Tag Archives: lineatus

Striuntius lineatus

7. February 2022

Only in very few cases is such confusion around fish names as there is around the horizontically striped barbels of Southeast Asia. The beautiful animals belong according to current opinion to two genera: the species with clearly visible, long barbels belong to the genus Desmopuntius with currently seven accepted species and the form without (or very short) barbels and a fleshy upper lip is in the genus Striuntius, to which according to molecular data otherwise only the aquaristically well known species S. lateristrigata should belong. However, the latter must be based on a mistake, these two species have not much in common. Further information concerning the name confusion around these barbs can be found here: https://www.aqualog.de/blog/namen-dramen-die-linienbarbe/ (unfortunately only in German).

Because of the many confusions it is not clear how big Striuntius lineatus gets. The largest scientifically determined animal was 5-6 cm long (exactly 5.3 cm without caudal fin). Striuntius lineatus is a peaceful, somewhat shy fish, which especially appreciates water enriched with humic substances (dead leaves, peat, alder cones). The species is best kept in a group in a community tank. Other, more impudent, but peaceful fish (e.g. harlequin barbs) take away their shyness there. 

Striuntius lineatus is widely distributed in Malaysia and Indonesia, but is only very rarely imported.

For our customers: the fish have code 369873 on our stocklist. Please note that we supply exclusively to wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Aplocheilus lineatus RED

11. December 2019

The striped panchax (Aplocheilus lineatus) from South India has been inspiring generations of aquarists for over 100 years. Its magnificent coloration compensates for its sometimes quarrelsome temperament. One should not keep the striped panchax together with too tender fish, very small fish are also eaten by the up to 10 cm long animal. But with medium-sized barbels, catfish and labyrinth fish the care is problem-free and here the striped panchax is a perfect tankmate for the upper water layers.

In the last years mainly the golden cultivated form of the striped panchax was in the trade, we have now once again received wild-colored fish, which are really beautiful and for better differentiation from the golden ones are called “Red”.

For our customers: the animals have code 303603 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Aplocheilus lineatus “Gold”

14. July 2017

The golden sport of Aplocheilus lineatus is very popualr in the aquarium hobby and the only member of the genus that can be found on a regular basis in the petshops. The reason for that is quite simple: the golden sport exhibits even as a small juvenile (3-5 cm length) already the attractive coloration, while wild coloured Striped Panchaxes of that size have still a dull grey colour. 

Aplocheilus lineatus is one of the few species of killifish that are well suited for a community tank. They can be properly fed with dried food and invigorate the upper part of the water column. However, one should keep in mind that A. lineatus can grow to a length of about 10 cm. Larger Striped Panchax feed also on small fish. So one should choose only fish larger than 5 cm as tankmates to avoid this. A. lineatus can live for many years in the aquarium. Like all species of that kind they are excellent jumpers. So the keeper has to ensure that the tank is perfectly covered.

For our customers: the fish have code 303611 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer