Fundulopanchax spoorenbergi (Berkenkamp 1976)

Photo courtesy of Michael Pidwirny

Meaning of Name

After Frank Spoorenberg a Dutch aquarist who discovered them in an aquatic retailer.

First Description

Berkenkenkamp H.O. 1976 (Aphyosemion spoorenbergi).

Aphyosemion spoorenbergi spec. nov., ein neuer Prachtkärpfling aus dem Grenzgebiet von Nigeria, West-Kamerun.

Aquarienfreunde 5 (7): p 123-138, figures, map.

Size

7.5 cm

Meristics
  • D = 14-15, A = 15-17, D/A = +2-4, ll = 32-34 +2-4 (Berkenkamp 1976)
  • D = 14-15, A = 15-17, ll = 35-37 (Radda & Pürzl 1987)
Karyotype

n = 19, A = 36 (Scheel 1975)

Sub-Genus

Paraphyosemion

Group

gardneri

Synonyms
  • Aphyosemion species (Spoorenberg) Boelen 1974
  • Aphyosemion species 'GAR-MIR' Scheel 1975
  • A.spec 'Spoorenberg' BKA name prior to 1976.
  • Aphyosemion spoorenbergi Berkenkamp 1976
  • Fundulopanchax spoorenbergi Lazara 1984
  • Aphyosemion gardneri obuduense (non Wright & Jeremy 1974) Scheel 1990
  • Aphyosemion (Paraphyosemion) spoorenbergi Huber 1994
Populations

Fp.spoorenbergi. Photo courtesy of Ed Pürzl.

Form circulating in the UK early '80's.

Fp.spoorenbergi. Photo courtesy of Ed Pürzl.

Form circulating in the UK taken in 2003

Female. Photo courtesy of Michael Pidwirny

Female. Photo courtesy of Pat Rimmer

Type Locality

Unknown. Type material from commercial import.

Distribution

Unknown but thought to inhabit the Nigeria / Cameroon border.

Habitat

 

Distinguishing Characteristics Heavy red markings to the body. Sub marginal bands of red are also quite thick.
Colour/Pattern Variability Low
History

Discovered in a commercial import at Roelof's aquarium fish importers, Amsterdam, Holland by F.Spoorenberg & P.Boelen, both members of KFN in March 1974. Two different varieties were found which were called 'variety A' & 'variety B'. The 'A' variety was more heavily marked & was bred & distributed. The 'B' variety were possibly Fp.ndianus.
This shipment was received by the importer from a collector who collects in the Nigeria/Cameroon border area. This shipment should have been sent to Japan.
Cross breeding experiments were undertaken by Spoorenberg/Boelen /Berkenkamp with Fp.ndianus, Fp.nigerianum & Fp.mirabilis mirabilis with the following results:-

Fp.spoorenbergi x Fp.ndianus
Sterile
Fp.spoorenbergi x Fp.nigerianum
Sterile
Fp.spoorenbergi x Fp.mirabilis mirabilis
All eggs died

Mr.Rijff of Amsterdam succeeded in raising a few sterile specimens of the mirabilis cross.

Berkenkamp received fish in May 1975 for study.

Breeding Notes

Regarded as an easy species to breed. Eggs are laid on bottom mops. Water incubation takes around 3 weeks. If eggs are dried they take up to 6 months. Fry are capable of taking newly hatched brine shrimp as a first food. Growth is slow with sexual maturity taking 5-6 months.

Berkenkamp wrote an article in BKA newsletter No.138, February 1977 with a breeding report. He found them easy to breed taking live & dried foods. Water temperature 21-23°C (higher temperatures were observed to shorten life span), pH below neutral. Water incubation of eggs took 14 days. Eggs dry stored in peat were wet in 21 days. Fry accepted newly hatched brine shrimp as a first food & growth was observed as being steady.

Les McCathie in BKA Newsletter No. 266/267, October/November 1987 noted 40-50 eggs from one female in a 7 day period.
Eggs are large & easily seen in peat. Semi-dry storage for 4 weeks at 72°F was used to good effect. On wetting, fry emerged after 8 hours, were quite large & accepted newly hatched brine shrimp.
Fry grow rapidly & appreciate plenty of space which makes them less jumpy.

Jaroslav Kadlec in BKA newsletter No.279, November 1988 noted that he has only had success with this sp. when water storing the eggs. These hatch in 30-40 days at 24°C.
Young are slow growing & similar to Fp.cinnamomeus.

Diameter of Egg  
Remarks

Berkenkamp remarked that at 70 mm long caudal streamers were developing in males.
Fred Wright remarked that females were observed to develop at a much faster rate to males.