Cardinal toothcarp

Care at a glance

Overview

Keep cardinal toothcarps in a group with several females for each male, since males court constantly and can pester a lone female. They are lively mid-water fish that are mostly peaceful with tankmates of their own size, but they will nip at slow or long-finned fish and may eat very small companions, so choose active tankmates that are not tiny. Feed a varied diet of good flake, small frozen foods such as bloodworm and daphnia, and let them graze the algae and tiny invertebrates that build up in the tank. Hard, slightly alkaline water suits them best. A tank of 60 liters or larger gives a small group room to move and display.

In the wild

This livebearer comes from the warm lowland streams and pools of Costa Rica and Panama, where it lives in flowing, mineral-rich water among plants and leaf litter. The water is warm and fairly hard, so aim for a temperature between 22 and 30 C and a pH from about 7 to 8. Recreate its home with a well-planted tank, some open swimming space, gentle to moderate flow and steady filtration. Clean, well-oxygenated water keeps them in good condition.

Good to know

Cardinal toothcarp belongs to the livebearer family Poeciliidae and is one of the Central American Brachyrhaphis species. Females are the larger sex and reach around 6 cm, while males stay smaller and slimmer. Like other members of the family, males carry a gonopodium, a modified anal fin used to fertilize females internally, and the female then gives birth to fully formed, free-swimming young rather than laying eggs. Broods are produced readily, and this is one of the easier livebearers to breed at home.

Common questions

Related species

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