TankBud

Golden skiffia

Skiffia francesae

Also known as Golden goodeid, Tiro dorado

FreshwaterFish

Golden skiffia (Skiffia francesae)

Care at a glance

Temperature
68–79°F
20–26°C
pH
7.2–8.0
Adult size
2.2 in
5.5 cm
Minimum tank
16 gal
60 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Middle
Diet
Omnivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Livebearer · Medium
Rarity
Very rare
Family
Goodeidae
Origin
Endemic to the Rio Teuchitlan, a small tributary of the Rio Ameca in Jalisco, Mexico. Extinct in the wild.

Overview

The golden skiffia is a small, golden goodeid for a planted species tank with hard water. It is a step up from the easiest fish.

Did you know

The golden skiffia's 2022 reintroduction was one of the first times a fish extinct in the wild returned to its native river. The project released over a thousand captive-bred fish, descended from fish kept by aquarists.

Caring for the golden skiffia

Keep a group of six or more golden skiffias in 16 gal (60 L) or larger. A planted tank with gentle flow suits them.

Give them hard, alkaline water at 68 to 79°F (20 to 26°C) and a pH of 7.2 to 8.0. Feed a mostly vegetable diet of spirulina flake and blanched greens, with small frozen foods such as daphnia. They also graze algae and take small prepared and live foods.

Golden skiffias do best in a species tank or with other calm goodeids. Mature males take on a warm golden to bronze sheen. The golden skiffia is a livebearer, and breeding it is of medium difficulty. This is a conservation fish, so it is worth breeding carefully.

Good to know

The golden skiffia, Skiffia francesae, was declared extinct in the wild in the 1990s. It survived only in captivity, kept alive almost entirely by hobbyists and public aquariums. Like all goodeids, the female nourishes her young internally through trophotaeniae.

In the wild

The golden skiffia is endemic to the Rio Teuchitlan, a small tributary of the Rio Ameca in Jalisco, Mexico. Water extraction, pollution and invasive species degraded that home stream and wiped out the wild population.

Common questions

What size tank does a golden skiffia need?

A golden skiffia needs at least 16 gal (60 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a golden skiffia need?

A golden skiffia is comfortable at 68–79°F (20–26°C) with a pH of 7.2–8.0.

What does a golden skiffia eat?

A golden skiffia eats a mostly vegetable diet of spirulina flake and blanched greens, with small frozen foods such as daphnia. It also grazes algae.

How big does a golden skiffia get?

An adult golden skiffia reaches about 2.2 in (5.5 cm).

How can you tell a male golden skiffia from a female?

Mature males take on a warm golden to bronze sheen.

How does a golden skiffia breed?

Golden skiffias are livebearers, and breeding them is of medium difficulty. Breed them carefully, since this is a conservation fish.

Related species