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No federal permit to keepGolden panchax
Pachypanchax playfairii
Fishes › Killifish and livebearers (Cyprinodontiformes) › Aplocheilidae (Panchax killifish)
Pachypanchax playfairii, the golden panchax, is a species of Aplocheilid killifish, the only species of freshwater fish endemic to the Seychelles, a group of islands in the Indian Ocean, east of Tanzania.
Care at a glance
Species-specific aquarium care
- Tank: At least 24 in long and 12 in front to back for one adult (adults commonly reach about 3.9 in / 10 cm).
- Water: Freshwater (tolerates brackish).
- Temperature: 72–75°F (range recorded for this species).
- pH: 6–8.
- Hardness: 5–19 dGH.
- Layout: Lives on or near the bottom: floor space and hiding places matter more than height.
- Diet: A predator: feed meaty foods sized to its mouth (frozen fish, shrimp, worms); it will eat tankmates that fit in its mouth. FishBase classes it as a carnivore.
Calculated from this species' own FishBase record: tank size from its typical adult length and swimming zone, water values from its recorded ranges. The group guide below fills in general care.
Care guide
Species care notes
- Water: a fairly wide range, from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline, 64–75 °F, pH 6–8, 5–15 dGH.
- Behaviour: temperament peaceful; a shoaling fish best kept in a group of six or more; not a community fish.
- Difficulty: Easy (Seriously Fish rating).
Short excerpts from the species profile:
- Diet: “An unfussy feeder and will accept quality dried products as well as live and frozen fare, including earthworms of its own body length as well as bloodworm, Tubifex, Daphnia, etc.”
- Tankmates: “Relatively peaceful although much smaller fishes are likely to be predated on, and given its conservation status it's perhaps best maintained alone.”
- Breeding: “If conditions are suitable this species is not difficult to breed and will deposit its eggs among live plants, aquatic mosses, synthetic mops, etc.”
From the Seriously Fish profile for this species, which has the full habitat, maintenance, diet, behaviour and breeding write-up 167
Panchax killifish
Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: Aplocheilus inhabit vegetated Asian streams, swamps and rice paddies, while Pachypanchax occur in Madagascar and Seychelles freshwater habitats (lineatus, playfairii). Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.
Housing & setup
- For A. lineatus use at least 75 × 30 × 30 cm, approximately 68 L (lineatus).
- Fit a close-fitting lid to prevent Aplocheilus jumping (lineatus).
- Provide dim lighting, floating plants and dense planted refuges (lineatus).
- Arrange wood and rocks into hiding places, especially for subordinate fish (lineatus).
Diet
- Quality dried food sized to the fish (lineatus, playfairii).
- Live or frozen Daphnia and bloodworms (playfairii).
- Gut-loaded wingless fruit flies or tiny crickets for Pachypanchax (playfairii).
Social life
- Keep only tankmates too large to swallow; male aggression requires space and refuges, and species tanks are preferable for conservation breeding (lineatus, playfairii).
Health watch
- Ammonia toxicity from inadequate biofiltration (fish_health).
- Parasitic skin and gill infections (fish_health).
- Nutritional deficiencies from unsuitable diets (fish_health).
Understanding the animal
About this animal
About this animal
It is the only member of its genus found outside of Madagascar. Within the Seychelles it is found only on the granitic islands.
Quoted from the Wikipedia article “Pachypanchax playfairii” (CC BY-SA 4.0) 174
In the wild
In the wild
From this species’ own FishBase record (habitat, bottom type, water and breeding data), not its family. Good care copies these conditions.1
| Where it lives | Lives in freshwater and brackish water, in rivers and streams, lakes, estuaries. Stays near the bottom. Occurs in small fresh and brackish water streams. 10 cm max TL. |
| Water it lives in | Freshwater / brackish water, 72–75 °F (22–24 °C), pH 6–8, hardness 5–19 dH. |
| Climate | Tropical climate. |
| Wild diet | Hunting macrofauna (predator). |
| Behavior to plan for | Breeding: open water/substratum egg scatterers. |
What this means for care
- Keep water within its wild range, 72–75 °F.
- It tolerates or needs brackish water; check salinity needs before setup.
Native climate (measured)
Native climate (measured)
| Warm-season highs | about 87°F (up to 89°F in the hottest sampled areas) |
| Cool-season lows | about 68°F (down to 22°F in the coldest sampled areas) |
| Average temperature | 46–80°F across sampled records |
| Relative humidity | 79–81% on average (driest month about 77%) |
| Rainfall | about 1688 mm a year |
Measured at 6 wild occurrence records sampled against WorldClim 2.1 climate data (1970–2000 averages). Air conditions in the range are ecological context, not enclosure settings: microhabitats such as burrows, leaf litter or basking rocks can be cooler, warmer or more humid.
From the sources
From the sources
Quoted from the matching sections of reputable sources for this exact species. Specialist databases are used first; Wikipedia (community-edited, CC BY-SA 4.0) only fills gaps. Other sources are short credited quotes.
| Overview | Pachypanchax playfairii, the golden panchax, is a species of Aplocheilid killifish, the only species of freshwater fish endemic to the Seychelles, a group of islands in the Indian Ocean, east of Tanzania. It is the only member of its genus found outside of Madagascar. Within the Seychelles it is found only on the granitic islands. Here it occurs in small freshwater and brackish water streams, feeding on worms, crustaceans, insects and fish. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Where it lives | Home ranges Population dynamics Growth parameters Max. ages / sizes Length-weight rel. Length-frequencies Mass conversion Recruitment Abundance Life cycle Reproduction Maturity Maturity/Gills rel. — FishBase |
| Biology | Occurs in small fresh and brackish water streams. 10 cm max TL. Feeds on worms, crustaceans, insects and fish. Not a seasonal killifish. — FishBase |
Data and studies
The numbers
The numbers
Each bar is what one source reports. Where several sources weigh in, the dashed gold band marks their average.
Adult length
Maximum recorded length. Measured as standard length (snout to the base of the tail, not counting the tail fin). Fish in home aquariums often stay smaller than wild records.
Water temperature
Range the species tolerates in nature; aim for the middle.
Sources for this sheet
- FishBase (Froese & Pauly, eds.), version 24.07 Peer-reviewed researchThe global scientific database on fishes, maintained by a consortium of research institutions; every value is referenced.
- Seriously Fish species profiles Experienced keeper or breederLong-running aquarium reference written and peer-checked by experienced fishkeepers and ichthyologists; each profile covers habitat, tank size, water, diet, behaviour and breeding.
- Seriously Fish: Aplocheilus lineatus Experienced keeper or breederAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Seriously Fish: Pachypanchax playfairii Experienced keeper or breederAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Disorders and Diseases of Fish Zoo, university or veterinaryAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Management of Aquarium Fish Zoo, university or veterinaryAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Wikipedia (species article) Community referenceFree encyclopedia; useful overviews with their own citations. Intro text is quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- iNaturalist (captive observations) Community referenceCommunity observation platform run by the California Academy of Sciences and National Geographic; observations marked captive show animals living in homes, zoos and aquariums.
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