Blackfin goodea
Goodea atripinnis
Also known as Blackfin splitfin, Blackfin goodeid
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 61–79°F
- 16–26°C
- pH
- 7.2–8.2
- Adult size
- 7.1 in
- 18 cm
- Minimum tank
- 53 gal
- 200 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Breeding
- Easy
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Goodeidae
- Origin
- Widespread on the central Mexican plateau in the Rio Lerma and Rio Santiago basins and nearby lakes, in a range of still and slow moving waters.
Overview
This fish gets big, so give a group at least 200 liters with strong filtration at 16 to 26 C, pH 7.2 to 8.2, in hard water. Feed a mostly vegetable diet of spirulina, blanched greens, and vegetable pellets with occasional frozen foods. They are hardy and mostly peaceful but can nip fins and will eat very small tankmates, so choose sturdy companions. Expect fast growth and messy feeding that demands good maintenance.
In the wild
The largest commonly kept goodeid, a robust, deep bodied fish that needs a big tank with strong filtration. Adults are olive to grey with dark fins, and while not brightly colored they have real presence. They eat huge amounts of algae and plant matter in the wild. Hard, alkaline water and cool to moderate temperatures suit them.
Good to know
Goodea atripinnis is one of the most widespread and adaptable Mexican goodeids and can reach about 15 cm, occasionally more, large for the family. It is a matrotrophic livebearer, feeding young internally through trophotaeniae, and large females can carry big broods. Several former species are now treated as part of a variable G. atripinnis.
Did you know
Because it grazes so much plant material, Goodea atripinnis will strip soft aquarium plants, so keep it with tough plants like Anubias or Java fern or none at all.
Common questions
What size tank does a Blackfin goodea need?
A Blackfin goodea needs at least 53 gal (200 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a Blackfin goodea need?
A Blackfin goodea is comfortable at 61–79°F (16–26°C) with a pH of 7.2–8.2.
How big does a Blackfin goodea get?
An adult Blackfin goodea reaches about 7.1 in (18 cm).
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