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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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