All fish / Aplocheilidae

Kirchmayer's panchax

Aplocheilus kirchmayeri

Also known as kirchmayer's panchax, kirchmayeri panchax, aplocheilus kirchmayeri, kirchmayer panchax, western ghats panchax

A small, slender panchax killifish from streams and pools in the Western Ghats, with an olive body flecked with shiny green or blue scales and red dots in males. It was split from the dwarf panchax group and is kept by killifish enthusiasts for its subtle colours and lively surface-hunting habits.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

6 cm

Temperature

22 to 27 °C

pH

6 to 7.5

Smallest tank

60 litres

Keep as

One male with two or more females

Diet

Carnivore: insects, bloodworm, brine shrimp, mosquito larvae, quality flakes and pellets

Swims

Top of the tank

Lifespan

2 to 4 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Western Ghats, Karnataka and Kerala, southwestern India

Breeding

A non-annual egg scatterer that lays eggs among fine-leaved plants or spawning mops over several days. Eggs hatch in roughly two weeks and the fry take infusoria and then baby brine shrimp, so breeding is fairly easy.

Good to know

It jumps well, so a tight lid is essential, and it will eat fish small enough to fit in its mouth. It is often confused with Aplocheilus parvus and A. blockii, so buy from reliable killifish breeders.