Spangled Algae Eating Fish!

Today we look at a US native fish- Jordanella floridae- the Florida Flagfish; A unique little pupfish from Florida who is known for its algae eating capabilities.
Adults size. 2-2.5"/6cm
Temp 65-86F 18-30C
pH 6.5-8.5
Diet: omnivore, herbivore
Breeding: Easy
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#aquariumfish #algaeeater #usnativefish

[@RachelOLeary]

Species spotlight time!!! :) Hope you enjoy, share your experiences with flag fish in the comment section for me! Don''t forget to like and share! My Patreon: www.patreon.com/racheloleary Fan mail can be sent to: PO box 146 Manchester PA 17345 Buy me a coffee: msjinkzd.com/about_msjinkzd/support-our-site/ Instagram @msjinkzd Website and stocklist: msjinkzd.com/stocklist/ Facebook: facebook.com/msjinkzd/

[@peter100124]

Hi how many Flagfish can I keep in a Uk 🇬🇧 20 gallon tank please ? How many males to Females ?

[@mikeymacaque]

Even though I'm in Florida, I feel like I'm the only one in my area who really enjoys keeping these fish. Most stores around me -- and I'm lucky enough to have quite a few stores within a 15 min drive -- are always like "oh, you LIKE those? We just keep them in stock because the local museums and aquariums like stocking their ponds with them to reduce algae." Here's a few things I noticed: 1. The "defend the eggs" rumor is totally true, but not for every spawn and not for every male. I wasn't a believer because I kept them for years and never saw it happen, and now I wish I had good video of to prove to people. I kept these fish for about six years before I spotted it happening. I was moving tanks one time and put flagfish and sailfin mollies into an aquarium with a Jack Dempsey for a few days while the move happened (not ideal, I know, but I have a pretty mild female JD). The tank was planted with dwarf sag and valisneria and in the three days that it took to rearrange tanks, the dominant male (I normally keep a 4:1 ratio and I had ten flagfish, with this male being the largest and most vibrant color) dug a pit between the plants and defended the eggs, even against the much larger Jack Dempsey and mollies. I've never seen it happen before, and I'm not sure if the introduction of a "predator" into the tank caused it to happen or the inclusion of another male, but nonetheless I'm a firm believer in the behavior now. 2. I do a decent amount of collecting in Florida (throughout the central part of the state where these should be pretty common) and have yet to collect any. However, I do know from the local waterways and from keeping them for years that they prefer sandy substrate and dense vegetation if possible. 3. Their breeding behavior reminds me of a cross between betta spawning and cichlid spawning. I have no clue what encourages it, but the male will pick out a female, harass it for a day or so, and then toward then they do an embrace that is a lot like a betta's. That's when the male gets the most nippy toward other fish in my experience. 4. These fish are the most "themselves" in a species only aquarium or in an aquarium with other natives (I've kept them with darters and mollies before). However, they do shoal if you introduce them into a tank with a larger fish -- even a decent sized bristlenose pleco will get that behavior out of them. 5. People tend to feed them more of a vegetarian diet since they're often sold as algae eaters, however, I've seen them destroy ghost shrimp before while ignoring an algae wafer, so I think a more mixed diet is crucial. 6. I've never successfully gotten them to spawn, so if anybody has any tips I'd love to hear it. Thank you for such great, informative species spotlights, especially on an underrated fish like this.

[@Lifeoftheotheheeler]

Old comment I know but I just recently started keeping these in my garden pond and I’m loving them! They took quite awhile to come out of their shells but they really have come around now! Curious if you keep them outside(if you still keep them) and if you have gotten them to breed? I keep them with platys and guppies myself!

[@mikeymacaque]

@@Lifeoftheotheheeler I keep mine in a tank on my porch, which is kinda outside. I haven’t gotten any to breed! I’ve only seen spawning behavior so far, no eggs or babies.

[@djstef457]

Had the same experience, the fish store laughed at me and said " no natives but plenty of invasives haha" so stupid, any luck collecting other native species?

[@phillip1beer]

Hi Rachel. Thanks for posting on this very interesting native fish. I am 68 years old and have been a fish keeper since the age of 5, when my mom seeing how interested in fish keeping I was, gave me her 5-gallon aquarium. I have kept many native species over the years, As a child, I had a Blue Gill that I had so tame that it would jump up out of the water and take buzzing flies out of my fingers. I have never kept Flag fish but it looks like it is a very useful algae eater and I like the fact that it does not grow too large. I plan to get some in the near future for my fish room. I enjoyed your video very much.

[@MrLeavemikealone]

I have a pair in a heavily planted tank with 3 yo-yo loaches, 5 galaxy pearl danios, a group of cory cats, male betta , and 5 rasbora tetras and 5 Amano shrimp. I added the flag fish to help with algae. I keep the temperature around 76f. I also have some large japanese trapdoor snails in this setup. Every fish and invert has their own job in this tank and co-exist peacefully.

[@spiraleena9237]

I love this set up! I have a similar tank, and was wondering if they would work.... any pics by chance?

[@soggyfries4347]

Yes, more species spotlights!

[@MarTeeNezNC]

I LOVE Species Spotlights! You could always re-do spotlights you did a couple years ago. Might not be new fish to you, but I'll bet my paycheck you've learned some cool new thing about them since your first posted a spotlight on them!

[@pamelapilling6996]

Thanks Rachel. These little ones were at my LFS. I really considered bringing them home. If I see them again, I will know what to do.

[@daniellavin5874]

I have really come to love species only tanks. The more I learn about the flag fish the more I want to try them. You convinced me with this video. I’m lucky that a little local fish store near me has a group of these guys

[@deathyoh3051]

Yet another species spotlight! I love Florida flag fish, let alone any killifish. I wish I had them though. I really like the video! Likes for you, and learning to me!

[@alecsblayde13]

I really like when you do native fish species spotlights.

[@deelish110]

We have our flag fish in with some white skirt tetras (short finned) they do well with these. Also we had some with our guppies but they also were booted due to fin nipping. We will be adding some to our bog in the back yard pond when the weather is good. Being in Florida it's easy to recreate thier natural habitat. Thanks for the videos and all the info you given us these last few years!

[@ccsorn]

So nice. I could imagine how bright these would look in an outside pond. I've been assembleing a list of candidates for my first tubb this spring and these just jumped to the top.

[@kzookid2051]

Definitely keep doing the specie spotlights! So many of the fish you've focused on are ones not seen in most fish stores, so seeing yours is often the first exposure we get to some really cool fish. Also, they expose us to ideas we might not have thought of otherwise, like conserving endangered species or line breeding. The same goes for your tub, green house and other plant videos. You rock.

[@annethornton9938]

Kzoo Kid I wish I could like this comment a dozen times, as it emphasizes my own sentiments exactly!

[@carolebraswell982]

I appreciate your videos because your content is so educational! I had never seen this species before. I'm sure there are many I've never seen, but I'm totally addicted to the hobby and always thinking of what kind of tank I can set up next. LOL

[@DavidRodriguez-jt1ns]

I've kept them with barbs and larger tetras, they stay away from each other, Florida flagfish are an amazing fish with tons of personality!

[@sailfinaquatics]

Yay Species Spotlight! Thanks for the video Rachel, great information as always. I haven’t kept these guys yet but, I live in Florida so I’ve seen a few of them.

[@suzaynnschick158]

Species spotlights are my second favorite of your presentation types after your deep dives on particular challenges or types of fish keeping. Pleeeease keep doing the spotlights! I do use the inoformation you share to make decisions on the fish I buy and keep. Many thanks!

[@s.d.k874]

I love your species spotlight!! Ive watched most of them👍 Even youtube got it, when i type Rachel in the recommended it says Rachel O'leary species spotlights😂😂

[@JHAquatics]

Lovely fish! Thank you for sharing. I love those American Native fish.

[@jonnak6487]

Hi from Finland! Thanks for a quality channel ❤️ It’s well done, funny and informative ❤️

[@mqcapps]

They are great and can be caught on east coast in coastal waters in shoals

[@fishgirlforlife937]

Got some yesterday and I love them already! Summer tubbin here I come!

[@darkehorse71]

Love these little Killifish. This species and geophagus have always been my favorite fish.

[@LeahBTravelin91]

So glad I found this! I just bought four of these interesting creatures yesterday and based on your video it looks like I have two females and two males!

[@PaintflowException]

Had Florida flag fish for several years. Love these little hidden gems. Active fun to watch swimmers. I'm tempted to get another freshwater tank just to have them again!

[@robertforrest7956]

Very interesting video Rachel. I've seen other KZbinrs collect them in Florida... Thanks Rachel....🎄

[@Bloodhoundfostermom]

They are so cute !! 💜💜💜

[@andreashessler838]

Bit late on this.. I keep one of these in a 29 gallon with a male golden wonder killifish, a female betta and a school of danio choprae. They are excellent community fish. They honestly don't bother anyone and are extremely peaceful. He is best friends with the GWK and follows him around the tank like a little dog.

[@abaddon_bomb1900]

I bought them for hair algae control in a 65 gallon planted community tank….but I was scared to put them in after I read they might be nippy with other killifish. I also have about 6 golden wonder killifish in there. But they’re doing ok with them?

[@andreashessler838]

@@abaddon_bomb1900 he started bullying the female Betta after a while, so I moved her. Has been fine with everything else. Flagfish are quite clumsy and ungraceful, so I doubt that they would have the ability to bother anything fast moving, even if they were inclined to.

[@kennethreese2910]

I have about 20 of them, 3 full grown and the rest juvenile in a 40 gallon breeder fully planted with 3 adult panda Cory's and their 6 babies, 2 flying fox, and 2 giant lyretail mollies doing well. All get along great. I had moss glued to 3 caves in my quarenteen tank they went in from the pet store and i saw them dance and spin in circles.......then eggs. Lol. 1 male and two females and yes he did guard the eggs fanning them all hours of the night and day so they did not fungus. Quiet interesting to watch!

[@MusingsFromTheDen]

So glad 'Species Spotlight' is back! 😁 They're an understated beauty, aren't they?

[@cal6610]

Being a "no heater guy", I was very interested in your comment about how the flagfish were nipping the tails of your white clouds. I thought WOW, a stagnant water fish (flagfish) was chasing down a river fish (white cloud). Maybe that would not be the case if they were placed in a "river tank"/(tank with a hang on back filter). What do you think?

[@ericesper348]

I love these fish I've had them off and on for 20 years. I have successfully kept them with the shortfin variety of white clouds. Paradise fish have also been successfully kept by me with them. Also kept them with star head top minnows.

[@ofthebeanvariety]

These are super cute!!

[@thomashynes4042]

LOVE species spotlights

[@lynnbonica4342]

I would love for you to keep doing your species spotlights when possible. They have helped me a bunch. Love watching your channel. 🎄🎅👍🍄

[@nolasdollsandaquatics9386]

Beautiful little fishes...👍🔨😉

[@getthatcornouttamyface2461]

I have 2 flag fish in with my tiger barbs, and they have done very well. They are excellent at clearing hair algae!

[@lesliesockwell8385]

Love the species Spotlight & all the info!! I had 9 in a 55 gal outside this summer. I don't think I had enough plants in the aquarium and maybe it was bright. Mine never bread & all but 1 big male has died. He lives with my pea puffers in a 40 breeder. There are a lot of plants in this tank & hair algae for him to eat. He seems happy in there.

[@darrylmoore5847]

Very cool fish, thank you for the great information.

[@RoboGoby]

Amazingly wonderful video! Thank you so much! SUBBED!

[@Nathreim1]

I have 2 in my planted 55 with angels rainbows (parkison,turquoise, and boesemani) and some cherry barbs. I got them to deal with black beard algae and while they do help they dont attack voraciously it like my nerite snails do. They do will with everyone and stick mainly to the thick Java fern corner of the tank. They dont even bother the cherry shrimp that live in the java fern.

[@SK-sq5bk]

Nice video You should do a spotlight on the African butterfly fish if you ever get them in

[@vincentmarceau2249]

Saw them at the fish store...i almost got them but i wasnt enough informed on them. But now i am😊

[@darkshireaquatics]

awesome video✌✌

[@catfishcave379]

I was looking at these recently - I'm glad you mentioned your experience with LF white clouds, as that was where I was going to put them. Guess I'll go for Amanos. Thanks for the education - I thought these were a livebearer!

[@livingportside]

You should try though them out in your summer tubs, I'm sure they'd be prolific out there.

[@nancyware7282]

I would like to see a Species Spotlight series (say that three times fast lol) that is focused on native American nano fish like this. There is so much already out there about fish from other countries, but seemingly very little on natives.

[@royalspin]

I recently purchased a juvenile male and female for my 55 gallon planted community tank which is mainly Doth American tetras such as black and regular neons ,Serpae and Lemon Tetras along with a few Bronze Cory cats, Otocinculus some ghost shrimps and they're doing great. No fin nipping at all. However with the Serpae Tetras that's a different story. Fortunately they finally stopped nipping at the dorsal fins of my catfish but for a while I thought I was going to have to take them back to exchange them . I really haven't seen the flag fish eating the algae yet which is why I got them to begin with but I'm sure in time they will but otherwise they're interesting fish to watch and similar to Sticklebacks in they're behavior. I've read that this parenting behavior happens when they have a substrate and that they'll act like cichlids by digging out a depression in the gravel and guard their young but I haven't seen it since mine are still pretty young. All in all a nice hardy fish pretty peaceful and interesting to watch.

[@Alekkssandra]

I keep mine with female Betta's, a couple long fin Zebra Danios, Kuhli loaches, and some Otocinclus.

[@alexsaquatics7620]

I have some of these I got them about a month ago they are cool little fish

[@DavidDL]

They are beautiful 👍.

[@kame.ch_1973]

😉very beautiful👍 とてもキレイな水槽ですね！

[@GabrielMaldonado4th]

We sell these at the LFS I work at, we keep them in our planted tanks, I love watching the little pits they dig and guard, Ive been debating keeping them myself. At the store, we keep them in the planted set ups with Siamese algae eaters and a clown loach, and everyone seems to mind their own business. :)

[@Shaden0040]

A friend of mine had a pair, the male guarded one area of the tank, where they par was seen spawning, from all other tank members even the female. The female died and then so did the male. He hasn't gotten more of them since then.

[@kinglyzard]

Mine just got booted to their own tank too, and they're nesting! And I've witnessed my male fanning and defending his nest. He's been especially unreasonable with the females and exhibiting a lot of fanning behavior. Further investigation revealed a clutch of shiny, refractive eggs amongst the algae! What is their incubation at 82 °F? What is the best way to feed the fry? Can I keep the fry with Molly fry?

[@matthewzito6130]

It might be interesting to keep these in a tall paludarium setup with Green Anoles and/or Green Tree Frogs (both of which are also from Florida).

[@shesellsfish]

Native American species are often not well known or wildly popular in the hobby. Such a shame, because they are so adaptable to aquarium life and so interesting to watch. Thanks for spotlighting these guys and letting more folks know about them. 👍💕👍

[@Snufkin224]

I still think you should try Aphanius. At least for the outdoor ponds.

[@Baffi_]

Apahnius mento! They look like large Pygmy sunfish

[@Snufkin224]

@@Baffi_ I have them breeding in a large pond in Scadinavia. They are in the pond all year. I have a 3 Aphanius species.

[@soulsocietysevendestiny5273]

I have one of them with 2 Blue Rams and get great colors!!

[@craigsfreshwaterfishplants9426]

they seem to go with Barbs pretty good.

[@terrenbrandt4822]

I'm thinking of putting some with my festivums since they seem like they might be a match temperament wise.

[@Baffi_]

They may spend a lot of time hiding if the festivums are too aggressive. The waters they come from in Florida are full of predators, so their instinct is to hide from larger fish

[@terrenbrandt4822]

@@Baffi_ I have a lot of plants and hiding spots for them. My festivums haven't been to horrible temperament wise yet maybe about as bad as an angelfish.

[@seove1]

Do the females have colorful markings? Each time I've ordered them, half of them had dull markings.

[@pecktec]

These can be really pretty. Every one I’ve kept chased everyone else in the tank. Great algae eaters but too stressful for me. My buddy bread them without really trying too.

[@mikeymacaque]

Try keeping them with more of their own kind, in 4:1 ratios of females to males. I've kept them for a while and I find that they tend to ignore other fish if they've got enough of their own kind hanging around.

[@Baffi_]

Sorry Rachel, I totally let this slip my mind, feel like a jerk now. You did a great job. Solid info👍 I’ll still get what I can to you. I did manage to keep them pretty successfully with Poecilia latipinna, and Xenotoca Lyonsi

[@anthonyragan2696]

I'd read somewhere that these were also back brush algae eaters. True?

[@OnIoN4UrTrUbLeS]

Can you have them with cherry shrimp?

[@4starrawks]

Would a group of only males be okay together, or would there be some aggression between them? Also, how do they do solo, not in a group? Thanks, really appreciate this video!

[@craigsfreshwaterfishplants9426]

Come see Rachel at our Local Fish club in South Florida. www.gcaquarium.org for details. Feb 1st we will be hosting Rachel as our speaker!!! We have a lot of fun at our club meeting, hope to see you there is your are local to South Florida!!! if you want to reach out to me for details email me at [e-mail].

[@irishmanbd8447]

Wish i could find these locally

[@michaeltewell2659]

Thanks for the video! I’ve had bad luck with flag fish. I got my first 2 both males when I had an outbreak of hair algae but I also got them because I really like the way they look I got them from liveaquaria. About 2 months later I got 4 females from aquabid well the females only lived about a month and the smaller male died around the same time and I’m not sure why. The lone big male is still alive and just hangs out with tiger barbs panda garras BN pleco emperor pleco and corydoras. He doesn’t even bother the amano or ghost shrimp I also have in that tank. Even after almost a year he still won’t eat flakes but he likes tubifex worms bloodworms and some pellets and also grazes on algae. I can’t figure out why the others flagfish passed away and he’s still living. The females who passed were also I’d say not quite adult size but close so it wasn’t age. What conditions do you keep yours in?? Thanks 🙏

[@Kimizuki-hobby]

Does this fish eat shrimp?

[@alicelewellenswonderlandof7896]

How many would you recommend for a 20 gallon planted tank? And can you keep them with shrimp?

[@RachelOLeary]

I would get no more then one male but multiple females are ok. I honestly haven't tried them with shrimp

[@kinglyzard]

@@RachelOLeary They are like a little pack of wolves when it comes to shrimp. They'll absolutely dismember and then devour any Ghost Shrimp in their path.

[@elr5475]

Would it be ok to keep a single flag fish?

[@outdoorsfish2859]

What’s size tank would you recommend

[@brandonlasvegas]

😎

[@heaven7360]

Does anyone know if two male flagfish would work with a group of females? If so, how many females to males? Also could they be in a 10 gal tank together...the males and females. Having two males has turned out to be a nightmare. I even researched these fish and NOONE mentioned how nasty they are. I like them and I understand why they are aggressive but they're making my life miserable and making themselves miserable and making my other fish in their paths miserable. Does anyone have answers to the two questions I have?

[@markvonwisco7369]

In the comments Rachel mentions 1:4 ratio of males to females. Based on my experience with FL flag fish, the males are quite territorial. A 20 gallon long would be a much better option, if you plan to have two males in the same tank. You should also have plenty of plants, wood, and/or rock work for sight line breaks. This will allow the males to stake out their own little territories.

[@ricodegallo3060]

👍

[@professorm4171]

Treat them as semi-aggressive fish.

[@zimrianispresent8123]

🤘🐌🤘

[@cilenemagnine5143]

Do you still have these little guys? How have they done?

[@RachelOLeary]

I am up to 2 tanks of them, they are a little too easy to breed

[@spiraleena9237]

Yes perhaps an update is in order?!

[@craigsfreshwaterfishplants9426]

they seem to go with Barbs pretty good.

[@craigsfreshwaterfishplants9426]

Come see Rachel at our Local Fish club in South Florida. www.gcaquarium.org for details. Feb 1st we will be hosting Rachel as our speaker!!! We have a lot of fun at our club meeting, hope to see you there is your are local to South Florida!!! if you want to reach out to me for details email me at [e-mail].

[@craigsfreshwaterfishplants9426]

they seem to go with Barbs pretty good.

[@craigsfreshwaterfishplants9426]

they seem to go with Barbs pretty good.

[@craigsfreshwaterfishplants9426]

they seem to go with Barbs pretty good.

[@craigsfreshwaterfishplants9426]

Come see Rachel at our Local Fish club in South Florida. www.gcaquarium.org for details. Feb 1st we will be hosting Rachel as our speaker!!! We have a lot of fun at our club meeting, hope to see you there is your are local to South Florida!!! if you want to reach out to me for details email me at [e-mail].

[@craigsfreshwaterfishplants9426]

Come see Rachel at our Local Fish club in South Florida. www.gcaquarium.org for details. Feb 1st we will be hosting Rachel as our speaker!!! We have a lot of fun at our club meeting, hope to see you there is your are local to South Florida!!! if you want to reach out to me for details email me at [e-mail].

[@craigsfreshwaterfishplants9426]

Come see Rachel at our Local Fish club in South Florida. www.gcaquarium.org for details. Feb 1st we will be hosting Rachel as our speaker!!! We have a lot of fun at our club meeting, hope to see you there is your are local to South Florida!!! if you want to reach out to me for details email me at [e-mail].

[@craigsfreshwaterfishplants9426]

Come see Rachel at our Local Fish club in South Florida. www.gcaquarium.org for details. Feb 1st we will be hosting Rachel as our speaker!!! We have a lot of fun at our club meeting, hope to see you there is your are local to South Florida!!! if you want to reach out to me for details email me at [e-mail].

[@craigsfreshwaterfishplants9426]

Come see Rachel at our Local Fish club in South Florida. www.gcaquarium.org for details. Feb 1st we will be hosting Rachel as our speaker!!! We have a lot of fun at our club meeting, hope to see you there is your are local to South Florida!!! if you want to reach out to me for details email me at [e-mail].

[@craigsfreshwaterfishplants9426]

Come see Rachel at our Local Fish club in South Florida. www.gcaquarium.org for details. Feb 1st we will be hosting Rachel as our speaker!!! We have a lot of fun at our club meeting, hope to see you there is your are local to South Florida!!! if you want to reach out to me for details email me at [e-mail].

[@craigsfreshwaterfishplants9426]

Come see Rachel at our Local Fish club in South Florida. www.gcaquarium.org for details. Feb 1st we will be hosting Rachel as our speaker!!! We have a lot of fun at our club meeting, hope to see you there is your are local to South Florida!!! if you want to reach out to me for details email me at [e-mail].

[@craigsfreshwaterfishplants9426]

Come see Rachel at our Local Fish club in South Florida. www.gcaquarium.org for details. Feb 1st we will be hosting Rachel as our speaker!!! We have a lot of fun at our club meeting, hope to see you there is your are local to South Florida!!! if you want to reach out to me for details email me at [e-mail].

[@craigsfreshwaterfishplants9426]

Come see Rachel at our Local Fish club in South Florida. www.gcaquarium.org for details. Feb 1st we will be hosting Rachel as our speaker!!! We have a lot of fun at our club meeting, hope to see you there is your are local to South Florida!!! if you want to reach out to me for details email me at [e-mail].

[@craigsfreshwaterfishplants9426]

Come see Rachel at our Local Fish club in South Florida. www.gcaquarium.org for details. Feb 1st we will be hosting Rachel as our speaker!!! We have a lot of fun at our club meeting, hope to see you there is your are local to South Florida!!! if you want to reach out to me for details email me at [e-mail].

[@craigsfreshwaterfishplants9426]

Come see Rachel at our Local Fish club in South Florida. www.gcaquarium.org for details. Feb 1st we will be hosting Rachel as our speaker!!! We have a lot of fun at our club meeting, hope to see you there is your are local to South Florida!!! if you want to reach out to me for details email me at [e-mail].