

Platy70–80°F · pH 7–8.2

Killifish

Killifish70–77°F · pH 5.5–7

What to watch

Watch outWater chemistry is a squeeze. The only pH that suits both is around 7.

What works

Both are fine at 70–77°F.
They use different parts of the tank: platies the mid, killifish the top.

Water side by side

The green band is the temperature range both can live in.

The green band is the pH both tolerate.

Size to scale

Adult length in an aquarium. A fish can swallow anything that fits in its mouth, roughly a third to half its own length for predators.

Care at a glance

	Platy	Killifish
Temperature	70–80 °F	70–77 °F
pH	7–8.2	5.5–7
Adult size	2.5 in	2.5 in
Minimum tank	10 gal	10 gal
Temperament	Peaceful	Peaceful
Swims at	Middle	Top
Group	Groups of 3+	Alone or in pairs
Diet	Omnivore	Carnivore

Better tank mates for platies

All platy tank mates

Better tank mates for killifish

All killifish tank mates

Questions

Can platies live with killifish?

Yes, with care. Platies and killifish can share a tank, but watch one thing. Water chemistry is a squeeze. The only pH that suits both is around 7.

What temperature suits both platies and killifish?

70–77 °F. Platies need 70–80 °F, killifish need 70–77 °F.

What size tank do platies and killifish need together?

At least 10 gal, set by the platy. Add space for each extra fish.