This charming dwarf killi – it becomes only 3-4 cm long – reached us from Paraguay. The species is remarkable for several reasons. First of all this is the species of Rivulus that can be found most far in the south. R. punctatus can tolerate temperatures as low as 12°C for a short time. These are the temperatures a freshwater fish has to face in these southern parts of South America temporarily.
Another special feature of the species is the fact that the males can have very different patterns in the caudal fin.
Keeping and breeding Rivulus punctatus is rather easy. The species belongs to the subgenus Melanorivulus. However, there is one thing one must keep always in mind: these fish are excellent jumpers! This passion often costs their lifes. In the wild the fish wander through wet grasses and can often be found found from an open water. So the tank for R. punctatus must be covered absolutely closely.
For our customers: the fish have code 344002 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
