Alternative name Rivulus (Oditichthys) rubrolineatus.

The species was described from Peru in 1981.

One of the authors, Mr. Patrick de Rham from Lausanne, Swiss was also the discoverer of the species. He collected this nice Rivulus about 14 Km east of Jenaro Herrera on the way to Colonia Angamos in eastern Amazonian Peru.

The types of this species are stored at the museum of Genève (MHNG) nr. 2079.46

The status of this species is discussed as it is also seen as a possible junior synonyme of Rivulus taeniatus but as you can see when you compare this species with R. taeniatus you will see this is not the case.

During an expedition with my American friend and explorer Fritz Rohde in 2022, we were able to recover the original Rivulus rubrolineatus from its type locality, 14 KM east of the village Jenaro Herrera, along the Rio Ucayali, first by car from Iquitos to Nauta, then 104 km by boat to reach Janero Herrera. It was the first time the species was collected after its description in 1981. During that trip we were also able to find the original Rivulus irridescens.

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 :

Max. size 6.5 cm.
Dorsal 8.0,
Anal 14.0,
D/A 11.0,
LL scale count (average)41.0
Pre- dorsal length to % SL – 75.0 %
Depth to % SL – 19.0 %