This small and fragile species is found in savannah areas. Their distribution is known in the floodplains of middle rio Tocantins, between Itaguatins and Sampaio, Estado do Tocantins, at the southeast portion of the Amazonian forest.

Discovered by G. Brasil, 3 June, 2000.

Some of the material was extracted from the material of Plesiolebias xavantei ( Costa, Lacerda & Tanizaki) as mis identification was recognised.

Males have filamented pectoral finrays, that is expressed in the name Plesiolebias filamentosus. Other members of Plesiolebias do not show this feature.

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 20.7 mm.
Dorsal 11-13,
Anal 15-16,
D/A 7-8,
LL scale count (average) 23,0
Pre- dorsal length to % SL – 64.8 %
Depth to % SL – 21.5 %