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Fourspotted toothcarp

Phallichthys quadripunctatus

FreshwaterFish

Fourspotted toothcarp (Phallichthys quadripunctatus)

Care at a glance

Temperature
68–86°F
20–30°C
pH
7.0–8.0
Adult size
1.4 in
3.5 cm
Minimum tank
11 gal
40 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Easy
Breeding
Livebearer · Easy
Rarity
Very rare
Family
Poeciliidae
Origin
Costa Rica

Overview

The fourspotted toothcarp is a small, peaceful livebearer for a planted community tank. It is an easy fish to start with.

Did you know

A stable group of fourspotted toothcarps will quietly populate a planted tank on its own, since the young are born swimming. The fry hide in the plants, and many survive without any extra effort. That makes it a low-fuss species for anyone who wants to watch livebearer behavior over generations.

Caring for the fourspotted toothcarp

Keep fourspotted toothcarps as a small social group in 11 gal (40 L) or more. A planted tank with a gentle current, some root or wood cover and a soft substrate keeps them comfortable. The plants give cover to the adults and hiding spots to the fry.

The water can run from 68 to 86°F (20 to 30°C), which makes them forgiving. Keep it neutral to slightly alkaline, at a pH of 7.0 to 8.0. Feed a varied diet of flake and micro pellets, with occasional frozen brine shrimp or daphnia.

Fourspotted toothcarps are peaceful mid-water fish and do fine in a community of similarly calm species. Males have a gonopodium, a modified anal fin used to fertilize females internally. They bear live, fully formed young instead of laying eggs, and breeding comes easily.

Good to know

Phallichthys quadripunctatus belongs to the family Poeciliidae, the livebearer group that includes guppies and mollies. It is not considered threatened, though habitat damage and pollution can affect local populations.

In the wild

The fourspotted toothcarp comes from slow freshwater streams and rivers in Costa Rica. It usually lives in shallow stretches packed with plants and submerged roots, where the water is warm and runs neutral to slightly hard.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The fourspotted toothcarp is a peaceful, social species that keeps to the middle. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a fourspotted toothcarp need?

A fourspotted toothcarp needs at least 11 gal (40 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a fourspotted toothcarp need?

A fourspotted toothcarp is comfortable at 68–86°F (20–30°C) with a pH of 7.0–8.0.

What does a fourspotted toothcarp eat?

A fourspotted toothcarp eats a varied diet of flake and micro pellets. Give it occasional frozen brine shrimp or daphnia as well.

How big does a fourspotted toothcarp get?

An adult fourspotted toothcarp reaches about 1.4 in (3.5 cm).

How can you tell a male fourspotted toothcarp from a female?

Males have a gonopodium, a modified anal fin used to fertilize females internally.

How does a fourspotted toothcarp breed?

Fourspotted toothcarps bear live, fully formed young instead of laying eggs. Breeding them comes easily.

Related species