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No federal permit to keepMetallic livebearer
Girardinus metallicus
Fishes › Killifish and livebearers (Cyprinodontiformes) › Poeciliidae (Livebearers)
Girardinus metallicus, sometimes known as the metallic topminnow or metallic livebearer, is a species of fish from the family of the Poeciliidae. G. metallicus females grow to 7.9 cm in standard length, while males reach 4.5 cm.
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 2.0 in / 5 cm).
- Water: Freshwater.
- Temperature: 72–77°F (range recorded for this species).
- pH: 6–8.
- Hardness: 9–19 dGH.
- Layout: Lives on or near the bottom: floor space and hiding places matter more than height.
- Diet: Eats a varied diet: mix quality prepared foods with frozen and live foods. FishBase classes it as a omnivore.
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 18 × 12 in (roughly 11 US gallons); space needed is rated “modest tank”.
- Water: a fairly wide range, from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline, 72–81 °F, pH 6.5–8, 8–20 dGH.
- Behaviour: temperament peaceful.
- Difficulty: Beginner (Seriously Fish rating).
Short excerpts from the species profile:
- Setup: “A well-planted tank with some floating cover is ideal for this species.”
- Diet: “Omnivorous and the diet should include small frozen, live and dried foods with a high vegetable content.”
- Tankmates: “Peaceful but does appreciate brackish conditions, so tankmates should be chosen with care.”
- Breeding: “Very easy if soft, acidic water conditions are avoided.”
From the Seriously Fish profile for this species, which has the full habitat, maintenance, diet, behaviour and breeding write-up 167
Livebearers (guppies, mollies, platies and swordtails)
Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: Warm streams, ponds and brackish waters. Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.
Housing & setup
- Planted tanks with gentle flow; mollies appreciate harder, slightly brackish water.
Diet
- Flake foods with plant matter, plus live or frozen foods.
Social life
- Peaceful community fish; keep more females than males.
Health watch
- They breed constantly; plan for fry or keep single-sex groups.
Understanding the animal
About this animal
About this animal
The species is polymorphous: some males are colorless, while others have pronounced black or yellow coloring on their undersides.
Quoted from the Wikipedia article “Girardinus metallicus” (CC BY-SA 4.0) 174
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, in rivers and streams, lakes. Stays near the bottom. Inhabits ponds, lakes and streams. Prefers clear, stagnant or very sluggish water. Feeds on diatoms, algae, detritus, insect larvae and aquatic vegetation. |
| Water it lives in | Freshwater, 72–77 °F (22–25 °C), pH 6–8, hardness 9–19 dH. |
| Climate | Tropical climate. |
What this means for care
- Keep water within its wild range, 72–77 °F.
Native climate (measured)
Native climate (measured)
| Warm-season highs | about 89°F (up to 90°F in the hottest sampled areas) |
| Cool-season lows | about 63°F (down to 61°F in the coldest sampled areas) |
| Average temperature | 76–78°F across sampled records |
| Relative humidity | 77–80% on average (driest month about 73%) |
| Rainfall | about 1394 mm a year |
Measured at 31 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.
| Overview | Girardinus metallicus, sometimes known as the metallic topminnow or metallic livebearer, is a species of fish from the family of the Poeciliidae. G. metallicus females grow to 7.9 cm in standard length, while males reach 4.5 cm. The species is polymorphous: some males are colorless, while others have pronounced black or yellow coloring on their undersides. All three morphs occur together in nature. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| 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 |
| Biology | Inhabits ponds, lakes and streams. Prefers clear, stagnant or very sluggish water. Feeds on diatoms, algae, detritus, insect larvae and aquatic vegetation. — 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.
Minimum tank footprint
Seriously Fish recommends a tank base of at least 18 × 12 in (about 11 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.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Management of aquarium fish Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Types and features of aquatic systems Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Nutritional diseases of fish Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Wikipedia (species article) Community referenceFree encyclopedia; useful overviews with their own citations. Intro text is quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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