Common name/s: Butterfly Goodeid, Ameca

Scientific name: Ameca Splendens

Family: Goodeidae

Origin: Rio Ameca and Rio Teuchitlan in Mexico and Central America

Maximum size: 3.25 in (8 cm)

Care: Minimum tank size is 20 US gallons (about 76l). They prefer temperatures in the 75-80F (24-27C). They are peaceful and are suitable for community settings. PH should be 7-8.

Feeding: Omnivorous. Prefers live food. They will eat flakes but they seem to be happier and more active when fed live (or at least frozen) foods such as Bloodworms and Brine Shrimp.

Breeding: Males will have a yellow band on the tail, a dark horizontal stripe running the length of the body, and the anal fin will look like an upside down mitten with the "thumb" sticking up.

Females will have no bands on the tail, a round anal fin, and the body is silver with a black spots that give it a "marbled" appearance.

Gestation can take between 1-2 months. Fry are born a little less than 1 inch (about 2 cm) and will have a small 6mm umbilical cord still attached. The fry are born large enough to take flake food and can be left with the parents as the parents don't harass the fry.


Comments: Very active and "acrobatic" fish. The name "butterfly" comes from the male's dark band on the tail.

Have read claims that they can be fin-nippers and more in particular that they can take a dislike to corys.