This species, described by Dr. Jean H. Huber, was found on June 14. 2002 by Lance R. Peck, commercial fishexporter in Peru, and Roberto Masias Sehue.

The type locality is situated at Fundo Shape in southeastern Peru on 140 mtrs altitude, Rio Tambopata 15 km up the river from Puerto Maldonado.

The strange name was suggested by Mr. Lance Peck as a dedication to his wife Belinda Peck who was given the name "qui i i" by an Ese Eja- shaman friend, years ago.

This nominal species often appears as a valid species in aquarium-fish internet sites but Moema quiii HUBER, 2003, was first published in the December 2013 edition of the Freshwater and Marine Aquarium and is a synonym of M. ortegai, first published on 24 November 2003. 

It is possible for small groups of Killi- enthusiast, who like to collect this and other South Peruvian species like Aphyolebias rubrocaudatus and Rivulus christinae by their own, to book a collecting trip 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 web site using the company name.

Keeping and breeding Moema is easy but it takes some patience from the breeder, a bigger breeding tank and special breeding container. The eggs need long incubation periods up to 10 months. Normally eggs are ready to hatch after 5 to 6 months.

To produce many eggs the parents need to get life food only in a rich varity and quantity. As all fast growing SAA's they do not like dry food and rather die than get used to is. 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 2 or more females in a tank from 30 to 50 litrs or more. Males are not to agressive against female as you will see.

They are peacefull fishes and only males can get agressive to each other especilally if they are separated from each other for a while before.

Storing the eggs is easy to but, as said before, a matter of patience. You must boil 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 also to keep the amount of peat as small as possible but the layer high enough to dive in completely. After spawning during 2 weeks the peat is squeezed out and dried to an level of fresh tabacco. Store it at 25 C. in a dark place. After a few months it is wise to look into the peat if eggs are stil there and if any development in it is visable already. Because it need of a long incubation time it is recommended to check the peat bi- monthly to assure it is still wet enough. If peat is put away very moist and warm (up to 28 C.) is is possible the eggs will hatch in an earlier stage. It is however also possible the eggs disappeare fully by fungus if you do so.

There lifespan can be up to 1.5 years in captivity but they will not get that chance in their natural invironment.

Remarks :

Eggs are big but dark coloured and particles of peat stick to them...so they are not easy to detect in the peat.

Huber, J.H. 2003. A new Species of annual Killifish from southeastern Peru, with a uniquely barred Color Pattrn, Moema quiii n. sp. Freshwater & Marine Aquarium (FAMA), 26 (12), (November 15): 11, figs.