Lampeye Panchax's are a very small shoaling species ideally suited to heavily planted aquariums or planted nano-tanks with other small peaceful inhabitants. There is much confusion over the name of these fish, their grouping, and similar species. Although a member of the Poeciliidae family, which includes livebearing Guppies and Mollies, the Lampeye is an egg laying species, and is usually referred to as a killifish. There are in fact several species of fish from different families which are given the 'Panchax' name, and the same is true for the 'Lampeye' name. Combinations of 'Lampeye' and 'Panchax' therefore often turn up for a few entirely different fish!
These little fish are very sensitive to adverse water conditions, especially ammonia and nitrites, so are not recommended for new aquariums or novice fish keepers. Having said this, they will often thrive in a well kept heavily planted tank with good feeding. Small frozen foods like cyclops or daphnia should make up part of their diet. Whilst their natural environment is soft water, they will adapt to a wide range of hardness and/or pH conditions providing the general chemistry is stable. The fish are peaceful and shoaling, and need an aquarium with lots of vegetation and a little flow. Because of their small size, they are not suited to typical communities with larger fish and are best kept with other small species.