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Rainbow Characodon

Characodon lateralis

Freshwater Central America Usually captive bred

The Rainbow Characodon is an extraordinary, critically endangered Mexican livebearer with males displaying vivid red-orange and iridescent green hues. Males can be feisty and will readily nip long-finned tankmates. It needs cooler, hard water, abundant vegetative shelter, and vegetable-rich foods such as spirulina.

Also called: Rainbow characodon, Mezquital goodeid, Rainbow goodeid.

4.5 cm adult length, drawn to scale. deep body.

Try it in the planner Opens a tank sized to its minimum with 1 fish added.

What it needs

ItemValueBecause
Adult length 4.5 cm Used for the Space check: the tank must be long enough for the fish to turn round.
Smallest tank 60 L, at least 60 cm long estimated The least water and floor length this species is kept in for good, as a single fish or smallest group.
Extra water per added fish 6 L estimated What each further fish adds once the minimum is met.
Waste load Class 2 of 5 estimated How much waste an adult makes against its size. Feeds the Load check.
Temperature 18 to 24 C Stock sharing a tank need overlapping ranges.
pH 7 to 8.2 Compared with tankmates in the Water check.
Hardness GH 10 to 20, KH 6 to 14 Degrees of general and carbonate hardness.
Flow Low Low-flow fish are stressed in a strong current.
Light Moderate Matched to the lighting class on the needs sheet.
Group size Single fish is fine Not a schooling species.
Temperament Semi-aggressive Territorial: weak.
Swims in All levels Fish that use different levels share a tank more easily.
Lifespan About 4 years A fish is a long commitment.
Experience Some experience helps A guide to how forgiving the species is of mistakes.

Tags marked estimated are judged from the size and habits of the species rather than measured, so treat them as a sensible default.

Diet and tank layout

Rainbow Characodon is an herbivore that swims in all levels of the tank. It leaves most plants alone. Give it plenty of cover. It nips fins.

Tankmates

Works with

Depends

Avoid

Compare any two fish on the compatibility page, or print the equipment for a stock on the needs sheet. How this is worked out: the method.