The American or Florida flagfish, Jordanella floridae, is a toothcarps endemic to Florida, a southern state of the USA, bordering the Caribbean Sea. It grows to 6.5 centimeters, or approximately 2 and a 1/2 inches length, and the adult males are more colorful, than are the drab juveniles and mature females, which also have less prominent dorsal and anal fins.
The habitat of J. floridae is shallow, richly vegetated freshwaters, including natural marshes and backwaters, as well as man-made canals and ditches. Near the coast, these habitats may be slightly brackish, sonetimes with fluctuating salinities, and it has been shown that at least temporary exposure of J. floridae, to specific gravities as high as 1.015, seemingly does these fish no harm. However, it is primarily a freshwater species by nature.
J. floridae requires a pH of 6.7 to 8.2, and a vegetated freshwater (or mildly brackish) environment, that is similar to its wild habitat requirements. It is a subtropical fish, from a part of North America with warm, rainy summers, and dry, mild winters from the middle of December through to the middle of April. The air temperture during the summer months may temporarily rise above 30 degrees centigrade, though probably, permanent exposure to such a temperture could be harmful, to the long term health of these fish. Whereas in the dry or winter season, air tempertures may drop to almost 11 degrees. The freshwaters of the Everglades are also described, as having a neutral pH.
Flagfishes are micropredators of zooplankton and small benthos, such as insect larvae. They also include algal or other plant material in their natural diet, although their primary reason for nipping at leaves, is to graze biofilms and their infauna. This species can be feed easily on proprietory aquarium foods, such as flake preparations. Unfortunately, some individuals may be boisterous, especially the males, who may even harass females of their own species.
Saluting the Florida Flagfish, Jordanella floridae
Looking for a good algae eater for your lower temperature native tank? The Florida Flagfish might be right up your alley. Their attractive iridescent colors, ease of feeding, and hardiness (adapting to a wide variety of tank temperatures) make them lovely additions to fish tanks. They can be nippy towards certain types of tankmates, but if you keep this in mind while stocking, there’s no reason to overlook this beautiful fish.
Species
Cyprinodontidae (Pupfishes) is one of the 10 families in the order Cyprinodontiformes (Toothcarps) along with Poeciliidae (Livebearers), Fundulidae (Topminnows), Rivulidae (Rivulines, New World Killifish), and Aplocheilidae (Killifish). The genus Jordanella contains only a single species, which is native to North America:
Jordanella floridae (Florida Flagfish) [pictured]
The Florida Flagfish is likely the most commonly sold of the pupfish, and though has been sold for many years does not seem to be terribly common in the trade.
Conservation Status
The Florida Flagfish has not been evaluated by the IUCN for risk of extinction.
Distribution
The Florida Flagfish is, perhaps unsurprisingly, found only in Florida, particularly within the St. Johns and Ochlocknee River drainages.
Description
Florida Flagfish are small, but deep-bodied, fish that can attain a maximum size of about 2.5 inches. There do not appear to be differences in size based on sex, though the females are rounder than the males during breeding times.
Florida Flagfish are assertive fish that are typically out in the open, defending a territory, but do seem to appreciate cover such as floating plants and driftwood. Plants are especially appreciated as Florida Flagfish nip at leaves, eating softer leaves, algae, and the microscopic organisms (”aufwuchs”) that grow on these surfaces.
Florida Flagfish are known for being at least somewhat aggressive towards similar fish. Given their territorial behavior, it’s best to stock more females than males (a ratio of 1 male to 2 or 3 females) and to avoid putting multiple males in smaller tanks. They may be aggressive towards other pupfish, killifish, or livebearers. Florida Flagfish have a reputation for being fin-nippers and are probably best kept far away from slower moving fish with long fins like Guppies. Your best bet for tankmates are fast (like Chrosomus Mountain Minnows) or assertive but not overly aggressive (like the Dollar Sunfish). Timid or very aggressive tankmates need not apply.
Feeding
Florida Flagfish are not particularly picky animals. They should readily take prepared foods like flakes and floating pellets, meaty foods like brine and mysis shrimp (though these should constitute a smaller portion of their diet), and green foods like vegetables like zucchini, cucumber, spinach. As they are well known for, they also consume a good deal of algae in the tank, focusing on green algae. Some sources indicate they may also consume hair algae.
Florida Flagfish do best when introduced to established tanks with some algae to graze on. The addition of plants to low brackish or freshwater systems is highly recommended and will provide leafy material that will be nibbled on.
Water Quality
Adaptable animals, the Florida Flagfish can survive in most tap water sources. They should do well in a wide range of pH (6.7 to 8.2) and hardness (6-20 dH) values provided everything is kept constant. Temperature is best kept subtropical to low-end tropical, and something around 64-72F is fine for long term care.
Florida Flagfish seem to prefer filtration with less flow, given their preference for lakes, ponds, and slow moving streams. Something around 4-6 times tank turnover per hour is plenty.
Brackish Suitability
Pupfish, like other Cyprinodontiformes, are very commonly tolerant of salt in their water and Florida Flagfish are no exception. Although some pupfish (like the Sheepshead Minnow) can tolerate up to full strength seawater, Florida Flagfish are better kept in low-end brackish conditions (1.000 to 1.005). Brackish water is not essential to their care but can allow for a wider range of tankmates.
Tank Size
Though a specimen tank would probably be fine in the 10 gallon range, your best bet is to start at 20 gallons (or more if you wanted to keep a group of Florida Flagfish). Though small, they are somewhat wasp-ish in personality and it’s best to give tankmates room to retreat, not to mention giving more grazing space for algae to grow.
Breeding
Breeding Florida Flagfish is likely not much harder than putting a healthy male and female together in a tank. They are fractional spawners and will lay eggs on a more or less continuous basis as long as the water is warm. Males will develop brighter colors during this time and establish a territory, evicting all other male Flagfish in an attempt to spawn with females.
Eggs are deposited on algae or other filamentous media (like spawning mops used for other killifish) and hatch in 7-14 days. There is no parental care following hatching and fry may be consumed by the parents at this time.
Final Thoughts
As attractive fish that eat algae, Florida Flagfish can be a very good addition to the right native tank as long as you have a fair amount of algae growth and the right tankmates.
Sources
Jordanella floridae - Florida Flagfish, Seriously Fish
I was excited when I saw that this month’s Tropical Fish Hobbyist magazine had an article on the Native (and brackish!) fish, the American or Florida Flagfish (Jordanella floridae). I was, however, disappointed in some of the text, suggesting that you could keep a pair of these fish long term in a 5 gallon tank with no filter.
No. These fish are larger than Platies and are very nippy... 20 gallons is the absolute minimum for housing more than 1 of these fish (or with any tankmates). And, of course, aquariums with fish in them should have filters. That’s just responsible fish-keeping.
