Pittier's Livebearer (Phallichthys pittieri) Care Guide
Phallichthys pittieri is a Central American livebearer of the family Poeciliidae, now treated as the orange-dorsal form of Phallichthys amates from Atlantic Costa Rica and Panama.
Overview
Phallichthys pittieri is a small Central American livebearer of the family Poeciliidae. GBIF treats it as Phallichthys amates pittieri (Meek, 1912), the orange-dorsal form distinguished by an orange band along the dorsal-fin edge. FishBase records the species (as Phallichthys amates) to about 7 cm standard length in males and 6 cm in females.
Taxonomy
- Family: Poeciliidae
- Genus: Phallichthys
- Scientific name: Phallichthys pittieri
- Accepted name (GBIF): Phallichthys amates pittieri (Meek, 1912)
Habitat
FishBase records Phallichthys amates from Atlantic drainages of Central America, from southern Guatemala to Costa Rica and Panama; the pittieri form is associated with this region. It is a freshwater, demersal fish of stagnant waters and river shorelines with soft substrates.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 80 L (21 gal)
- Temperature: 22-28 °C (72-82 °F)
- pH: 7.0-8.5
- GH: 10-25 °dGH
- Lifespan: 3-5 years
- Setup: gentle flow with planted cover
Diet
The species is an omnivore. FishBase records feeding on ooze, detritus, diatoms and occasionally filamentous algae and aquatic insects. In captivity it accepts standard prepared foods supplemented with small live or frozen items.
Compatibility
Phallichthys is a peaceful mid-water swimmer suited to community tanks with other small, calm livebearers and similar species. It should not be housed with aggressive or much larger fish.
Breeding
The species is a livebearer. FishBase records broods of 10-80 young after about a 28-day gestation, with females producing successive broods. As with other poeciliids, fertilisation is internal and the young are born free-swimming.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 2019) for Phallichthys amates, per FishBase.