Aplocheilus blockii
APLOCHEILUS BLOCKII (Arnold 1911)
B.K.A. Information Pamphlet No.89 December 1972
Biotope: Inhabits the S.W. area of India and Madras, Ceylon, where it is to be found in permanent ponds and other small areas of water, which are frequently stagnant and shaded by overhanging vegetation. Water of an acid nature.
Description of the male: Overall shape is very streamlined with a pointed head. Basic coloration is light to olive green over the entire body area, fading to a very pale green or white on the belly. In some lighting conditions the body appears to be metallic green, with very clear light green metallic spots along the flanks. There are rows of yellow, orange or red spots also present along the flanks which are visible all the time. The pectoral fins are generally clear. All other fins are translucent green to yellow, with red, brown and green spots and stripes. The eye is gold. There is sometimes to be found a dark spot at the base of the dorsal fin in adult fish.
Description of the female: The same basic shape as the male but slightly smaller in size. Body a pale green, with a faint metallic sheen, and a few metallic green spots. All fins are either clear or very faintly green. Again there is present the dark spot at the base of the dorsal fin.
Size: Male to 5cm., female to 4cm. exceptionally 4.5cm.
Feeding: Will accept most food stuffs, but has a marked preference for live foods such as daphina. Does not appear to be keen on freeze-dried foods.
Maintenance and breeding: Aplocheilus blockii should be kept in quite large tanks, although depth of water is not important as this species spends a great deal of its time just beneath the water surface. Ideally therefore a tank of dimensions approaching 24″ x 12″ x 12″ should be used, containing about 8″ of water with a pH between pH6.0 and pH7.0. This species will live in slightly alkaline water but will normally refuse to breed. Temperature should be quite high for killies, between 24C and 28C. This species may be bred in either pairs or trios, but the male is not a hard driver and a single female will come to no harm. The breeding tank may either be planted with very fine leaved plants or may contain a number of nylon mops suspended from the surface. If bred in a planted tank, the eggs may be left where they are deposited which is usually very close to the surface, where they will hatch quite safely without interference by the parent fish. When mops are used, it will be observed that the male does a “jinking” dance about the female, and will then drive her deep into the mop where the large, slightly amber eggs are deposited. These eggs may gently be removed with either tweezers or finger and thumb and placed in a shallow dish to hatch, if desired. When removing eggs from mops be sure to check the cork or other item from which the mop is suspended, as eggs will often be found on this. The eggs are not very susceptible to fungus, and hatch out generally in 12 to 14 days, although some will take up to 21 days. The fry on hatching should be fed with micro eel, progressing up the scale to brine shrimp. Full maturity will be reached in about 6 months.
In the writers experience, the fry of this species are very susceptible to “velvet” disease, which will wipe out an entire hatching within 24 hours.
Summary: A delightful killie which has not achieved the popularity it deserves. Peaceful, easy to breed and a delight to look at. Has also been kept successfully in ‘community’ aquariums. This must be one of the ideal ‘beginners’ killies to breed, but should not be ignored on this account by the more experienced aquarist.