HUBBS, 1924

Goodea atripinnis MEEK, 1908
Goodea captiva HUBBS, 1924
Xenoophorus captivus HUBBS & TURNER, 1937
Xenoophorus erro HUBBS & TURNER, 1937
Xenoophorus exsul HUBBS & TURNER, 1939

English name:
Green Goodeid

Family:
Goodeidae JORDAN, 1923.

Subfamily:
Goodeinae JORDAN, 1923.

Original description:
HUBBS, C. L. (1924): Studies of the Fishes of the Order Cyprinodontes.
5. Notes on the Species of Goodea and Skiffia.
Occ. Papers Mus. Zool. Univ. Mich., 148: pp. 1 - 8.

Origin of the species name:
captivus (lat). = captured.

Type locality:
In a lake nearby the Hacienda in Jesus Maria.

Meristic properties:
Dorsal fin = 12 - 14 rays,
Anal fin = 13 - 16 rays,
Pectoral fin = 14 rays.
 

In their natural environment these Goodeids live in calm water regions (e.g. side areas) that have a substrate mainly consisting of rocks and mud. Algae exist in large number in these places.

In contrast to Ataeniobius toweri, which has the same area of distribution, Xenoophorus captivus withstands lower temperatures. However, the species can also be kept and bred at permanently high temperatures between 22 °C and 24 °C. The water parameters play a less important role.

Xenoophorus captivus are Goodeids with broad backs whose males have a large dorsal fin like the males of Ameca and Chapalichthys. The males reach approximately 5 cm, the females approximately 6 cm in length. The fish are peaceful and can be kept in a community tank. The males establish a ranking order that is not very pronounced. The ranking fights do not lead to injuries.

The feeding of these fish is easy. Flakes, frozen and live food are accepted, but the diet should be vegetarian to some extent. So Xenoophorus captivus can also be fed with scalded spinach, and algae, which are an additional source of food, should be left in the aquarium.

Breeding is not difficult. After approximately 8 weeks about 15 young are delivered. The newborn fish can have a size of 10-15 mm they are not vigorously pursued by the older fish. Due to the size of the young fish after birth raising them does not cause any big problems.

The highest number of offspring known to me was 47 living fry in one litter, which were released over a period of three days.
Within Poecilia Nederland a project has been launched which concerns itself with the preservation of this species.
 

Literature of:

Xenoophorus captivus (Hubbs, 1924)

C. Aguilera (1995) : Universidad atonoma de Nuevo Leon - Programs for the endangered fish species of Mexico. Aquatic Survival  (3): 14-15

J.M.  Artigas Azas (1995) : Xenoophorus captivus - Inevitable extinction. Aquatic Survival  (3): 15-16

O. Böhm (1976) : Xenotoca eiseni und Xenoophorus captivus werden nur selten gepflegt. DATZ  (6): 182-184

J.C.  Clark (1996) : The green Goodeid Xenoophorus captivus. Livebearers  (142): 4-5

J. Clasen (1975) : Xenoophorus captivus, ein Hochlandkärpfling aus Mexiko. Das Aquarium  (5): 196-197

J. Dawes (1998) : Goodeiden Teil 3 (Schluß): Kurzbeschreibungen zu einigen Arten (2). Das Aquarium  (343): 8-11

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

G. Entlinger (1978) : Erst vier Jahre bei uns: Hochllandkärpflinge. Aquarien Magazin  (10): 480-483

J.M.  Fitzsimons (1979) : Status of the nominal species of the fish genus Xenoophorus from Mexico. Occasional Papers of the Museum of Zoology Louisiana State University  (51): 1-18

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

C.L.  Hubbs & C.L. Turner (1939) : Studies of the fishes of the order Cyprinodontes. XVI. A revision of the Goodeidae. Miscellaneaous Publications University of Michigan (42): 1-80

K. de Jong (1994) : Xenoophorus captivus (Hubbs, 1924). Poecilia Nieuws (3): 56-60

K. de Jong (2003) : Op zoek naar zwaarddragers Mexico 2002 (tweede deel). Poecilia Nieuws  (5): 70-82

K. de Jong (2004) : Auf der Suche nach den Schwertträgern Mexiko 2002 (Teil 2). Das Lebendgebärenden Magazin  (1): 5-17

P. Lambert (0) : Aquarian endangered species expedition. Viviparous  (21): 0-

P. Lambert (1992) : Endangered species expedition 1992. Livebearers  (123): 13-17

J.K.  Langhammer (1976) : The lost treasure of the Aztecs. Livebearers  (28): 2-5

H. Pinter (1991) : Der Rittterkärpfling - weder anspruchsvoll, noch unverträglich. TI  (107): 17-18

A.C.  Radda (1986) : De Goodeidae van Mexico; deel II. TI'H  (44): 11-14

A.C.  Radda (1986) : Cyprinodonte vissen in Mexico 3. Poecilia Nieuws  (2): 40-43

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

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

P. Schubert (1991) : Goodeiden im Pflanzenbecken - Helfen oder ...?. DGLZ-Rundschau  (1): 16-16

E.C.  Taylor (1984) : Hooglandkarpers (vervolg). Poecilia Nieuws  (3): 4-7

J. Vara (1986) : The green Goodeid. Livebearers  (88): 6-7

P.G.  Weiß (1978) : Ein neuer Goodeidae aus dem mexikanischen Hochland Xenoophorus captivus. Aquarien Terrarien (6): 208-211

J. Wubbolt (1999) : Xenoophorus captivus: the green Goodeid. Livebearers  (155): 25-26