Can Dusky Millions Fish and Norman's Lampeye Killifish Live Together?

Dusky Millions Fish is a peaceful species (2/10), while Norman's Lampeye Killifish is peaceful (1/10). This modest difference means Dusky Millions Fish may occasionally assert dominance over Norman's Lampeye Killifish.

Dusky Millions Fish and Norman's Lampeye Killifish both frequent the Top (Surface) and Middle (Open Water) region of the setup. This overlap can increase competition for space, so providing ample room and cover is important to keep both species comfortable.

Worth noting: Norman's Lampeye Killifish is a known jumper, so a tight-fitting lid is essential.

To improve the chances of a peaceful coexistence in this community tank: Keep fin nippers in larger groups to distribute nipping behaviour among conspecifics rather than tank mates.

The safe temperature window for both species falls between 22°C and 24°C. Aim for the midpoint of this range (around 23.0°C) for optimal comfort.

Both fish can tolerate a pH between 7 and 7.5. Maintaining a stable value within this band is more important than hitting an exact number.

For general hardness, the shared comfort zone is 8–15 dGH. Regular testing will ensure conditions stay within this range.

To house Dusky Millions Fish and Norman's Lampeye Killifish together, plan for an aquarium of at least 42 litres with a minimum length of 45 cm. This recommendation combines the stricter species minimums with a community-load allowance so the pairing has realistic long-term space and filtration headroom.

Because this pairing requires extra vigilance, include plenty of hiding spots — caves, driftwood, and dense plant clusters — so the less dominant fish can retreat when needed.

Specific environmental needs for this combination include: Plants - Densely covered, Plants - Floating, Established Algae (Otocinclus). Meeting these requirements will help both species thrive.

Note a potential conflict in setup requirements: Dusky Millions Fish is a plant destroyer, which conflicts with Norman's Lampeye Killifish's requirement for live plants. Compromise where possible or prioritise the more critical need.

Both species do well with low (still water) water movement, so a standard filtration setup rated for the tank volume should suffice.

This pairing usually fails when the tank is treated like a standard mixed community and the caution flags are ignored. Dusky Millions Fish and Norman's Lampeye Killifish need extra room, more cover, and closer observation during the first few weeks so small aggression, feeding, or territory issues do not snowball into a long-term problem.