Alternative species (click on the thumbnail to see the card)
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Names
Scientific name
Characodon lateralis
Common name
Rainbow Characodon
Rainbow goodeid
Red prince
Regenbogen-goodeide (DE)
Origin
Origin: Central America (Mexico)
Biotope: Non specific
Dimorphism
The male is smaller than the female but has more shimmering colors.
Group
Goodeidae
Volume
200 L / 44 Imp gal / 53 US gal
Parameters
T°: 22 to 26°C or 72 to 79°F
pH: 7 to 8
Hardness: greater than 20°dGH
Difficulty
Average
Size
Male: 4cm (1.6") / Female: 6cm (2.4")
Longevity
/
Living zone
Middle and depth
Individuals
10
Food
How to feed the Rainbow Characodon?
Food
How to feed the Rainbow Characodon?
This species is omnivorous and will therefore require a varied diet. It is a very greedy fish and its diet will not pose any particular problem: it easily accepts all types of food offered to it. However, there is a preference for live or frozen prey such as artemia or daphnia. On the vegetal side, his preference is for filamentous algae, spirulina or spinach.
Behavior
What kind of behavior does the Rainbow Characodon have?
Behavior
What kind of behavior does the Rainbow Characodon have?
This small fish is quite aggressive: quarrels and chases are frequent. They do not tolerate the presence of other species and are known to be fin nibblers.
Cohabitation
Who can live with the Rainbow Characodon?
Cohabitation
Who can live with the Rainbow Characodon?
To feel good, this fish needs the presence of many congeners. In an aquarium of 200 liters, start with a group of 10 to 20 specimens. It is moreover from 20 individuals that the natural behavior is fully manifested.
Given its character, it is not really the ideal candidate for a community aquarium. Maintenance in a specific tank is recommended.
Breeding
How to breed the Rainbow Characodon?
Breeding
How to breed the Rainbow Characodon?
The Characodon is a viviparous. This means that the eggs develop and hatch inside the female. The young fish are therefore born perfectly formed and already autonomous, which facilitates their survival, both in the wild and in aquariums.
Like many viviparous, this species is quite easy to breed. The births take place every 2 months for each female, with each time the birth of 5 to 20 small fish. The young are of good size (1 cm or 0.4") but this does not prevent the parents from eating them. You will have to isolate them if you want to breed them. Sexual maturity is reached at 5 months.
Fry food: Artemia nauplias but pass very quickly on the same food as the adults.
Its aquarium
Which aquarium for the Rainbow Characodon?
Its aquarium
Which aquarium for the Rainbow Characodon?
The presence of many plants reminiscent of their natural environment is imperative to the well-being of this species. Floating plants are necessary, such as Ceratophyllum, Java moss or Egerias. For the ground, choose a dark color that makes it safe for fish.
The water quality must remain optimal. For this, choose a filter with a flow rate of 3 times the volume of the tank per hour but do not create too strong a current in the aquarium (you can "break" the current by directing the filter's discharge rod towards a wall of the tank). Also make important water changes every week because this species does not tolerate nitrates.
Good To know
Find all additional information!
Good To know
Find all additional information!
The IUCN classifies this species as "Endangered" (EN), mainly because of its very restricted range (Durango in Mexico).
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