TankBud

Spotted skiffia

Skiffia multipunctata

Also known as Spotted goodeid, Spotted splitfin

FreshwaterFish

Spotted skiffia (Skiffia multipunctata)
Livebearerguy · CC BY-SA 4.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
68–79°F
20–26°C
pH
7.2–8.0
Adult size
2.4 in
6 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
Rare
Family
Goodeidae
Origin
Endemic to the Rio Lerma and Rio Grande de Santiago drainages in Jalisco and Michoacan, Mexico, in slow, vegetated waters.

Overview

The spotted skiffia is a goodeid livebearer for a planted group tank with hard water. It is best with a little experience.

Did you know

The spotted skiffia's black and orange vary a lot between individuals. Some males turn almost fully orange, while others stay heavily spotted.

Caring for the spotted skiffia

Keep six or more spotted skiffias in 16 gal (60 L) or larger. Give them a mature, well-planted tank with some floating cover and steady, clean filtration.

Keep the water medium hard to hard, at 68 to 79°F (20 to 26°C) and a pH of 7.2 to 8.0. Offer a vegetable-heavy diet of spirulina flake and blanched greens, with some frozen daphnia and brine shrimp. They spend much of the day grazing plants and surfaces for algae. They can nip fins, so keep robust tank mates or a species tank.

Males are slightly smaller than females and are marked with irregular black blotches. Many develop orange or yellow over the body and fins. They also have a notched andropodium rather than the rod-like gonopodium of guppies and mollies.

The spotted skiffia is a livebearer with modest broods, often 10 to 30 fry. Breeding is of medium difficulty.

Good to know

The spotted skiffia, Skiffia multipunctata, belongs to the family Goodeidae. Like its relatives, the female feeds her young internally through trophotaeniae, the family trademark.

In the wild

The spotted skiffia is endemic to the Rio Lerma and Rio Grande de Santiago drainages in Jalisco and Michoacan, Mexico. It lives in slow, vegetated waters.

Common questions

What size tank does a spotted skiffia need?

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

What temperature and pH does a spotted skiffia need?

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

What does a spotted skiffia eat?

A spotted skiffia eats a vegetable-heavy diet of spirulina flake and blanched greens, with some frozen daphnia and brine shrimp. It also grazes plants and surfaces for algae.

How big does a spotted skiffia get?

An adult spotted skiffia reaches about 2.4 in (6 cm).

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

Males are slightly smaller than females and marked with irregular black blotches, and many develop orange or yellow on the body and fins. They also have a notched andropodium.

How does a spotted skiffia breed?

Spotted skiffias are livebearers with modest broods, often 10 to 30 fry. Breeding them is of medium difficulty.

Related species