Aphyosemion wachtersi Radda & Huber 1978
A.wachtersi FCCO
2013-01 Zanaga Mikougi Wild Fish
Photo courtesy of Christian Cauvet
Meaning of Name |
After Walter Wachters of Tremelo, Belgium. |
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First Description |
Radda A.C. & Huber J.H. 1978 Die Rivulinen des südlichen Kongo (Brazzaville) 1, Beschreibung von vier neuen Arten der Gattung Aphyosemion Myers. Aquaria, 25: p 179 - 181, figures 8 & 9, map. |
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Size |
4.5cm |
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Meristics |
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Karyotype |
n = 17, A = 34 (Scheel 1981) |
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Sub-Genus |
Mesoaphyosemion |
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Group |
wachtersi |
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Synonyms |
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Populations
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FCCO 2013 / 4 -
RPC 78 / 30 - Sympatric sp. include A.caudofasciatum, Hypsopanchax zebra, Barbus sp. (3), Gymnallebes alvarezi.
RPC 91 / 30 - Obilly.
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Type Locality |
Voula II, 9km north east of Zanaga on the road to Ogowe, Congo. |
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Distribution |
Central Congo, in the Ogowe River drainage system & the Lesala subsystem. |
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Habitat |
Rainforest pools, streams & brooks. The type locality was a pool four square metres in diameter fed by a spring. This was used as the water supply by the native people from the village. |
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Distinguishing Characteristics | |||||||||
Colour/Pattern Variability | |||||||||
History |
Discovered by Buytaert & Wachters in the
village of Voula II, 9 km northeast of Zanaga on the road to Ogoue on
the 24th July 1978 at 0830 hrs. |
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Breeding Notes |
Regarded as a difficult species to breed. Males
can be aggressive so plenty of cover is required for females. Parents
reportedly leave eggs & fry alone so a permanent breeding set up
works well. Eggs may also be water incubated in seperate containers.
Water incubation takes 12-21 days. The fry are capable of taking newly
hatched brine shrimp as a first food. Growth is slow with sexual maturity
taking 7-8 months. Some males can start to show colouration at 4-5 months. A breeding account in BKA newsletter No.194,
October 1981 by Andre Schonewille stated that the pair were set up in
a 12x8x8" tank with water of DH 6, pH 6·7 & a temperature
of 20-23°C. Some peat fibre & a spawning mop were added. Within
3 days 15 eggs were collected but these all fungussed. |
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Diameter of Egg | |||||||||
Remarks |
Best maintained in aquaria with a dark bottom
to show full colouration. The first generation from wild did not show
the colouration of there parents & careful selection of future brood
stock should be excercised. |