Home / Fishes / Killifish and livebearers / Goldbreast splitfin
No federal permit to keepGoldbreast splitfin
Ilyodon furcidens
Fishes › Killifish and livebearers (Cyprinodontiformes) › Goodeidae (Goodeid livebearers and killifish)
Care follows the goodeid livebearers and killifish guide below.
Care at a glance
Species-specific aquarium care
- Tank: At least 24 in long and 12 in front to back for one adult (adults commonly reach about 2.8 in / 7 cm).
- Water: Freshwater.
- Temperature: 75–81°F (range recorded for this species).
- Layout: Lives on or near the bottom: floor space and hiding places matter more than height.
Calculated from this species' own FishBase record: tank size from its typical adult length and swimming zone, water values from its recorded ranges. The group guide below fills in general care.
Care guide
Species care notes
- Tank: a base of at least 30 × 12 in (roughly 18 US gallons); space needed is rated “modest tank”.
- Water: a fairly wide range, from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline, 64–75 °F, pH 7–8, 10–20 dGH.
- Behaviour: temperament peaceful.
- Difficulty: Easy (Seriously Fish rating).
Short excerpts from the species profile:
- Setup: “A planted aquarium with some floating cover and a scattering of smooth rocks is ideal for I.”
- Diet: “Omnivorous and unfussy they will accept most foods offered.”
- Tankmates: “A peaceful fish and can be kept in a community tank provided the other species can cope with the lower temperatures required.”
From the Seriously Fish profile for this species, which has the full habitat, maintenance, diet, behaviour and breeding write-up 167
Goodeid livebearers and killifish
Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: Goodeids occupy freshwater springs and their outflows, including Mexican splitfin habitats and isolated Nevada poolfish springs. Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.
Housing & setup
- For Ameca splendens, provide at least 250 litres (66 US gallons); for Empetrichthys latos, at least 150 litres (40 US gallons), favouring broad tanks over height.
- Provide roots, rocks and dense vegetation patches that interrupt sightlines while leaving swimming space.
- Provide moderate to swift circulation; Ameca requires strongly oxygenated water, with the working group recommending at least 8 mg/L dissolved oxygen.
- The working group recommends weekly 60–80% water changes for these spring-associated species; match replacement chemistry and temperature carefully.
- Keep species and documented populations separately to preserve conservation stock identity.
Diet
- Algae and aufwuchs, especially for Ameca
- Vegetable supplements and plant-rich foods for Ameca
- Quality flakes, granules or tablets
- Artemia
- Daphnia or mysids, particularly for Empetrichthys
Social life
- Maintain breeding colonies with cover and room for subordinates; Ameca males can fight and nip other fishes. Fry are often tolerated when shelter and feeding are adequate.
Health watch
- Reduced disease resistance and accelerated ageing in Ameca kept persistently warm with inadequate water renewal
- Aggression-related fin damage
- General aquarium-fish water-quality disease and malnutrition; family-specific prevalence is not established
Understanding the animal
In the wild
In the wild
From this species’ own FishBase record (habitat, bottom type, water and breeding data), not its family. Good care copies these conditions.1
| Where it lives | Lives in freshwater. Stays near the bottom. |
| Water it lives in | Freshwater, 75–81 °F (24–27 °C). |
| Climate | Tropical climate. |
What this means for care
- Keep water within its wild range, 75–81 °F.
Native climate (measured)
Native climate (measured)
| Warm-season highs | about 91°F (up to 95°F in the hottest sampled areas) |
| Cool-season lows | about 48°F (down to 40°F in the coldest sampled areas) |
| Average temperature | 63–79°F across sampled records |
| Relative humidity | 61–68% on average (driest month about 49%) |
| Rainfall | about 932 mm a year, with strong wet and dry seasons |
Measured at 32 wild occurrence records sampled against WorldClim 2.1 climate data (1970–2000 averages). Air conditions in the range are ecological context, not enclosure settings: microhabitats such as burrows, leaf litter or basking rocks can be cooler, warmer or more humid.
From the sources
From the sources
Quoted from the matching sections of reputable sources for this exact species. Specialist databases are used first; Wikipedia (community-edited, CC BY-SA 4.0) only fills gaps. Other sources are short credited quotes.
| Where it lives | Home ranges Population dynamics Growth parameters Max. ages / sizes Length-weight rel. Length-frequencies Mass conversion Recruitment Abundance Life cycle Reproduction Maturity Maturity/Gills rel. — FishBase |
Data and studies
The numbers
The numbers
Each bar is what one source reports. Where several sources weigh in, the dashed gold band marks their average.
Adult length
Maximum recorded length. Measured as total length. Fish in home aquariums often stay smaller than wild records.
Water temperature
Range the species tolerates in nature; aim for the middle.
pH
Water hardness
Minimum tank footprint
Seriously Fish recommends a tank base of at least 30 × 12 in (about 18 US gallons).
Sources for this sheet
- FishBase (Froese & Pauly, eds.), version 24.07 Peer-reviewed researchThe global scientific database on fishes, maintained by a consortium of research institutions; every value is referenced.
- Seriously Fish species profiles Experienced keeper or breederLong-running aquarium reference written and peer-checked by experienced fishkeepers and ichthyologists; each profile covers habitat, tank size, water, diet, behaviour and breeding.
- Goodeid Working Group: Ameca splendens Experienced keeper or breederAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Goodeid Working Group: Empetrichthys latos Experienced keeper or breederAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Goodeid Working Group: Objectives Experienced keeper or breederAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Disorders and Diseases of Fish Zoo, university or veterinaryAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
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