This very minute killifish that can get a total legth of about 3 cm is discovered by J. Diniz on 5 May 2003 near the city Altamira, Rio Xingu in temporary pools in the state Para, Brazil.

It shares the filamented pectoral fin rays with other mebers of the genus but differs to other members of the genus by several small differences in countings of scales and finrays and overall colouration.

Female image in description show scattered series of spots, subdued, forming broad oblique bars on the sides. Other females of the genus do not show a pattern similar to this species. Mostly the oblique bars are formed by dark edges of scales or totally absent..

Breeding all members of the Plesiolebias family is for experienced hobbyists only. The eggs need a long incubation period of sometimes 6 to 9 months and are very mall compared to the most other annual fishes. The young fry need absolute infusoria to eat in the fist weeks of their life. Growing to maturity is under good circumstances very quick and within 2 months Plesiolebias is able to reproduce already. This is my expirience but I am aware of other written articals that state this will be more. Slow growth could be triggered by insufficient food in the first weeks of their life.

Production of eggs is abundant but the outcome gives mostly not a good rate in gender and often males are 90 % or more in the offspring what makes it difficult to spread the fish otherwise than by sending eggs. As the members of the genus are also easely stressed it is not easy to send or transport these delicate fishes also.

For every hobbyist that has a special interest in this genus therefore it is a challenge to keep and reproduce them over a longer period of time.

Remarks :

The fry are very small and need to be fed with paramecium or other micro organisms. The use of a bunch of plants in the breeding container also will help the fry to feed for the first days. After one or two weeks fresh artemia can be eaten.

Max. size SL 18.1 mm.
Dorsal 10-12,
Anal 14-16,
D/A 4-5,
LL scale count (average)22-23,
Pre- dorsal length to % SL – 61.8 %
Depth to % SL – 24.8 %