Killifish

Killifish are small, often brilliantly colored egg-layers with a range of lifestyles: annual species from seasonal pools live fast and lay eggs that rest in the substrate, while non-annual species are longer-lived and more forgiving. Most want soft water and a covered tank, since many are jumpers. Each profile lists tank size, water and how a species breeds.

42 species

• 

  American Flagfish

  Jordanella floridae

  2.2 in (5.5 cm)18 gal (70 L)63–73°F (17–23°C)

• 

  Arabian toothcarp

  Aphanius dispar

  2.8 in (7 cm)30 gal (115 L)59–86°F (15–30°C)

• 

  Argentine Pearl Killifish

  Austrolebias nigripinnis

  2.8 in (7 cm)18 gal (70 L)64–75°F (18–24°C)
• Argentine pearlfish

  Austrolebias bellottii

  2.8 in (7 cm)14 gal (54 L)61–75°F (16–24°C)

• 

  Blue gularis

  Fundulopanchax sjoestedti

  4.7 in (12 cm)21 gal (80 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)

• 

  Blue panchax

  Aplocheilus panchax

  3.5 in (9 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)

• 

  Bluefin killifish

  Lucania goodei

  2 in (5 cm)11 gal (40 L)64–77°F (18–25°C)

• 

  Bluefin Notho

  Nothobranchius rachovii

  2.4 in (6 cm)21 gal (80 L)68–75°F (20–24°C)

• 

  Clown Killifish

  Epiplatys annulatus

  1.4 in (3.5 cm)15 gal (55 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)

• 

  Eggers' notho

  Nothobranchius eggersi

  2 in (5 cm)11 gal (40 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)

• 

  Fighting gaucho

  Cynopoecilus melanotaenia

  1.8 in (4.5 cm)5 gal (20 L)64–75°F (18–24°C)

• 

  Foersch's notho

  Nothobranchius foerschi

  2.2 in (5.5 cm)11 gal (40 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
• Gery's killi

  Scriptaphyosemion geryi

  2.6 in (6.5 cm)14 gal (54 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)

• 

  Golden lyretail killifish

  Aphyosemion australe

  2.4 in (6 cm)10 gal (38 L)70–75°F (21–24°C)

• 

  Golden pheasant

  Callopanchax occidentalis

  3.1 in (8 cm)14 gal (54 L)68–75°F (20–24°C)

• 

  Golden Topminnow

  Fundulus chrysotus

  3 in (7.5 cm)22 gal (85 L)59–75°F (15–24°C)
• Green panchax

  Aplocheilus blockii

  2 in (5 cm)11 gal (40 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)

• 

  Gunther's nothobranch

  Nothobranchius guentheri

  2.4 in (6 cm)11 gal (40 L)72–77°F (22–25°C)

• 

  Kadlec's notho

  Nothobranchius kadleci

  2.4 in (6 cm)11 gal (40 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)

• 

  Mafia killifish

  Nothobranchius korthausae

  2 in (5 cm)10 gal (38 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)

• 

  Magnificent killifish

  Hypsolebias magnificus

  2 in (5 cm)10 gal (38 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)

• 

  Norman's lampeye

  Poropanchax normani

  1.6 in (4 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)

• 

  Northern Studfish

  Fundulus catenatus

  5.9 in (15 cm)37 gal (140 L)59–77°F (15–25°C)

• 

  Ogowe killifish

  Aphyosemion ogoense

  2 in (5 cm)11 gal (40 L)64–73°F (18–23°C)
• Palmqvist's notho

  Nothobranchius palmqvisti

  2 in (5 cm)11 gal (40 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)

• 

  Patrizi's notho

  Nothobranchius patrizii

  2.2 in (5.5 cm)11 gal (40 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
• Persian toothcarp

  Paraphanius mento

  2.6 in (6.5 cm)29 gal (110 L)59–86°F (15–30°C)

• 

  Playfair's panchax

  Pachypanchax playfairii

  3.9 in (10 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–77°F (22–25°C)
• Plumed lyretail

  Fundulopanchax filamentosus

  2.4 in (6 cm)20 gal (75 L)68–75°F (20–24°C)

• 

  Red-chinned panchax

  Epiplatys dageti

  1.8 in (4.5 cm)20 gal (75 L)70–75°F (21–24°C)
• Red-seam Killifish

  Aphyosemion calliurum

  2.2 in (5.5 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)

• 

  Red-striped killifish

  Aphyosemion striatum

  2 in (5 cm)11 gal (40 L)70–77°F (21–25°C)
• Rio pearlfish

  Nematolebias whitei

  3.1 in (8 cm)14 gal (54 L)68–77°F (20–25°C)

• 

  Sheepshead minnow

  Cyprinodon variegatus

  2.8 in (7 cm)26 gal (100 L)68–81°F (20–27°C)

• 

  Six-barred panchax

  Epiplatys sexfasciatus

  3.9 in (10 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
• Spanish toothcarp

  Valencia hispanica

  3 in (7.5 cm)20 gal (75 L)54–79°F (12–26°C)

• 

  Steel Blue Killifish

  Fundulopanchax gardneri

  2.2 in (5.5 cm)21 gal (80 L)70–79°F (21–26°C)

• 

  Striped panchax

  Aplocheilus lineatus

  4.3 in (11 cm)30 gal (115 L)72–77°F (22–25°C)

• 

  Tanganyika killifish

  Lamprichthys tanganicanus

  5.5 in (14 cm)40 gal (150 L)73–77°F (23–25°C)
• Turquoise killifish

  Nothobranchius furzeri

  2.4 in (6 cm)11 gal (40 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)
• Two-banded killifish

  Chromaphyosemion bitaeniatum

  2.2 in (5.5 cm)10 gal (38 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)

• 

  Two-striped aphyosemion

  Aphyosemion bivittatum

  2 in (5 cm)11 gal (40 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)