Epiplatys ruhkopfi Berkenkamp & Etzel 1980

Male from Kaningali, Liberia.
Photo courtesy of Ed Pürzl.

Meaning of Name

After Willi Ruhkopf, a German aquarist.

First Description

Berkenkamp H.O & Etzel V. 1980.

Epiplatys ruhkopfi spec. nov., eine neue Hechtlingsart aus Liberia (Pisces; Cyprinodontidae).

DKG Journal 12 (11): p 165-176, 9 figures, 2 maps.

Size

71.5 mm (Acording to the original description).

Meristics

D = 11-13, A = 16-18, D/A = +8-10, ll = 29-30 (+1-4) (Berkenkamp & Etzel 1980)

Karyotype

 

Sub-Genus

Epiplatys

Group

fasciolatus

Synonyms
  • Epiplatys fasciolatus ruhkopfi Radda & Pürzl 1987
  • Aplocheilus ruhkopfi Scheel 1990
Populations
  • Gbondo (Liberia)
  • Kaningali (central Liberia)
  • Zienzu
  • RL 78 / 55 - Type locality
 
Type Locality

Given as '55 m north of Kaningali town, between Zienzu & Suakoko, central Liberia). Coded RL 78 / 55.

Distribution

Presently only known from the area of the type locality. This area is drained by the upper Saint Johns River.
Between Zienzu & Suakoko, near Kaningali Town.

http://homepage.uibk.ac.at/homepage/c102/c102mr/epiplaty/ruhkopfi.htm

Habitat

 

Distinguishing Characteristics  
Colour/Pattern Variability Low
History

 

Breeding Notes

A species not often seen. Breeding reports are hard to find. As the fish is closely related to E.coccinatus I would presume breeding is similar.
I talked with a breeder in the UK who said they stopped breeding around October & resumed in the spring.

Adrian Burge reported in BKA newsletter No.426, March 2001. He set fish up in a 12" cubed tank. Rainwater was neutral pH. Eggs were laid on brown floating mops & floating water lettuce. These were taken off & water incubated at a room temperature of 75°F. Hatching occured in 15-20 days. Fry were transferred to another tank with Java moss. Food also included Paramecium for the first few days. After this newly hatched brine shrimp & microworm were fed. These were not fast growers. After 6-7 months they were 3/4 - 1" & just starting to sex out.
Fry were also found in the floating plant. Future fry were scooped out o another tank.
He noted that spawning stopped in October. It was thought that daylight hours might be the reason as the fish house was lit by natural daylight.

Diameter of Egg Approx. 1mm.
Remarks