Gold Striped Panchax (Aplocheilus lineatus)

Gold Striped Panchax (Aplocheilus lineatus) is the gold aquarium form widely searched and sold as the Golden Wonder Killifish or Golden Wonder Panchax. It is a streamlined South Asian killifish that spends much of its time close to the surface, watching for insects and other small food. The metallic yellow-gold colour is an aquarium trade form of the accepted species Aplocheilus lineatus, not a separate species, subspecies or collection locality.

This fish suits a mature, securely covered aquarium with a long surface, partial floating cover and tank mates that cannot fit into its mouth. It can become about 10 cm total length and is an alert predator of insects and small aquatic animals. That makes it very different from a tiny, uniformly peaceful nano fish. Its care is manageable when the keeper plans for adult size, jumping, surface competition, water stability and a varied diet before ordering.

The page below restores the useful care depth that was lost from an earlier version while removing forced shopping phrases, repeated links and unsupported precision. Published sources establish the accepted name, range, maximum size, varied habitat, feeding ecology and adhesive-egg reproduction. Aquarium size, layout and compatibility recommendations are identified as practical judgement where no controlled study supplies one universal answer.

Gold Striped Panchax at a glance

Accepted scientific name	Aplocheilus lineatus (Valenciennes, 1846)
Common and trade names	Gold Striped Panchax, Golden Wonder Killifish, Golden Wonder Panchax, Panchax Lineatus Gold
Family	Aplocheilidae
Natural species range	Peninsular India and northern Sri Lanka; the gold colour is an aquarium form
Maximum published size	10 cm total length; common wild length reported around 7 cm
Permanent aquarium	At least 80 cm long; about 90 cm and 100 litres or more is a conservative practical starting point
Practical temperature	22-26°C, kept stable
Practical pH	About 6.5-7.5, with gradual acclimation and no sudden correction
Feeding	Opportunistic surface insect and small-prey feeder; varied floating prepared, frozen and suitable live foods
Tank region	Mostly surface and upper water
Care level	Moderate: robust when established, but the lid, food, tank mates and water must be planned
Sale unit	One unsexed fish at the selected approximate size per quantity
Gallery note	Four illustrative views plus one Petra supplier reference; none shows the exact fish dispatched

Identity: Golden Wonder is a gold form of Aplocheilus lineatus

Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes recognises Aplocheilus lineatus (Valenciennes, 1846) as the valid name in the family Aplocheilidae. The original name was published as Panchax lineatum, which helps explain why Panchax remains common in shop names. Gold Striped Panchax is therefore understandable trade wording, but the scientific identity remains Aplocheilus lineatus.

The Golden Wonder name belongs to aquarium history rather than formal taxonomy. An American Killifish Association article, originally published in 1998, describes Gold Lineatus as a colour morph that appeared in established aquarium stock. It records strong metallic yellow scalation in males and generally more silvery females. The article also notes the commercial name Golden Wonder Killie. This supports using that familiar search term while making clear that it is a selected colour form.

Petra labels the parent stock Aplocheilus / lineatus gold and Panchax Lineatus Gold. The exact supplier image is preserved in the gallery for visual provenance. No locality, strain certificate or genetic record accompanies the stock, so the listing does not promise a named wild population or claim that every fish will develop the same shade of gold.

How certain is the stock identification?

The supplier identity, elongated body shape and product history are consistent with the gold aquarium form of A. lineatus. However, a supplier photograph is not a taxonomic voucher, and the four brighter gallery scenes are illustrative rather than diagnostic records. The responsible description is therefore the accepted supplier identity with an open statement about image provenance and individual variation.

Sex, age, exact markings, fin extension and adult colour cannot be guaranteed from a size option. Transport stress can temporarily mute colour, while background, lighting, diet, maturity and social state affect how a fish appears after settling. Buyers who need sexed or locality-certified animals for a specialist project should ask what evidence is available before purchase.

Natural range and habitat

Published catalogues place the species across Peninsular India and northern Sri Lanka. FishBase records it from streams and reservoirs at altitude as well as rivers, lowland wells, paddy fields, swamps and brackish water. This breadth shows that the species is not tied to one decorative aquarium biotope. It encounters still and moving water, vegetated margins and places where terrestrial insects can reach the surface.

Freshwater and brackish records should not be turned into a routine salt recommendation. Aquarium gold-form stock can be maintained in stable freshwater, and adding salt without a defined reason may complicate plants, tank mates and treatment. The more useful habitat signals are an accessible surface, cover near the margins, clean mature water and room to cruise without being driven continuously through a powerful current.

The fish's upturned mouth and feeding evidence fit life near the air-water boundary. Insects and larvae can be taken at or just below the surface, while prey that falls from surrounding vegetation adds to the diet. A home aquarium should offer open surface lanes for feeding together with shaded edges where the fish can withdraw from bright light and activity.

Translating habitat into an aquarium

• Provide a long surface rather than relying on a tall, narrow aquarium.
• Seal every cable, pipe and feeding gap because a small opening can become an escape route.
• Keep part of the surface open for feeding and gas exchange.
• Use floating or overhanging plants over only part of the aquarium.
• Create gentle circulation across the top without turning the whole surface into a fast jet.
• Keep water quality stable with mature biological filtration and regular testing.
• Leave clear sight lines so every fish can be observed at feeding time.

Adult size and permanent space

FishBase gives 10 cm total length as the maximum published size and about 7 cm as a common length. The product's 3-4 cm, 4-5 cm and over-5 cm options are approximate sale grades, not separate species and not adult limits. A small dispatch fish still needs a permanent plan for an animal several times heavier at maturity.

The reference minimum is an aquarium 80 cm long. For practical home planning, begin around a 90 cm footprint and roughly 100 litres or more for a carefully selected setup, then increase space for multiple adults, rival males or a mixed community. Length and surface area matter as much as litres. A deep cube may hold the same volume but offer less horizontal cruising and fewer ways to divide surface territories.

This recommendation is deliberately more conservative than the former 40-60 litre advice. It is not a scientific cliff at exactly 99 or 100 litres. It is a planning buffer for adult length, feeding speed, social uncertainty, water stability and the need for a gap-free lid. Use the tank-volume calculator to check actual internal volume after substrate and decor, then judge the footprint separately.

Setup	Assessment	Reason
Short nano aquarium under 60 cm	Not suitable as a permanent home	Too little surface length, escape control and separation space for a possible 10 cm predator
80 cm mature species-focused aquarium	Published minimum length; stock cautiously	Can work with disciplined layout, low competition and secure cover
About 90 cm / 100 L or more	Conservative practical starting point	Gives more stable water, feeding room and visual separation
Larger community aquarium	Often preferable	Allows compatible fish to occupy other levels without crowding the surface
Open-top display	Unsafe	Jumping risk remains even when the fish appears settled

The lid and upper-water layout are essential

A secure cover is a welfare requirement, not a styling preference. Panchax can accelerate from the surface when feeding, chasing, startled by a light change or disturbed after dark. Standard lid cut-outs around filter hoses are often large enough for an escape. Check the entire perimeter from above and from inside the cabinet, including corners hidden by equipment.

Use fitted covers, purpose-made guards or safe mesh that cannot sag into the water. Keep the waterline far enough below openings that the fish cannot strike directly through them, but do not rely on water level alone. Recheck after maintenance because a cable moved by a few centimetres can reopen a gap that was previously sealed.

Floating plants, light and open surface

Floating plants can create dappled shade and visual boundaries between fish. They also give an alert surface species somewhere to pause without retreating to the bottom. Frogbit, Salvinia or another suitable plant may be used where legal and manageable, but leave a broad open feeding lane and prevent roots from tangling around equipment.

Moderate lighting usually shows the gold form well without exposing every part of the aquarium. A sudden jump from darkness to full intensity can startle surface fish, so use room light or a gradual schedule where possible. Dense plant cover is not a substitute for horizontal space, and a solid mat must not block gas exchange.

Wood, plants and safe decor

Tall stems and wood placed towards the back or ends can break lines of sight. Keep branches below the main feeding lane and avoid sharp points near the surface, where a startled fish can collide at speed. Attached plants and rooted marginal groups are useful; the centre-front surface should remain easy to inspect.

Any heater must be guarded or positioned so a fish cannot become trapped against it. Filter intakes need suitable screens, especially while smaller size variants are present. Stable decor matters more than an exact geographic recreation: the aim is a safe, readable environment with cover, open water and no narrow escape channels above the waterline.

Water conditions: stable freshwater, not false precision

FishBase associates the species with tropical water around 22-25°C, while Petra's aquarium record extends to 27°C. A practical range of 22-26°C accommodates both without treating the extremes as a target. Choose a point within that range that also suits the tank mates, then hold it steadily. Rapid change is more dangerous than being one degree away from a copied ideal.

A practical pH of roughly 6.5-7.5 suits many established freshwater systems. The supplier's broad 0-20 dGH field is not strong species-specific evidence and should not be repeated as a proven tolerance. Test the source water and ask about current holding water when the difference may be large. The water-matching tool can help compare candidates, while the temperature guide explains how heat affects oxygen and mixed stocking.

Parameter	Practical guidance	What matters most
Temperature	22-26°C	Stable value, reliable heater and extra oxygen during heat
pH	About 6.5-7.5	Gradual acclimation; do not chase a decimal with repeated dosing
Hardness	No robust species-wide aquarium range established	Use stable non-extreme freshwater and compare measured holding/source water
Ammonia	0 mg/L	Any measurable result needs immediate investigation
Nitrite	0 mg/L	Any measurable result is unsafe
Nitrate	Control through stocking, feeding, plants and water changes	Watch the trend rather than treating one generic number as the whole picture
Salinity	No routine salt required	Freshwater is appropriate; use salt only for a defined, compatible purpose

Cycling and biological maturity

Do not place this fish into a newly filled, uncycled aquarium. Clear water can contain toxic ammonia or nitrite, so visual appearance is not evidence of biological maturity. A proven filter must already be processing the expected waste, and testing should confirm zero ammonia and zero nitrite before the order is placed.

Moving old water does not cycle a new system by itself; most useful nitrifying organisms live on filter media and other wet surfaces. If an established filter is transferred, continue testing because changes in flow, temperature, stocking and media handling can alter performance. Keep a written record during the first week rather than relying on memory.

Routine maintenance

A weekly partial water change is a sensible starting rhythm, adjusted to measured waste, stocking and feeding. Match replacement temperature closely, use an appropriate conditioner for treated tap water and avoid washing biological media in untreated chlorinated water. Clean mechanical material before trapped food decomposes, but do not sterilise the whole aquarium at once.

Inspect the lid after every service. Confirm the heater, filter return and intake are operating, and check that floating plants have not blocked the open feeding area. Maintenance should preserve stable conditions rather than create a dramatic clean-and-reset cycle.

Filtration, flow and oxygen

Choose filtration for the adult biomass and the whole community, not for the smallest fish currently selected. A well-sized internal or external filter can work when it offers reliable biological capacity and accessible mechanical cleaning. Direct the return so the surface moves enough for gas exchange without sweeping every floating food item into one corner.

The natural range includes diverse waters, so a high-velocity stream from end to end is unnecessary. A gentle-to-moderate surface flow with calmer planted margins gives the fish choice. During warm weather, medication, power interruptions or unusually heavy feeding, oxygen can become limiting; an air stone or adjusted return can provide useful extra gas exchange.

Watch behaviour around the outlet. Continuous fighting against current, hiding behind equipment or food repeatedly escaping the fish indicates that flow distribution needs adjustment. Gasping can also signal water-quality or oxygen trouble and should prompt tests, not an assumption that the species simply likes the surface.

Feeding ecology and an aquarium diet

A year-long natural-habitat study examined monthly samples of A. lineatus. The fish consumed aquatic animals and allochthonous fauna, meaning prey arriving from outside the water. Dipteran larvae were preferred across size groups, while prey size affected how different sizes of fish exploited the available food. This is evidence for an opportunistic insect and small-animal feeder, not for an artificially narrow diet.

In the aquarium, offer food at or near the surface where the fish naturally searches. A quality floating insect-based or carnivore pellet can form part of the staple, but rotate textures and prey types. Suitable frozen or live supplements can include Daphnia, Artemia, mosquito larvae, bloodworm and small insect foods from trusted cultures. Never collect prey from water that may contain pesticides, parasites or pollution.

The word carnivore can be useful shorthand, but strict carnivore is too absolute. Good prepared foods contain several ingredients and help cover micronutrients that a single frozen item cannot. Variety, body condition and clean water matter more than trying to imitate one prey species every day.

Food role	Examples	How to use it
Prepared staple	Quality floating insect-based or carnivore micro-pellets and granules	Use an appropriate size and rotate more than one complete formula
Frozen variety	Daphnia, Artemia, mosquito larvae and modest bloodworm	Thaw safely, feed small portions and remove excess
Live enrichment	Trusted cultures of Daphnia, Artemia, mosquito larvae or flightless fruit flies	Use as enrichment, not as an uncontrolled disease route
For smaller sale sizes	Crushed floating food and smaller prey	Match food to mouth size rather than forcing large pieces
Avoid	Mammal meat, greasy kitchen food, wild prey from contaminated water	Poor nutritional fit and unnecessary water or disease risk

Portion size and feeding competition

Begin with one or two small feeds a day, then adjust to body condition, temperature, growth and waste. A useful portion is taken promptly without forming a drifting layer that reaches the filter. Fasting or a reduced feed may occasionally be appropriate for a healthy settled adult, but it is not a cure for poor water or an unexplained loss of appetite.

Surface fish can take food before bottom or midwater tank mates react. Feed in more than one controlled area when necessary and verify that every animal gets an appropriate share. A fish that lunges enthusiastically can still be overfed; watch abdominal profile and waste rather than treating appetite as proof that more is always needed.

Body condition and changing food size

A healthy fish should not develop a sharply pinched abdomen, but persistent swelling is also abnormal. Compare the same individual over time, ideally with photographs taken from a similar angle. Reduce the particle size for smaller variants and increase it gradually as the fish grows; large hard pellets that must be repeatedly spat out are not an efficient staple.

Refusal of one unfamiliar prepared food is not evidence that only live food will work. Introduce a new formula in small amounts while the fish is settled and hungry, and keep the familiar diet available during transition. A sudden refusal of all foods together with rapid breathing, clamped fins or isolation needs investigation.

Behaviour at the surface

A settled Golden Wonder Killifish often holds just below the surface, then accelerates towards food. It may patrol a preferred lane, pause beneath floating leaves and respond quickly when the keeper approaches. That visible, purposeful behaviour is a major part of the fish's appeal, but it also explains why a lid and deliberate feeding plan are essential.

Surface residence should not be confused with distress. Normal posture is level and controlled, with steady breathing and voluntary movement through the aquarium. Repeated gulping, loss of balance, frantic contact with the lid or an inability to leave one small refuge is different. Test oxygen, temperature, ammonia and nitrite before assigning the change to personality.

Individual boldness varies. A newly delivered fish may remain under cover while it learns the layout. Gradual exploration and improving appetite are reassuring; worsening colour, torn fins or continuous hiding can indicate aggression, unsuitable flow or water problems.

Social planning and male rivalry

The literature reviewed here does not establish one universal aquarium group minimum. Shop advice that says every buyer must keep exactly a pair or trio is therefore too confident, especially when each sale quantity is unsexed. A single quantity is one fish, not a guaranteed pair. Several fish may provide social and display interest, but they also create competition at a limited surface.

Mature males can display and chase, particularly when sight lines are open and the aquarium is short. Multiple adults require more room, floating boundaries and careful observation. A token pair is not automatically ideal if one fish directs all attention towards the other, while crowding extra fish into a small tank does not solve aggression.

How to introduce more than one

Arrange the permanent layout before introduction and provide several routes through the upper water. Where practical, introduce intended group members together rather than allowing one established fish to own the whole surface first. Keep a spare mature aquarium or divider plan available; do not wait for serious injury before deciding separation is necessary.

Observe feeding access, fin condition and resting position for each animal. Brief display is not the same as sustained harassment. If one fish remains pinned below the surface, loses food repeatedly or shows accumulating damage, the social plan has failed regardless of the nominal group size.

Tank mates: choose by mouth size, water and level

The safest community uses fish too large to swallow and places most competing activity in the middle or lower water. Similar-sized, robust species with compatible temperature and water can work, but no list guarantees harmony. Consider adult size, feeding speed, fin shape, surface use and the possibility of individual aggression.

Avoid tiny rasboras, small tetras, fry and shrimplets. Even when they are not eaten immediately, living under a predator can change their behaviour and welfare. Delicate long-finned fish may be stressed or damaged, while aggressive fin nippers can harm the panchax. Other surface specialists can create direct competition in a limited lane.

Potential companion	General assessment	Main check
Similar-sized calm midwater fish	Often the most workable category	Must be too large to swallow and able to feed without conflict
Robust Corydoras or suitable loaches	Can use a different level	Match temperature, footprint, group needs and food access
Tiny nano fish and fry	Avoid	Predation risk and chronic stress
Dwarf shrimp and shrimplets	Not shrimp-safe	Likely prey, especially near plants and the surface
Long-finned or slow fish	High caution	Competition and fin damage
Other surface killifish	Specialist assessment	Surface territory, male rivalry and hybridisation or identity confusion

Related killifish are comparisons, not automatic companions

Compare the regular Panchax Lineatus and Blue Panchax to understand how trade labels can overlap. The Singhalese Panchax is a different species with its own identity, while the much smaller Clown Killifish should not be treated as an equivalent tank mate simply because both are killifish.

These links support comparison, not a recommendation to combine all four. Build one coherent community around the adult fish, actual aquarium and measured water. Review each candidate's group requirements and feeding behaviour before purchase.

Appearance, sex and individual variation

The gold form can show a metallic yellow wash over the body, darker patterning, orange fin edges and pale fin tips. The 1998 specialist account describes males as more strongly yellow and females as generally silvery. Juveniles and newly transported fish may look less intense, while mature males can develop more extension and contrast.

No photograph can guarantee the colour of a future individual. Light spectrum, background and camera processing change how gold appears, and the first four gallery scenes are explicitly illustrative. The fifth supplier reference is a better guide to the underlying elongated body form but is still not the exact fish dispatched.

Can the sale fish be sexed?

This listing is sold unsexed. Mature colour and fin shape may provide clues, but size-grade stock can be too young or too stressed for a reliable visual decision. A fuller abdomen can reflect eggs, food, health or individual build and is not proof by itself.

Do not order two fish and assume they will form a male-female pair. If sex ratio is critical, contact the team before purchase and ask whether current stock can be assessed; no result should be promised without direct evidence.

Recognising a healthy, settled fish

A healthy panchax holds a level position, breathes evenly, reacts to its surroundings and takes appropriately sized food. Fins should open normally without rapidly advancing erosion. The body should be symmetrical, with no deep pinching, persistent swelling, open sores, raised scales or cotton-like growth.

Colour is only one observation. A fish can become pale after transport and recover as it settles, while a brightly coloured fish can still have a water-quality problem. Compare behaviour, respiration, balance, appetite, skin and waste together. Recording short videos makes changes easier to assess than relying on a single photograph.

Warning signs that need investigation

• Rapid or laboured breathing when temperature and oxygen should be appropriate
• Loss of balance, rolling, repeated collision or inability to hold position
• Continuous hiding combined with refusal of all food
• White spots, excess mucus, repeated flashing or rubbing
• Open sores, red areas, cloudy eyes or fins deteriorating day by day
• Long pale waste together with weight loss or a hollow abdomen
• One fish excluded from the surface and repeatedly attacked

Test water and inspect equipment before choosing medication. Ammonia, nitrite, low oxygen and rapid temperature change can imitate or worsen disease. Treat an identified problem with a product suitable for the species and actual water volume, maintaining oxygen and checking active ingredients before combining anything.

Arrival and the first week

Prepare the permanent or quarantine aquarium before dispatch. The filter should be mature, the heater verified, every opening sealed and water tested. Dim room and aquarium lights when the parcel arrives. A surface fish can jump during transfer, so close the lid as soon as the fish is safely inside.

Use the acclimation timer as a structure rather than a rigid instruction. Temperature difference, transport duration, bag condition and water chemistry all matter. Very prolonged acclimation after a bag is opened can increase ammonia risk as pH rises, so do not extend the process mechanically.

A practical receiving sequence

1. Be present and bring the parcel indoors immediately.
2. Record the sealed box and bag before opening if there is any concern.
3. Check the fish's balance, breathing, temperature and visible condition through the bag.
4. Switch off intense lighting and keep the room quiet.
5. Follow an acclimation method appropriate to the measured difference and transport condition.
6. Transfer the fish without adding transport water to the aquarium.
7. Close every lid opening before releasing your attention from the tank.
8. Allow orientation before offering a small floating meal.

The first seven days

Test ammonia and nitrite daily at first, especially after adding more than one fish. Check breathing at rest, appetite, social access and whether the fish uses more of the aquarium over time. Keep meals modest while the filter and animal adjust to the new waste load.

A short period under floating cover can be normal. Deteriorating balance, worsening respiration, repeated jumping or failure to feed deserves prompt investigation. Avoid rearranging the aquarium every day; provide stability while collecting clear observations.

Quarantine and biosecurity

A separate mature quarantine aquarium is strongly preferred before adding new livestock to an established collection. It must still meet the fish's basic needs: secure cover, adequate length, stable heat, biological filtration and a calm surface. Simple removable shelter makes observation and cleaning easier.

Quarantine is not automatic treatment with several medicines. Observe respiration, skin, fins, appetite and waste, and use measured water results to separate environmental stress from disease. Nets, siphons and wet equipment should not move between systems unless properly managed.

Plan how the fish will transfer to the display without a large temperature, pH or hardness jump. The quarantine tank should reduce risk, not create one stable environment followed by an abrupt second acclimation.

Breeding: a non-seasonal adhesive-egg killifish

FishBase describes A. lineatus as non-seasonal. It does not require the dry-peat diapause method associated with many annual killifish. Laboratory work reports adhesive, phytophilic eggs attached to aquatic plants by filamentous structures. Eggs measured about 1.0-1.2 mm in that study, with batches of 25-30 and hatching after 9-12 days under the reported conditions.

A specialist American Killifish Association account describes floating mops or a densely planted permanent setup, and gives 14-21 days at 72°F for separately incubated eggs. These figures are not a contradiction to hide. Temperature, observation method, parent stock and incubation conditions can change development, so no one number should be promised for every home aquarium.

What a careful breeding plan involves

Condition prospective adults on a varied diet, provide floating fine-leaved plants or clean spawning media and inspect without damaging clear eggs. A separate rearing plan improves control because adults and larger fry may take eggs or smaller young. Any chemical egg treatment requires accurate dosing and a reason; it is not a default instruction for a product listing.

Hatchlings were 4-6 mm total length in the laboratory report and need suitably small first foods, clean water and separation by size if cannibalism or unequal growth appears. Breeding can produce more juveniles than a home aquarium can hold, so permanent space and responsible outlets must be arranged first.

Why breeding is not guaranteed by buying two

Each quantity is one unsexed fish. Two purchases do not guarantee opposite sexes, compatible adults, fertility or a successful spawn. Age and maturity are not fixed by the size label, and transport or social conditions can delay breeding behaviour.

Breeding information is provided to explain biology, not to promise a commercial result. A keeper whose main goal is a verified breeding group should discuss current stock, sexing confidence and available space before ordering.

Is this the right fish for your aquarium?

Question	Good match	Choose another fish when...
Cover	You have a secure, gap-free lid	The display must remain open top
Permanent space	At least 80 cm long, with about 90 cm / 100 L or more preferred	You only have a short nano aquarium
Tank mates	Similar-sized fish mainly using middle or lower levels	The community contains tiny fish, fry or shrimp you must protect
Feeding	You can provide varied floating prepared and suitable frozen/live food	You need every species to share one sinking staple
Observation	You enjoy an alert fish visible at the surface	You cannot monitor male rivalry or feeding access
Breeding goal	You understand non-seasonal adhesive eggs and have rearing space	You expect two unsexed fish to guarantee a breeding pair

Browse the broader killifish collection or the more focused Aplocheilus category when comparing alternatives. General preparation, cycling and maintenance topics are available in the care-guide library. When existing livestock or water measurements make the decision uncertain, use the contact page before ordering.

Size options and what one quantity includes

This Shopify product combines three approximate size grades under one species identity. Select the size shown as available on the live page. Price and stock can change independently for each option, so the selector and checkout are the current commerce source; a cached search result or old paragraph is not.

Live size label	Sale meaning	Planning note
3-4 cm	One unsexed smaller fish when available	Use smaller food and guarded intakes; adult care is unchanged
4-5 cm	One unsexed mid-size fish when available	Colour and sex may still be uncertain
> 5 cm	One unsexed larger fish when available	Still not a guaranteed adult, sex or pair
Quantity	Each quantity adds one fish	Plan group size and surface space before increasing it
Exact individual	Selected from current stock	Not the exact fish shown in any gallery image
First-order offer	Eligible new customers may use WELCOME10 for 10% off once	Confirm eligibility and final total at checkout

How to read the image gallery

Gallery position	Provenance	What it can show
1	illustrative aquarium view	General gold-form concept near driftwood; not exact anatomy or stock
2	illustrative pair view	General planted-display concept; does not promise a pair per quantity
3	illustrative side view	General colour-form presentation; not a diagnostic voucher
4	illustrative plant view	General fin and scale concept; colour may be stylised
5	Exact Petra supplier reference for parent 197	Best available supplier evidence for the stock identity; still not the dispatched individual

The illustrations are disclosed because attractive staging must not be mistaken for a photograph of the actual fish. The supplier reference is low resolution but valuable as provenance. No image is evidence of sex, exact size, guaranteed markings or nutritional condition.

UK delivery, guarantee and first-order discount

Review the live-fish delivery information before choosing a date. Someone should be available to receive the parcel, bring it indoors and begin assessment promptly. Safe dispatch depends on route, weather, stock condition and service availability, so this page does not promise the same schedule for every postcode or order.

Eligible livestock orders are covered by the Live Arrival Guarantee when the published conditions are followed. Read the guarantee and claims terms before dispatch. If there is a problem, record the sealed parcel and continuous opening process, then contact the team within the stated period. Clear evidence protects both the animal and the claim.

WELCOME10 gives eligible new customers 10% off their first order, once per customer. Enter the code at checkout and verify the final total before paying. A discount should never drive an unprepared livestock purchase; the mature covered aquarium and compatible community come first.

Frequently asked questions

Is Gold Striped Panchax the same as Golden Wonder Killifish?

Yes. In the aquarium trade, both names normally refer to the gold colour form of Aplocheilus lineatus. Golden Wonder is a familiar commercial name, while Striped Panchax reflects the species' common identity. Neither phrase creates a separate scientific species.

How large does Aplocheilus lineatus grow?

The maximum published total length is 10 cm, with FishBase reporting about 7 cm as a common length. The live size option describes the approximate fish sold today, not its final size. Plan filtration, lid and tank mates around a possible 10 cm adult.

What tank size does a Golden Wonder Panchax need?

Use at least an 80 cm-long aquarium. Around 90 cm and 100 litres or more is a more conservative permanent starting point, particularly for multiple adults or a community. Surface length, cover and layout matter in addition to nominal litres.

Does this fish really need a lid?

Yes. A gap-free cover is essential because the species lives and feeds close to the surface and can jump when feeding, displaying or startled. Seal spaces around filter hoses, cables and feeding doors, then recheck them after maintenance.

What temperature and pH should I use?

Use a stable 22-26°C and roughly pH 6.5-7.5 as practical guidance. Match the selected value to compatible tank mates and measured source water. Avoid abrupt correction; stable acclimated water is safer than repeatedly chasing an exact decimal.

Does it need hard water or added salt?

No exact species-wide dGH requirement was established by the reviewed sources, and routine salt is unnecessary. Keep the fish in stable non-extreme freshwater, compare current holding water with your aquarium and make any change gradually. Brackish wild records do not make salt compulsory for aquarium gold-form stock.

What should I feed Gold Striped Panchax?

Offer varied floating prepared food supported by suitable frozen or live Daphnia, Artemia, mosquito larvae, modest bloodworm and trusted insect cultures. Match particles to mouth size, rotate foods and keep portions small enough that nothing accumulates.

Is it a strict carnivore?

No. Natural feeding research supports an opportunistic animal diet including aquatic and externally arriving prey, with dipteran larvae preferred in all sampled sizes. In aquarium care, strict carnivore is needlessly narrow; a varied complete prepared diet plus appropriate prey is more defensible.

Can Golden Wonder Killifish live with small tetras or rasboras?

Very small fish are risky because anything that fits into the panchax's mouth may be taken. Similar-sized robust midwater fish are safer candidates, but every combination still requires compatible water, enough space and observation. Do not rely on a generic peaceful-community label.

Is this fish safe with shrimp?

It is not a shrimp-safe choice. Shrimplets and small adults can become prey, especially near floating plants and the upper water. Even where a few large shrimp survive, that does not make the combination dependable for a breeding colony.

Can I keep more than one male?

It may be possible in a sufficiently long, structured aquarium, but males can display and chase around the surface. Provide visual barriers and more than one feeding area, then watch individual access and fin condition. Separate fish if one is persistently excluded or injured.

Is one quantity a pair?

No. Each quantity is one unsexed fish at the selected approximate size. Two quantities do not guarantee one male and one female, and the pair wording sometimes seen in trade advice should not be treated as a Shopify sale unit.

Which size option should I choose?

Choose the live available size that suits the existing community and your ability to feed it. Smaller fish need finer food and protected intakes; larger fish may compete more strongly. Every option needs the same adult tank and lid plan.

Is the gallery showing the exact fish I will receive?

No. Positions one to four are illustrative views, and position five is the exact Petra supplier reference for the product parent. All are stock-level media. The dispatched fish can differ in sex, size, markings, colour intensity and fin development.

How does this species breed?

It is a non-seasonal adhesive-egg killifish. Published observations found phytophilic eggs attached to plants, while specialist keepers use floating mops or planted setups. Reported incubation varies from 9-12 days in one laboratory study to 14-21 days in specialist aquarium practice, depending on conditions.

Is it suitable for a beginner?

A prepared beginner with a mature covered aquarium and a researched community can succeed, but it is not a casual first fish for an open nano tank. The keeper must manage jumping, surface feeding, predation risk, stable water and possible male rivalry.

What should I do if the fish stops eating?

First test ammonia, nitrite, temperature and oxygen, then inspect breathing, balance, skin, fins and social access. Check that food is an appropriate size and not being taken by tank mates. Persistent refusal with other symptoms needs diagnosis rather than random medication.

Does the Live Arrival Guarantee apply, and can I use WELCOME10?

Eligible livestock orders are covered when the published receiving, evidence and contact conditions are followed. Review them before dispatch and record any concern from the sealed parcel. Eligible new customers may use WELCOME10 for 10% off their first order once; confirm the checkout total before payment.

Scientific and specialist sources

• Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes: accepted name, family, range and freshwater/brackish habitat
• FishBase: distribution, maximum size, habitat, non-seasonal status and 80 cm aquarium-length reference
• Jacob and Nair (1982): natural food and feeding habits of Aplocheilus lineatus
• Arachi: adhesive eggs and embryonic development under laboratory conditions
• American Killifish Association: gold-form history and specialist breeding observations

Sources establish evidence, not marketing certainty. The aquarium volume, layout and compatibility guidance above is conservative practical judgement derived from adult size, surface behaviour and husbandry risk. Where a precise hardness, group size, lifespan or guaranteed breeding result was not supported, the listing says so.