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Origin: Mexico, Rio San leonel, Rio Tamazula, Rio Grande de Santiago, and other locations in central America. Here the fish occur in mountainstreams but also in polluted canals.

Etymology: unk

Synonyms: Characodon eiseni, Xenotoca variata.

First European import: Germany, 1967, By K. Jacobs.

Description: See pictures.

Care: Hardy fish as long as it is kept in hard, slightly alkaline water that is well filtered(oxygen). Can be kept in community tanks, although it has been reported to nibble fins of other fish. The fish inhabit the lower and middle regions of a tank.

Temperature:15-32 degrees

Feeding:Omnivorous, all food is accepted including algae(soft plants also!)

Size:Males up to 6 cm, females up to 7 cm.

pH: 7.5-8.5

Breeding: Females will produce up to 60 fry every 2 months. The parents will eat the fry!!!The fry can be spawned again after two years.

Sexual dimorphism: Males much more colorfull, see pictures.

Prices:Netherlands unknown.

Additional: Can live up to 5 years.

Picture references:All pictures E. Naus

References:Baensch, H. A., Riehl, R.(1985): Aquarien Atlas II. Mergus Verlag, Melle, Germany.