Rainbow Goodeid

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Scientific Name

Characodon lateralis

Min. Tank Size

20 gallons

Personality

Shy/Male to male aggression

Temperature

62-75°F

pH

7.0-8.0/10-20°dGH

Size

2"

Diet

Omnivore

Breeding

Livebearer

Compatibility

Best kept in a species tank. Not recommended for any community setup.

Rainbow Goodeid

The Rainbow Goodeid goes by the scientific name Characodon lateralis. “Latus” is a latin term referring to the patterns decorating the bodies of this species along the lateral line. These fish are endemic to the state of Durango in Mexico, but may be extinct in the wild. For this reason, and because these fish are notoriously difficult to keep in the home aquarium, Rainbow Goodeids are not commonly available in the aquarium hobby. When they are available, they are typically very expensive.

Tank Set-Up

This species of fish is recommended only for expert aquarium hobbyists because they have such strict requirements for water conditions. These fish are extremely sensitive to changes in temperature, are very prone to disease and require a very clean tank with excellent filtration. It’s best if the water is kept on the alkaline side of neutral.

Feeding

Though they can be demanding in regard to water parameters, Rainbow Goodeids aren’t very picky when it comes to feeding. They will readily accept a variety of live and frozen foods. For optimum health and coloration, feed a varied diet of live/frozen foods such as brine shrimp, Daphnia, and bloodworms along with a good quality algae based flake. The addition of fresh vegetable matter will also be beneficial.

Breeding

This species can be somewhat difficult to breed, but because its numbers are so scarce, hobbyists that keep these fish are encouraged to try breeding them in order to preserve the species. To increase the chances of a successful spawning, these fish should be bred in groups and kept in a breeding tank decorated with plenty of live plants. Gestation for this species may take anywhere between 55 and 60 days, after which time between 5 to 20 large, fully-developed fry will be born.