{"product_id":"blue-panchax-aplocheilus-panchax","title":"Blue Panchax | Aplocheilus panchax","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Blue Panchax is a hardy, surface-cruising killifish with a glinting blue spot atop its head and an up-turned mouth built for picking prey off the top of the water. Peaceful towards anything too large to swallow, it is a characterful top-dweller for a planted, lidded tank — and a notorious jumper. It reaches around 8–9 cm.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eAplocheilus panchax is widespread across South and South-East Asia, from India and Sri Lanka through Myanmar, Thailand and the Malay Peninsula to Indonesia. It lives in a huge range of still and slow-moving habitats — rice paddies, ditches, ponds, streams and brackish coastal waters — usually near the surface among vegetation.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eA slim, pike-shaped fish with a flattened head and a dorsal fin set well back, the Blue Panchax is straw to olive with a scattering of iridescent blue-green scales and a bright metallic spot on the crown. The up-turned mouth marks it clearly as a surface hunter.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003ePeaceful with fish too large to be eaten, but a genuine micro-predator: small tankmates such as neon tetras, shrimp fry and very small fish are fair game. House it with similarly sized, calm species and avoid tiny community fish.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eA surface carnivore, it takes live and frozen foods with relish — mosquito larvae, daphnia, bloodworm and brine shrimp — and will accept floating flake and small pellets. Insects and small live foods bring out its best colour and condition.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eAn adaptable, hardy killi that tolerates soft, slightly acidic through to slightly brackish water. Keep temperature at 22–28 °C, pH 6.0–7.5 and soft to moderately hard water. A planted tank of 60 L or more suits a small group. Crucially, it is an accomplished jumper, so a tight-fitting lid is essential. Plant safe.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eBlue Panchax are egg-scattering killifish that deposit eggs among fine-leaved plants or spawning mops near the surface over several days. Eggs are best removed and hatched separately, and the fry take small live foods such as infusoria and newly hatched brine shrimp.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003ctable\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAplocheilus panchax\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBlue Panchax\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSouth and South-East Asia\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAround 8–9 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3–4 years\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePeaceful but predatory to small fish (jumper)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBeginner\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e60 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e75 L or larger\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCarnivore: live and frozen mosquito larvae, daphnia, bloodworm; floating flake\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e22–28 °C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6.0–7.5\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSoft to moderately hard, around 5–20 dGH\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable (freshwater); tolerates slightly brackish\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlanted, lidded community tanks with larger tankmates\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eYes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003c\/table\u003e \u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eSuitable tank mates include peaceful mid- and lower-water fish of similar size such as larger rasboras, barbs, rainbowfish, corydoras and peaceful gouramis.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eAvoid keeping with very small fish and shrimp that can be eaten, as well as large aggressive species. Never leave the tank uncovered — they will jump.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55232878182691,"sku":"AA2222","price":7.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55232878215459,"sku":null,"price":12.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/Blue_Panchax_Killifish_80e3c1bf-48fd-4e88-89d0-804c566e352d.jpg?v=1781701775","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/blue-panchax-aplocheilus-panchax","provider":"Nicks Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","version":"1.0","type":"link"}