Alternative name Cynodonichthys birkhahni.

During one of many expeditions of Dr. Volrad Etzel, at that time accompanied by Holger Birkhahn and others, the species was discovered not far from Chiricui Grande, provincia Bocas del Toro at the Caribbean side of Panama.

Berkenkamp & Etzel both described the species and named it in honour to the co- discoverer Holger Birkhahn.

The species belongs to a group containing also R. kuelpmanni and R. wassmanni, all from Panama. It differs from these and other Panama species as R. brunneus and R. rubripunctatus by its deeper body and the 2 dark red- brown longitudinal stripes on the males flanks. Females have large double ocellus at the caudal peduncle. It turned out to be different from R. weberi by the presence in females of 2 vertical dark blotches on upper post - opercular region.

According to J.H. Huber it is probably close related to R. weberi.

Keeping and breeding is easy but a good cover of the aquarium is necessary because there ability to jump, even true the smallest opening, is unbelievable.

This species can, if there is enough space for them, housed in a tank with more males than one only and several females. If separated before and brought together again however, they can be very agressive to each other and fight to become dominant to others. The best way to have much offspring is to put a pair or an trio in a small tank from 10 liters with a small filter in it or with some airation. On the bottom some peat moss or dark gravel and a floating "mop" to give space for laying there eggs. The fish will, if they become a rich varity of life food, spawn during there whole adult life and produce daily between 5 to 15 eggs.

The eggs should be collected by hand and stored for about 14 days in a small container. Eggs are 1.6 mm and amber colored. It is wise, to add to the water you store the eggs in, some acryflavine to provent fungus coming up.

After hatching the young fry can eat fresh artemia nauplii without any problem. It takes 4 to 5 months to raise them to maturity. Often the number of males is far above the number of females. For some species this can become a major problem for the breeder as he has to raise many young fishes and so become able to distribute a few pairs to other hobbyists. Recent personal tests laerned that lower pH levels during the time of hatching gave a higher percentage of females. To achieve this I use some peat moss that I add to the container with the egss just before they are ready to hatch. This peat moss also is a good way to prevent eggs to become attact by fungusses.

There lifespan can be up to 3 years in captivity.

Remarks :

Max. size 6.0 cm.
Dorsal 8.5,
Anal 14.8,
D/A 10.3
LL scale count (average)35.5
Pre- dorsal length to % SL – 76.5 %
Depth to % SL – 19.7 %

Berkenkamp H.O. & V. Etzel. 1992. Die Rivulus-Arten von Panama. 2. Wiederbeschreibung von R. brunneus und Beschreibung von R. birkhahni spec. nov. von Chiquiri Grande. D.K.G. (Deutsche Killifisch Gemeinschaft.) J., 24 (7): 102, figs.