Alternative name Melanorivulus vittatus.

The type locality of Rivulus vittatus was recorded as : "Estrada São Simão - Jataí, 192 Km ao south of Jataí." However, the entire distance between the two cities is excactly 192 Km and there are no suitable Rivulus habitats in São Simão. Hence there is reason to believe this info was incorrect.

Material of R. vittatus was found along this road (BR 364) at several other spots however. (See maps)

To the right the images from the description by W.J.E.M. Costa. Other images to the right- and below are demontrate the variability in this species.

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 5.0 cm.
Dorsal 9.2,
Anal 13.9,
D/A 7.5,
LL scale count (average)33.5
Pre- dorsal length to % SL – 75.9 %

Costa, W.J.E.M. 1989. Descricao de cinco Especies de Rivulus das Bacias dos Rios Parana e Sao Francisco (Cyprinodontiformes: Rivulidae). Revta. Bras. Zool., 6 (3): 530, figs. 5-5a.

Costa W.J.E.M., 2007. A new species of Rivulus from the Claro river drainage, upper Paraná river basin, central Brazil, with redescription of R. pinima and R. vittatus (Cyprinodontiformes: Rivulidae). Ichthyol. Explor.Freshwaters, Vol. 18, No. 4, pp. 313-323, 7 figs., 2 tabs.