TankBud

Blue panchax

Aplocheilus panchax

Also known as Whitespot panchax, Panchax Killi

FreshwaterFish

Blue panchax (Aplocheilus panchax)
Sahat Ratmuangkhwang · CC BY 3.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
72–82°F
22–28°C
pH
6.0–7.8
Adult size
3.5 in
9 cm
Minimum tank
20 gal
75 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Top
Difficulty
Easy
Breeding
Egg depositor · Medium
Rarity
Common
Family
Aplocheilidae
Origin
South and Southeast Asia

Overview

The blue panchax is an adaptable killifish for the top of a tank with fish its own size. It is easy to keep.

Did you know

The blue panchax has a flat head and upturned mouth built for surface feeding. It spends much of its time parked just under the film, waiting for insects to land. In the wild it will leap to grab prey or to move between shallow pools.

Caring for the blue panchax

Keep blue panchax as a pair or a small group in a tank of 20 gal (75 L) or more. Weight the group toward females so male attention gets spread around. Floating plants give cover and break up sightlines between males. Leave open swimming room up top, and fit a tight lid, since they are strong jumpers.

Hold the water at 72 to 82°F (22 to 28°C) with a pH of 6.0 to 7.8. They handle fresh through slightly brackish water, but they need no salt. Feed insect and mosquito larvae along with other small foods.

Blue panchax are mostly peaceful with fish their own size, but they eat anything that fits in their mouth. Skip neon tetras, dwarf shrimp and fry as tank mates. Females deposit their eggs among floating plants over several days, and breeding them is moderately difficult.

Good to know

The blue panchax belongs to the killifish family Aplocheilidae and is also called the whitespot panchax. Captive-bred stock turns up in the trade, and a healthy adult lives a few years.

In the wild

Blue panchax range widely across South and Southeast Asia. They live at the surface of ponds, ditches, rice paddies and slow streams, including coastal water that turns slightly brackish.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The blue panchax is a mostly peaceful, social species that keeps to the top. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a blue panchax need?

A blue panchax needs at least 20 gal (75 L). It spends most of its time in the top.

What temperature and pH does a blue panchax need?

A blue panchax is comfortable at 72–82°F (22–28°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.8.

What does a blue panchax eat?

A blue panchax eats insect and mosquito larvae along with other small foods. It will also eat any tank mate that fits in its mouth, such as dwarf shrimp or fry.

How big does a blue panchax get?

An adult blue panchax reaches about 3.5 in (9 cm).

How does a blue panchax breed?

Blue panchax females deposit their eggs among floating plants over several days. Breeding them is moderately difficult.

Related species