Golden wonder killifish care guide
Also called: Golden wonder panchax, Striped panchax, Golden panchax, Aplocheilus lineatus
The golden wonder killifish is a bright yellow form of the striped panchax from India and Sri Lanka. It is hardy and long-lived for a killifish, but it is a surface predator that eats small fish and shrimp, and it jumps.
Golden wonder killifish need a tank of at least 20 gallons (76 L), and water at 22–26°C (72–79°F) with a pH of 6–7.5. They grow to about 9 cm (3.5 in) and are semi-aggressive.
Plan a tank with golden wonder killifishSee all tank mates
Golden wonder killifish quick facts
| Scientific name | Aplocheilus lineatus |
|---|---|
| Family | Aplocheilidae |
| Origin | Peninsular India and Sri Lanka (the golden form is captive-bred) |
| Adult size | 9 cm (3.5 in) |
| Minimum tank | 20 gallons (76 L), at least 75 cm (30 in) long |
| Temperature | 22–26°C (72–79°F) |
| pH | 6–7.5 |
| Hardness (GH) | 5–15 dGH |
| Group size | Alone, or 1 male with several females |
| Temperament | Semi-aggressive; males fight each other |
| Swims at | Top |
| Diet | Carnivore |
| Care level | Easy |
| Lifespan | 3–5 years |
| Safe with shrimp? | No, eats shrimp |
| Safe with plants? | Yes |
- Known jumper: keep a tight-fitting lid.
Tank setup
One fish, or a male with two females, needs at least a 20-gallon long tank (76 L, 75 cm / 30 in). Surface area matters most, because they spend nearly all their time just under the surface. Add dense planting, floating plants and dim light, and fit a tight lid with every gap covered.
How many golden wonder killifish in a tank?
The smallest common tank that suits golden wonder killifish is a 20 gallon long. Here is roughly how many fit in each size when they are the only fish, based on adult size and waste output. Leave room if you want tank mates.
| Tank | Golden wonder killifish (alone) |
|---|---|
| 3 gallon | Too small |
| 5 gallon | Too small |
| 10 gallon | Too small |
| 15 gallon | Too small |
| 20 gallon | Too small |
| 20 gallon long | Up to 8 |
| 29 gallon | Up to 11 |
| 40 gallon | Up to 16 |
| 55 gallon | Up to 22 |
| 75 gallon | Up to 30 |
| 125 gallon | Up to 50 |
Numbers are bioload limits only. Males fight, so keep one male, alone or with several females.
What you need for golden wonder killifish
Sized for a 20 gallon long tank, the smallest common size that suits golden wonder killifish. For a different tank or a mix of fish, use the stocking calculator for a list sized to your plan.
Tank and equipment
- 20 gallon long aquarium (tank or kit) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Bigger tanks are more stable and easier for beginners. How to choose
- Aquarium stand for 20 gallons (opens Amazon in a new tab)The water alone weighs about 167 lb (76 kg), before glass, gravel and rock. How to choose
- Adjustable heater, 50 W (opens Amazon in a new tab)Holds about 75 °F (24 °C) in a room at 65 °F (18 °C). How to choose
- Aquarium thermometer (opens Amazon in a new tab)Check it daily: heaters can fail stuck on or off. How to choose
- Hang-on-back filter rated 80–120 GPH (opens Amazon in a new tab)Community tank: 4–6 times the tank volume per hour. How to choose
- About 45 lb of aquarium gravel (opens Amazon in a new tab)Enough for a layer about 2 in (5 cm) deep. Smooth gravel suits most community fish. How to choose
- Water conditioner (dechlorinator) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Removes chlorine and chloramine from tap water. Seachem Prime is a popular, concentrated choice. How to choose
- Liquid test kit (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Liquid kits are more accurate than strips. The API Freshwater Master Test Kit is the common choice. How to choose
- Gravel vacuum (siphon) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Cleans the gravel and does the water change in one go. How to choose
- LED aquarium light, about 30 in long (opens Amazon in a new tab)Match the light to the tank length. Basic LEDs grow easy plants. How to choose
Food and extras for golden wonder killifish
- Tropical fish pellets (opens Amazon in a new tab)A good staple for medium community fish.
- Freeze-dried bloodworms or brine shrimp (opens Amazon in a new tab)A treat that carnivores and insect eaters love. Feed it a few times a week.
- Tight-fitting lid for a 20 gallon tank (opens Amazon in a new tab)Golden wonder killifish can jump out of an open tank.
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Water parameters
Keep them at 22–26 °C (72–79 °F), pH 6.0–7.5 and 5–15 dGH. They are adaptable and handle most tap water well. Keep the surface fairly calm, since strong current at the top stresses them.
Best tank mates for golden wonder killifish
These popular species share golden wonder killifish' water needs and temperament. See the full list of 63 good matches.
Nerite snail
2.5 cm (1 in) · 22–27°C (72–81°F)
Bristlenose pleco
12 cm (4.7 in) · 22–26°C (72–79°F)
Bronze corydoras
7 cm (2.8 in) · 21–26°C (70–79°F)
Angelfish
15 cm (5.9 in) · 24–29°C (75–84°F)
Tiger barb
7 cm (2.8 in) · 22–27°C (72–81°F)
Assassin snail
2.5 cm (1 in) · 22–27°C (72–81°F)
Ramshorn snail
2 cm (0.8 in) · 21–27°C (70–81°F)
Malaysian trumpet snail
2.5 cm (1 in) · 20–27°C (68–81°F)
Avoid keeping golden wonder killifish with
- Cherry shrimp: Golden wonder killifish eats small shrimp like cherry shrimp.
- Neon tetra: Golden wonder killifish can eat neon tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Oscar: Oscar can eat golden wonder killifish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- African dwarf frog: Golden wonder killifish can eat African dwarf frogs.
- Cardinal tetra: Golden wonder killifish can eat cardinal tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Celestial pearl danio: Golden wonder killifish can eat celestial pearl danios: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
Feeding
In the wild they snap up insects and small animals that fall onto the water. Feed floating foods such as quality flakes and pellets, plus live or frozen bloodworm, brine shrimp, daphnia and small insects. Most settle in and take dry food readily.
Behavior
Calm toward fish too big to swallow, but their wide mouth easily takes fish up to about 4 cm (1.6 in), such as neon tetras and guppies, and dwarf shrimp. They may also chase other surface fish. Good tankmates are larger peaceful tetras and barbs, gouramis, corydoras and plecos. Males fight each other, so keep one male unless the tank is large.
Breeding
They lay sticky eggs among fine-leaved plants or spawning mops, a few every day for a couple of weeks. Move the eggs to a separate container, where they hatch in about 11–14 days. Feed fry baby brine shrimp and microworms, and sort them by size, because bigger fry eat smaller ones.
Tips from experienced keepers
- Cover the tank completely. Golden wonders are strong jumpers, especially when startled.
- Skip any tankmate small enough to fit in their mouth, including neon tetras, chili rasboras and cherry shrimp.
- Leave open water between the floating plants so they can reach food at the surface.
- Keep one male with two or more females so the male's attention is spread out.
Frequently asked questions
Are golden wonder killifish aggressive?
Not toward fish their own size. They are predators, though, and will eat any fish or shrimp that fits in their mouth. Males may also fight each other.
How big do golden wonder killifish get?
Most adults are about 7–9 cm (3–3.5 in), and big males can reach 10 cm (4 in). That makes them one of the largest killifish sold in shops. Males grow larger and more colorful than females.
How long do golden wonder killifish live?
Usually 3–5 years. Unlike annual killifish, they come from permanent waters and are not short-lived.
Sources
We checked these references when writing this page. Values are for healthy long-term keeping, not survival limits. Last reviewed 2026-10-13. See our editorial policy.