Tank mates for clown killifish
We checked clown killifish against all 149 other species in our database for water temperature, pH, size, fin nipping, predation and aggression.
Good tank mates for clown killifish include cherry shrimp, nerite snail, guppy, neon tetra, panda corydoras and bristlenose pleco. Avoid angelfish, common goldfish and oscar: angelfish can eat clown killifish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
Clown killifish: 22–26°C (72–79°F), pH 5.5–7, adult size 3.5 cm (1.4 in), minimum tank 10 gallons (38 L). Full clown killifish care guide.
Good Compatible tank mates (90)
Shared water conditions and no known conflict. Still add fish slowly and watch them.
Bristlenose pleco
12 cm (4.7 in) · 20+ gal
Bronze corydoras
7 cm (2.8 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Cherry shrimp
3 cm (1.2 in) · 5+ gal · groups of 10+
Clown killifish will pick off baby cherry shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Common pleco
40 cm (15.7 in) · 150+ gal
Guppy
5 cm (2 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 3+
Neon tetra
3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 8+
Nerite snail
2.5 cm (1 in) · 5+ gal
Panda corydoras
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 6+
Zebra danio
5 cm (2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
African dwarf frog
3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 2+
Amano shrimp
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 3+
Clown killifish will pick off baby amano shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Assassin snail
2.5 cm (1 in) · 5+ gal
Black skirt tetra
6 cm (2.4 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 8+
Cardinal tetra
4 cm (1.6 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 8+
Celestial pearl danio
2.5 cm (1 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 8+
Cherry barb
5 cm (2 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 6+
Chili rasbora
2 cm (0.8 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 10+
Denison barb
13 cm (5.1 in) · 75+ gal · groups of 6+
Dwarf neon rainbowfish
6 cm (2.4 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Ember tetra
2 cm (0.8 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 8+
Ghost shrimp
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 3+
Clown killifish will pick off baby ghost shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Glowlight tetra
4 cm (1.6 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 6+
Harlequin rasbora
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 8+
Honey gourami
5 cm (2 in) · 10+ gal
Julii corydoras
5.5 cm (2.2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Kuhli loach
9 cm (3.5 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Malaysian trumpet snail
2.5 cm (1 in) · 10+ gal
Otocinclus
4 cm (1.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Pearl gourami
11.5 cm (4.5 in) · 29+ gal
Peppered corydoras
6.5 cm (2.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Platy
6 cm (2.4 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 3+
Pygmy corydoras
2.5 cm (1 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 10+
Ramshorn snail
2 cm (0.8 in) · 5+ gal
Rummy-nose tetra
5 cm (2 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 10+
Sterbai corydoras
6.5 cm (2.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
X-ray tetra
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 6+
Yoyo loach
13 cm (5.1 in) · 75+ gal · groups of 5+
Bamboo shrimp
8 cm (3.1 in) · 20+ gal
Clown killifish will pick off baby bamboo shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Black neon tetra
4 cm (1.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 8+
Black phantom tetra
4 cm (1.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Bleeding heart tetra
6.5 cm (2.6 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 8+
Bloodfin tetra
5 cm (2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Bolivian ram
8 cm (3.1 in) · 29+ gal
Clown pleco
9 cm (3.5 in) · 20+ gal
Congo tetra
8 cm (3.1 in) · 40+ gal · groups of 6+
Crystal red shrimp
3 cm (1.2 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 10+
Clown killifish will pick off baby crystal red shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Diamond tetra
6 cm (2.4 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Dwarf chain loach
6 cm (2.4 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 6+
Emerald green corydoras
8 cm (3.1 in) · 55+ gal · groups of 6+
Emperor tetra
5 cm (2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Endler's livebearer
3 cm (1.2 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 3+
Forktail blue-eye
5 cm (2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 8+
Gardneri killifish
6 cm (2.4 in) · 10+ gal
Giant danio
10 cm (3.9 in) · 55+ gal · groups of 6+
Glass catfish
7 cm (2.8 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 6+
Head and tail light tetra
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Kubotai rasbora
2 cm (0.8 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 10+
Lambchop rasbora
3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 8+
Lemon tetra
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 8+
Marbled hatchetfish
3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 8+
Odessa barb
6 cm (2.4 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Panda garra
8.5 cm (3.3 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 3+
Peacock gudgeon
6 cm (2.4 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 2+
Penguin tetra
5 cm (2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Red rainbowfish
12 cm (4.7 in) · 40+ gal · groups of 6+
Rosy loach
2.5 cm (1 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 8+
Rosy tetra
4 cm (1.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Rubber lip pleco
14 cm (5.5 in) · 29+ gal
Scarlet badis
2 cm (0.8 in) · 10+ gal
Scissortail rasbora
12 cm (4.7 in) · 55+ gal · groups of 6+
Sparkling gourami
3.8 cm (1.5 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 2+
Swordtail
12 cm (4.7 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 4+
Thai micro crab
1 cm (0.4 in) · 5+ gal · groups of 5+
Threadfin rainbowfish
4 cm (1.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Turquoise rainbowfish
11 cm (4.3 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 6+
Upside-down catfish
9.5 cm (3.7 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 4+
Vampire shrimp
10 cm (3.9 in) · 20+ gal
Clown killifish will pick off baby vampire shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Zebra loach
9 cm (3.5 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 5+
Black ruby barb
6 cm (2.4 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Checkerboard barb
5 cm (2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Dwarf rasbora
2.5 cm (1 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 10+
Flame tetra
3 cm (1.2 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 8+
Glowlight danio
3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Green neon tetra
2.5 cm (1 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 10+
Keyhole cichlid
10 cm (3.9 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 2+
Least killifish
2.5 cm (1 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 6+
Pearl danio
6 cm (2.4 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Silvertip tetra
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 8+
Thick-lipped gourami
9 cm (3.5 in) · 20+ gal
Variatus platy
6 cm (2.4 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 3+
Caution Possible, with care (31)
These can work in the right setup, but there is a real risk. Read the reason first.
- Betta fish · 5+ gal
- Betta fish defends its patch of the tank and may chase clown killifish, which use the same area.
- Dwarf gourami · 15+ gal
- Dwarf gourami defends its patch of the tank and may chase clown killifish, which use the same area.
- Fancy goldfish · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 22–23°C).
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
- Fancy goldfish may eat clown killifish, especially young or small ones.
- Tiger barb · 29+ gal
- Tiger barb nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like clown killifish.
- Blood parrot cichlid · 55+ gal
- Blood parrot cichlid may eat clown killifish, especially young or small ones.
- Blood parrot cichlid is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller clown killifish.
- Boesemani rainbowfish · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 26–26°C).
- Clown loach · 180+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–26°C).
- Clown loach grows much larger than clown killifish and may swallow them as it grows.
- Dojo loach · 75+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 22–23°C).
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
- Dojo loach grows much larger than clown killifish and may swallow them as it grows.
- Firemouth cichlid · 29+ gal
- Firemouth cichlid may eat clown killifish, especially young or small ones.
- Firemouth cichlid is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller clown killifish.
- Hillstream loach · 20+ gal
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
- Kribensis · 29+ gal
- Kribensis is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller clown killifish.
- Molly · 29+ gal
- Their preferred pH ranges don't quite overlap (5.5–7 vs 7.5–8.5).
- One prefers soft water and the other hard water (GH 2–8 vs 15–30 dGH).
- Mystery snail · 10+ gal
- Their preferred pH ranges don't quite overlap (5.5–7 vs 7.2–8).
- Rainbow shark · 75+ gal
- Rainbow shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller clown killifish.
- Rainbow shark grows much larger than clown killifish and may swallow them as it grows.
- Red-tail shark · 75+ gal
- Red-tail shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller clown killifish.
- Rosy barb · 29+ gal
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
- Siamese algae eater · 55+ gal
- Siamese algae eater grows much larger than clown killifish and may swallow them as it grows.
- Silver dollar · 75+ gal
- Silver dollar may eat clown killifish, especially young or small ones.
- Three spot gourami · 29+ gal
- Three spot gourami is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller clown killifish.
- Three spot gourami defends its patch of the tank and may chase clown killifish, which use the same area.
- White cloud mountain minnow · 15+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 22–22°C).
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
- Agassiz's dwarf cichlid · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–26°C).
- Buenos Aires tetra · 29+ gal
- Buenos Aires tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like clown killifish.
- Cockatoo cichlid · 20+ gal
- Cockatoo cichlid is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller clown killifish.
- Dwarf orange crayfish · 10+ gal
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
- Gold barb · 29+ gal
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
- Kissing gourami · 75+ gal
- Kissing gourami is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller clown killifish.
- Kissing gourami grows much larger than clown killifish and may swallow them as it grows.
- Paradise fish · 20+ gal
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
- Paradise fish is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller clown killifish.
- Paradise fish defends its patch of the tank and may chase clown killifish, which use the same area.
- Rabbit snail · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–26°C).
- Their preferred pH ranges don't quite overlap (5.5–7 vs 7.5–8.5).
- Serpae tetra · 20+ gal
- Serpae tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like clown killifish.
- Zebra pleco · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 26–26°C).
- Moonlight gourami · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–26°C).
Avoid Bad tank mates (28)
- Angelfish: Angelfish can eat clown killifish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Common goldfish: Common goldfish can eat clown killifish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Oscar: Oscar can eat clown killifish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Bala shark: Bala shark can eat clown killifish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Chinese algae eater: Chinese algae eater is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful clown killifish.
- Convict cichlid: Convict cichlid can eat clown killifish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful clown killifish.
- Discus: They need different temperatures: Clown killifish 22–26°C (72–79°F), discus 28–30°C (82–86°F).
- Electric blue acara: Electric blue acara can eat clown killifish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Electric yellow cichlid: Electric yellow cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Clown killifish don't belong in that setup.
- German blue ram: They need different temperatures: Clown killifish 22–26°C (72–79°F), german blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F).
- Jack Dempsey: Jack Dempsey can eat clown killifish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful clown killifish.
- Pea puffer: Pea puffer is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful clown killifish. Pea puffer is best kept in a species-only tank.
- Peacock cichlid: Peacock cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Clown killifish don't belong in that setup.
- Pictus catfish: Pictus catfish can eat clown killifish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Red zebra cichlid: Red zebra cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful clown killifish. Red zebra cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Clown killifish don't belong in that setup.
- Senegal bichir: Senegal bichir can eat clown killifish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- African butterfly fish: African butterfly fish can eat clown killifish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Black ghost knifefish: Black ghost knifefish can eat clown killifish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Bumblebee catfish: Bumblebee catfish can eat clown killifish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Demasoni cichlid: Demasoni cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful clown killifish. Demasoni cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Clown killifish don't belong in that setup.
- Frontosa: They need very different water: pH 5.5–7 vs 8–9. Frontosa can eat clown killifish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Frontosa is a Lake Tanganyika cichlid. It needs a Lake Tanganyika tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 8–9), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Clown killifish don't belong in that setup.
- Golden wonder killifish: Golden wonder killifish can eat clown killifish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Green terror: Green terror can eat clown killifish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Green terror is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful clown killifish.
- Jewel cichlid: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful clown killifish.
- Ropefish: Ropefish can eat clown killifish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Severum: Severum can eat clown killifish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Shell dweller cichlid: Shell dweller cichlid is a Lake Tanganyika cichlid. It needs a Lake Tanganyika tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–9), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Clown killifish don't belong in that setup.
- Tinfoil barb: Tinfoil barb can eat clown killifish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
Frequently asked questions
What fish can live with clown killifish?
Good tank mates for clown killifish include cherry shrimp, nerite snail, guppy, neon tetra, panda corydoras and bristlenose pleco. They need similar water and won't fight with or eat clown killifish.
Can clown killifish live with angelfish?
No. Angelfish can eat clown killifish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Angelfish is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller clown killifish.
Can clown killifish live with bettas?
Sometimes, with care. Betta fish defends its patch of the tank and may chase clown killifish, which use the same area.
Can clown killifish live with bristlenose plecos?
Yes. They share similar water needs (22–26°C (72–79°F)) and peaceful temperaments.
Can clown killifish live with bronze corydoras?
Yes. They share similar water needs (22–26°C (72–79°F)) and peaceful temperaments.
How we decide: we compare each pair's comfortable temperature, pH and hardness ranges, adult sizes, mouth size (who can eat whom), fin nipping, aggression and territory. Read the full method. Data last reviewed 2026-10-13.