Tequila splitfin
Zoogoneticus tequila
Also known as Tequila goodeid, Tequila fish
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 68–79°F
- 20–26°C
- pH
- 7.0–8.0
- Adult size
- 2.6 in
- 6.5 cm
- Minimum tank
- 20 gal
- 75 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Middle
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Livebearer · Easy
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Goodeidae
- Origin
- Endemic to the Rio Teuchitlan in the Ameca basin of Jalisco, Mexico, historically near the Tequila volcano, in spring fed pools.
Overview
The Tequila splitfin is a small, dark goodeid for a calm, well-planted group tank. It suits a keeper with a little experience.
Did you know
The Tequila splitfin returned to its native spring in the late 2010s, through a captive breeding and reintroduction project. A Mexican university and Chester Zoo led the work. It is one of the few fish brought back from extinction in the wild.
Caring for the Tequila splitfin
Keep six or more Tequila splitfins in 20 gal (75 L) or larger. Give them a well-planted tank with gentle flow.
Keep the water hard, alkaline, stable and clean, at 68 to 79°F (20 to 26°C) and a pH of 7.0 to 8.0. Feed small frozen and live foods such as daphnia and cyclops, plus a vegetable-based flake. They also graze algae.
Tequila splitfins are peaceful for a goodeid. Keep them with other calm goodeids or in a species tank, since fin nippers and boisterous fish stress them.
Mature males show a bright orange to red crescent at the edge of the tail, and they stay a little smaller than females. The Tequila splitfin is a livebearer that produces small broods of large fry. Breeding is easy.
Good to know
The Tequila splitfin, Zoogoneticus tequila, was thought extinct in the wild after its tiny range collapsed. Then a remnant population was found surviving in a single spring pool. It remains critically endangered. The mother feeds her developing embryos internally through trophotaeniae.
In the wild
The Tequila splitfin is endemic to the Rio Teuchitlan in the Ameca basin of Jalisco, Mexico. Historically it lived near the Tequila volcano, in spring-fed pools.
Common questions
What size tank does a Tequila splitfin need?
A Tequila splitfin needs at least 20 gal (75 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a Tequila splitfin need?
A Tequila splitfin is comfortable at 68–79°F (20–26°C) with a pH of 7.0–8.0.
What does a Tequila splitfin eat?
A Tequila splitfin eats small frozen and live foods such as daphnia and cyclops, plus a vegetable-based flake. It also grazes algae.
How big does a Tequila splitfin get?
An adult Tequila splitfin reaches about 2.6 in (6.5 cm).
How can you tell a male Tequila splitfin from a female?
Males stay a little smaller than females. Mature males show a bright orange to red crescent at the edge of the tail.
How does a Tequila splitfin breed?
Tequila splitfins are livebearers and easy to breed. A female produces small broods of large fry.
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