Green Panchax

Care

The Green Panchax is found in sluggish and standing waters including mangrove swamps and rice fields. There is usually heavy surface vegetation and the fish sometimes move into brackish waters near the coast. These small, sparkling top-dwellers are often observed in groups, feeding from the surface on insect larvae or fish fry, and have been utilised in some areas for mosquito control. The aquarium itself should be aquascaped with plenty of plants, including floating varieties wherever possible. This will give the fish a natural network of hiding places and territories. Tangles of driftwood can also be added to give additional shelter. Filtration should be efficient, but water movement gentle. It is best to try and keep at least 2 females to every male. Whilst juveniles are gregarious, the males do become a little territorial as they mature, and if more than one male is to be kept in the same tank, it must be spacious with heavy planting that creates an abundance of visual barriers. These fish are micro predators and have surprisingly wide mouths (view them head-on). Therefore they should never be combined with really small community fish or fry e.g. young Neon Tetras, as these may become a snack. Green Panchax are best maintained with small-medium sized fish of a peaceful disposition, and which do not occupy the same extreme top level of the aquarium. As these fish are accomplished jumpers, it is essential that the tank has tight fitting coverslides.

Feeding

These fish require a good variety of meaty frozen foods, as in the wild they are known to take insects and insect larvae from the water's surface. Bloodworm and white mosquito larvae are preferred, but they will also enjoy vitamin-enriched brineshrimp and daphnia.

Breeding

A chosen conditioned pair should be acclimatised to a softwater breeding aquarium furnished with large clumps of fine leaved plants and floating plants. Some aquarists prefer to condition the male and female in separate tanks prior to bringing them together in the breeding aquarium. The eggs will be deposited amongst the plants near the water's surface. From here it is easy to transfer them to another growing-on tank so that the parent fish do not predate on them (alternatively, carefully remove the parent fish from this aquarium once spawning has ceased). The eggs can be expected to hatch within 9-14 days (temperature dependant) and the young offered finely powdered first foods and newly hatched brineshrimp.