Edit Ameca splendens

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Name

Scientific name

Ameca splendens

Described by

Authority Miller & Fitzsimons, Year 1971

Family

Goodeidae

Common names

Butterfly Goodeid, Butterfly Splitfin, Ameca-Hochlandkärpfling

Photograph credits

All 3 credited

Summary

The butterfly goodeid, Ameca splendens, is a livebearer from the Río Ameca drainage in Jalisco, Mexico, and the neighbouring Sayula valley.…

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

90mm, standard length

Aquarium size

Minimum length 90 cm, Minimum depth 30 cm

Water

Water conditions

Temperature 20–25°C, pH 7–8

Hardness

10–20dGH

Conductivity

Not recorded

Behaviour

Temperament

Not recorded

Community suitability

Not for a community

Where it lives

Countries, regions, rivers and lakes

Mexico, Ameca, Teuchitlán

Writing

Etymology

Ameca: named for the upper Ameca River basin in the state of Jalisco, westerm México, an area to which the genus was formerly considered endemic. splendens: La…

Distribution

Was for many years considered endemic to the Río Ameca drainage basin in Jalisco state, central-western Mexico including its tributary the Río Teuchitlán, but …

Habitat

Clear springs where aquatic plants proliferate.

Aquarium size

Base dimensions of at least 90 ∗ 30 cm are a prerequisite.

Maintenance

A densely planted aquarium with a dark substrate will allow it to exhibit its colours to the best effect. Well-oxygenated water with a moderate water flow is a…

Water conditions

Not written yet

Diet

An omnivorous and greedy feeder, it will accept most foods offered. It does consume large amounts of algae in the natural habitat so some greenstuffs should be…

Behaviour and compatibility

Not a good community fish as it can be quite aggressive, particularly the males. It's also very competitive at feeding time. It can be maintained in a communit…

Sexual dimorphism

Males are smaller and more colourful than females, possessing reflective scales all along the flanks and a black and yellow edge to the caudal fin. They also p…

Reproduction

An easily-bred live bearer. A species tank works best, and it can be bred using a single pair or a group (this is known as flock spawning). The breeding tank s…

An easily-bred live bearer. A species tank works best, and it can be bred using a single pair or a group (this is known as flock spawning). The breeding tank should be planted very heavily. Goodeids breed in a slightly different way to other livebearers, as females don't store sperm as in many other livebearing species, and must be fertilised separately for each brood of young. They also display no gravid spot.

The female initiates mating by swimming diagonally in front of the male and performing quivering movements. This increases in intensity and the male exhibits his strongest colouration before joining in the courtship. Eventually the fish come together and mating occurs.

Gestation takes between 55-60 days after which 5-30 huge (up to 0.75"!) fry are produced. Sometimes these may have what appears to be an umbilical cord attached. This is quite normal (see below) and will disappear in 2-3 days. The fry are large enough to accept the same foods as the adults from birth and will be bold and outgoing from the outset, competing for food with any other fish in the aquarium. The parents rarely predate on the fry.

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Where does this come from?

My own experienceFor example, I've kept twelve in a planted 60 cm tank since March 2024.A website I sawFor example, an IUCN Red List assessment, a museum catalogue or a FishBase page.A paperFor example, Marshall et al. (2011), Water temperature differences in interfluvial palm swamp habitats of Paracheirodon axelrodi and P. simulans.A book, or something not onlineFor example, Tappin (2010), Rainbowfishes: their care and keeping in captivity.Something already on the pageFor example, the Behaviour and compatibility section already says this.

Web address

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DOI

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Title

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Authors

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Year

Journal or publisher

Pages

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Anything worth adding

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Notes

Despite often being referred to as extinct in the wild this monotypic species is still surviving at a few localities. It's not particularly scarce in the hobby…

References

No references

Name

Scientific name

Described by

Family

Common names

Photograph credits

Summary

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

Aquarium size

Water

Water conditions

Hardness

Conductivity

Behaviour

Temperament

Social needs

Community suitability

Where it lives

Countries, regions, rivers and lakes

Writing

Etymology

Distribution

Habitat

Aquarium size

Maintenance

Water conditions

Diet

Behaviour and compatibility

Sexual dimorphism

Reproduction

Notes

References

References