All fish / Aplocheilidae

Striped panchax

Aplocheilus lineatus

Also known as golden wonder killifish, golden panchax, striped panchax, golden wonder panchax, lineatus killifish, malabar killi, gold wonder, golden lineatus, ปลาหัวตะกั่วอินเดีย, アプロケイルス・リネアータス, ゴールデン・ワンダー, ikan kepala timah india

A large, pike-shaped killifish with a flat back, upturned mouth and greenish body marked with dark bars and rows of shiny scales; the popular golden wonder strain is bright yellow-gold. It is kept for its hardiness, its colour and its habit of patrolling just below the surface.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

9 cm

Temperature

22 to 28 °C

pH

6 to 7.5

Smallest tank

80 litres

Keep as

A pair or one male with two or three females

Diet

Carnivore: insects, bloodworm, brine shrimp, small live foods and floating pellets

Swims

Top of the tank

Lifespan

3 to 5 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Southern India and Sri Lanka

Breeding

Pairs scatter eggs among floating plants or spawning mops over several days, and the eggs hatch in about two weeks. It breeds readily in captivity, but adults eat eggs and fry, so eggs are best moved to a separate container.

Good to know

It will eat any fish small enough to fit in its mouth, so avoid keeping it with small tetras, rasboras or shrimp. It is an excellent jumper, so a tight-fitting lid is essential.