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Common Name- The Rainbow
Goodeid
Water Conditions- Not critical, effective
filtration and regular
water changes.
Temp 70-75 degrees.
Provide plants for
security.
Behavior- A generally peaceful
goodeid, very behaved with one another.
Breeding- 5-10 young
every 2 months
Size- A smaller goodeid,
about 2- 2.5 inches.
This is a hardy, beautiful fish whose wild
form is expected to become extinct within just a few years. They
can be kept
in a single species community tank of 10 gallons with
some fine leaved plants, and the young are generally not eaten.
In that situation, effective filtration with some water
movement and aeration needs to be provided. To keep them at
their best, they are kept in 29 gallon tanks here, with
moderate planting. Gravid females are removed to have their
young, which are then raised separately.
They appreciate having plants to hide in, and do best with
opportunities to rest in small groups out of sight, though
the dominant pairs will often patrol the front of the
tank.
The gravid females become very large and are easily
identified. Gestation is around 60 days (depending on
temperature),
and the young are smaller than some of the other goodeids.
Batches are generally only 5-10 young. The younger females are
small enough to use a net breeder, but they are generally
given a 5 or 10 gallon tank of their own to drop their fry.
The fry do best when raised separately for at least the first
1-2 weeks to build up some size and confidence before being
put in with the adults.
This fish
is one that breeds seasonally here, dropping fry from Mid May
until early October, but unlike other seasonally
breeding species, it is rare for even a single female to drop
fry once breeding has stopped for the year.
Unlike many of the other livebearers, the goodeids do not
hold on to sperm, so each fertilization is entirely separate
from any previous matings. So they can be selectively bred
more easily when their numbers increase. With consistent care
this is a hardy, intensely pretty goodeid. The problem with
selectively breeding them is determining which females
carry the genes for the most intensely red males.
Recent improvements to the fishroom have shown that they are
sensitive to warmer temperatures, and must be kept below
74-75 degrees. Thermal tops put on tanks here to control
humidity caused losses, but when temperatures are kept at
70-74 degrees this particularly attractive goodeid will do
well.
See other Care Guides
Here
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