Page 161 - Encyclopedia of Aquarium and Pond Fish, 3rd Edition

LIVEBEARERS 159

Ameca splendens
BEAK WRESTLING
Butterfly Splitfin body. In the more plainly colored male, shown
Trials of strength are common between male below, the caudal fin is edged with black and then
Malayan Halfbeaks (see opposite). The fish ORIGINS Central America, in the Rio Ameca and the Rio yellow, and the dorsal fin is more prominent.
lock their mouthparts together and remain in Teuchitlán in Jalisco State, Mexico. Females give birth to offspring that have an
this position for 20 minutes or more, until the SIZE 4 ⁄2 in (12 cm). attachment resembling an umbilical cord; this
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weaker individual releases his grip and backs DIET Prepared foods, plant matter, and small live foods. disappears soon after birth. A typical brood
off. This can cause injury to the beak, so it is WATER Temperature 68–84°F (20–29°C); hard consists of about 30 young, born about two
not to be encouraged, and male Halfbeaks (100–150 mg/l) and neutral (pH 7.0). months after mating. Young females giving birth
should generally be kept apart from one TEMPERAMENT Males are territorial and aggressive. for the first time have only a small number of
another. The protruding lower jaw can also offspring, which may vary noticeably in size.
be injured if these fish become alarmed and These livebearers can be sexed not only by their These goodeids require a well-lit tank with
swim wildly at the sides of the tank. This is size but also by their coloration. The larger female plenty of retreats, and they will browse
most likely to occur when they are first has an irregular pattern of black spots over her readily on algae growing in their quarters.
transferred to new surroundings.

Allotoca dugesii Characodon lateralis Alfaro cultratus
Golden Bumblebee Goodeid Rainbow Goodeid Knife-Edge Livebearer

ORIGINS Central America, occurring in the Mexican ORIGINS Central America, found mainly in the upper ORIGINS Central America, found in parts of Nicaragua,
states of Jalisco, Guanajuato, and Michoacán. Rio Mezquital in Durango State, Mexico. Costa Rica, and western Panama.
SIZE 3 in (7.5 cm). SIZE 2 ⁄4 in (5.5 cm). SIZE 4 in (10 cm).
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DIET Prepared foods, plant matter, and small live foods. DIET Prepared foods, plant matter, and small live foods. DIET Prepared foods, plant matter, and small live foods.
WATER Temperature 72–77°F (22–25°C); hard WATER Temperature 68–75°F (20–24°C); hard WATER Temperature 75–82°F (24–28°C); soft
(100–150 mg/l) and alkaline (pH 7.1). (100–150 mg/l) and alkaline (pH 7.1). (50–100 mg/l) and neutral (pH 7.0).
TEMPERAMENT Can be a fin-nipper. TEMPERAMENT Relatively shy. TEMPERAMENT Shy, but may be aggressive.
As the name suggests, this is a colorful goodeid;
the adult male, shown below, displays areas of
gold and red. The female Rainbow Goodeid
produces fewer than 25 offspring per
brood, with the brood interval being about
eight weeks. Again, it is best to keep these
goodeids in trios, but do not mix them with
related species because of the risk of hybridization. Knifelike edge Male’s
Yellowish-gold Their aquarium should have plenty of vegetation. gonopodium
indicates a male A row of scales projecting beyond the lower edge
of the body gives these fish their distinctive
The body of the male Golden Bumblebee is black knifelike appearance. Both sexes are pale yellowish-
and yellowish-gold; the larger female has bluish brown in color. Clear, clean water is very
lower parts. House a male with two females, important for the well-being of Knife-Edge
because he will bully a solitary female. The female Livebearers; regular partial water changes are
gives birth to up to 70 fry every two months or essential, since the fry in particular are prone to
so. Although goodeids are easy to keep, they are bacterial ailments. These fish can sometimes be
not as widely available as most other livebearers, kept in slightly brackish surroundings. Provide
such as the more colorful guppies and swordtails. the fry with brine shrimp as a rearing food.

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