Aquarist Species:  Xenotaca lyonsi

Aquarist: James

Species Profile: Xenotoca lyonsi

Common Name:   Coahuayana Splitfin

Description:   The Coahuayana Splitfin is native to the Upper Rio Coahuayana basin and Rio Tamazula drainage in Mexico. It is a livebearer inhabiting streams and rivers. It prefers warm, hard, slow moving water and is an omnivore feeding primarily on algae and detritus, along with some invertebrates.

Category:   Livebearers

Global Region:   North America

Distribution:   Rio Tamazula

CARES Classification:   Critically Endangered

Aquarist Notes

Collection Point:   Rio Tamazula

Genetic Line:   Aquarium Strain

Year Acquired:   2025

Acquired from Daves Rare Fish in late 2025, probably sourced from Select Aquatics.

Spawning notes:

Species Spawned:   Yes

Densely planted 100g tank (60x18x18) with large rocks, sand, and small pieces of oak limbs & bogwood. Aeration with two large sponge filters. Females ALWAYS pregnant and they drop batches of 5 or more fry every few weeks in spring with cooler but warming temps. Fed on spirulina flake, Repashy Omnivore gel mix, and frozen daphnia. Live fleas & mosquito larvae taken heartily when available. Kept with breeding group of Rio Helleri swordtails and the Xenotaca vastly outbreed them.

Have Reared Fry?   Yes

Young fish available?   Yes