Rainbowfish & killifish

158 freshwater aquarium species in the rainbowfish & killifish group, including Argentine pearlfish, Banded rainbowfish and Blackfin pearlfish. 24 have a full care profile with tank size, temperature, pH and temperament, compared in the table below.

Rainbowfish & killifish care compared

SpeciesAdult sizeMin. tankTemperaturepHTemperamentCare
Argentine pearlfishAustrolebias bellottii7 cm (2.8 in)55 L (15 US gal)18–24°C (64–75°F)6.5–7.0AggressiveModerate
Banded rainbowfishMelanotaenia trifasciata14 cm (5.5 in)210 L (55 US gal)18–22°C (64–72°F)6.5–7.2PeacefulEasy
Blackfin pearlfishAustrolebias nigripinnis7 cm (2.8 in)55 L (15 US gal)18–24°C (64–75°F)6.0–7.0AggressiveModerate
Bluefin killifishLucania goodei6 cm (2.4 in)20 L (5 US gal)12–22°C (54–72°F)6.5–6.8PeacefulModerate
Celebes rainbowTelmatherina celebensis6.8 cm (2.7 in)115 L (30 US gal)22–24°C (72–75°F)7.0–8.0PeacefulEasy
Celebes rainbowfishMarosatherina ladigesi7 cm (2.8 in)150 L (40 US gal)22–28°C (72–82°F)7.0–8.0–Difficult
Checkered rainbowfishMelanotaenia splendida inornata115 cm (45 in)210 L (55 US gal)24–33°C (75–91°F)6.5–8.0–Easy
Dwarf rainbowfishMelanotaenia praecox5 cm (2 in)150 L (40 US gal)22–28°C (72–82°F)6.5–7.5PeacefulEasy
FlagfishJordanella floridae6 cm (2.4 in)–19–22°C (66–72°F)6.7–8.2Semi-aggressiveEasy
Forktail rainbowfishPseudomugil furcatus5 cm (2 in)75 L (20 US gal)24–26°C (75–79°F)6.0–8.0PeacefulEasy
Javanese ricefishOryzias javanicus4.5 cm (1.8 in)75 L (20 US gal)20–24°C (68–75°F)7.5–8.5PeacefulEasy
Kamaka rainbowfishMelanotaenia kamaka14 cm (5.5 in)210 L (55 US gal)18–22°C (64–72°F)6.5–7.2PeacefulDifficult
Lake Kutubu rainbowfishMelanotaenia lacustris10 cm (3.9 in)210 L (55 US gal)20–24°C (68–75°F)7.0–8.0PeacefulEasy
Lyretail panchaxAphyosemion australe6 cm (2.4 in)40 L (11 US gal)21–24°C (70–75°F)6.0–7.0PeacefulEasy
Marmorated medakaOryzias marmoratus4 cm (1.6 in)40 L (11 US gal)22–25°C (72–77°F)7.5–8.5PeacefulEasy
Mountain rainbowfishMelanotaenia monticola10 cm (3.9 in)210 L (55 US gal)18–22°C (64–72°F)6.5–7.2PeacefulEasy
Murray river rainbowfishMelanotaenia fluviatilis9 cm (3.5 in)150 L (40 US gal)18–22°C (64–72°F)6.5–7.2PeacefulEasy
Red rainbowfishGlossolepis incisus12 cm (4.7 in)150 L (40 US gal)22–25°C (72–77°F)7.0–8.0PeacefulEasy
Red-Tailed SilversideBedotia geayi10 cm (3.9 in)210 L (55 US gal)20–24°C (68–75°F)7.0–8.0PeacefulDifficult
Redtail nothoNothobranchius guentheri5.5 cm (2.2 in)40 L (11 US gal)22–25°C (72–77°F)6.0–7.0AggressiveDifficult
Striped panchaxAplocheilus lineatus10 cm (3.9 in)75 L (20 US gal)24–27°C (75–81°F)6.0–7.5PeacefulEasy
Tami River rainbowfishGlossolepis pseudoincisus8 cm (3.1 in)210 L (55 US gal)22–24°C (72–75°F)7.0–8.0PeacefulEasy
Twostripe lyretailAphyosemion bivittatum5 cm (2 in)40 L (11 US gal)22–25°C (72–77°F)6.0–6.5PeacefulDifficult
Yellowbelly gudgeonAllomogurnda nesolepis4.5 cm (1.8 in)55 L (15 US gal)21–26°C (70–79°F)5.5–7.0PeacefulDifficult

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