Skiffia francesae

Skiffia_francesae_copy_A.JPG (22749 bytes)

Family:- Goodeidae JORDAN 1923

Synonyms :- None

Dorsal fin ray count:-  15   -  17

Size:- Males 4.5cm Females 5.0cm

Range:- When last seen in the wild the last known location of this species was the Rio Teuchitlan and its various springs. However this species has not been seen in the wild since the mid 1970's and this despite the fact that there have been numerous searches made especially over the past ten years due to another species Zoogoneticus tequila seemingly having also become extinct from this same habitat.

The fact that this species still exists at all is due to the excellent husbandry of one of America's leading aquarists, Namely James Langhammer who was responsible for breeding this species from the beginning, and despite Jim passing out thousands of pairs of this species few if any succeeded in keeping it for very long until the early 1990's when Jim himself investigated and established the reason why. Since which time a number of colonies have been established in different countries including one that is now thriveing at the Aqua Lab.

The Breeding and maintenance of this species is best achieved in moderately hard water with frequent 30 or 40% water changes and when kept at temperatures of between 75f & 80f. As lower than this and it is possible that breeding will stop.Sometimes though I have found that they will naturally have a quite period for breeding during the European summer months. A good quauntity of live food in the diet also helps greatly. At these temperatures fry will be born at between

6 & 8 week periods, but do not be surprised if any given female in some cases may have a long resting period each year. Brood sizes can vary from 6 to 20

Habitat

Habitat at Rio Teuchitlan (Top Pool) s.jpg (35409 bytes)

The above idyllic early morning shot of the main springs at Teuchitlan gives little indication to the amount of human activity there will be there just an hour or so latter when it is used daily as a lido and recreation center for people from miles

around. This activity alone could be sufficient to severely disturb any species of a nervous or sensitive disposition, but when you add to this the introduction of non indigenous and predatory species to the spring such as Catfish, Tilapia, and Bass for the purpose of helping to feed the local population then one begins to get some indications as to why so many of the waters natural fauna is being lost. Amongst these the Goodieds are being serverly affected, and where as once the Skiffia francesae could be found  thoughout the Rio Teuchitlan, now they would seem to have vanished completely from this their only

known habitat . And while I am not saying that there demise to this point was caused by the above I am saying that it

could not have helped the situation.

Below is just a shot give one some indication of the current use of these springs.This was taken at the other end of the

day when most people had gone home

 

On right

The last bus leaves the site at the end of the day bound for Guadalajara and Chapala

 HabitatCamp_Site_Rio_Teuchitlan_small.JPG (29644 bytes)  

Below

The children's swimming pool. Showing the last few campers watching our Millenium search party as they investigated the site.

Habitat at Camp Site Rio Teuchitlan small 2.JPG (26834 bytes)

                       

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