Generally speaking, wild forms of livebearers are only rarely seen in the hobby. However, aquarists who specialize themselves in these fishes are most often that fascinated that they never give them up anymore. One of the most beautiful species is Brachyrhaphis roseni, which originates from brooks running through woodland in Panama and Costa Rica. Keeping these fishes is not difficult at all. Females attain a maximum length of about 6 cm, males stay always much smaller. But breeding these livebearers is really tricky and not many persons are successful. One of the reasons is the fact that the species is extremely cannibalistic against the fry. Trying to keep them in breeding boxes always fails, because the females are much too nervous for that.

 

But one of our breeders finally has solved the problem and so we can offer now for the first time ever a good number of these rare and beautiful fishes.

 

One should keep B. roseni in schools. The species prefers to swim near the water surface. Tankmates can be smaller cichlids, fast swimming species of tetra, catfish, etc.. Other species of liverbearers should be avoided, because B. roseni can be quite rough against similar fishes.

 

Half-grown females look almost like males and are much more colorful than fully grown females. A "gravity spot" is present in both sexes.

 

For our customers: the fish have code 408123 on our stock list. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Lexicon: Brachyrhaphis: means "short needle"; this refers to the mating organ of the males. roseni: dedication name for Donn E. Rosen (1929-1986).

 

Brachyrhaphis is a genus of poeciliids native to freshwater habitats in Central America. Most are restricted to Panama and Costa Rica, but B. holdridgei also occurs in Nicaragua and B. hartwegi is from Mexico and Guatemala.

 

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Brachyrhaphis cascajalensis (Meek & Hildebrand, 1913)

• Brachyrhaphis episcopi (Steindachner, 1878)

• Brachyrhaphis hartwegi D. E. Rosen & R. M. Bailey, 1963 (Soconusco gambusia)

• Brachyrhaphis hessfeldi M. K. Meyer & Etzel, 2001

• Brachyrhaphis holdridgei W. A. Bussing, 1967

• Brachyrhaphis olomina (Meek, 1914)

• Brachyrhaphis parismina (Meek, 1912)

• Brachyrhaphis punctifer (C. L. Hubbs, 1926)

• Brachyrhaphis rhabdophora (Regan, 1908)

• Brachyrhaphis roseni W. A. Bussing, 1988

• Brachyrhaphis roswithae M. K. Meyer & Etzel, 1998

• Brachyrhaphis terrabensis (Regan, 1907)