Striped panchax

The golden wonder killifish or striped panchax (Aplocheilus lineatus) is a colourful surface-dwelling killifish native to India and Sri Lanka, where it inhabits streams, rivers, swamps, and rice paddies, including brackish waters in coastal areas. It is a hardy species that has been a favourite among aquarists for decades, known for its striking golden-yellow colouration with subtle horizontal striping along the flanks. The variety most commonly seen in the trade is the 'golden' colour morph, though wild-type specimens display a more subdued olive-gold pattern with dark scale edges.

Reaching up to 10 cm (4 in) in length, the striped panchax is an active predator with a surprisingly large mouth relative to its body size. It is generally peaceful with medium-sized tankmates but will readily consume any smaller fish that fits in its mouth, making it unsuitable for nano-community setups. Males can be territorial with one another and are best kept as a single pair or one male with two to three females in a tank of at least 100 L (26 gal). A tight-fitting lid is essential as these fish are accomplished jumpers.

As an obligate surface feeder, the striped panchax prefers floating foods and will thrive on a carnivorous diet of quality floating pellets, live and frozen foods such as bloodworms, brine shrimp, Daphnia, and insect larvae. The aquarium should include floating plants to diffuse lighting and provide cover, along with open swimming space near the surface. Water temperature should be maintained between 22–28°C, pH 6.0–7.5, with soft to moderately hard water. They are egg-scatterers that lay among fine-leaved plants, with eggs hatching in 11–14 days.