After Professor J.L.Amiet, Director of the Zoology Museum, faculty of sciences, University of Yaoundé, Cameroon.

Radda A.C 1976. (Aphyosemion amieti).

Neubeschreibung von Aphyosemion amieti nov. spec. aus Kamerun und Aphyosemion deltaense nov. spec., aus Nigeria.

Aquaria 23: p 52-55, figure 2.

7 cm.

• D=14, A=16, D/A= + 4-5, ll = 33-34 (+2-3). (ll = 34 (+2) holotype).(Radda 1976)
• D = 14, A = 16-17, ll = 33-34 (Radda & Pürzl 1987)

Paraphyosemion

ndianus

• Aphyosemion amieti Radda 1976
• Fundulopanchax amieti Lazara 1984
• Aphyosemion (Paraphyosemion) amieti Huber 1994

• Somakak (western Cameroon)
• Song Makak
• Sud Sanaga (South of Sanaga)
• C89 / 31
• C89 / 32
• CMG 13 / 2
• EMS 90 / 16
• HJRK 92 / 18

A forest stream on the road to Koupongo, 500 metres west of Somakak, Sanaga basin, Cameroon.

Restricted to relict areas of the Sanaga River basin, Cameroon. They are replaced to the south by the A.cameronense group in the Nyong drainage area & Fp.puezli to the north in the Wuri River system.

Biotope of Fp.amieti at Somakak. Photo courtesy of Ed Pürzl.

Found in deep, stoneless, marshy areas created by the action of fast flowing streams, also in forested areas. Also shallow, marshy areas of rain forest brooks.

Radda took measurements on the 2nd December 1974 & found air temperature 27'C, water temperature 24.8'C, pH 6.5, DH 0.2.

Sympatric sp. include Fp.puerzli, A.riggenbachi, A.franzwerneri, Epiplatys sexfasciatus, Alestes longipinnis & Barbus guirali.

Discovered by A.C.Radda in 1974. The type material was found by Ed Pürzl in February 1975 in the lower coarse of the Sanaga River System.

First recorded introduction into the BKA was in the later part of 1975.

This is a semi-annual sp. laying eggs in bottom mops or peat/fibres or silver sand.

When this sp. first began to circulate in the UK their was a great deal of material published in BKA Newsletters from members who had had success with peat spawning & none with mop spawning & vice versa. I have spawned this sp. in both peat & mops & have had success in hatching & raising a small number of fry on, although the parents were observed to go through periods where no eggs were layed until the set up was changed to the opposite they were accustomed to. Fp.puerzli also reacts this way.
When water incubating the eggs I found a period of 3 weeks to be about right although this was on the cooler side (low '70'sF). Dry incubation took about 2 months.
Fry on hatching take newly hatched brine shrimp.

Eric Bowden in BKA newsletter No. 357, June 1995 reported getting shell less eggs. These 'naked eggs in a few cases developed & even produced fry.

Young females C89/31 Édéa-Yaoundé 18 km just sexing out. Photo courtesy of Michael Pidwirny.

A report by Fred Wright in BKA newsletter No.136, December 1976 stated that by using the dry storage method eggs were ready to hatch in 21 days. This was found to be the optimum period resulting in healthy fry. Longer periods of drying were found to be detrimental & eggs would even disintegrate.
The first specimens introduced into the BKA were found to be prolific, laying in bottom medium (peat fibre, peat moss, bottom mops). Fry on hatching were able to take newly hatched brine shrimp. First signs of sexing out was observed at 8 weeks. Females were observed to mature more rapidly than males. A sex ratio of 4 to 1 in favour of females was noted.
It was observed that fry could grow on in the parents tank without being molested.
Brood stock was regarded as being over the hill at 15 months of age.
Brightly lit tanks were found to be best avoided.

Ian Sainthouse wrote a breeding account in BKA newsletter No.145, September 1977 in which he recommended incubating eggs in water as he had a 90% hatch rate but little success using the dry storage method.
The pair were spawned in a bare tank with a sponge filter & mop (water temperature 73-78°F, pH 6, DH less than 2. They were fed heavily on Daphnia & beef heart. Despite this heavy feeding it was noted that the parents were avid egg eaters & frequent inspections for eggs was recommended.
Eggs were placed in a seperate container with rainwater at a depth of half an inch with a slight colouring of methylene blue. Eggs can take up a lot of dye so you have to be careful not to discard good eggs. This container was left undisturbed after this time.
After 5-6 weeks of incubation the embryo was visible & a small amount of microworm was added to the container. Within 2 hours the eggs hatched. Fry grow quickly & a small amount was added.

Jaroslav Kadlec in BKA newsletter No.207, November 1982 gives a breeding report in which he found them easily bred in an 4-6 litre tank. Water temperature range of 23-27°C, pH 6-7, DH 5-15. He recommended a weekly water change of 25-50%.
Males were noted as being hard drivers & can kill a lone female so 2-3 females were used for breeding.
Water incubated eggs were stored in water of 1-3 DH, pH 6-6·5, water temperature 24-27°C. Development took 3-5 weeks. Eggs stored in damp peat incubate for 6-8 weeks & gave a better yield.
Growth rate was slow despite regular feedings & a growth of 12 mm was recorded after 1 month. First signs of spawning attemps were after 14 weeks when the male was 4 cm & the female 3 cm. Full colouration in the males was seen after 2 months. Full maturity was noted as being 8-9 months for males & 6 months for females.

This is an extremely colourful sp. which is fairly easy to maintain & spawn. Eggs can be taken from mops & incubated on a layer of damp/wet peat or capillary matting (which I found a little less effective). This method is good to observe the growing embryo's.