Killifish care

Water temperature

70–77°F

Keep killifish at 70–77°F with a pH of 5.5–7, in a tank of at least 10 gallons. Good tank mates include corydoras, kuhli loaches, neon tetras.

Males spar with each other. Jumpy; keep the lid tight.

Aphyosemion australe

pH

5.5–7

Minimum tank

10 gal

Adult size

2.5 in

Temperament

Peaceful

Group

Alone or in pairs

Lifespan

2–3 years

Swims at

Top

Diet

Carnivore

Best tank mates

• CorydorasYes
• Kuhli loachYes
• Neon tetraYes
• Black skirt tetraYes
• Panda coryYes
• Tiger barbYes
• Odessa barbYes
• Lemon tetraYes
• Rosy barbYes
• Bolivian ramYes
• OtocinclusYes
• Hillstream loachYes

Full killifish tank mate chart: 54 yes, 29 with care, 15 no

Killifish water compared

Fish to keep away from killifish

• Axolotl Axolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); killifish need 70–77°F. No temperature suits both.
• Oscar An adult oscar eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2.5 inches killifish do.
• Discus No shared temperature. Discus need 82–88°F, killifish need 70–77°F.
• German blue ram No shared temperature. Rams need 80–86°F, killifish need 70–77°F.
• Bichir An adult bichir eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2.5 inches killifish do.
• Jack Dempsey An adult jack dempsey eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2.5 inches killifish do.
• White cloud minnow White cloud minnows are coldwater animals (60–72°F); killifish need 70–77°F. They overlap only at 70–72°F, the edge of both ranges.
• Black ghost knife An adult black ghost knife eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2.5 inches killifish do.

More oddballs

• Pea puffer74–82°F
• Bichir72–82°F
• Black ghost knife73–82°F
• Elephant nose fish73–82°F
• Silver arowana75–86°F