Easily bred livebearer, as a pair or a group in a heavily planted species tank. Females do not store sperm and must mate for each brood; the young are fed in the womb via trophotaeniae, are born large and eat adult foods at once. Parents rarely eat fry.
One male with 4-5 females.
Roomy planted tank with hard alkaline water, plus a spare tank for fry.
Cool-ish clean water and good feeding.
5-30 large fry (up to about 2 cm) per brood after 55-60 days.
Newborns are big; feed baby brine shrimp and crushed flake.
One breeding tank for the butterfly goodeid, drawn to scale from the breeding guide.
Water: 20–25 °C · pH 7–8 · hard water
A plan from the breeding guide and an adult size of 12 cm. Tank shape is a standard 2 : 1 : 1.2 box, at least 6 adult lengths long. Check each step in the guide above.
A 120 cm rack for breeding the butterfly goodeid in numbers.
In total: 3 tanks, about 405 L of water. A litre of water weighs about 1 kg, so check that the floor and rack can take the weight.
Sizes are worked out from the breeding tank in the guide. Tanks fit a standard 120 cm rack when they can; bigger tanks go on their own stands.
Males are smaller and more colourful, with reflective flank scales, a bigger dorsal fin, a broad yellow-orange and black band at the tail edge, and a notched anal fin (andropodium). Females are larger with a clear tail bearing a few short black lines.
Typical for livebearers
A dark 'gravid spot' grows behind the belly. Gestation is usually about 4 weeks.
Fry are born ready to swim. Thick plants or a breeding box keep them safe from adults.
Feed crushed flake, baby brine shrimp or microworms 3–5 times a day.
Males start to show color and a pointed anal fin. Separate them if you want to control lines.
Most livebearers are grown and can breed at about 3 months.
A general guide for this breeding type. Days change with temperature and species.
A dark 'gravid spot' grows behind the belly. Gestation is usually about 4 weeks.
Set up a virtual breeding tank and see what would likely happen.
An educational estimate from the breeding rules, not a promise.