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Sicklefin livebearer

Girardinus falcatus

Also known as Goldbelly topminnow, Golden girardinus

FreshwaterFish

Sicklefin livebearer (Girardinus falcatus)

Care at a glance

Temperature
68–82°F
20–28°C
pH
7.0–8.0
Adult size
2.6 in
6.5 cm
Minimum tank
11 gal
40 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Top
Diet
Omnivore
Difficulty
Easy
Breeding
Livebearer · Easy
Rarity
Rare
Family
Poeciliidae
Origin
Endemic to Cuba, in ponds, lakes, ditches, and slow lowland streams with hard water.

Overview

The sicklefin livebearer is an easy, forgiving fish for the top of a hard-water community tank. It makes a good starting point for keepers new to wild livebearers.

Did you know

The sicklefin livebearer takes both its common name and its scientific name from the male's sickle-shaped gonopodium. The species name, falcatus, means sickle-shaped.

Caring for the sicklefin livebearer

Keep six or more sicklefin livebearers in a tank of 11 gal (40 L) or larger. A planted tank with some open surface space suits them. They hang near the surface in loose groups and dart for food.

Give them medium hard to hard water at 68 to 82°F (20 to 28°C) and a pH of 7.0 to 8.0. Feed a varied diet of flake, small frozen foods and some algae or vegetable matter. They also graze on algae and small invertebrates.

Sicklefin livebearers are generally peaceful, but they will nip long fins and eat very small fry. Choose their tank mates with that in mind.

Males have a strongly curved gonopodium that they use to fertilize the females, and they stay smaller, at around 4 cm. The species is hardy and breeds freely.

Good to know

The sicklefin livebearer, Girardinus falcatus, is a slim Cuban topminnow with a metallic gold belly stripe. It belongs to the livebearer family Poeciliidae.

In the wild

The sicklefin livebearer is endemic to Cuba. It lives in ponds, lakes, ditches and slow lowland streams with hard water.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The sicklefin livebearer is a mostly peaceful, social species that keeps to the top. 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 sicklefin livebearer need?

A sicklefin livebearer needs at least 11 gal (40 L). It spends most of its time in the top.

What temperature and pH does a sicklefin livebearer need?

A sicklefin livebearer is comfortable at 68–82°F (20–28°C) with a pH of 7.0–8.0.

What does a sicklefin livebearer eat?

A sicklefin livebearer eats a varied diet of flake, small frozen foods and some algae or vegetable matter. It also grazes on algae and small invertebrates.

How big does a sicklefin livebearer get?

An adult sicklefin livebearer reaches about 2.6 in (6.5 cm).

How can you tell a male sicklefin livebearer from a female?

Males have a strongly curved gonopodium, and they stay smaller than females, at around 4 cm.

How does a sicklefin livebearer breed?

A sicklefin livebearer is a hardy livebearer that breeds freely. The male fertilizes the female with his curved gonopodium, and the adults will eat very small fry.

Related species