Rauchenberger, 1988
This is the latest member of the genus Allodontichthys to be described, having been described by Dr. M. Rauchenberger in “COPEIA 1988 (2):433-441, though it was previously discussed as early as 1981 by J. M. Fitzsimons. The species names means “many scales” and is in reference to its smaller, more numerous scales. An unfortunate combination of generic and specific names, if translated, would make this a difficult fish name to pronounce, though it may be well described: the fish with the different teeth with many scales. Very specific but lacking in poetry.
The Orange Darter Goodeid is the northern most member of the genus, being found in the upper reaches of the Rio Ameca basin, Jalisco, Mexico. It was originally found with Allotoca goslinei and Ameca splendens. Other goodeids of the genus Skiffia were apparently also found at the original time of collection.
It attains a length of 4.5 cm for males, while the females grow slightly larger, to 5 cm. The other members of the genus have numerous bands on the flanks, this species has fewer bands in number, somewhere between eight and eleven vertical bars. In larger males, the distinct barring pattern is often obscured by a general dark coloration.
Gestation is typically long, somewhere between 55 and 60 days depending upon the temperature and possibly the maturity of the fish. They do not drop a lot of young like swordtails and mollies. My first and only brood so far produced ten young, while the largest brood to date is eleven. Only time will test the total capability of females to produce larger litters.
The young are typically self sufficient upon birth, but care should be taken to provide them with sufficient surface cover and food--I provide mops, floating plastic plants and a lot of rocks for hiding, and fed a lot of baby brine shrimp in an algae coated 50 gallon tank. Repetitive, and that meant twice to three times a day, feedings of baby brine shrimp and vegetable matter provide rapid growth for the babies. While female mollies and swordtails of the same approximate size would drop much larger broods, the reproductive nature of the goodeids do not allow generally for large broods, instead, relying on size at birth to make up for larger detrimental factors that a larger brood, but smaller sized fry might find
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