Aplocheilus dayi Care Guide
Aplocheilus dayi, the Ceylon killifish, is an endangered Sri Lankan surface predator of shaded streams and brackish swamps.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Aplocheilus dayi, the Ceylon killifish, is a surface predator of the family Aplocheilidae. FishBase records it at up to 9.0 cm total length (commonly 7.0 cm) and notes it is easy to maintain in the aquarium.
Taxonomy
- Family: Aplocheilidae
- Genus: Aplocheilus
- Scientific name: Aplocheilus dayi
Habitat
FishBase and Wikipedia describe the species as endemic to Sri Lanka (with reports from India and the Malay Peninsula), inhabiting shallow shaded forest streams over silt substrate and brackish mangrove swamps.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 80 L (about 21 gal)
- Temperature: 22-28 °C (72-82 °F)
- pH: 6.5-7.5
- GH: 5-15 °dGH
- Lifespan: 3-5 years
Diet
A carnivore. FishBase notes it feeds on small insects, insect larvae and fish fry, and is cultivated as a larvicidal fish for mosquito control.
Compatibility
A semi-aggressive top-water predator that should not be kept with tiny fish or fry. Larger barbs and other robust species make suitable companions. A secure cover is essential.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Endangered (assessed 2019), per FishBase.
Day's Panchax Breeding Guide
Overview
Aplocheilus dayi is a surface-dwelling killifish of the family Aplocheilidae endemic to Sri Lanka, where it inhabits shallow, still to slow-moving waters with dense vegetation. AquaInfo gives an adult size of about 6-7 cm and notes a harem social structure of one male with several females.
Sexing
AquaInfo describes males as vividly coloured with a greenish body, golden dorsal, soft blue-violet belly, red spots and a red band on the tail, while females are duller with narrow dark bands across the caudal peduncle.
Conditioning
The species is primarily carnivorous and requires live foods, only occasionally accepting dried preparations, so conditioning is done on live and frozen foods.
Breeding Setup
AquaInfo recommends a shallow breeding tank with low plants or driftwood root systems near the bottom, raising the temperature toward about 25 C for spawning. AquaInfo gives 22-25 C for maintenance, pH 6.0-6.5 and GH 8-12, and notes the species is mildly aggressive and suited only to larger tankmates.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
AquaInfo notes the fish prefer to deposit their eggs in the immediate vicinity of the bottom, on low plants or driftwood roots in shallow tanks, rather than at the surface.
Egg & Fry Care
AquaInfo reports an incubation period of about 12 days. The newly hatched fry readily accept Artemia and very fine powdered food.
Common Challenges
The species is mildly aggressive and predatory, so fry are best raised away from adults and small tankmates avoided. As a surface fish it jumps readily, so a tight cover is essential.