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Excerpted from:
Pocket-sized Pikes; There’s something about
these miniature killers that fascinates us. But can they be kept without
mayhem and mass murder? by Neale Monks
Aplocheilus lineatus,
the Asian killifish
Of all the pocket-sized
pikes, the Asian killi is perhaps the easiest to keep. At around 3.5 inches in
length, it isn’t especially large, and can work as a community fish with a
minimum of fuss. So while every inch a predator, it is only a threat to things
like neon tetras and zebra danios. Gouramis, angelfish, Corydoras, and so
on are perfectly safe. The Asian killi is very adaptable in terms of water
chemistry requirements, inhabiting peaty swamps and slightly brackish streams
all along the southern coastline of India. In aquaria, it can be kept
successfully in everything from soft and slightly acidic through to hard,
alkaline, and slightly brackish water. What they do need is an aquarium with
lots of plants at the surface because these fish do tend jump when startled.
Floating plants like Salvinia and hornwort, or long-leaved plants such as
Cabomba and Vallisneria will inhibit this behavior, but even so,
be sure and keep these fish in a covered tank.
Asian killies are sold in
two versions: a greenish wild variety and a golden yellow artificial form known
as the “golden wonder” killifish. The wild variety is fairly variably in
coloration, but typically has a silvery-green body with a series of think
vertical bands across the back half of the body. Females usually have thicker
bands than the males, and the males tend to benefit from a few more yellow
spangles on their bodies. Golden wonder killies are silvery-yellow around the
head and lemon yellow on the body. Some varieties have blue or green spangles on
the body or red edges to the fins. Asian killies are very pike-like in their
shape and habits, despite their size. They do not like to be overcrowded, and
males especially can be territorial.
Though predatory, these
fish will eat any small live foods that stay close to the surface: daphnia,
brine shrimp, mosquito larvae, fruit flies, and so on. Frozen bloodworms are
also enjoyed, though you may want to place these one at a time onto the surface
so that the fish can get them more easily. If you’re careful, the bloodworms
will stay on the surface, and the killifish will snap them up eagerly. Most
specimens also learn to take flake foods and floating pellets, and a convenient
but healthy diet would consist of a mix of both flake and frozen foods.
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