Alternative name Rivulus (Oditichthys) speciosus.

In November 1980 it was Patrick deRahm from Lausanne, Swiss that discovered this species around Quista Cocha, some 18 Km south from Iquitos along the road towards Nauta. The name "speciosus" refers to the brilliant red and green colours at the sides of males in this minute species.

Other localties that are mentionned are: Jenaro Herrera (deRahm 1992) and near Quisto Cocha by S. Kullander in 1981.

Keeping and breeding is not easy and a good cover of the aquarium is necessary because there ability to jump, even true the smallest opening, is unbelievable.

This species can, if they are kept in a small tank with only one male and one female, produce a few eggs a day. Eggs are very big for such a small species. The species is not agressive to other fishes. If separated during a period of time and brought together again however, males 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 a trio in a small tank from about 10 liters with a small filter in it or with some airation only. On the bottom some peat moss or dark gravel and a floating "mop" to give space for laying there eggs. A thick layer of floating plants like riccia is adviced and fry will stay in that layer without being eaten by the adult fishes. The fish will, if they become a rich varity of life food, spawn during there whole adult life and produce daily between 3 to 5 eggs.

The eggs can 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 youngs need infusoria first and can eat fresh artemia nauplii after 2 weks without any problem. It takes 5 to 7 months to raise them to maturity. They love rainwater and tanks must contain not to much debris as the species is sensible to pollution. Regularly waterchange is therfore a must.

Their lifespan can be up to 2 - 3 years in captivity.

Remarks :

Max. size 3.5 cm.
Dorsal 6.0,
Anal 11.0,
D/A 8.5,
LL scale count (average)33.0
Pre- dorsal length to % SL – 77.0 %
Depth to % SL – 20.1 %