The type locality of this Rachovia pyropunctata is South West of Lake Maracaibo, Guamo road near Hacienda Berlin, between San Felipe and Jaguasito, Zulia State, Venezuela. The discovery was made by F.F. Bond in 1958.

Rachovia pyropunctata forms with the other components R.brevis, R. hummelincki and R. maculipinnis the genus Rachovia. This species often is found in muddy pools together with Austrofundulus who may predate on this smaller species as wel.

The name pyropunctata is derived from the Greek phrase <pyr> or <pyros> which means <fire>. Also fire- spotted. This refers to the many orange spots that are shown in the colourpattern from the males.

As Rachovia pyropunctata is wide spread in northern Venezuela around the lake Maracaibo. The local species did all adapt to their specific situation and even than this situation fluctuate from year to year. So it is very difficult to give specific time tables for incubation or for temperature and water quality and measurements.

To give a sort of indication of the time the species need to incubate I will supply you with the most average information. Please keep in mind that this vary's from one location to the other. Normally 12 to 16 weeks the eggs need to be ready for watering. They are ready if the iris is clearly visible inside the egg schell. It further depends on temperature and humidity of the storage conditions.

The higher the temperature - up to 35 C. is possible - the earlier the development. This can speed up the development at the best to 6 weeks but it is not recommended as there is a major loss of eggs possible. The humidity is also a factor and the wetter the peat the earlier the development. But also here is this not without danger of funges attacs if peat is stored to wet.

The species mostly live on clay bottoms that affect the waters pH they live in and mostly the pH is around the neutral level. So, low pH can also effect the survival of the eggs but does not has effect on the time of development. It is wise to choose a spawning medium that has not a very low pH. Therefore I recomment the use of Coco - peat that is boiled well before it is used.

Rachovia is a productive Genus and many eggs can be produced by one single pair if food of good quality is given. They do not like dry foods but do like life food as mosquito larvae and other small insects. In most cases they also love fresh meat but this is not always good for their guts and overfeeding with meat can lead to siknesses or dead.

Juveniles eat artemia from the moment they are born. The growht is very rapid and whitin 6 weeks they are able to spawn themselves. Females are, at a certain point, to be seperated from the males for reasons they grow less rapad in the first weeks and can become prey to the bigger males easely.

Max. size 7.0 cm.
Dorsal 10.5,
Anal 13.7,
D/A 7.0,
LL scale count (average)30.1
Pre- dorsal length to % SL – 67.9 %

Taphorn, D.C. & J.E. Thomerson. 1978. A revision of the South American Cyprinodont Fishes of the Genera Rachovia and Austrofundulus, with the Description of a new Genus. Acta Biol. Venezuela, 9 (4): 403, fig. 9c.