Allodontichthys zonistius.

Family:-    Goodeidae Jordan 1923.

Range:-    Rio Ayuquila on the Rio Ameria system in the mountains near the Las Joyas field station at the heart of the Sierra De Manantlan biosphere reserve. Where it can be found living with Poeciliopsis baenschi. Poecilia butleri. Ilyodon furcidens/xantusi. and Cichlasoma istlanum.

            The species is quite an unusual and pleasant species visually to keep in the aquarium. It has   strikingly pleasant markings on the body an a very unusual swimming motion, as it behaves at times more like a Gobi. Especially when perched on the leaf of a plant seemingly resting on it's petorial fins, as if it was going to walk on them. This is another species that has a bad reputation as a fin nipper but this has not been my experience although it needs plenty of room as they are extremely territorial and will fight amongst them selves if they are not given enough room I have had no problems and I keep mine with some little Limia garnieri and so far they have shown no interest in these. Indeed they seem to be more friendly to each other at the moment. I say at the moment as they are still fairly young and things could change as they get older so I shall have to watch them even though I am at the moment feeling quietly confident.

Habitat

The  Rio Ayuquila

This is a very fast flowing mountain river which is very rocky with some deeper pools, where the water chemistry is more like what we have been lead to believe for Goodeid's. i.e.:-Ph 8-8. Gh 12. Kh8. There is a very small amount of aquatic plant in the quieter sections, but for the3 most it is clear open fast moving water and the fish seem to use the rocks for cover. In this area there is also a very pretty form of Poecilia butleri. it has a deep body and it's flanks have a great deal of blue in it while the dorsal fins of the dominant males exhibit a deep brick red color speckled with black markings. which look most attractive

         Hear we have two more sites lower down on the same river near El Grullo. When we searched here in 1999 we found no fish but I suspect that this was due to the fact that it was a public holiday and so there was a lot of disturbance to the water.

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