Any info on these Benitochomis sp "Eseka"

[DWFISH]

Just looking for any info on this fish.

 

[DWFISH]

here are some photo.

sorry, not the best photos

 

[Randall]

Benitochromis sp. "Eseka"

Hello DW,

The first mention in this forum of what was a new import, at the time, of 'Chromidotilapia sp. "Makondo"' was back on Sept. 23, 2002. I purchased this fish from Toyin Ojo who told me that they were collected from Makondo, a small village in southern Cameroon between Edea and Eseka. Although they resembled Linke & Staeck's 'Chromidotilapia sp. "Eseka",' the coloration and pattern of dark markings was different. To this day, the Benitochromis (as per Lamboj's 2001 revision) sp. "Edea/Eseka/Makondo" question remains unresolved.

In his book, Anton Lamboj shows photos of similar looking Benitochromis batesii-type forms. He calls the Makondo form B. cf. batesii "Makondo," the Linke & Staeck form B. sp. "Eseka," and also cites a Benitochromis form from Edea, which, he says, may be B. sp. "Eseka." From your photos, I can't tell which fish you have, although we can probably eliminate B. sp. "Eseka" because this form seemingly only exists in Linke & Staek's books.

Whatever you have, Benitochromis species are unspecialized omnivores that do well on a diet containing shrimpy foods and vegetable matter. Rich, fatty foods should be avoided. These fish are sensitive to water quality, so frequent partial water changes are a must. Ideally, the water should be soft, acidic, not to warm, and low in conductivity (KH 2-3, pH 6.5ish, temp. 75-76 degrees F, conductivity <200 Microsiemens/l @ 76 degrees F).

When they mature, the Makondo form is easily spawned (they are maternal larvophilic mouthbrooders), and the females in particular are very pretty.

Good luck!

All the best,

Randall Kohn

 

[freshwaterfishfan]

B. sp. "Eseke"

Hi,

I orginally purchased some B. sp. "Eseke" from Oliver Lucanus in 2004. While it was a bit of challenge to get compatible pairs, once that happened they breed often. I sent a group of F1 to the St. Louis area (to a friend of Mike Hellweg) in 2005. I was told they grew up and spawned. Out of curiosity, where did you get these guys?
Steve

 

[DWFISH]

Thanks Randall
Fishfan- I got my from Rick Tinkleberg in which he got those from Mike. Now are these the for sure fish?

 

[freshwaterfishfan]

B. sp. "Eseke"

Well, it is a small fish world. The picture looks identical to the group of F1 and F2 I have swimming around in several of my tanks. Randall is dead on about the color of the females. It is really stunning. She gets a blue metallic shee in her dorsal fin that absolutely glows.
Enjoy them and try to spread them around. I paid $22 per fish when I orginally imported them and my whole goal was to get them established in the hobby (I actually got my first pair from Cichlid Exchange about 6 months prior but lost the female before they bred).
Steve