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
Swim level: Middle
Difficulty: Easy
Breeding: Easy
Rarity: Rare
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.
Family: Goodeidae

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.