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Aplocheilus lineatus, Valenciennes, 1846

Origin: Southern and middle India.

Etymology: Lineatus means striped.

Synonyms:Panchax lineatum, Valenciennes, 1846, Aplocheilus affinis, Aplocheilus rubrostigma, Day, 1872, Aplocheilus vittatus, Jerdon, 1849, Haplochilus lineatus, Day, 1873, Haplochilus lineolatus, Haplochilus rubropictus, Stansch, 1910, Panchax lineatus,Rachow, 1828, Aplocheilus lineatus lineatus.

First European import:Germany, 1909, Vereinte Zierfischzüchtereien Conradshöhe.

Description:See pictures.

Care: Aplocheilus lineatus can be kept in 80 cm tanks or larger. They will inhabit the upper regions of the tank, and require some floating plants, or plants that go up to the surface, to hide in between. There they will hunt for prey, and as the fish can get quite large, they should not be kept together with small fish like neon tetras. Cover the tank well, since Aplocheilus lineatus are excellent jumpers. The fish are hardy and pretty indifferent to waterconditions, as long as the water isn't too hard. The fish are a bit "nervous", and are quite aggressiv towards other fish of the same species.

Temperature:22-25 degrees.

Feeding:Live food, although flake food is accepted.

Size:Up to 10 cm.

pH: 6.0-7.5

Breeding: Aplocheilus lineatus will usually spawn in the community tank. If you want to breed the fish in larger numbers, a pair should be introduced to a small 40 cm breeding tank, with a lowered waterlevel and densely grown. Soft slightly acidic well filtered water with a temperature of 26-27 degrees will give the greatest chance of success. The pair should be fed large amounts of live food in such a tank, and left in the breeding tank for a period of maximum two weeks. After this remove the parents. The first eggs will start to hatch around this time, and should be fed infusoria in the beginning. Continuously separate the larger fry from the breeding tank, otherwise the newly hatched fry will be eaten by the older siblings. If fed well the fry can grow quite fast. In community tanks usually some fry will survive without any special care, as long as hiding places are available to them.

Sexual dimorphism: Males are much more colorful, and a bit larger.

Prices:Netherlands: 1.5-2€

Additional: Aplocheilus lineatus and Aplocheilus dayi have been considered subspecies in the past, and were at the time known as Aplocheilus lineatus lineatus, and Aplocheilus lineatus dayi.

Picture references:All pictures E. Naus

References:Baensch, H. A., Riehl, R.(1982): Aquarien Atlas I. Mergus Verlag, Melle, Germany.(click on the link to buy this book)