Recently a new color form of A. lineatus has appeared in the aquarium hobby Gold. Like the gold forms that have appeared in other fairly common species, it is assumed that the Gold Lineatus is a color morph which arose as a mutation from regular stock.
However, as Mike Wilson points out, the Gold Lineatus appears not to be a xanthistic morph with a reduction of melanophores as seen in Aphyosemion australe Gold. "The specimens are essentially normal appearing LIN with the male showing an abundance of bright yellow scalation, appearing as a metallic yellow wash in abundance over the body of the males." Males often have white tipped fin filaments and orange fin edges; the females are generally silvery in color.The “Golden Wonder Killie”
The strain was apparently sold in New Zealand as "Golden Wonder Killies", and in the U.K. as "Golden Wander Panchax" (perhaps named after a local brand of crisps [potato chips]).
"It will be interesting to test the coloration stability ... and to determine if carotenoids will serve to maintain or enhance the pigmentation."
Given their prolific nature, the strain could have commercial potential. Many aquarists have had success with A. lineatus, which are fairly hardy, prolific, and tolerant of a wide range of aquarium conditions, doing well in any type of water, at ordinary temperatures. They will eat almost anything that floats, and that they can get their mouths around brine shrimp, daphnia, tubifex, fruit flies, blackworms, glass worms, flake and frozen foods, etc.Breeding
Breeding is easy, using either floating mops or the permanent setup method with a plant filled tank, rotating the parents out after two weeks. "I hadn't seen any eggs," says George Davis of the rotation method, "but I got 85 young from a ... two week spawning session." With the rotation method, fry hatch out over a period of several weeks and grow without disturbance, feeding on the natural foods in the tank and supplemental brine shrimp or microworms.
Alternatively, the eggs may be picked from mops for incubation elsewhere. They are quite large, clear when first laid, turning dark as they develop. Incubation is generally 14-21 days at 72F. The eggs do well in a hatch mix of methylene blue, acriflavine and Aquarisol.
One problem that has been noted with the species is a low fertility rate with young fish, and a resultant high loss of eggs to fungus. However, as the fish mature fertility improves and the loss rate drops.— G.C.K.A. Newsletter, June 1998