Ameca splendens
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 Extinct in the wild (EW) |
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| Ameca splendens Miller & Fitzsimons, 1971 |
Ameca splendens, the Butterfly Goodeid or Butterfly Splitfin, is a fish that was formerly found throughout the Rio Ameca drainage in Mexico, but today is extinct in the wild. For some time, it was a popular fish among aquarists, but unfortunately hobbyist stocks have declined quite a lot more recently. Possibly, it exists in a wild state again, but in the USA, where apparently escaped or introduced individuals were met with in southeastern Nevada (Fuller, 2006).
As its common name implies it is indeed quite an attractive fish, and not hard to care for and breed if some basic conditions are fulfilled. A dominant mature male specimen will have a large dorsal fin which like the caudal fin is washed with black. A yellow band stretches along the caudal's back margin. The body of both sexes is ochre, with silvery sides and a brownish back, which in males usually have numerous glittering metallic scales, females having fine black dots on the sides instead and ochre fins. The fins of males intensify in color when they are excited, and depending on their mood, they can show more or less strongly a black band along the side.
Males can also be told apart from females because they have the anal fin's front part split off and transformed to a blunt, flexible andropodium used for mating. As usual in live-bearers, males are the smaller sex, reaching some 7-8 cm (3 in) total length at best, with females being able to grow up to 10 cm (4 in) TL under good conditions.
[edit] Care and breeding
The butterfly goodeid has an somewhat overblown reputation of being a fin nipper, but being a large and robust fish, it will certainly bully small and delicate species like guppies or small tetras. When housed with less tender species which require similar conditions it is a great fish for any tank type.
A. splendens thrive best in clean, well aerated water, at temperatures in the 70Fs (20-25°C) and neutral pH, with water hardness between 5 and 10 (dGH as well as kH). They do not tolerate overly low pH and too soft water well, and are not really suitable for rainforest species aquaria. Butterfly goodeids are strong swimmers and social fish; they like to be kept in groups of 3-5 males and 3-7 females in large tanks (200 l/50 gal and up) where they can grow to full size; in smaller tanks of 60 l (15 gal) and up they will stay smaller and less individuals or no other fish should be kept. They do not eat or uproot plants; although they will every now and then take a bite from leafy plants, their effect on plant growth is overall beneficial as they keep down algae and clean off detritus. Some floating plants such as Ceratopteris or Ceratophyllum will provide protection for young fry.
Butterfly goodeids are if anything rather voracious, they will happily eat most sorts of frozen, FD, flake or tablet food. They gladly take live prey up to the size of week-old guppy fry, but really need a healthy dose of plant material, ideally green algae, to thrive. They are, in fact, ideal algae-eaters for tanks with small, hard-water cichlids. If not enough algae are available, organic vegetables such as pieces of lettuce, chunks of frozen chopped spinach or a few mashed green peas are recommended additions to the diet and are nibbled with obvious delight.
Lighting should be strong, to encourage growth of algae; direct sunlight is ideal. In summer, they can be kept in outside tanks, basins or small ponds in temperate and warmer areas (they can tolerate overnight air temperatures of 15 °C (60F) well), but should be protected from birds, cats and other predators.
A. splendens will breed quite readily in the aquarium. The females give birth every 6 to 10 weeks according to the water temperature and the condition of the fish. The fry when born can be as large as 2-4 cm TL (0.8-1.6 in) as the females feed the unborn young via trophotaenia which have a similar function as the umbilical cord in humans. Fry do not need "baby" food such as artemia nauplia, though as in adults, plant food will increase growth and vitality.
[edit] References
- Contreras-Balderas, S. & Almada-Villela, P. (1996). Ameca splendens. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 29 November 2006.
- Fuller, Pam (2006): Ameca splendens. USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database. Gainesville, FL. Revision Date: 12/5/2003. Retrieved 2006-NOV-09.
- Tavares, Iggy (undated, 2005 or later): Give Ameca splendens a Try. (juvenile fish is here)
