E. chaperi was first described and named in 1882 by H. E. Sauvage, who based his description on specimens collected by M. Chaper near Couracrou, in the eastern part of the Gold Coast (today the Ivory Coast). However, due to a misidentification by G. A. Boulenger, the species was for some time confused with E. dageti Monroviae, which was distributed under the E. chaperi name. This confusion existed until 1964, when J. Daget and J. Arnoult resolved the confusion, based on study of Sauvage’s original specimens, and subsequently brought E. chaperi out of obscurity.
E. chaperi is one of the “quiet” killies, tending to spend much time motionless in one spot, usually just below the surface. They tend to be more animated when kept with other tropical fish than when kept in species groupings.
Body shape is typical for the Epiplatys, with dark crossbars on the sides, the number and placement of which aids in differentiating the various subspecies. Both have black bars around the chin and lips, and an iridescent spot on the head between the eyes. Females are not as intensely colored as males, and often develop additional barring on the sides. In the center of the caudal fin the rays are elongated to form a square extension.
The species occurs in a fairly large natural range in permanent slow-moving or standing waters filled with vegetation, throughout forest and savanna habitats from southeastern Guinea south and east to the Togo Hills in eastern Ghana. In the forest (woodland) habitats waters are cooler and darker than those in the savanna areas. Native waters are usually acid and soft, with a high concentration of humic acid from decaying vegetation.
Such wide variation in natural habitat seems to make E. chaperi an excellent aquarium fish. In the aquarium the species seems content at a pH of 7.2-7.4, with moderately hard water,does not appear sensitive to bright light, can tolerate a wide range of temperatures, and will eat a variety of freeze dried, frozen and flake foods.
Spawning is typical for the genus, with spawning mops readily accepted. For breeding a trio is recommended, with preconditioning of the females. Egg production is not as good as with E. dageti or E. sexfasciatus, however. Fry hatch in 13-15 days, and growth is moderate. Separation by size is recommended.
Four distinct subspecies, differentiated primarily by their coloration, are recognized, with numerous additional populations found which exhibit highly variable “intermediate” colorations. Hybridization experiments seem to indicate that all E. chaperi, however colored, are reproductively the same.
E chaperi chaperi chaperi (Savage 1882) occupies a restricted range in the southeastern Ivory Coast and southwesternGhana. Basic coloration is pinkish-gray with a purple sheen. A maroon dot marks each scale, suggesting broken horizontal stripes. The dorsal fin is dark edged blue to black, the anal fin has a bright orange border, and the caudal fin is edged in orange and blue. Four bars mark the rear half of the body, the first starting just before the first ray of the anal fin.
E. chaperi sheljuzhkoi (Poll 1953) comes from southwestern Ghana, south of the range of E. chaperi chaperi. The body has an overall blue sheen which extends into the unpaired fins. The subspecies has five dark bars, the first located next to the pectoral fins, the rest placed as for E. chaperi chaperi. Red reticulations mark the scales. Males often develop a row of large dark red spots near the base of the anal fin, which is deeply edged in black.
E. chaperi spillmanni (Arnoult 1960) is found near the city of Bouake, in the centralIvory Coast.Coloration is similar to E. chaperi sheljuzhkoi.
E. chaperi schreiberi (Berkenkamp 1975) comes from an area around Kumasi, Ghana, north of the range of E. chaperi chaperi and E. chaperi sheljuzhkoi. This subspecies has no body sheen; the red spots are evenly distributed over the body and fins in no particular pattern. The caudal and dorsal fins have a blueish/white edge. Five dark bars are present, four as in E. chaperi chaperi and the fifth located at the base of the ventral fins.
Reference:
Sellers, Karen and Jerry. “The Real One,” Killie Kolumn, Freshwater and Marine Aquarium, January 1986.
— G.C.K.A. Newsletter, November 1998