 In that respect, they resemble the jeweled splitfin ("Xenotoca variata"); they do not have a ritualized "courtship dance" as some other splitfins, but the male sometimes rotates to present either flank to the female.The females respond by shaking their heads.The fry when born can be up to 0.8 in (20 mm) in length, as the females feed the unborn young via trophotaenia which have a similar function as the umbilical cord in humans.