BEAN, 1888

Characodon bilineatus BEAN, 1888
Skiffia bilineata MEEK, 1902
Goodea bilineata REGAN, 1907
Neotoca bilineata HUBBS & TURNER, 1937

English name:
Elfin Goodea

Family:
Goodeidae JORDAN, 1923.

Subfamily:
Goodeinae JORDAN, 1923.

Original description:
BEAN, T. H. (1887): Descriptions of five new species of fishes sent by Prof. A. Dugès from the province of Guanajuato, Mexico. Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., 10: pp. 370-375.

Origin of the species name:
The name bilineata (lat.) refers to the two vertical lines on the body of the females.

Type locality:
Not known.

Meristic properties:
Dorsal fin = 13 - 16 rays;
Anal fin = 16 rays.
 

In their natural environment these Goodeids are found only in rivers with slow currents, in ponds and close to lakesides. These biotopes are murky and covered with lots of algae. The culture of this species is easy Aquariums of 50 liters or larger decorated with plants, stone constructions and roots should be used.

Being a shoal-fish, Skiffia bilineata should always be kept in groups of at least 10 fish. It is possible to keep this species in a community tank. The males of this species perform ranking fights without injuring themselves. Once a ranking order is established, it remains stable for a long time. The highest-ranking male can be recognized by its very intense colour.

Water parameters are not of vital importance; nonetheless, the water should be hard with a pH value between 7 and 9. The water temperature should be kept between 21 °C and 24 °C. Skiffia bilineata will cope with temperatures down to 15 °C for some time. If these fish are kept too warm (26 - 28 °C) they will be prone to disease and might fall ill with fish tuberculosis. Fluctuating day and night temperatures (and especially temperatures with seasonal fluctuations) are good for Skiffia bilineata and promote long lasting vitality. Regular water change should be carried out. The food demands of Skiffia bilineata are modest and they will accept flakes, frozen and live food of all kinds. A vegetable portion should be included in the diet and this can be scalded spinach. Any algae should be left in the aquarium as an additional source of food. Breeding succeeds without much assistance. One spawn consists of about 10 fry which can be 8-15 mm long. This large size means raising the fry is relatively easy. The older fish do not chase their young in well-planted aquariums.

Literature of:

Skiffia bilineata (Bean, 1887)

T. H.  Bean (1887) : Description of five new species of fishes sent by prof A. Dugés from the province of Guanajuato, Mexico. Proceedings US Nat. Museum  (10): 370-375

O. Böhm (0) : Quelques espèces intéressantes de la familie des Goodéidés. Aquarama  (): 13-16

O. Böhm (1985) : Het Mexicaanse hoogland; leefgebied van de Goodeidae. TI'H  (41): 9-11

D. Bork (1994) : Shocktod bei Goodeiden?. DGLZ-Rundschau  (1): 10-10

I. Dibble (1999) : Hobbyist Aqua Lab Conservation Group "Mexico" Dagboek over de voortgang Deel 1. Poecilia Nieuws  (5): 105-110

I. Dibble (2000) : Fish Ark Project - Mexico. Viviparous  (48): 5-10

N. Dokoupil (1989) : Der Zweilinienkärpfling Skiffia bilineata (Bean, 1887). Das Aquarium  (Februar): 83-85

R.C.  Griffiths (1995) : The elfin goodeid. Livebearers  (139): 18-18

H. Hieronimus (1990) : Zu einigen Fragen der Erstbeschreiber im Buch "Lebendgebärende Zierfische von Meyer, Wischnath & Förster. DGLZ-Rundschau  (3): 21-22

H. Hieronimus (1992) : Skiffia multipunctata, ein Anfängerfisch?. DGLZ-Rundschau  (3): 52-54

H. Hieronimus (1993) : Biochemische Systematik der Goodeiden. DGLZ-Rundschau  (3): 63-63

M. Holly, H. Meinken & A. Rachow (0) : Neotoca bilineata (T.H. Bean).   (): 976-977

C.L.  Hubbs (1924) : Studies of the fishes of the order Cyprinodontes V. Notes on species of Goodea and Skiffia. Occasional papers of the museum of zoology University of Michigan  (148): 1-8

K. de Jong (1986) : Een kleinere hooglandkarper, Skiffia bilineata (BEAN, 1887). Poecilia Nieuws  (6): 74-76

K. de Jong (1988) : Een kleinere en goed houdbare hooglandkarper. Het Aquarium (11): 278-279

D.I.  Kingston (1978) : Skiffia francesae, a new species of goodeid fish from western Mexico. Copeia  (3): 503-508

B. Kohler (2002) : My favorite Goodeid - Skiffia bilineata. Livebearers  (174): 16-19

D. Lambert (0) : The sawfin Goodeids. Viviparous  (11): 0-6

D. Lambert (1990) : Skiffia multipunctata (Pellegrin, 1901). Poecilia Nieuws  (5): 80-81

D. Lambert (1991) : Het geslacht Skiffia. Poecilia Nieuws  (4): 65-70

F. Mayer (1988) : Neotoca bilineata, a different livebearer. Livebearers  (101): 16-17

F. Mayer (1991) : Neotoca bilineata, a different kind of livebearer. Livebearers  (119): 16-17

E. Meinema (1989) : Skiffia bilineata Bean, 1887. Poecilia Nieuws  (3): 45-48

E. Meinema (1990) : Kleine hooglandkarpers. Het Aquarium  (9): 209-212

G. Mendoza (1940) : The reproductive cycle in the viviparous Teleost, Neotoca bilineata, a member of the family Goodeidae. Biological Bulletin  (3): 349-365

J. de Moree (1999) : De Skiffia's. Poecilia Nieuws  (5): 102-105

A.C.  Radda (1986) : Cyprinodonte vissen in Mexico (slot). Poecilia Nieuws  (4): 54-57

M. Schadle (1984) : The livebearer letters - IV More random ideas and techniques for the livebearer keeper. Livebearers  (75): 14-15

S. Schröder (1989) : Skiffia bilineata (Bean, 1887) - Erfahrungen mit Höhen und Tiefen. ZAG Lebendgebärende Zahnkarpfen  (4): 9-10

S. Schröder (1990) : Erfahrungen mit zwei Hochlandkärpflingen. ZAG Lebendgebärende Zahnkarpfen  (4): 3-4

P. Schubert (1988) : Eine mögliche Ursache für Totgeburten bei Goodeiden. DGLZ-Rundschau  (4): 17-18

P. Schubert (1989) : Interessant und nicht farblos: Goodeiden 1. Aquarien Terrarien  (10): 333-337

P. Schubert (1990) : Gedanken zur Vergesellschaftung von Goodeiden. DGLZ-Rundschau  (1): 18-22

P. Schubert (1991) : Traum und Trauma - Hoffnung und Ende bei Skiffia bilineata. DGLZ-Rundschau  (4): 90-91

P. Schubert (1992) : Wurfhilfen bei Goodeiden und anderen lebendgebärenden Fischen. DGLZ-Rundschau  (4): 88-89

M. Siebelink (1986) : Nakweek nieuwe soorten. Poecilia Nieuws  (2): 23-24

E. Soto-Galera et al (1998) : Fish as indicators of environmental quality in the Río Lerma Basin, México. Aquatic Ecosystem Health and Management  (1): 267-276

E. Soto-Galera et al (1999) : Change in fish fauna as indication of aquatic ecosystem condition in Río Grande de Morelia - Lago de Cuitzeo Basin, Mexico. Environmental Management  (1): 133-140

L. Wischnath (1996) : Hooglandkarpers uit Mexico. Het Aquarium  (2): 32-36