Goodeids

[guppymonkey]

I have some goodeids from two different species the Split Fin Goodeid (Chapalichthys pardalis) and the Red Tail Goodeid (Xenotoca eiseni). I have heard from people that these are basically good community fish except in the case of cories (which I have I have learned of first hand). My goodeids are really bad fin nippers! I thought it was just the corydoras cats that I originally had with them but they nip at every fish that I have tried to keep in the tank with them. They have even taken bites out of the fins of my half beaks! I noticed it with both species of goodeids. My Xenotoca eiseni ripped the swords off a double sword guppy (they came in together and were being quarantined in the same tank and i thought it might happen) but then took the tail off one of my half beak fry! Luckily the tail has grown back mostly but I have found this kind of weird as I have read and heard from some people that they left alone other fish!

Has anyone else had temperment issues with goodeids?

 

[nmonks]

Can't speak from experience, but I do know that Xenotoca spp. have a reputation for being fin nippers. It varies; some specimens are fine, others persistent.

How long have the halfbeaks been in there? How big is the tank? My puffer does sometimes try to nip fins, but the halfbeaks and glassfish are both far too fast, and easily get out of the way. When first introduced there was the odd sign of damage, but the halfbeaks and glassfish have learned their lesson and now avoid the puffer. Possibly the same will happen in your tank. Does depend on the 'target' fish having space to swim away into, though.

Cheers,

Neale

 

[dwarfgourami]

That Langhammer article posted by neonplatys the other day specifically mentions the eiseni as a fish that puts people off keeping goodeids. The little I have seen of the splitfin (gluing my nose to the glass at the Portsmouth aquarium) also seems to suggest a rather boisterous fish that I would not be putting in with my community. But I think Langhammer also listed some more gentle species.

 

[neon_platy]

by the way...i had green goodeids and crescent goodeids at different times in my 55 gallon with platys, swords, dannios, and had no problems at all...yeah Mr. Langhammer had it mentioned in the article and when I was getting my first set I was warned not to mix my goodeids with corys at all...I think the Xenotoca eisini is kinda rougher community fish and maybe should be kept more on it's own..