Golden Wonder Panchax
Aplocheilus lineatus
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 10 cm
- Minimum tank
- 68 litres
- Temperature
- 24–27 °C
Species profile
Gardneri Killifish
Fundulopanchax gardneri
Common names: Gardneri Killifish, Gardner's Killifish, Steel-Blue Killifish
Recognized speciesKillifish
Adult size
Up to 5.5 cm
Typical adult length 5–5.5 cm.
Up to 5.5 cm
Countries of origin
Good fit for your tank?
Good fit for
- A dedicated planted tank with one male and several females
- A keeper interested in killifish breeding
- A small aquarium with a tight lid
Think carefully if
- You want a peaceful community tank
- Your aquarium has gaps in the lid
- You cannot feed frozen or live foods regularly
A colourful, robust West African killifish that males defend with spirit. It does best in its own lidded aquarium, with cover and meaty foods.
Appearance and Identification
Males are blue-green with many red spots and yellow or orange fin edges. Females are smaller, brownish, and plainer with small dark spots.
Populations differ in colour and are often sold with collection codes. Keep these lines separate if you want to preserve them.
Males are larger, more brightly coloured, and have more extended fins than females.
Tank Requirements
- Suggested filter
- About 80–120 litres an hour
- Suggested heater
- About 50–75 W for this tank
- Minimum tank volume
- 40 litres
- Minimum tank length
- 45 cm
- Minimum group size
- 1
- Recommended group size
- 3
- Activity level
- Moderate
- Flow preference
- Low
- Planting preference
- Heavily planted
- Hiding places
- Yes
- Lid recommended
- Yes
- Jumping risk
- High
Use dense plants, floating cover, and a gentle sponge filter, with several refuges so females can escape. Use a tight-fitting lid with no gaps, as this is a strong jumper. The tank size is a practical guide, because the reference does not record a minimum.
Behaviour and Tankmates
Active and bold for a small fish. Males display and spar over females.
Keep two or three females per male. Several males need a larger tank with many refuges.
Males may fight, so provide plenty of refuges.
Best in a tank of its own. Small fish and shrimp may be eaten, and it can bother slow fish with long fins.
Water Parameters
Soft to moderately hard water suits this fish. It does not need warm tropical temperatures.
Parameter caveat
Acclimate slowly. Wild-collected lines may need softer water than aquarium-bred fish.
Feeding
- Diet types
- Carnivore, Insectivore
- Feeding frequency
- Once or twice daily
- Preferred foods
- Frozen or live bloodworm, daphnia, and brine shrimpShould form most of the diet, because these fish prefer meaty foods.
- Small granulesSome fish learn to accept these, but they should not be the only food.
- Mosquito larvaeClose to natural prey, and helpful for bringing fish into breeding condition.
A carnivore that prefers small live and frozen invertebrates.
Remove uneaten frozen food quickly, because small tanks foul easily.
Breeding
- Breeding type
- Egg Layer
- Breeding difficulty
- Moderate
- Brood or egg count
- A small number of eggs each day
- Incubation
- 18 days
- Parental care
- None
- Baby foods
- Newly hatched brine shrimpKillifish fry are usually large enough for this as their first food.
- MicrowormsUseful for the smallest fry and for a varied diet.
- InfusoriaKeep some ready in case very small fry cannot yet take larger food.
A semi-annual killifish. Eggs are laid on mops or peat and can survive drying, then hatch when submerged, usually in 14 to 21 days. Remove eggs daily, because adults eat them. If using the drying method, keep eggs on damp peat for 3 to 4 weeks.
Habitat and Origin
- Geographic origin
- Africa, Cameroon, Nigeria, West Africa
- Natural habitat
- Freshwater Stream, Pond, Swamp
- Aquarium contexts
- Breeding Aquarium, Planted Aquarium, Species-Only Aquarium
- Audience level
- Intermediate
Classification
- Profile type
- Recognized species
- Genus
- Fundulopanchax
- Family
- Nothobranchiidae
- Species group
- Fish, Killifish
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Lyretail Killifish
Aphyosemion australe
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 5–6 cm
- Minimum tank
- 30 litres
- Temperature
- 21–32 °C
Red Chinned Panchax
Epiplatys dageti
- Care level
- Beginner
- Adult size
- 4.5 cm
- Minimum tank
- 54 litres
- Temperature
- 20–30 °C
Splendid Killifish
Aphyosemion splendopleure
- Care level
- Beginner
- Adult size
- 6 cm
- Minimum tank
- 28 litres
- Temperature
- 22–26 °C