TankBud

Red-striped killifish

Aphyosemion striatum

Also known as Red-striped killi

FreshwaterFish

Red-striped killifish (Aphyosemion striatum)
Alexander Prokoshev · CC BY-SA 4.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
70–77°F
21–25°C
pH
6.5–7.5
Adult size
2 in
5 cm
Minimum tank
11 gal
40 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Middle
Diet
Carnivore
Difficulty
Easy
Breeding
Egg depositor · Easy
Rarity
Common
Family
Nothobranchiidae
Origin
West/Central Africa: Equatorial Guinea and Gabon (coastal forest streams)

Overview

The red-striped killifish is a peaceful, shy killifish for a dim, planted tank. It is one of the easier killis to keep.

Did you know

Red-striped killifish are non-annual, unlike the better-known killis that race through a single rainy season and leave drought-proof eggs in the mud. They come from streams that hold water year round, so their eggs hatch on a normal schedule with no dry rest. That is why beginners can breed them with nothing more than a spawning mop.

Caring for the red-striped killifish

Keep red-striped killifish as a single pair, or one male with a few females, in 11 gal (40 L) or more. Give them a dim tank with a dark substrate, driftwood, dense planting and floating plants to cut the light. They are strong jumpers, so a tight-fitting lid is essential.

Keep the water soft and slightly acidic to neutral, at a pH of 6.5 to 7.5. Run it on the cool side, within 70 to 77°F (21 to 25°C) and best around 22 to 23°C. That often means no heater at all.

Feed small live and frozen foods such as daphnia, baby brine shrimp and bloodworms. They are easily pushed off food, so skip anything boisterous or large. Good company includes small peaceful tetras, rasboras, pencilfish, Corydoras and dwarf cichlids.

They are non-annual plant spawners, laying eggs on mops or Java moss. The eggs hatch in roughly 10 to 14 days, and breeding them is easy.

Good to know

The red-striped killifish, Aphyosemion striatum, belongs to the family Nothobranchiidae. Most live around 2 to 3 years, and some reach 5.

In the wild

Red-striped killifish live in shaded, slow-moving forest streams along the coast of Equatorial Guinea and Gabon, in West and Central Africa. These are dim, soft-water pools under heavy canopy, often littered with leaves and submerged roots.

Common questions

What size tank does a red-striped killifish need?

A red-striped killifish needs at least 11 gal (40 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a red-striped killifish need?

A red-striped killifish is comfortable at 70–77°F (21–25°C) with a pH of 6.5–7.5.

What does a red-striped killifish eat?

A red-striped killifish eats small live and frozen foods, such as daphnia, baby brine shrimp and bloodworms.

How big does a red-striped killifish get?

An adult red-striped killifish reaches about 2 in (5 cm).

How does a red-striped killifish breed?

Red-striped killifish lay their eggs on mops or Java moss, and the eggs hatch after roughly 10 to 14 days. They are easy to breed.

Related species