Alternative name Melanorivulus zygonectes.

The type locality of Rivulus zygonectes is in the Brasilian state Goias. The place Cannabrava is given but that place is called Cana Brava today. It is situated in the rio Tocantins basin.

The superspecies components are: Rivulus apiamici, R. cyanopterus, R. dapazi, R. decoratus, R. egens, R. litteratus, R. modestus, R. paracatuensis, R. parnaibensis, R. pictus, R. pinima, R. punctatus, R. rossoi, R. rutilicaudus, R. scalaris, R. violaceus, R. vittatus and R. zygonectes.

The species is only separated from other components of the superspecies by the yellow background on which the standard chevron- like red markings are situated.

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 1.4 mm and amber colored. It is wise, to add some acryflavine to the water you store the eggs in, 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 2,5 years in captivity.

Remarks :

Max. size 4.0 cm.
Dorsal 9.0,
Anal 14.0,
D/A 8.0,
LL scale count (average) 36.0
Pre- dorsal length to % SL – 77.0 %
Depth to % SL – 19.0 %