Golden Wonder Killifish
Aplocheilus lineatus
Aplocheilidae
FishDifficulty: ●●○○○Data: well-established
About
The golden wonder killifish is a hardy, metallic-gold surface predator from the streams, paddy fields and slow rivers of southern India and Sri Lanka. Unlike the delicate annual killifish, it is long-lived and forgiving of a wide range of conditions. It hangs just beneath the surface with its upturned mouth, ambushing insects and small fish, so it needs sizeable tankmates and a well-covered tank rather than nano companions.
Care
Keep singly or as a pair/harem in a long, well-planted tank with a tight lid, gentle flow and floating cover. Only house with fish too large to be eaten.
Diet
Obligate carnivore that strikes prey at the water's surface; feed frozen and live meaty foods plus floating pellets, and never trust it with shrimp, fry or nano fish.
Tankmate compatibility
Gets along with (51)
African Butterfly CichlidAgassiz's CoryAmano ShrimpBamboo ShrimpBanjo CatfishBlack Phantom TetraBlack Ruby BarbBlackline RasboraBleeding Heart TetraBloodfin TetraBolivian RamBristlenose PlecoBronze CorydorasCherry BarbClown PlecoCochu's Blue TetraCongo TetraDiamond TetraDwarf Flag CichlidDwarf GouramiDwarf Neon RainbowfishEmerald CoryEmperor TetraGlass CatfishGolden Dwarf CichlidGolden PencilfishGolden TetraHarlequin RasboraHead-and-Tail-Light TetraHoney GouramiJulii CoryKeyhole CichlidKribensisLemon TetraLittle CorydorasOtocinclusPenguin TetraPictus CatfishRed Whiptail CatfishScissortail RasboraSiamese Algae EaterSilver Tip TetraSkunk CoryStriped KribensisStriped Raphael CatfishThick-lipped GouramiUmbrella Dwarf CichlidUpside-down CatfishVampire ShrimpVenezuelan CoryX-ray Tetra
Possible with care (132)
Acei CichlidAfrican ButterflyfishAgassiz's Dwarf CichlidAltum AngelfishAngelfishAuratus CichlidBetta (Siamese Fighting Fish)Black Skirt TetraBlood Parrot CichlidBlue AcaraBlue Dolphin CichlidBoesemani RainbowfishBorleyi (Redfin Hap)Borneo SuckerBrevis Shell DwellerBrichard's TeleogrammaBuenos Aires TetraBuffalohead CichlidBumblebee CichlidButterfly Hillstream LoachCardinal TetraCelebes RainbowfishCheckerboard CichlidCheckered BarbChinese Algae EaterChocolate CichlidChocolate GouramiCobalt Blue ZebraCockatoo Dwarf CichlidColombian Ramshorn SnailCongo Dwarf CichlidConvict CichlidCuckoo CatfishCylindricus CichlidDemasoni CichlidDenison BarbDiscusDoctor FishDogtooth CichlidDojo (Weather) LoachDwarf Chain LoachDwarf Orange CrayfishDwarf Petricola CatfishElectric Blue AhliElectric Yellow LabElephantnose FishEllioti CichlidElongate MbunaEndler's LivebearerEven-spotted SynodontisFeatherfin SqueakerFestivum (Flag Cichlid)Figure-8 PufferFiremouth CichlidFive-bar CichlidForktail RainbowfishGerman Blue RamGhost ShrimpGold BarbGolden JulieGreen DiscusGuppyHongi CichlidJack DempseyJapanese Trapdoor SnailJewel CichlidJohanni CichlidKenyi CichlidKissing GouramiKuhli LoachLemon CichlidLeopard DanioLivingstoniMacmasteri Dwarf CichlidMaingano CichlidMarlieri CichlidMollyMoonlight GouramiMultifasciatus Shell DwellerMystery SnailOcellatus Shell DwellerOdessa BarbPanda CorydorasParadise FishParaguay EartheaterPeaceful BettaPeacock CichlidPearl DanioPearl GouramiPeppered CorydorasPlatyPolka Dot LoachPort CichlidPowder Blue CichlidRabbit SnailRainbow CichlidRainbow SharkRed EmpressRed RainbowfishRed Zebra CichlidRed-Tail SharkRedhead CichlidRegan's JulieReticulated Hillstream LoachRosy BarbRubber Lip PlecoRummynose TetraRusty CichlidSailfin MollySalvini CichlidSaulosi CichlidSeverumSimilis Shell DwellerSpotted HoploStar SapphireSterbai CorydorasSunshine PeacockSveni EartheaterSwordtailT-Bar CichlidTaiwan Reef CichlidThreadfin AcaraThree-spot GouramiTiger BarbTurquoise RainbowfishUaru (Triangle Cichlid)Venustus (Giraffe Cichlid)Wrestling HalfbeakYoyo LoachZebra DanioZebra MbunaZebra Pleco
Avoid (88)
Adonis PlecoAssassin SnailBala SharkBlack Moor GoldfishBlack Neon TetraBladder SnailBlue Tiger ShrimpBlue Velvet ShrimpBrichardi (Fairy Cichlid)Bumblebee GobyCalvus CichlidCelestial Pearl DanioCherry ShrimpChili RasboraClown KillifishClown LoachComet GoldfishCommon GoldfishCommon PlecoCompressiceps CichlidCrystal Red ShrimpCyprichromisDemon EartheaterDuboisi TropheusDwarf Pea PufferDwarf RasboraEmber TetraEndlicheri BichirFantail GoldfishFlame TetraFreshwater ClamFrontosaGlowlight DanioGlowlight TetraGoby CichlidGreen Neon TetraGreen Spotted PufferfishGreen TerrorHeckel DiscusIridescent SharkJaguar CichlidKoiLambchop RasboraLeast KillifishMalawi EyebiterMalawi HawkMalaysian Trumpet SnailMarble HatchetfishMasked JulieMedaka RicefishNeon TetraNerite SnailOranda GoldfishOrnate BichirOscarPeacock BassPike CichlidPurple Emperor TetraPygmy CorydorasRamshorn SnailRanchu GoldfishRed DevilRed TerrorReticulated Flying FoxRostratusRosy Red MinnowRosy TetraRoyal PlecoRyukin GoldfishSailfin PlecoSalt and Pepper CorySand-sifting XenotilapiaScarlet BadisSerpae TetraShubunkin GoldfishSilver ArowanaSilver MoonySparkling GouramiStrawberry RasboraSulawesi Cardinal ShrimpTelescope GoldfishTexas CichlidThai Micro CrabThreadfin PetrochromisThreadfin RainbowfishTropheusWhite Cloud Mountain MinnowWolf Cichlid
Computed by the AquaSage engine for a spacious reference tank — always check the full verdict for your exact setup in the calculator.
Telling males from females
What works for this species, most reliable first.
- Colour and patternStrong · from about 6 months, and only on a settled fish
In rainbowfish, killifish and several barbs the male carries the colour — deeper and more saturated, intensifying further when he displays.
- Extended finsStrong · from about 8 months, and later in a suppressed male
On many cichlids and killifish the male's dorsal and anal fins draw out into trailing points as he matures, while the female's stay rounded.
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Frequently asked questions
- What tank size does a Golden Wonder Killifish need?
- A Golden Wonder Killifish needs an aquarium of at least 110 litres (29.1 US gallons) with a footprint at least 80 cm (31.5 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.
- What water parameters does a Golden Wonder Killifish need?
- Golden Wonder Killifish does best at 20–28 °C (68–82.4 °F), pH 6–7.8 and a general hardness of 5–20 °dGH.
- Is the Golden Wonder Killifish suitable for beginners?
- Yes — Golden Wonder Killifish is one of the easier species to keep and forgives typical first-tank mistakes, as long as the aquarium is cycled and maintained.
Sources
Water & tank
Temperature20–28°C
Optimal temp.23–26°C
pH6–7.8
Hardness (GH)5–20°d
Carbonate (KH)2–12°d
Adult size10 cm
Min. volume≥ 110 L
Min. tank length≥ 80 cm
Swimming zoneTop
TemperamentSemi-aggressive
Water typeFreshwater
FlowLow
Lifespan~4 yrs
Try in the calculator