TankBud

Striped panchax

Aplocheilus lineatus

Also known as Golden Wonder Killi

FreshwaterFish

Striped panchax (Aplocheilus lineatus)
Marrabbio2 · CC BY-SA 3.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
72–77°F
22–25°C
pH
6.0–7.5
Adult size
4.3 in
11 cm
Minimum tank
30 gal
115 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Shoaling
Swim level
Top
Difficulty
Easy
Breeding
Hard
Rarity
Rare
Family
Aplocheilidae
Origin
India, Sri Lanka

Overview

The striped panchax is a large surface predator from South Asia, hardy and easy to keep but not safe with small tankmates, which it will hunt and eat. Keep it in a loose group with fish of similar size, and choose companions carefully. It holds near the top of the tank, watching for prey, so a tight lid is essential. Feed meaty live and frozen foods such as insects, bloodworms, blackworms and prawn, along with floating pellets. Given its length and surface habits, a tank of 115 liters or larger with a good footprint and secure cover suits it well.

In the wild

Aplocheilus lineatus is native to India and Sri Lanka, where it lives in slow streams, ponds, ditches, paddy fields and other still or gently moving fresh waters, usually right at the surface. To suit it, give a well planted tank with plenty of floating cover and open surface space, gentle flow and warm water from about 22 to 25 C. A pH from roughly 6 to 7.5 fits its range. Because it is a strong jumper and a surface hunter, a snug lid with no gaps is one of the most important parts of the setup.

Good to know

The striped panchax belongs to the killifish family Aplocheilidae and is one of the larger members, reaching about 10 to 11 cm. Its flattened head, upturned mouth and top-set eyes are built for hunting at the surface. It is a non-annual, plant-spawning killifish: the female lays buoyant eggs among fine-leaved and floating plants over many days, and the eggs hatch in around two weeks. Consistent breeding is rated hard mainly because the fry hatch in dribs over a long period and need careful, staggered rearing.

Did you know

The striped panchax hangs just under the surface with its upturned mouth and top-set eyes trained upward, ready to snatch insects that land on the water or fry that stray too close. The gold form is sold in the hobby as the golden wonder killifish.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

Striped panchax is a mostly peaceful, shoaling 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 Striped panchax need?

A Striped panchax needs at least 30 gal (115 L). It spends most of its time in the top.

What temperature and pH does a Striped panchax need?

A Striped panchax is comfortable at 72–77°F (22–25°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.

How big does a Striped panchax get?

An adult Striped panchax reaches about 4.3 in (11 cm).

Does a Striped panchax need a group?

Yes. A Striped panchax is a shoaling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.

Related species