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Redtail Splitfin

Xenotoca eiseni

Freshwater Central America Usually captive bred

A robust, deep-bodied goodeid livebearer whose mature males feature brilliant orange-red tail fins and humped backs. While hardy and prolific, they have a notorious tendency to nip long fins. House them either in a dedicated colony or alongside quick, robust tank mates in hard, cool water.

Also called: Redtail splitfin, Orangetail goody, Redear goodeid.

6 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 6 cm Used for the Space check: the tank must be long enough for the fish to turn round.
Smallest tank 80 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 10 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 25, KH 6 to 18 Degrees of general and carbonate hardness.
Flow Medium 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 Suits a first tank 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

Redtail Splitfin is an omnivore that swims in all levels of the tank. It leaves most plants alone. Give it some 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.