Rivulus weberi, Huber 1992

History

Alternative name Cynodonichthys weberi.

This species was collected by Dale Weber and Dan Fromm during a collectingtrip in Panama where it was found in a culvert under the road from El Llano to Carti, about 12 km from the I.A.H. crossing, Pacific Panama. This area is called the Lago Bayano basin.

The day of discovery was February 5, 1983.

The species was also found at Quebrada (= spanish for creek) Nusigandi, near Nusigandi village on Carti road.

Related species are Rivulus chucunaque Breder, 1925 and maybe also R. fuscolineatus Bussing, 1980.

Dr. Jean Huber described this species in honor of Dale Weber, one of the collectors and most renown U.S. killi- hobbyist after Dan Fromm's suggestion. Dale Weber died in a car-crash later during one of his surveys in Brazil.

 

 
Rivulus (Cynodonichthys) weberi - male. PAN 09-28. © Image made by F. Vermeulen.
Rivulus (Cynodonichthys) weberi - female. PAN 09-28. © Image made by F. Vermeulen.
Rivulus (Cynodonichthys) aff. weberi - male. "Buenos Aires" PAN 2012-02, © Image made by Tony Terceira, USA.
Rivulus (Cynodonichthys) weberi - male.Panama but not with location. © Image made by F. Vermeulen.
Cynodonichthys (Rivulus) weberi - female. PAN 06-30 © Image made by F. Vermeulen.

Reproduction

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 :

 


Variations
Cynodonichthys (Rivulus) weberi - male. PAN 06-30 © Image made by F. Vermeulen.
 
   

Map
     

Meristics

Max. size 90 mm.,
Dorsal 11-12,
Anal 15-16,
D/A 9.6,
LL scale count 33-36
Pre- dorsal length to % SL – 74.6 %
Depth to % SL – 00.0 %

   

Literature
Huber, J.H. 1992. Review of Rivulus. Ecobiogeography - Relationships. Cybium Suppl., Societe Francaise díchthyologie Publ.: 93, fig. 29a.