Rainbow goodeid
Characodon lateralis
Also known as Rainbow characodon, Rainbow splitfin
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 61–75°F
- 16–24°C
- pH
- 7.0–8.2
- Adult size
- 2.4 in
- 6 cm
- Minimum tank
- 15 gal
- 57 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Medium
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Goodeidae
- Origin
- Endemic to springs and small streams of the upper Rio Mezquital system in Durango, Mexico, in cool, clear, hard water.
Overview
Keep six or more, with extra females, in 57 liters or larger at 16 to 24 C, pH 7.0 to 8.2, in hard water. Feed small frozen and live foods like daphnia, cyclops, and brine shrimp plus some vegetable flake. Rival males spar and display, so give cover and floor space, and avoid warm water community tanks. Males reach about 4 to 5 cm, females about 6 cm.
In the wild
A small, jewel colored goodeid that likes cooler, very clean water than most tropicals. Males glow with blue to green flanks, red or orange fin edges, and a dark bar on the side. Keep a group in a planted tank with hard water and gentle flow, and keep the temperature on the cool side. Frequent water changes keep them healthy.
Good to know
Characodon lateralis is one of the northernmost goodeids and is considered endangered as its Durango spring habitats shrink. Females carry young for around 55 days, feeding them internally through trophotaeniae, and give birth to roughly 5 to 20 large fry. Males court with an andropodium rather than a gonopodium.
Did you know
Different Durango spring populations vary in color, so hobbyists keep them as separate location forms to preserve that local variation.
Common questions
What size tank does a Rainbow goodeid need?
A Rainbow goodeid needs at least 15 gal (57 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a Rainbow goodeid need?
A Rainbow goodeid is comfortable at 61–75°F (16–24°C) with a pH of 7.0–8.2.
How big does a Rainbow goodeid get?
An adult Rainbow goodeid reaches about 2.4 in (6 cm).
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