Rainbow Goodeid

COMMON NAME: Rainbow Goodeid.

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Characodon lateralis.

SYNONYM: Characodon garmani.

DESIGNATION: Tropical.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION: AroundDurango in Mexico.

SIZE: Males approximately 5 cm (c. 2 in),females around 6.5 cm (c. 2.5 in).

WATER PREFERENCES: Not critical butalkaline, medium-hard water kept at about24°C (75°F) has proved quite satisfactory.

DIET: Will eat a range of foods including plantmaterial.

BREEDING: This is a 'reluctant' species,producing relatively small numbers of fry,usually less than 15.

DESCRIPTION: Characodonlateralis is one of the most beautiful Goodeidspecies known. It is quite abundant in somelocalities around Durango while, in others, itis rare and considered threatened. Virtuallyall the stocks available today are the result ofcaptive breeding programmes carried out bymembers of livebearer organisations inAmerica. West Germany and Britain.

A seem' Cikarocodon species, known forabout two years by the common name BlackPrince is attribcced to it by the Britishaquarin Ivan Dibble has now officially been named as Characodon mid.. Itsrequirements are similar to those of C.lateralis.