Aphyolebias rubrocaudatus, (Seegers, 1984)

History

This species is found at Rio Tambopata, Rio Madre de Dios, 7 km from Puerto Maldonato in southeast Peru. It was first discovered by K. Elgner and E. Lenkenhoff on 25 April 1981. It is a distinct species with a wide, but scattered, spreading and is very variable in its color pattern. (see variations below) The name Aphyolebias rubrocaudatus refers to the red (Latin = Rubeo) color in the caudal fin (Latin = caudal) of males. The species did well in aquariums and has become one of the favorites in tanks of people who love the annual fishes of South America.

They share a black marginal band in the lower part of the caudal fin with A. boticarioi, A. claudia, A. obliquus, and A. schleseri. New live collecting in a broader range is necessary to do some new studies and find their relationship to the other species in the group.

It is possible for small groups of Killi- enthusiast, who like to collect this and other South Peruvian species like Moema quiii and Rivulus christinae, to book a collecting trip. You can do so with a local based "WildPeru" owned and run by Michael Barber from Washington D.C. USA and Ian Fuller from England. For more details, you can visit their website using the company name.

 

 
Aphyolebias rubrocaudatus - male, Rio Madre de Dios. © Image made by F. Vermeulen
Aphyolebias rubrocaudatus- female. Rio Madre de Dios. © Image made by F. Vermeulen

Behavior:

Aphyolebias rubrocaudatus is always found in primary forests situated in inland lowland and in standing temporary waters of minor depths. It seems that other larger species like Moema quiii that share the same habitat are predators of this species. (KilliData, Huber, 2003.) To prevent being eaten, Aphyolebias rubrocaudatus spend the night in the cover of the thick layer of fallen leaves. They live together with Rivulus beniensis, Rivulus aff. iridescens and Moema quiii, as stated.

 

 


Reproduction

Keeping and breeding are easy, but it takes some patience from the breeder. This because the eggs need a long incubation period of up to 4 months. To produce many eggs, the parents need to get live food only in a wide variety and mass. Like all fast-growing SAA's, they do not like dry food and rather die than get used to it. Sometimes they eat frozen foods also, but you should never skip the life food for them. They can be very productive, and the best set-up is one male and two or more females in a tank from 25 to 40 liters. Males are not too aggressive against the female, as you will see. Like all Aphyiolebias species, this species is found in primary forests and should be treated as Aphyolebias peruensis for breeding and maintenance. Aphyolebias eggs do not survive in very dry peat moss.

 

Storing the eggs is easy too but as said before... a matter of patience. It would be best if you boiled the peat before you use it in the breeding tank. I use deep containers with peat to avoid food enters the peat and later affects the eggs. This container will also keep the amount of peat as small as possible but the layer high enough to dive in completely. After spawning for two weeks, the peat is squeezed out and dried to a level of fresh tobacco. Storage is best at 25 Celsius in a dark place. After a few months, it is wise to look into the peat if eggs are still there and if any development is visible. Because eggs need a long incubation time, it is recommended to check the peat bi-monthly if it is still wet. If peat is put away very moist and warm (up to 30 C.), the eggs will hatch in an earlier stage. It is, however, also possible that the eggs disappear entirely by the building up of fungus.

 

Remarks :

 


Variations
Aphyolebias rubrocaudatus - Male, Loc.nr. 152. © Image made by F. Vermeulen
Aphyolebias rubrocaudatus - male, Peru. SSPP 09-09 km 3. © Image made and donated by W. Suyker, The Netherlands.
Aphyolebias rubrocaudatus - male, Peru. SSPP 09-10 km 8. © Image made and donated by W. Suyker, The Netherlands.
Aphyolebias rubrocaudatus - male, Peru. SSPP 09-09 km 10. © Image made and donated by W. Suyker, The Netherlands.
 
Aphyolebias rubrocaudatus, Rio Madre de Dios - Pair. © Image made by F. Vermeulen
Aphyolebias rubrocaudatus - male, Peru. SSPP 09-09 km 10. © Image made and donated by W. Suyker, The Netherlands.
Aphyolebias rubrocaudatus - male, Peru. SSPP 09-09 km 2. © Image made and donated by W. Suyker, The Netherlands.

Map
 

Meristic's

Max. size 6.0 cm.
Dorsal 8.5,
Anal 14.0,
D/A 10.1,
LL scale count (average)33.5
Pre- dorsal length to % SL – 73.8 %
Depth to % SL – 21.9 %

   

Literature
Seegers, L. 1984. Einer neuer Rivuline aus Peru: Pterolebias rubrocaudatus (Pisces: Atheriniformes; Cyprinodontidae). Bonn. Zool. Beitr., 35 (1-3): 243, figs. 1-2.