Clown Killifish (Epiplatys annulatus)

Epiplatys annulatus, the Clown Killifish or Banded Panchax, is a small, surface-dwelling killifish native to Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone in West Africa, where it inhabits slow-moving to still, heavily vegetated shallow waters, swamps, and forest pools. Despite its diminutive size — adults reach only 3–4 cm — it is one of the most visually striking small fish in the hobby.

The body displays a series of bold black and cream vertical bands, creating a striking clown-like pattern. The caudal fin is the centrepiece: shaped into a distinctive lyre or flag form with vivid red, blue, and orange coloration in mature males, creating an extraordinary contrast with the banded body. Females are less dramatically coloured with a more rounded, transparent tail.

Unlike many killifish species, Epiplatys annulatus is non-annual — it lives in permanent or semi-permanent water bodies and does not require egg diapause. This makes it considerably more straightforward to breed than annual killifish, as eggs hatch directly in the aquarium among fine-leaved plants or spawning mops after approximately 12–14 days.

The Clown Killifish is a surface fish — it spends most of its time at or near the water surface, hunting small insects and invertebrates. A tightly-fitting lid is absolutely essential as it will jump through even very small gaps.

Tank Setup: A 20–30 litre nano tank with dense surface floating plants (Water Lettuce, Salvinia, Frogbit) and fine-leaved plants below the surface. Very gentle sponge filtration — this is a still-water species intolerant of strong flow. A sealed lid is critical — exceptional jumpers. Dark substrate.

Water Parameters: Temperature 22–26°C; pH 6.0–7.5; GH 2–12 °dH; KH 1–6 °dH. Moderately soft, slightly acidic water. More adaptable than many killifish but avoids hard, alkaline conditions.

Feeding: Carnivore. Primary diet of small live and frozen foods: baby brine shrimp, Daphnia, micro worms, small bloodworm. Mouths are small — all food must be appropriately sized. Feed at the surface once to twice daily. Some individuals accept crushed micro pellets.

Tank Mates: Only with extremely peaceful, small nano species: Boraras, small Danio, Pygmy Corydoras. Absolutely no fish large enough to eat them. Can coexist with adult dwarf shrimp but may eat shrimplets.

Behaviour: Surface-dwelling. Groups of 4–6 with more females than males show natural behaviour. Males display to each other at the surface — harmless but frequent. Spawns among floating plants — eggs hatch in 12–14 days in the aquarium.

Health: Hardy for a killifish. Main vulnerability is jumping — ensure a sealed lid. Sensitive to poor water quality. Weekly 15–20% water changes with matched water chemistry.