Description
Astyanax jordani is a blind cave fish from Mexico, about 10 cm, that evolved relatively recently from the surface form of Astyanax mexicanus. Without sight, it finds its way by other senses. The IUCN considers it Endangered, and it is rare outside its native setting.
It is a hardy fish, of cool water and simple feeding, that needs a roomy tank with plenty of nooks and dim light, and calm companions that do not compete for food.
Behavior
Peaceful, and like the rest of the genus best kept in a group of six or more. Being blind, it chases no one, but nor does it compete well for food with lively fish. A bottom with stones and nooks gives it security.
It lives well with other calm cool-water fish of similar size.
Avoid housing it with lively or aggressive fish that take its food and with tropical warm-water fish.
Habitat
Astyanax jordani lives in caves in Mexico, between latitudes 21° and 25° north. No further detail on its locality is known.
Astyanax jordani is a schooling species, which means that in the wild it lives and moves in large, coordinated groups.
Keep at least 6 individuals so they feel comfortable and their stress level stays low.
Details
🌊 Water parameters
🐠 Minimum tank size
Breeding
It expels its eggs in a more or less haphazard fashion. The substrate where it spawns must have crevices and pores into which the adhesive eggs can roll and hide, so that neither the parents nor other cave inhabitants eat them.
Diet
An omnivore that accepts almost anything.
- Staple: quality flakes and sinking granules.
- Supplement: live and frozen food, which it detects by smell.
What about your tank?
Enter your tank's values to see only the compatible species that fit them. Litres apply to fish.
Compatible fish
General guidance based on water parameters, behaviour and known exceptions; always review the individual animals' and aquarium's specific needs.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 22–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.8 and 23–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.8 and 20–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 23–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 23–25 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 20–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 22–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 22–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 22–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.8 and 22–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.8 and 21–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.8 and 20–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.8 and 24–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 25 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.8 and 24–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.8 and 22–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 20–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 20–24 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.8 and 20–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.8 and 22–25 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.8 and 20–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.8 and 22–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 25 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6–7.8 and 22–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 22–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 22–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 23–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 23–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 22–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 22–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–25 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.8 and 22–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 22–25 °C.
They share water: pH 7.5–7.8 and 24–25 °C.
They share water: pH 7.5–7.8 and 24–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 20–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6–6.5 and 23–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.2 and 22–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 20–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 22–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 22–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 22–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.8 and 25 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6–7.8 and 20–22 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.8 and 20–24 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 22–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 23–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.8 and 21–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 22–25 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.8 and 20–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.2 and 22–25 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.8 and 22–25 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.8 and 20–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.2 and 22–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.2 and 24–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.2 and 24–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 22–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 22–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 22–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.8 and 25 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6–6.5 and 24–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 23–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.8 and 23–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.2 and 20–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 23–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.8 and 24–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 20–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 23–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.8 and 22–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.8 and 22–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.8 and 24–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 22–25 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.8 and 22–25 °C.
Compatible invertebrates
General guidance based on water parameters, behaviour and known exceptions; always review the individual animals' and aquarium's specific needs.
They share water: pH 7–7.8 and 20–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6–6.5 and 20–24 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 22–25 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.8 and 20–25 °C.
They share water: pH 7.5–7.8 and 24–25 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.8 and 22–25 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.8 and 22–25 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.8 and 22–25 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.8 and 20–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 20–25 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.8 and 22–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6–6.8 and 20–24 °C.
They share water: pH 6–6.8 and 20–24 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 20–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 22–25 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.8 and 20–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 23–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 23–25 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.8 and 23–25 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.8 and 20–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 20–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 20–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 20–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 20–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 20–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 20–25 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.8 and 22–25 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.8 and 22–25 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.8 and 22–25 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.8 and 22–25 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.8 and 22–25 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.8 and 22–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.8 and 20–25 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.8 and 20–25 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.8 and 20–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6–6.5 and 20–24 °C.
Sources
- FishBaseFroese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2026. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication.
The care values (pH, temperature and hardness) come from a single source: none of the other accepted sources records them for this species.
Water: FishBase gives pH 6-7.8, hardness up to 30 dH (no minimum) and 20-25 °C. The profile's hardness minimum (5 dGH) is its own judgement. Size: 10 cm TL, a personal estimate that FishBase records. Status: the IUCN lists it as Endangered since 2018.
Litres per fish, tank sizes and lifespan: the profile's own judgement. The sources consulted do not give them.
Plan your next aquarium
Is this fish right for you? Plan a suitable aquarium before setting it up.