HomeFreshwater aquarium fishGuppies & livebearersBarred splitfin Barred splitfin (Chapalichthys encaustus) Scientific name: Chapalichthys encaustus Jordan & Snyder, 1899 The Barred splitfin (Chapalichthys encaustus) is a freshwater fish of the family Goodeidae. In the aquarium it needs water at 20–28°C (68–82°F). Native range: Central America, Laguna de Chapala, Mexico. Barred splitfin care at a glanceTemperature20–28°C (68–82°F) Species factsScientific nameChapalichthys encaustusFamilyGoodeidae (Splitfins)OrderCyprinodontiformes (Live bearers, Killifishes and Rivulines)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length6.0EnvironmentFreshwater;; pH range: 7.0 - 7.8; dH range: 10 - 20 demersalClimateTropicalDistributionCentral America: Laguna de Chapala, Mexico.Conservation status (IUCN)Not EvaluatedThreat to humansHarmlessUsesAquarium: commercialResilienceLow, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Fec=10) More guppies & livebearersRedtail splitfinXenotoca eiseniBlackbarred limiaLimia nigrofasciataMosquitofishGambusia affinisSailfin mollyPoecilia latipinnaGuppyPoecilia reticulataGreen swordtailXiphophorus helleriiSee all guppies & livebearers SourcesTaxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.Last updated 27 September 2026