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No federal permit to keepOrange dwarf toothcarp
Neoheterandria elegans
Fishes › Killifish and livebearers (Cyprinodontiformes) › Poeciliidae (Livebearers)
Neoheterandria elegans or Tiger Teddy is a small live-bearing fish within the family Poeciliidae.
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 0.8 in / 2 cm).
- Water: Freshwater.
- Temperature: 75–82°F (range recorded for this species).
- Layout: An open-water swimmer: needs long, open swimming space with few obstacles.
- Availability: Rarely or never seen in the aquarium trade; expect to source it from specialists or not at all.
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 12 × 8 in (roughly 3 US gallons); space needed is rated “any tank”.
- Water: a fairly wide range, from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline, 75–86 °F, pH 7–8, 5–25 dGH.
- Behaviour: temperament species tank; a shoaling fish best kept in a group of six or more; not a community fish.
- Difficulty: Moderate (Seriously Fish rating).
Short excerpts from the species profile:
- Setup: “A gently filtered, heavily-planted set-up suits is recommended, and exceptionally clean water is a prerequisite meaning weekly water changes of around 50% are required.”
- Diet: “Unfussy and omnivorous, it will accept most foods offered.”
- Tankmates: “Unsuitable for the general community aquarium due to its diminutive size.”
- Breeding: “The primary issue is that the fry are only 2 – 3 mm 0.1 in long and cannot eat microworms, freshly hatched Artemia and suchlike for the first few days.”
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
This is the same family that includes familiar aquarium fishes such as guppies and swordtails, although Neoheterandria elegans is not nearly as popular as an aquarium fish. The fish is found in the Truando River in Colombia.
Quoted from the Wikipedia article “Neoheterandria elegans” (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. |
| Water it lives in | Freshwater, 75–82 °F (24–28 °C). |
| Climate | Tropical climate. |
| Behavior to plan for | Breeding: internal live bearers. |
What this means for care
- Keep water within its wild range, 75–82 °F.
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 | Neoheterandria elegans or Tiger Teddy is a small live-bearing fish within the family Poeciliidae. This is the same family that includes familiar aquarium fishes such as guppies and swordtails, although Neoheterandria elegans is not nearly as popular as an aquarium fish. The fish is found in the Truando River in Colombia. Males grow to 2.0 cm and females grow to 2.5 cm. — 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 |
| Reproduction | One to two young are born at intervals of 2 to 4 days. — 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.
pH
Water hardness
Minimum tank footprint
Seriously Fish recommends a tank base of at least 12 × 8 in (about 3 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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