This attractive species is a larger relative of the Phallichthys
Amates (Merry Widow). I acquired these fish as five
six week old fry at the D.G.L.Z. convention in Cadenberge
in September 1993 from Kees De Jong of Poecilia Netherlands.
These were first generation young from a 1992 collection.
Getting them home did not pose a problem as they were young
fish.
Like all fishes being brought from out with the U.K. and
indeed some parts of our own country one of the hardest
things is to change the fish over to your local water. Luckily
these did not cause a problem (as they were only fry) and
were eating within 24 hours of being re-homed in the trusty
old 7 x 5 x 5 show tank. The fact that they had been bagged
up for the best part of a week as the ferry was used on
this trip to Germany had no effect on them. This strain
from Cahuita grew very quickly on a diet of baby brine shrimp
fry food and a variety of fine frozen foods with 50% water
changes every day .The five young fish had to be put in
a bigger tank after about a month, 18 x 10 x 10, with a
good clump of java moss and a small air driven sponge filter.
Water changes were carried out at 20-25% twice weekly.
By the Spring of 1994 they were around 30-40 millimeters
in size and had sexed out into 3 males and 2 females .They
started producing fry around March / April. Only six babies
or so at first ,brood numbers increasing as the fish grew
with the biggest at around 75 / 80. It was usually around
30-35 days between broods .The fry were always removed and
placed in a largish show tank 10 x 8 x 8 and to receive
the same treatment as their parents had. This species is
best kept in a colony like a lot of livebearers. It shows
well because it travels well and it is reasonably easy to
get up to size. The fish is still in the hobby, though quite
scarce within the U.K.
The photo shows an adult male around 14 months old . It
is descended from the original five fry (2nd generation)
and went on to take a best in show around the show scene
during the 1995 season.
Information:
Distribution: Costa Rica (Cahuita) Northern
Panama.
Size: Male : 4.5cm. Female: 7.5cm.
Colour Pattern: Body colour beige / light brown
going into a blue grey as the males mature they get
black barring from behind the gill plates to the tail .
Fins almost colourless with faint pattern large dorsal yellow
at the base to centre clear almost to the top capped with
a black line along the edge. The gonopodium of the male
is very long and colourless Both sexes have the black mask
running through the eye similar to the merry widow.
Remarks: This is a shy peaceful species they are
not cannibalistic in my experience, as the norm with most
of my stock, I kept this fish in a species aquarium.
Family: Poeciliidae.
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