Killifish

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New Horizons fish

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New Horizons fish
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Killifish
Image gallery
Real-world info
Name: Oryzias latipes (Japanese ricefish) Family: Adrianichthyidae (ricefishes)
Main appearances
DnM DnM+ AC DnMe+ iQue WW CF NL NH
Other appearances
Film HHD aF PC
Names in other languages  メダカ  송사리  Killifish  Killifisch  稻田鱼  Fondule barré  Killi  Killivis  稻田魚  Fondule barré  Killi  Оризия

The killifish is a freshwater fish in the Animal Crossing series introduced in Doubutsu no Mori+. It appears as a tiny shadow that can be found in ponds all day long from mid spring to the end of summer. In Animal Crossing, it can also be found in the river.

Catch details

In the first-generation games

Catching a killifish in Animal Crossing

When catching a killifish in Animal Crossing, red text saying "Here" and a red arrow pointing at the killifish will appear.

#35

"I caught a killifish! Killer!"

DnM / iQue

DnM+

AC

DnMe+

Time of year	Apr – Aug
Time of day	All day
Location	River Pond
Shadow size	Tiny
Selling price	300 Bells
Feng shui	None
Furniture size

In Wild World

#10

"I caught a killifish! What's the dilly, fish?"

Description	Though small, they're efficient breeders.
Time of year	Apr – Aug
Time of day	All day
Peak times	Jun – Aug
Location	Pond
Shadow size	Tiny
Fish size	4 cm
Selling price	300 Bells
Furniture size

In City Folk

#10

"I caught a killifish! Bet you feel silly, fish!"

Description	Once common to small rivers and waterways, it's now rare to find these in the wild.
Time of year	Apr – Aug
Time of day	All day
Peak times	N/A
Location	Pond
Shadow size	Tiny
Fish size	About 1.6 in.
Selling price	300 Bells
Furniture size

In New Leaf

#10

"I caught a killifish! Maybe I'll put it in a chili dish!"

Time of year	Apr – Aug
Time of day	All day
Peak times	N/A
Location	Pond
Shadow size	Tiny
Fish size	4 cm
Selling price	300 Bells
Furniture size

In Pocket Camp

#96

Event availability	Fishing Tourney: Schoolroom
Location	Lost Lure Creek
Shadow size	Tiny
Fish size	3.3 cm - 4.7 cm
Rarity	★
Catch rate	Cannot be caught at this time
Selling price	10 Bells
Request reward	100 Bells, 2 Friendship Points

In New Horizons

#10

"I caught a killifish! The streams are safe again."

Time of year	North: Apr – Aug South: Oct – Feb
Time of day	All day
Location	Pond
Shadow size	Tiny
Rarity	Uncommon
Spawn requirement	Appears from the start of the game
Selling prices	Nook's Cranny:  300 Bells  C.J.:  450 Bells
Furniture size

Donation to the museum

In Animal Crossing

"Hoo hoo! Hullo, little fishy! Aren't we a tiny little fellow! Adorable! Why, I believe it stuck its tongue out at me! Hoo-rumph! Nevertheless, we'll take care of the little blighter! I'll keep an eye on this mischief-maker myself!"

In Wild World

As with all fish, the killifish may be given to Blathers as an addition to the museum's aquarium.

"I heard that killifish recipes are common all around the world. Sadly, I've seen nary a one, not that I've searched... I haven't a clue as to their taste, even. It IS a fish, though, I can say that!"

The killifish can be found in the first aquarium tank after being donated.

In City Folk

Upon donating to the museum in Animal Crossing: City Folk, Blathers will say the following dialogue:

"...Hoo, here's a morsel of interest--killifish are often used in observational studies... This is because they are translucent, wot? Indeed, their innards can be seen clearly from without! In earlier times, folks used killifish to discover how a body processed food. Well, suffice to say, the killifish is a marvelous little wonder that gives people a true eyeful!"

It can be found in the left tube tank.

In New Leaf

Upon donation to the museum, the information board in front of the tank which houses the killifish reads the following:

"Killifish are small, travel in schools, and are known for having eyes higher up on their faces than others. They swim in shallow areas in rivers and mostly eat bugs that float on the surface of the water. This is why they have mouths as high up their faces as their eyes, making them effective hunters. Being the same temperature as the water they inhabit, getting grabbed by warm hands can shock them."

In New Horizons

When donating to Blathers or selecting "Tell me about this!" in New Horizons, he will provide the following information about the fish:

"Ah, the magnificent killifish! Did you know there are over 1,000 different species? My goodness, what a family tree to keep track of! My own favorite killifish species are the mangrove, which can live on land for weeks, breathing air! And the mummichog, the first fish ever brought to space. I wonder if the killifish you've brought me is related to either of those intrepid explorers?"

Once donated to the museum, the killifish can be found in the small fish tank in the first exhibit room with the goldfish and the pop-eyed goldfish.

Fishing Tourney

During a Fishing Tourney, when given a killifish, Chip will say the following dialogue.

In City Folk

"Listen, the best way to eat killifish is to just swallow them live and a-wriggling! Nyuuuk nyuk nyuk nyuk!"

In New Leaf

"I'll tell you something else I'm good at: eating killifish by the bucketful! Definitely not for amateurs, though! ...And with that, down the hatch!"

Gallery

For more images, view this subject's gallery.

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  Animal Crossing

• 

  Animal Crossing: Wild World

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  Animal Crossing: City Folk

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  Animal Crossing: New Leaf

• 

  Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Real-world information

A real-life killifish

It is unclear what sort of killifish appears in the Animal Crossing series. Judging by the size estimated within the built-in encyclopedia and the Japanese name, it could be a Japanese rice fish. However, all killifish have common traits, noticeably, their translucent skin which has made them an interest in biology due to the visibility of their digestive system. They are a harmless, common, aquarium fish.

Names in other languages

	メダカ Medaka	Japanese rice fish
	송사리 Songsari	Japanese rice fish
	稻田鱼 Dàotiányú	Japanese rice fish (lit. "rice paddy fish")
	稻田魚 dou6tin4jyu2	Japanese rice fish (lit. "rice paddy fish")
	Оризия Oriziya	From Orizyas, the genus the Japanese rice fish belongs to
	Killivis
	Killifisch
	Killi
	Fondule barré	Banded killifish (Fundulus diaphanus)
	Killifish

Notes

Pocket Camp fish

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