Is There A Goodeid Made Just For Me?

[dwarfgourami]

I am still looking into the rarer livebearers (no, the carpet man still hasn't been= no hope of the big tank before half term), and keep coming back to the goodeids. Problem is, I am not sure I can find a species that would be happy with me (or I with it). I am looking for a goodeid that:

*can cope with more or less tropical temperatures

Due to our erratic heating system, I cannot be sure of keeping constant low temperatures in the winter- we need to live too!. Most goodeids seem to like it cooler, but because our heater overreacts, I can't promise not to go over 20C in winter- and the summers can be quite hot too here.

*is not so aggressive it can never go in a community tank

or at least that can co-exist in ONE species tank without the males murdering each other

*is not enormous, preferably not over 3-4 inches

*is not extra, mega-sensitive to nitrates (I am good with water changes, but our Hampshire cows keep crapping)

It may be that Mother Nature has not yet seen fit to come up with a fish that answers to these specifications. Perhaps I'd be better off with a poeciliid? What do you reckon?

 

[neon_platy]

If you can get your hands on a Crescent Goodeid the Zoo. tequila one, I had those in my large tank at first, got along fine with my other fish and i had the temp well above 20 C and they did fine...I think it was when I moved them to their own tank and started changing too much water that i had probs with them...I would recommend to stay away from the Red Tailed one I think it's X eisini or something like that as they are quite the nippers as I have heard...My Green Goodeids, probably more sensative though, got along great with my other fish too, same thing with temps, even gave me babies, and weren't too big...if you do pick one or have one in mind let me know b/c i'd like to know how you're doing with them, etc.

 

[dwarfgourami]

If you can get your hands on a Crescent Goodeid the Zoo. tequila one, I had those in my large tank at first, got along fine with my other fish and i had the temp well above 20 C and they did fine...I think it was when I moved them to their own tank and started changing too much water that i had probs with them...I would recommend to stay away from the Red Tailed one I think it's X eisini or something like that as they are quite the nippers as I have heard...My Green Goodeids, probably more sensative though, got along great with my other fish too, same thing with temps, even gave me babies, and weren't too big...if you do pick one or have one in mind let me know b/c i'd like to know how you're doing with them, etc.

It's the temperature that puts me off the tequila, as I seem to have read that they need temperatures not above 22C and a cool resting period in the winter- which makes them no-go for my community tank-in-spe. Otherwise, they would be the ones I'd have my eye on. Maybe I could contact a breeder and see what they thought.

The rainbow (characodon lateralis) are probably too aggressive for what I had in mind.

The Ataenobius toweri (blue-tailed goodeid) are better in the temperature respect, and said to be non-aggressive, but are on the large side and said to be mega-sensitive to nitrates.

The eiseni- no, not going there. Haven't got the space.

 

[neon_platy]

ok im gonna have more time soon at work and I will do some research for you...may be impossible due to temp requirements, but i want to see if i can find some for you anyway... in the meantime have you decided on anything else rare like your other post from few weeks ago??

Brian

 

[dwarfgourami]

Well, it's all very slow atm as I can't get my new tank set up until the floor people have been and done the livingroom, and we're having difficulties finding a reliable firm, and then it will be halfterm and we're going away, so won't be able to start cycling until June...oh, I hate it when real life gets in the way of my fishkeeping!

Have been doing a lot of googling, and think the goodeid that might eventually suit me best would be the blue-tailed, Ateaenobius toweri; various websites suggest it is nowhere near as big as stated in Baensch, more like a 2 inch than a 4 inch fish. But I'd have to find a breeder. 1 May I join the British Livebearer Association! Have been reading their trade page.

Two poeciliids listed on the BLA trade page really appeal- the neoheterandria elegans and the phallichthys tico. They seem to have everything I look for: small (I like small fish!), visually attractive, little known, peaceful. I would do a species tank for the neoheterandria if I could find someone to sell it to me. f I can;t get those, I think I will order some blue limias from Trimar. But first I must have my big tank set up, for the big reshuffle to start. I'll keep you updated!