Clown Killifish (Epiplatys annulatus) is great fish for beginners and people who want to avoid a lot of equipment for their aquariums. This species does well in community tanks or if kept as a single species in a school of six or more. Clown Killifish is peaceful, quite hardy, and fun to watch, which is why so many people enjoy having it as pet fish.
QUESTIONS PEOPLE OFTEN ASK ABOUT CLOWN KILLIFISH
Can Bettas Live With Clown Killifish?
Bettas can do very well with Clown Killifish. Clown Killifish are docile and do not usually nip the fins and tails of other fish, so they will not bother your Betta.
At the same time, ample space is vitally important, since Bettas and Clown Killifish are surface-dwelling species. Otherwise, Betta can get territorial and aggressive even with small and peaceful Clown Killifish.
Clown Killifish do just fine without a heater and even live longer in cooler water but Bettas require warmer water, so you will need a heater.
The parameters of their ideal environments do overlap, so you can have a fish tank that will support both species appropriately.
Are Clown Killifish Easy To Take Care Of?
Clown Killifish are hardy and relatively low-maintenance fish.
Epiplatys annulatus, or Clown Killi, can live in small tanks. At least 10 gallons would be ideal but they do well in aquariums as small as 5 gallons. 68° – 79°F (20 – 26°C) is an appropriate range of temperatures for them, with a wide range of acidity (pH 4.0-7.0). Clown Killi tolerates bubblers but needs plants or other items to diffuse the flow.
These fish are top dwellers and do love to jump, so your tank needs a lid for your Killis’ safety. It is also important to have a large surface area – a tank that is not very deep but wide is better than a tall tank with a small surface area.
Do Clown Killifish Nip Fins? Are They Aggressive?
Clown Killifish are not aggressive. They are not fin-nippers unless there is something in the environment that is making them stressed, such as the tank being overcrowded or the water does not have the right parameters.
Clown killifish make good tank mates for many other fish species because they get along well with other peaceful fish and stay out of the way of some of the more dominant species, such as Bettas.
How Many Clown Killifish Per 10-Gallon Tank?
Avoid keeping less than six Clown Killifish in your aquarium. They are a schooling species and need the companionship of their kind, even in a tank that has other nanofish. Six-ten Clown Killis is a good number of fish to keep in a 10-gallon aquarium.
Although they do need to live with other fish of their species, Clown Killifish do not always swim as a group. They often swim either solo or as a pair but having a school of their own makes these nano fish feel more comfortable.
Do Clown Killifish Eat Their Eggs?
Although parent Clown Killifish might not eat their eggs or fry, other tank mates of the same species or other species will eat them.
For that reason, it is important to separate the eggs and place them into another tank or container. Use a spawning mop or a plant to allow your fish to deposit eggs. Then remove them and – fry should emerge within two weeks.
Do Clown Killifish Eat Smaller Fish?
Clown Killifish are nano fish and they are usually among the smallest inhabitants of community fish tanks. They will, however, eat juveniles of their species or other species.
Scarce food supplies make eating others more likely. Stress due to suboptimal conditions also predisposes fish to aggression, so even peaceful Clown killifish can attack others, although that is uncommon.
Do Clown Killifish Jump?
Clown Killifish are top-dwelling fish and love to jump. Your fish tank has to have a lid to keep these buoyant fish safe.
Can Clown Killifish Live With Neon Tetras?
Clown Killifish and Neon Tetras do well together.
Both species are peaceful and do great with each other if each species is kept in small schools of about six. Clown Killifish swims in the top portion of the tank, while Neon Tetras are middle dwellers, so they stay out of each other way.
The temperature requirements for Neon Tetras and Clown Killifish are similar. Neon Tetras prefer slightly warmer water. An important piece is to keep the acidity within a very tight range. Clown Killifish tolerates a wide range of acidity from 4.0 to 7.0 but Neon Tetras like higher pH – from 6.8 to 7.8. That gives you a rather narrow window of the pH of just under 7.0.
It might take some time for you to figure out how to keep the pH stable in your aquarium. There are products available to lower pH or increase pH as needed, although you will likely learn to keep it stable eventually to make sure both Neon Tetras and Clown Killifish can stay happy in your aquarium. There are products to keep acidity at 7.0, too, which is great for Neon Tetras and still acceptable for Clown Killifish.
OTHER EASY-TO-KEEP FISH
If you are interested in reading about other species of fish that are easy to maintain, please read our post on the subject. We reviewed 10 species that are great for beginners or experienced fish keepers. They are hardy and do not need much space or a warmer for their aquarium.
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