San Marco Goodied
San Marco Goodeid
San Marco Goodeid (Ameca splendens) is a striking Mexican livebearer from the Río Ameca drainage in Jalisco. Males have a shimmering olive-gold body flecked with metallic scales and a bright yellow band edging the black tail fin; females are plainer with dark spotting. This line traces back to the population near San Marcos, Jalisco. The species is extremely rare in the wild, making aquarium populations important for its conservation.
Goodeids are livebearers with a twist: the developing young are nourished through a placenta-like connection, so females give birth to fewer but much larger, well-developed fry. They are active, hardy fish that prefer moderately hard water and do not need high temperatures.
Keep them in a group with more females than males. They can be nippy toward long-finned fish, so pair them with robust tankmates such as platies, swordtails, danios, and barbs.
Feeding & Care Tip: Feed Sera Vipan Tropical Flakes as the daily staple with Hikari Mini Algae Wafers for plant matter, and add Hikari Frozen Baby Brine Shrimp or Hikari Frozen Daphnia a few times a week.
Care & Ideal Parameters
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Temperament | Active, can be nippy |
| Adult Size | Males ~2.5 in, females ~3.5 in |
| Group Size | Groups of 6+ |
| Minimum Tank Size | 30 gallons |
| Ideal Temperature | 68–79°F (20–26°C) |
| Ideal pH | 7.0–8.5 |
| Ideal GH | 10–25 dGH |
| Staple Food | Sera Vipan Tropical Flakes + Hikari Mini Algae Wafers |
| Treat / Supplement | Hikari Frozen Baby Brine Shrimp, Daphnia |
| Origin | Río Ameca drainage, Jalisco, Mexico |
| Notes | Gives birth to large, well-developed fry. Prefers hard water and cooler temperatures. May nip long fins. |
