#goodeids

[endangered-aquarium-fish]

the list!!!

every creature that's endangered or critically endangered or extinct in the wild that you can keep and breed in your own (freshwater) aquarium to stop it from dying out completely.

ive been working on this for a while and its still very not done bc oh my god theres so many-

some of these are super duper rare and expensive but others are widely beloved fish, some of them are rlly surprising to see here

pls lmk if theres anything i should add that i havent yet :3 theres a lot of undescribed species that you dont find in databases and stuff so i need all the obsessed nerds i can find to finish this!!!

not bolded = endangered

bolded = critically endangered

red = extinct in the wild (THESE LITERALLY ONLY EXIST WHERE WE KEEP THEM 0.0)

okay here it is :3

Allodontichthys polylepis - Finescale splitfin

Allotoca catarinae - Catarina allotoca

Allotoca dugesii - Bumblebee goodeid, Opal allotoca

Allotoca goslinei - Banded allotoca

Allotoca maculata - Blackspot goodeid, Blackspot allotoca

Allotoca meeki - Zirahuen allotoca

Allotoca zacapuensis - Zacapu allotoca

Amatitlania kanna - Panama convict cichlid

Amatitlania myrnae - Topaz cichlid

Ambystoma mexicanum - Axolotl

Ameca splendens - Butterfly goodeid

Amphilophus chancho

Amphilophus flaveolus

Amphilophus lyonsi

Amphilophus zaliosus - Arrow cichlid

Apistogramma lineata  

Apistogramma psammophila - two banded dwarf cichlid 

Aponogeton capuronii 

Aponogeton longiplumulosus

Astatotilapia desfontainii

Ataeniobius toweri - Striped goodeid

Aulonocara baenschi - Nkhomo-benga peacock, yellow benga, sunshine peacock

Aulonocara kandeense - Blue orchid peacock

Aulonocara maylandi - Sulfurhead peacock

Bedotia geayi - Madagascar rainbowfish, red-tailed silverside, zona

Bedotia madagascariensis - Madagascar rainbow, Madagascan rainbowfish

Benitochromis conjunctus

Benitochromis finleyi

Benitochromis nigrodorsalis

Benitochromis riomuniensis

Betta albimarginata - Whiteseam fighter

Betta antoni

Betta sp. “api api” - Api api betta

Betta burdigala

Betta channoides - Snakehead betta

Betta chloropharynx - Green throat mouthbrooder

Betta compuncta

Betta cracens

Betta foerschi

Betta hendra

Betta hipposideros

Betta sp. “jade” - Jade betta

Betta livida

Betta mahachaiensis - Mahachai betta

Betta mandor

Betta miniopinna

Betta omega

Betta pardalotos

Betta patoti - Tiger betta

Betta persephone

Betta pi

Betta rubra - Toba betta

Betta rutilans - Fire betta

Betta schalleri 

Betta simplex - Krabi mouthbrooding betta

Betta smaragdina “guitar”

Betta spilotogena

Betta stiktos 

Betta tussyae - Chukai betta

Betta waseri

Brevibora dorsiocellata - Emerald eye rasbora, eyespot rasbora

Cambarellus patzcuarensis - Mexican dwarf crayfish

Caridina dennerli - Cardinal Sulawesi shrimp

Caridina glaubrechti - Red orchid Sulawesi shrimp, red orchid shrimp

Caridina holthuisi - Six banded Sulawesi shrimp

Caridina loehae - Mini blue bee shrimp, orange delight shrimp

Caridina masapi - Towuti tiger shrimp

Caridina profundicola - Sunstripe shrimp

Caridina spinata - Yellow goldflake shrimp, yellow nose shrimp, yellow cheek shrimp

Caridina spongicola

Caridina striata - Red line shrimp

Caridina tenuirostris 

Caridina tigri - Tigris sulawesi shrimp

Caridina woltereckae - Sulawesi harlequin shrimp

Chapalichthys pardalis - Polkadot splitfin

Characodon audax - Bold characodon

Characodon lateralis - Rainbow goodeid, Rainbow characodon

Chilatherina bleheri - Blehers rainbowfish

Chilatherina sentaniensis - Sentani rainbowfish

Chindongo saulosi

Coelotilapia joka

Coptodon bythobates

Coptodon deckerti

Coptodon gutturosus

Coptodon kottae

Coptodon snyderae

Cyprinodon alvarezi - Potosi pupfish

Crenichthys baileyi - White River springfish

Cribroheros bussingi

Cribroheros rhytisma

Danio/Celestichthys erythromicron - Emerald dwarf rasbora

Devario auropurpureus/Inlecypris auropurpurea - Lake Inle danio

Devario pathirana - Barred danio

Dicrossus gladicauda

Epalzeorhynchos bicolor - Redtail shark/red tailed shark

Etroplus canarensis - Canara pearlspot

Gambusia hurtadoi - Crescent gambusia

Girardinichthys multiradiatus - Dark-edged splitfin

Girardinichthys viviparus - Chapultepec splitfin

Glossolepis dorityi - Doritys rainbowfish, Grime rainbowfish

Glossolepis incisus - Red rainbowfish

Glossolepis maculosus - Spotted rainbowfish

Glossolepis wanamensis - Lake Wanam rainbowfish, emerald rainbowfish, green dragon rainbowfish

Gymnogeophagus caaguazuensis

Halocaridina rubra - ‘Opae‘ula

Haplochromis brownae

Haplochromis ishmaeli

Haplochromis latifasciatus - Zebra obliquidens

Haplochromis perrieri

Hemichromis cerasogaster

Herichthys bartoni - Bartons cichlid

Herichthys labridens - Curve-bar cichlid

Herichthys minckleyi - Minckleys cichlid

Herichthys steindachneri - Steindachners cichlid

Hubbsina turneri - Highland splitfin

Hypancistrus zebra - Zebra pleco

Hyphessobrycon flammeus - Flame tetra 

Kiunga ballochi - Glass blue eye

Konia eisentrauti - Konye

Lamprologus kungweensis - Ocellated shell dweller

Limbochromis robertsi 

Limia islai - Tiger limia

Limia nigrofasciata - Humpbacked limia, Black-barred limia

Limia sulphurophila - Sulphur limia

Lipochromis/Cleptochromis/Haplochromis parvidens

Luciocephalus aura - Peppermint pikehead

Malpulutta kretseri - Ornate paradisefish

Mchenga conophoros

Melanochromis chipokae

Melanochromis lepidiadaptes

Melanotaenia ajamaruensis - Ajamaru rainbowfish, Ajamaru lakes rainbowfish

Melanotaenia boesemani - Boesemani rainbowfish

Melanotaenia bowmani - Bowmans rainbowfish

Melanotaenia fasinensis

Melanotaenia gracilis - Slender rainbowfish

Melanotaenia klasioensis - Klasio Creek rainbowfish, Klasio rainbowfish

Melanotaenia lacustris - Turquoise rainbowfish, Lake Kutubu rainbowfish

Melanotaenia mairasi - Lake Furnusu rainbowfish

Melanotaenia parva - Lake Kurumoi rainbowfish, sunset dwarf rainbowfish

Melanotaenia sp. “Running River” - Running River rainbowfish

Melanotaenia sembrae

Melanotaenia sexlineata - Fly River rainbowfish

Melanotaenia susii - Susi Creek rainbowfish

Melanotaenia utcheensis - Utchee rainbowfish, Utchee Creek rainbowfish

Melanotaenia sp. “Williams Creek” - Malanda gold rainbowfish, Williams Creek rainbowfish

Mesoheros gephyrus

Metriaclima koningsi

Metriaclima usisyae

Microrasbora rubescens - Red dwarf rasbora

Myaka myaka - Myaka

Nandopsis ramsdeni

Nannostomus mortenthaleri - Coral red pencilfish

Nanochromis transvestitus

Neoophorus regalis

Neotoca bilineata - Twoline skiffia

Nyassachromis boadzulu

Oreochromis alcalicus - Soda cichlid, common natron tilapia

Osphronemus laticlavius - Giant red tail gourami

Parananochromis ornatus

Paretroplus dambabe

Paretroplus maculatus - Damba mipentina

Paretroplus menarambo - Pinstripe damba

Paretroplus nourissati

Parosphromenus alfredi 

Parosphromenus anjunganensis

Parosphromenus filamentosus

Parosphromenus gunawani

Parosphromenus harveyi

Parosphromenus linkei

Parosphromenus opallios

Parosphromenus ornaticauda

Parosphromenus pahuensis

Parosphromenus paludicola

Parosphromenus phoenicurus

Parosphromenus quindecim

Parosphromenus rubrimontis

Parosphromenus tweediei

Phallichthys quadripunctatus - Four spotted toothcarp, four spotted merry widow

Placidochromis phenochilus

Poropanchax/Congopanchax myersi - Hummingbird lampeye

Pseudomugil connieae - Popondetta blue eye

Pseudomugil furcatus - Forktail blue eye

Pseudomugil ivantsoffi - Ivantsoffs blue eye

Pseudomugil luminatus - Red neon blue eye

Pseudomugil mellis - Honey blue eye

Pseudotropheus cyaneorhabdos - Maingano cichlid

Ptychochromis insolitus - Mangarahara cichlid

Ptychochromis oligacanthus

Pungu maclareni - Pungu

Priapella olmecae - Olmec priapella

Quintana atrizona - Barred topminnow

Rocio spinosissima

Sahyadria/Dawkinsonia denisonii - Denison barb, red line torpedo barb, roseline shark

Sarotherodon caroli - Fissi

Sarotherodon knauerae

Sarotherodon linnellii - Blackfin tilapia

Sarotherodon lamprechti

Sarotherodon logbergeri - Keppe, keppi

Sarotherodon steinbachi - Kululu

Scleropages formosus - Asian arowana

Sewellia marmorata

Skiffia francesae - Golden skiffia

Skiffia lermae - Olive skiffia

Skiffia multipunctata - Spotted skiffia

Skiffia sp. “Sayula” - Sayula skiffia

Sphaerichthys vaillanti - Samurai gourami, vaillants chocolate gourami

Stomatepia mariae - Nsess

Stomatepia mongo - Mongo

Stomatepia pindu - Pindu

Tanichthys albiventris 

Tanichthys albonubes - White cloud mountain minnow, white cloud minnow

Tanichthys micagemmae - Vietnamese cardinal minnow, Vietnamese white cloud

Teleogramma brichardi

Tilapia guinasana - Otjikoto tilapia 

Trigonostigma somphongsi

Vieja hartwegi - Tailbar cichlid 

Xenoophorus captivus - Relict splitfin

Xenotoca doadrioi - San Marcos redtail splitfin, San Marcos redtail goodeid

Xenotoca eiseni - Redtail splitfin, Redtail goodeid

Xenotoca lyonsi - Tamazula redtail splitfin

Xenotoca melanosoma - Black splitfin

Xenotoca cf. melanosoma 

Xiphophorus andersi - Spiketail platyfish

Xiphophorus couchianus - Monterrey platyfish

Xiphophorus meyeri - Marbled swordtail

Zoogoneticus tequila - Tequila splitfin

[horsesarecreatures]

X. helleri Rio Otapa & Ameca Splenden

Both wild-type livebearers

[caesarsaladinn]

went to the aquarium club auction. brought back:

blue tailed goodeids (on a whim--they have weird livebearing habits)

Apistogramma cacatuoides juveniles (been wanting them forever, got them for a steal)

plants (mostly boring but one gallon ziploc stuffed with an assortment of floating plants, most of which I don't recognize. exciting!)

[vynx-darkforest]

Im a Striped goodeid

ur government assigned gender for the day is the first thing u get when u click this link to a randomised wikipedia article. NO REROLLS . i am the  trollsteineggje mountain in norway

[aquariuminfobureau]

As a child I grew to be very fond of the Interpet series of pet care manuals. Like Usborne and Dorling Kindersley imprints, they not only stimulated me with their subject matter, such as tropical fishes and aviary birds, but with their wonderful graphic design. It looks good to have a set of books on one's shelf, that just 'go together', especially when the content is useful, and the pages are beautiful.

As an example of the series, I will examine Livebearing Fishes by Peter W. Scott. To look at the cover, this is the 1999 print run, but the book was first published earlier. The volume is a great introduction to the format of this series, and how the books could blend together basic, entry level how-to, with more esoteric information.

The livebearers as a group of fishes, are best known through four kinds of fishes, that have been selectively bred, into a diversity of color and finnage morphs - the (common or southern) platy and the (green) swordtail of the genus Xiphophorus, the guppy or Lebistes reticulata, and the mollies of the genus Mollienisia. All of these fishes share an ancient, hypothetical common ancestor, a poecilid toothcarp that had already transitioned first to internal fertilization, and then to viviparity.

Although the disparity among the domesticated strains of these species, does not match that among the goldfishes, or certain other domesticated species such as the dog, their diversity is nonetheless remarkable, as is well illustrated by a page featuring guppies. Were these morphs naturally occurring, rather than developed by the hand of man, they would surely not all be regarded as conspecifics.

Human agency has removed the pressure from dangerous natural predators, that eat visible little fish in their ancestral habitats, and intentionally controlled which fishes passed on their genes through generations. Charles Darwin well understood this sort of thing, and he called it, 'artificial selection'.

Many people would find it strange to regard any organically bred livestock as genetically engineered, but all of artificial selection is the technics of manipulating the future of organisms, by engineering their future heredity. The wild progenitor fishes slready possessed high enough genetic diversity, that the potentialities of their diverse descendants was already latent, but not expressed in the wild environment, because of natural selection.

The Interpet guides are not without informational content. In this color diagram, the pregnancies of two anablepids and a goodeid, are illustrated. Although both these clades of fish are relatively close relatives, they transitioned to viviparity independently. In fact their most recent common ancestors, did not even practice fertilization internally.

Livebearing or viviparity has actually evolved a few times among true fishes, and 'fish-like vertebrates' which would include the old pre-cladistic definition, which survived as the focus of ichthyology. A disproportionate number of the transitions, surprisingly enough, occur within one clade of fishes named the cyprinodonteans, and specifically their subclade, the cyprinodontoids, to which both goodeids and anablepids brlong.

The most recent common ancestors of these clades was not viviparous, nor did they even possess the prerequisite state of internal fertilization, without which the transition to viviparity would have been impossible. No one has ever really explained why only cypryinodontoids are so prone to evolve into livebearing fishes, when other fish are not.

Even among the poecilids, the clade including the most familiar livebearers in aquariums, viviparity evolved twice from a common ancestor that already possessed internal fertilization, although its babies developed externally, ie. oviparity. The sister clade to poecilids, are the anablepids, representing a third evolution of viviparity in this subclade alone.

Two other clades of cyprinodontoid fishes are known to have evolved vivipareity. One of them is the goodeines, the split-fin toothcarp. Split-fins are sisters to the oviparous genera Profundulus, Crenichthys, and Empetrichthys, all of them killifishes retaining the external fertilization of their more distant relatives.

A further evolution of viviparity among the cyprinodontoids, has occurred in a South American genus, Fluviphylax. Finally among the broader cyprinodontean clade, viviparity has also evolved once among the beloniforms, in the zenarchopterid halfbeaks.

As an aside, what exactly is a toothcarp? Goodeids and poecilids are both known as 'livebearing toothcarp', as are several oviparous cyprinodontoids. In fact fishes known as toothcarps, do not form a natural descent group within the cyprinodontoids, in the way that the pupfishes can be identified with the cyprinodontid clade. Sometimes a species can be identified as either, interchangeably, and a clade such as the goodeids may count both 'killifishes' and 'toothcarp' among its members.

In all I find it fair to say that 'toothcarp' and a related word, 'topminnow', are partial synonyms of 'killifish', and both refer to the cyprinodontoid clade of killifishes. The archetypal killifishes of the aplocheilid or aplocheiloid sister group, are never referred to as either, nor are the ricefishes, which are also traditionally killifishes, and are now regarded as basal beloniforms. So that all three of the major cyprinodontean subclades, include 'killifishes' among their members.

None of the species that are known as killifishes are viviparous, though some have internal fertilization, which they have evolved more than once, as a result of intensified competition between male fishes. Yet not all of the killifishes that are called toothcarps, are viviparous fishes.

The Interpet guides feature memorable diagrams, in this case showing how a breeding trap works. The evolution of pregnancy and penetrative sex in livebearing fishes, might remind us of ourselves, and other placental mammals.

But unlike mammals, the familiar livebearers are not among those species of fish, that guard or provide for their offspring after partuition. Although carrying their offspring internally for a prolonged period, is a significant parental investment by the mother.

Because newly born livebearers fit into the mouths of their parents, there is a real risk of cannibalism in these fish species. Breeding traps are designed and manufactured to reduce the danger, by allowing the vulnerable newborns to find safety where their hungry parents cannot teach them.

Domesticated livebearers are among the easiest of all tropical fishes to keep, but their prolific reproduction can be problematic when the males and females are cohabited. Children are either fascinated or disturbed, when they see cute baby fishes eaten in the fish tank.

Livebearers are not only guppies, mollies, platies and swordtails. The genus Anableps is an estuarine fish that has evolved to hunt at the surface of the water. Technically it has only one pair of eyes, exactly as we do, excepting that Anableps can simultaneously watch both above and below the water surface. It would have been very easy for Interpet simply to feature captive bred livebearer morphs, but these guides can be so much more

The halfbeaks are a taxonomically confusing assemblage of fishes, sharing an I testing craniofacial morphology. It is still not certain exactly how they are related to their relatives, the predatory clade of gars or needlefishes with their saury sisters, and the gliding exocets.

Not all halfbeaks are viviparous, but all of the viviparous halfbeaks belong to a natural or monophyletic clade. Again, it would have been easy to overlook the halfbeaks, in a book about viviparous aquarium fishes, simply because they are such oddballs.

The major clade of poecilid livebearers is not merely covered as domesticated breeds, either. Not considered often by most aquarists, are a diversity of wild poecilid species and genera. Some of these, such as Phallichthys, are also featured in the Interpet guide, right after a sampling of the split-fin livebearers.

Among other content, the Interpet guide touches upon wild members of the genera Poecilia (using a consensus, overly broad definition) and Xiphophorus. There is gene flow and interfertility between different species assigned to Xiphophorus, both in the wild and in the aquarium. Some described species are recognized by some authors, yet dismissed as hybrids by others. In all it's a book with surprising content, given it's low price, and Introductory nature.

[zoologica42]

To all of the rainbowfish/wild betta/goodeid /darter breeders and keepers who keep these incredible fishes from extinction:

[mandsleanan]

So this is the only aquarium I have currently, my Lazy River. It’s called that because of the lack of effort I put into its build, not the gentle current. Low-tech, 20-long. Hardscape is driftwood and stones I swiped from the stable grounds. Plants are duckweed and Spirodela above, Sagittaria below.

What the shit. I know I skimmed the surface a week ago.

It’s due for some thorough maintenance inside and out, and I’m trying to think of something new to do with it. I set it up in 2014, biologically speaking it’s well-established. The most active residents are my betta Lemon and some feeder guppies that use it to overwinter from my water garden, and this old man:

He’s the last descendant of an Ameca splendens breeding colony I maintained through the aughts, and immune to taking good photos. He’s maybe....twelve now?

Here’s an example of how mature this aquarium is-

Ramshorn snails live for about a year. These dead shells are left from multiple generations, our water too hard and alkaline to dissolve them.

Thinking maybe some additional driftwood to replace what the pleco’s eaten, some more plant variety. I’ve wanted to get Davidi shrimp for years but the Ameca would probably cocktail them. Considering those and some new fish once he’s passed. Longfin white clouds if I can find them, maybe cherry barbs? I haven’t kept corydoras for years and I miss having them.

I dunno, what do aquarists do when they have options but no plan?

[bufomancer]

Ten Cool Livebearers You May Not Know About

I’m pretty sure most people in fishblr know me as the wild betta fanatic, but truth be told I love livebearers just as much- if not more because they’re better suited to the water where I live. Livebearers such as dalmation mollies, mickey mouse platies, and all of the many variants of the common guppy are a staple of the aquarium hobby for their social behavior, hardiness, and ease of breeding. But did you know there are many more less common species of livebearer that are equally as gorgeous and rewarding to keep?

Here I’ll be briefly introducing 10 of my favorite species of livebearer. Disclaimer that this is not a care guide, just a list of fish I wish more people knew about!

Venture under the cut to see...

10. Endler’s Livebearer (Poecilia wingei)

(image source)

Admittedly endler’s livebearers are the most well known and commonly available species on this list, which is why they’re first. Their popularity has grown to the point that you can typically find them at your local aquarium shop, and even at chain pet stores. But they still make the list because I have a soft spot for them, and they are my top recommendation for people who want a hardy livebearer that will do well in a 20 long but is a bit less common than the typical guppy (Poecilia reticulata).

They are a bit smaller than common guppies, getting no bigger than 2 inches long. The females are blander in coloration, but the males exhibit stunning orange, black, and green patterning that makes them quite a sight to behold.

Endler’s will readily hybridize with other Poecilia fish, so many breeders keep detailed records to prove the purity of their stock. Undocumented endler’s sold in pet shops or listed as “K-class” are assumed to be hybrids. “N-class” endler’s have proof of lineage able to be traced back to their native waters, and “P-class” endler’s show the traits of N-class endler’s but without record of their lineage.

9. Sailfin Molly (Poecilia latipinna)

(image by Oliver Lucanus)

Sailfin mollies are a spectacular and less common alternative to the well known short-finned or common molly (Poecilia sphenops). Like many Poecilia fish, the two species will readily hybridize- in particular the melanistic “midnight sailfin molly” is attributed to hybridization between P. latipinna and P. sphenops.

A similar species, Poecilia velifera, may also be sold under the name “sailfin molly” and may explain why there are conflicting reports on maximum size- some say females can easily reach 6 inches, while others say they max out at 3-4. Keep in mind that tank bred strains tend to be smaller than wild specimens. When selecting an appropriately sized aquarium for sailfin mollies, err on the side of assuming they could reach 6″ to prevent the need for a hasty upgrade should your little 3″ fish suddenly double in size!

8. Least Killifish (Heterandria formosa)

(image by Brian Gratwicke)

Despite the name, the least killifish is not a killifish at all, but a member of the family Poeciliidae. They are tiny, maxing out at just over an inch long. While they may be blander in appearance than many other species on this list, their diminutive size is incredibly appealing. A large group could happily take residence in a 20 long. They are the 7th smallest species of fish in the world, and the smallest found in North America.

7. Tiger Teddy (Neoheterandria elegans)

(image source)

The common name of this adorable striped fish is certainly apt. Maxing out at an inch long, they are one of the smallest fish available in the hobby. They are quite shy fish, but do well in heavily planted aquariums, and are not particularly fussy when it comes to feeding provided it is small enough for their little mouths.

They may look small in pictures, but trust me, that is nothing compared to how tiny they are in person. I always find it difficult to believe animals can even get that small.

6. Butterfly Goodeid (Ameca splendens)

(image by Khor Harn Sheng)

This species is fairly well known in the hobby, in part thanks to the efforts of the Goodeid Working Group. Certainly one of the most commonly commercially available goodeids! Considering their obvious beauty, though, is that any surprise?

Females can grow to nearly 4″ in length, making them a good choice for an aquarist wanting something a little bit larger than some of the other available livebearers. Males have a yellow edge to the caudal fin, and shiny reflective scales. The females are a mottled yellowish-brown. Certain ornamental strains have been selected for a stronger and more extensive black coloration.

5. Perugia's Limia (Limia perugiae)

(image source)

Limia are not very popular in the hobby. I myself regularly forget they exist, but they are quite handsome fish that would look stunning in home aquaria. They are on the smaller side at around 2 inches maximum, with gorgeous iridescent coloration. I would not hesitate to maintain a shoal of them in the future!

Personally I find this species more attractive than the more common humpbacked limia (Limia nigrofasciata)

4. Pygmy Swordtail (Xiphophorus pygmaeus)

(image source)

I’m a big fan of tiny fish, so pygmy swordtails are right up my alley. They grow no bigger than 1.3 inches. Despite their small size they are active fish from fast flowing rivers and should be maintained in larger aquariums. Tank bred specimens like those pictured above may be selectively bred for enhanced orange/yellow coloration that looks stunning against a lush green aquascape.

I have also seen X. multilineatus sold under the name “pygmy swordtail”.

3. Swamp Guppy (Poecilia picta also known as Micropoecilia picta)

(image source)

Now we’re in the top three, and of course, this small (max 2 inches, usually less) brightly colored species makes the cut. I desperately wish swamp guppies were more common in the hobby. They are on my list of absolute favorite fish species. I really don’t have much to say about them except look at them! Aren’t they perfect!

2. Eastern Mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki)

(image source)

Native to North America, the mottled melanistic form is most popular in aquaria but the uniform wild-type is equally as beautiful. Females tend to get no larger than 2.5 inches.

I think North American natives are wildly underrated in the hobby, and this species is no exception! They are undeniably gorgeous and any aquarist would be lucky to have a tank full of them.

They may be confused with the western mosquitofish (Gambusa affinis).

1. Metallic Livebearer (Girardinus metallicus)

(image is my own)

This is absolutely one of my favorite species of all time. I kept them for a time, but ended up rehoming them when I took a break from the hobby. They were such a joy to keep, not difficult at all and very beautiful. All specimens are a flashy golden yellow, while the males feature a black stripe on their underside that earns them their other common name- the black chin livebearer.

I would love to keep these fish again, and I highly recommend them to anyone looking for a stunning livebearer on the smaller side. I really don’t have a single bad thing to say about them.

Girardinus falcatus are near identical but without the black chin.

[anabantoid]

Lesser known livebearers

Celebes Halfbeak

Pike Livebearer

Tiger Teddy

Ameca splendens goodeid

Montezumae sword tail, whose sword can be over 6" in length!

[sanjosenewshq]

Golden skiffia return to their native river in Mexico

Twenty-eight years in the past, the golden skiffia vanished from the wild. Immediately, it’s again. Proceed studying beneath Our Featured Movies This sunshine-colored freshwater fish is smaller than a thumb. The species has been saved alive in captivity. However now, consistent with Mexico’s Day of the Lifeless vacation just a few days in the past, conservationists are returning the fish to its pure habitat of the Teuchitlán River in Mexico. Associated: Practically 1/3 of freshwater fish face extinction “The Day of the Lifeless is a conventional Mexican celebration, when it’s believed that folks’s deceased ancestors return to the land of the residing for one night time, to speak and spend time with their households,” stated Omar Domínguez-Domínguez, a professor and researcher from the Michoacán College of Mexico and chief of the golden skiffia reintroduction. “Releasing the golden skiffia round this time is a metaphor for the way the species has come again from the useless to return to its dwelling, not for one night time, however perpetually.” Thanks! Maintain an eye fixed out for our weekly publication. Be part of Our Publication Obtain the most recent in world information and designs constructing a greater future. SIGN UP SIGN UP Like 1000’s of different freshwater fish species, the golden skiffia was pushed to the brink of extinction by human impacts. Air pollution, dam development, water extraction and invasive species have fouled the fish’s completely happy dwelling. Michoacán College of Mexico, Goodeid Working Group, Chester Zoo, Re:wild and SHOAL collaborated to return the golden skiffia to its native Teuchitlán River in Jalisco, Mexico. On November 4, the staff launched about 1,200 of the fish raised in a captive breeding program. That is the most recent challenge from Fish Ark Mexico, which has a facility at Michoacán College. The conservation challenge focuses on 41 extremely threatened freshwater fish species. Six years in the past, Fish Ark Mexico efficiently reintroduced the tequila splitfin into the Teuchitlán River. That inhabitants is now thriving. Conservationists hope to have the same success with the golden skiffia. “Releasing this species again into the wild is a light-weight of hope for this glorious household of fishes — the goodeids — and for the conservation of freshwater fish extra typically,” Domínguez-Domínguez stated. “Figuring out that universities, zoos and aquarists can come collectively to repair a few of what has been destroyed and return to nature a few of what has been misplaced is a tremendous factor. The reintroduction will profit not solely the pure ecosystem however, due to the habitat restoration work that has already occurred, the communities that reside close to the river as nicely.” By way of Shoal Conservation Lead picture through Chester Zoo Originally published at San Jose News HQ

[endangered-aquarium-fish]

Golden skiffia (Skiffia francesae)

Critically endangered

When the golden skiffias still lived in their natural home, it was a warm, quiet, gentle, spring-fed river with a bottom of sand and silt and mud, where they found shelter in the roots of floating plants that grew along the shore, beneath a canopy of acacias and willows. They foraged for algae on the plants, and thrived in their river, the Rio Teuchitlán.

Decades ago, the Teuchitlán was polluted, the springs that fed it were damaged, the acacias and willows were killed, and the banks were smothered in farms and urban sprawl. The skiffias barely persisted, and the last nail in the coffin was the introduction of the invasive common platyfish. It took only a year for the platys to outnumber the skiffias fifty to one. The golden skiffia was declared extinct in the wild in 1996. 

Some people loved that river. They despised the horrific things that had been done to it. That’s what drove a coalition of conservation groups to heal the river - they stopped the pollution, restored the banks, and removed the platys - then, they got to work putting the pieces of its ecosystem back together. In November 2022, Over a thousand golden skiffias, descended from fish that had been cared for in aquariums for almost fifty years since they were found in a dying river in 1976, were finally released back into the wild. 

…I can’t find what happened after that. Their relative the tequila splitfin was released a few years earlier, and it’s been thriving - but no update at all on the skiffias. I hope they’re alright. 

Golden skiffias are barely more than one and a half inches long, they’re really cute- they’re very energetic too, always chasing each other and searching and exploring and picking at everything they can find, as long as they never venture into deep water. And they’re social!!! they love to be in large, loose shoals where they find safety and potential mates. They can be hard to find but they’re so interesting and I love their bright yellow splotches :3 

Also, they’re in a really wonderfully bizarre family called the livebearers- they literally give live birth!!! Not like seahorses where they keep the eggs in a pouch, or like some snakes where they just don’t lay them until they hatch. No, they have an umbilical cord and everything. They have way fewer babies that way, but they’re safe from anything that might eat fish eggs, which is most things. Also the babies are HUGE :P

Golden skiffias hate deep water, so they need a shallow tank - it should be at least 15 gallons but ten inches of depth is plenty for them to explore. The tank should mimic the Teuchitlán - dense vegetation and sunken wood to provide shelter and grow algae, moderate water flow, and lots of oxygen. A simple bubbler is a great way to keep them healthy. The water should be hard, and cool (68-74 F) since anything more than room temperature can affect their immune system. And it has to be really really clean - change out at least two thirds of the water weekly!!! I know that sounds really excessive if you’ve kept any other fish but most goodeids really do appreciate it. 

They have a couple other odd requirements too. They do best if you give them even cooler temperatures, like 40-60 F, for 3ish months in winter. That way they can rest - they won’t breed in winter since they’re just chilling but they’ll be healthier in spring. The other is that they will thrive more if you keep them outside in the spring and fall when the weather is nice. They don’t really need it, but something about it makes them a lot healthier and they breed so much faster. 

Since they’re social animals, make sure you get at least a small group to start out with. They’re easy to breed as long as they’re happy, but they can be pretty slow about it - they take about 8 weeks to give birth to 5-15 babies (more as they get older). Luckily, as long as they’re well fed and they have enough room they won’t eat their fry, so you only need one tank. Since they are endangered at best, it’s important that you don’t keep them with other skiffias or they could hybridize - I don’t have anything against hybrids except that it doesn’t really count as preserving the species. They’re best kept only with their own species or with something small that won’t eat the fry. It’s hard to find much information about the golden skiffia specifically but some of their relatives can be aggressive so keep that in mind and add plenty of hiding spots to the tank.

Skiffias need a plant based diet with just a little protein - they love blanched veggies and seem to dedicate their lives to eating algae, and you can feed them regular fish flakes and pellets too. Their favorite protein source is baby brine shrimp - just make sure you only give them meaty foods as an occasional treat :3

These are rlly fun fish if you can find some - just make sure u share the babies :3

[horsesarecreatures]

If anyone in New York or New Jersey is interested in buying some of my endangered Ameca Splendens fish let me know. I want to keep breeding them but my tank is close to being overcrowded and I don't want to set up another one. Facebook no longer allows animal sales and with the local fish stores now closed I have no outlet for them. They are livebearers and despite most likely being extinct in the wild they are very easy to keep and breed. They can be community fish but due to their rarity they are best kept in a planted species tank where they can breed. The number of fry they give birth to at a time is rarely more than 6-8 but the fry are very large when they are born and the adults do not eat them. Females should give birth twice per year. Not too much is known about their preferred conditions but I keep mine in hard water in an unheated tank and they thrive. In temperatures over 74 degrees my males lose the yellow coloration on their tales so I have reason to believe that they don't like their water too warm. They are $6 each. A stoop pick up can be arranged so any buyers do not have to have direct contact with me. Located in Essex County, please message me if interested.

[the-real-caminals]

Xochimilco (Mexican Goodeid)

[m00nbunny1]

These fish sound pretty interesting... 🐟

the list!!!

every creature that's endangered or critically endangered or extinct in the wild that you can keep and breed in your own (freshwater) aquarium to stop it from dying out completely.

ive been working on this for a while and its still very not done bc oh my god theres so many-

some of these are super duper rare and expensive but others are widely beloved fish, some of them are rlly surprising to see here

pls lmk if theres anything i should add that i havent yet :3 theres a lot of undescribed species that you dont find in databases and stuff so i need all the obsessed nerds i can find to finish this!!!

not bolded = endangered

bolded = critically endangered

red = extinct in the wild (THESE LITERALLY ONLY EXIST WHERE WE KEEP THEM 0.0)

okay here it is :3

Allodontichthys polylepis - Finescale splitfin

Allotoca catarinae - Catarina allotoca

Allotoca dugesii - Bumblebee goodeid, Opal allotoca

Allotoca goslinei - Banded allotoca

Allotoca maculata - Blackspot goodeid, Blackspot allotoca

Allotoca meeki - Zirahuen allotoca

Allotoca zacapuensis - Zacapu allotoca

Amatitlania kanna - Panama convict cichlid

Amatitlania myrnae - Topaz cichlid

Ambystoma mexicanum - Axolotl

Ameca splendens - Butterfly goodeid

Amphilophus chancho

Amphilophus flaveolus

Amphilophus lyonsi

Amphilophus zaliosus - Arrow cichlid

Apistogramma lineata  

Apistogramma psammophila - two banded dwarf cichlid 

Aponogeton capuronii 

Aponogeton longiplumulosus

Astatotilapia desfontainii

Ataeniobius toweri - Striped goodeid

Aulonocara baenschi - Nkhomo-benga peacock, yellow benga, sunshine peacock

Aulonocara kandeense - Blue orchid peacock

Aulonocara maylandi - Sulfurhead peacock

Benitochromis conjunctus

Benitochromis finleyi

Benitochromis nigrodorsalis

Benitochromis riomuniensis

Betta albimarginata - Whiteseam fighter

Betta antoni

Betta sp. “api api” - Api api betta

Betta burdigala

Betta channoides - Snakehead betta

Betta chloropharynx - Green throat mouthbrooder

Betta compuncta

Betta cracens

Betta foerschi

Betta hendra

Betta hipposideros

Betta sp. “jade” - Jade betta

Betta livida

Betta mahachaiensis - Mahachai betta

Betta mandor

Betta miniopinna

Betta omega

Betta pardalotos

Betta patoti - Tiger betta

Betta persephone

Betta pi

Betta rubra - Toba betta

Betta rutilans - Fire betta

Betta schalleri 

Betta simplex - Krabi mouthbrooding betta

Betta smaragdina “guitar”

Betta spilotogena

Betta stiktos 

Betta tussyae - Chukai betta

Betta waseri

Cambarellus patzcuarensis - Mexican dwarf crayfish

Caridina dennerli - Cardinal Sulawesi shrimp

Caridina glaubrechti - Red orchid Sulawesi shrimp, red orchid shrimp

Caridina holthuisi - Six banded Sulawesi shrimp

Caridina loehae - Mini blue bee shrimp, orange delight shrimp

Caridina masapi - Towuti tiger shrimp

Caridina profundicola - Sunstripe shrimp

Caridina spinata - Yellow goldflake shrimp, yellow nose shrimp, yellow cheek shrimp

Caridina spongicola

Caridina striata - Red line shrimp

Caridina tenuirostris 

Caridina tigri - Tigris sulawesi shrimp

Caridina woltereckae - Sulawesi harlequin shrimp

Chapalichthys pardalis - Polkadot splitfin

Characodon audax - Bold characodon

Characodon lateralis - Rainbow goodeid, Rainbow characodon

Chilatherina bleheri - Blehers rainbowfish

Chilatherina sentaniensis - Sentani rainbowfish

Chindongo saulosi

Coelotilapia joka

Coptodon bythobates

Coptodon deckerti

Coptodon gutturosus

Coptodon kottae

Coptodon snyderae

Cyprinodon alvarezi - Potosi pupfish

Crenichthys baileyi - White River springfish

Cribroheros bussingi

Cribroheros rhytisma

Dicrossus gladicauda

Epalzeorhynchos bicolor - Redtail shark/red tailed shark

Etroplus canarensis - Canara pearlspot

Gambusia hurtadoi - Crescent gambusia

Girardinichthys multiradiatus - Dark-edged splitfin

Girardinichthys viviparus - Chapultepec splitfin

Glossolepis dorityi - Doritys rainbowfish, Grime rainbowfish

Glossolepis incisus - Red rainbowfish

Glossolepis maculosus - Spotted rainbowfish

Glossolepis wanamensis - Lake Wanam rainbowfish, emerald rainbowfish, green dragon rainbowfish

Gymnogeophagus caaguazuensis

Haplochromis brownae

Haplochromis ishmaeli

Haplochromis latifasciatus - Zebra obliquidens

Haplochromis perrieri

Hemichromis cerasogaster

Herichthys bartoni - Bartons cichlid

Herichthys labridens - Curve-bar cichlid

Herichthys minckleyi - Minckleys cichlid

Herichthys steindachneri - Steindachners cichlid

Hubbsina turneri - Highland splitfin

Hypancistrus zebra - Zebra pleco

Kiunga ballochi - Glass blue eye

Konia eisentrauti - Konye

Lamprologus kungweensis - Ocellated shell dweller

Limbochromis robertsi 

Limia islai - Tiger limia

Limia nigrofasciata - Humpbacked limia, Black-barred limia

Limia sulphurophila - Sulphur limia

Lipochromis/Cleptochromis/Haplochromis parvidens

Luciocephalus aura - Peppermint pikehead

Malpulutta kretseri - Ornate paradisefish

Mchenga conophoros

Melanochromis chipokae

Melanochromis lepidiadaptes

Melanotaenia ajamaruensis - Ajamaru rainbowfish, Ajamaru lakes rainbowfish

Melanotaenia boesemani - Boesemani rainbowfish

Melanotaenia bowmani - Bowmans rainbowfish

Melanotaenia fasinensis

Melanotaenia gracilis - Slender rainbowfish

Melanotaenia klasioensis - Klasio Creek rainbowfish, Klasio rainbowfish

Melanotaenia lacustris - Turquoise rainbowfish, Lake Kutubu rainbowfish

Melanotaenia mairasi - Lake Furnusu rainbowfish

Melanotaenia parva - Lake Kurumoi rainbowfish, sunset dwarf rainbowfish

Melanotaenia sp. “Running River” - Running River rainbowfish

Melanotaenia sembrae

Melanotaenia sexlineata - Fly River rainbowfish

Melanotaenia susii - Susi Creek rainbowfish

Melanotaenia utcheensis - Utchee rainbowfish, Utchee Creek rainbowfish

Melanotaenia sp. “Williams Creek” - Malanda gold rainbowfish, Williams Creek rainbowfish

Mesoheros gephyrus

Metriaclima koningsi

Metriaclima usisyae

Myaka myaka - Myaka

Nandopsis ramsdeni

Nanochromis transvestitus

Neoophorus regalis

Neotoca bilineata - Twoline skiffia

Nyassachromis boadzulu

Oreochromis alcalicus - Soda cichlid, common natron tilapia

Parananochromis ornatus

Paretroplus dambabe

Paretroplus maculatus - Damba mipentina

Paretroplus menarambo - Pinstripe damba

Paretroplus nourissati

Phallichthys quadripunctatus - Four spotted toothcarp, four spotted merry widow

Placidochromis phenochilus

Poropanchax/Congopanchax myersi - Hummingbird lampeye

Pseudomugil connieae - Popondetta blue eye

Pseudomugil furcatus - Forktail blue eye

Pseudomugil ivantsoffi - Ivantsoffs blue eye

Pseudomugil luminatus - Red neon blue eye

Pseudomugil mellis - Honey blue eye

Pseudotropheus cyaneorhabdos - Maingano cichlid

Ptychochromis insolitus - Mangarahara cichlid

Ptychochromis oligacanthus

Pungu maclareni - Pungu

Priapella olmecae - Olmec priapella

Quintana atrizona - Barred topminnow

Rocio spinosissima

Sarotherodon caroli - Fissi

Sarotherodon knauerae

Sarotherodon linnellii - Blackfin tilapia

Sarotherodon lamprechti

Sarotherodon logbergeri - Keppe, keppi

Sarotherodon steinbachi - Kululu

Scleropages formosus - Asian arowana

Sewellia marmorata

Skiffia francesae - Golden skiffia

Skiffia lermae - Olive skiffia

Skiffia multipunctata - Spotted skiffia

Skiffia sp. “Sayula” - Sayula skiffia

Stomatepia mariae - Nsess

Stomatepia mongo - Mongo

Stomatepia pindu - Pindu

Tanichthys albiventris 

Tanichthys albonubes - White cloud mountain minnow, white cloud minnow

Tanichthys micagemmae - Vietnamese cardinal minnow, Vietnamese white cloud

Teleogramma brichardi

Tilapia guinasana - Otjikoto tilapia 

Vieja hartwegi - Tailbar cichlid 

Xenoophorus captivus - Relict splitfin

Xenotoca doadrioi - San Marcos redtail splitfin, San Marcos redtail goodeid

Xenotoca eiseni - Redtail splitfin, Redtail goodeid

Xenotoca lyonsi - Tamazula redtail splitfin

Xenotoca melanosoma - Black splitfin

Xenotoca cf. melanosoma 

Xiphophorus andersi - Spiketail platyfish

Xiphophorus couchianus - Monterrey platyfish

Xiphophorus meyeri - Marbled swordtail

Zoogoneticus tequila - Tequila splitfin

[horsesarecreatures]

Look at all these babies! This is after I sold eight the other day. I need to sell more to make room for the ones on the way.