All fish / Poeciliidae

Tico Merry Widow

Phallichthys tico

Also known as tico merry widow, costa rican merry widow, merry widow livebearer

A small, deep-bodied livebearer from Central America with a silvery to yellowish body, faint dark vertical bars and a dark-edged dorsal fin. It is kept by livebearer enthusiasts as a peaceful, hardy and less common relative of the better-known merry widow.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

4 cm

Temperature

22 to 28 °C

pH

7 to 8

Smallest tank

60 litres

Keep as

Group of 6 or more, with more females than males

Diet

Omnivore: flakes, small pellets, algae and vegetable matter, frozen or live daphnia, brine shrimp and bloodworm

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

2 to 4 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Costa Rica and Nicaragua (Caribbean slope rivers, Río San Juan and Río Frío basins)

Breeding

Fertilisation is internal, using the male's very long gonopodium, and females give birth to small batches of live fry after about four weeks. Breeding is easy in a planted tank, though adults may eat newborn fry if there is no dense cover.

Good to know

It is seldom seen in the general trade and mostly passes between hobbyists, so take care not to cross it with Phallichthys amates, which looks similar.