Chrom. bitaeniatum CI2014

[Ekona]

Male WC Chromaphyosemion bitaeniatum. ~1.25" Should develop much longer fins as it grows out.

"One of these days I'll get a better camera"

 

[MickeM]

Since you started it...


Male Aphyosemion primigenium "GEB 94-21" ,
(I have not tested it with any Apisto yet ).

 

[Ekona]

Since you started it...


Male Aphyosemion primigenium "GEB 94-21" ,
(I have not tested it with any Apisto yet ).

HaHa! Nice, I like that form the best (rather than the 88/10).
Even though this thread is called "African Tankmates", I don't necessarily keep small fish like killis with cichlids, but if one wants to, they can create a biotope aquarium with naturally occurring sympatric species. Good luck with your primies

 

[Chromedome]

The bitaeniatum populations from further inland often have shorter fin extensions even when mature, and the color pattern of that fish suggests that it is not from any of the common coastal populations. Often populatins such as Umudike are more difficult to breed than the Lagos or Ijebu Ode types. Being a commercial import, it is impossible to say exactly where that population originated.

Personally, I prefer some of the Cameroon species of Chromaphyosemion. Recently obtained a relatively new one, Sp. Route de Dehane. Considered undescribed, found in the middle of the range of loennbergi. I've been getting a few eggs from them.

 

[MickeM]

I may add some more pics here soon..

Bought myself a couple of Chromaphyosemion volcanum "Mbonge" a week ago...


Nice pic !!! I have seen this "Sp. Route de Dehane" on some web auctions..
Did you by them as Sp. Route de Dehane ??

 

[Chromedome]

Nice pic !!! I have seen this "Sp. Route de Dehane" on some web auctions..
Did you by them as Sp. Route de Dehane ??

Yes, I picked them up in February at a local Killie show, source was very dependable. I used to be very big on Chromaphyosemion, but hadn't been following it for several years. When I got these I tried to do a little research, found that they've made a real mess of the splendopleure types. I knew it was headed in that direction, but not to the extent that it has gone.

Didn't really mean to hijack Ekona's thread, sorry!

 

[Ekona]

The bitaeniatum populations from further inland often have shorter fin extensions even when mature...

Thanks for that tip!

...and the color pattern of that fish suggests that it is not from any of the common coastal populations.

I'd say the color pattern on the BIT CI2004 posted above looks, to my eyes, rather similar to the classic (coastal) Lagos or Ijebu Ode forms, judging by the various images on the web. But, of course, only time will tell what this one develops into.

Often populatins such as Umudike are more difficult to breed than the Lagos or Ijebu Ode types.

Would be great to see actual Umudike BIT photos here .

Being a commercial import, it is impossible to say exactly where that population originated.

I'd have to agree with that...

Personally, I prefer some of the Cameroon species of Chromaphyosemion. Recently obtained a relatively new one, Sp. Route de Dehane. Considered undescribed, found in the middle of the range of loennbergi. I've been getting a few eggs from them.View attachment 3055

Nice! Neat fish and photo, glad you having success with them.

I like C. loennbergii as well

 

[Ekona]

I may add some more pics here soon..

Bought myself a couple of Chromaphyosemion volcanum "Mbonge" a week ago...

Would like to see Mbonge pics!

 

[Seanor]

I've never kept these fish before but now I want some lol

 

[MickeM]

Hi Ekona + all..

Unfortunately my Mbonge are still in the quarantine tank..pics will have to wait..

But I can show some other pics of African killie fishes..

Diapteron cyanostictum from Gabon (I think??), still juveniles..(1-1,5 cm)

/MickeM

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,
"Diapteron cyanostictum".

Another lovely Killi, are they difficult to keep? I'm always very tempted by Diapteron spp. but I only want to keep fish I've got some hope of breeding.

cheers Darrel

 

[MickeM]

Hi Darrel + all..

In my opinion, most Diapteron species (or Aphyosemion/Chromaphyosemion) are not very difficult to keep or breed..

Some of them lives in "cold" rivers, running from higher plateaus. ( In wintertime I think my tank-temp. is approx. 20 Celsius.)

I keep my juvenile fishes in room temperature now ..(resulting in 22-26 C ??).. in tanks with a lot of plants, a few leafs and roots. I use common "energy-saving" light bulbs (2x5w, 2800Kelvin to my 60x20x20cm tank).
I use a cup (2-3 dl) to add some water every day when feeding.. ( tapped tap-water(!!), 1-2 days old.. pH 7-7,5 kH 3...or sometimes aldercone water ). I guess the pH gets lower after a couple of weeks ..maybe 6-6,5 ??

I think they will do just fine in regular, non-polluted tank water.

My juveniles are 1-1,5 cm and yesterday I found their first fry at the surface.. hiding in the floating plants... so...now I have started yet another small tank!!
One can pick the eggs out or just let it be..and catch the fry when they pop up...
But..They might eat each other though..if size differ a lot!!

These species often have an egg-incubation(??)/developing period of 2-3 weeks..


If anyone here can visit Stockholm this weekend (April 26-27th).. the Scandinavian Killi Association will have an exhibition and ending it with an auction( at 16.00) on Sunday 27th !! (in the store ..Krukmakargatan 3).
Approx. 40-60 Killi species will participate/ be sold..??!!

The Swedish Guppy Society will also contribute with some species/breeding variants..


/Micke

 

[Ekona]

Hi Ekona + all..

Unfortunately my Mbonge are still in the quarantine tank..pics will have to wait..

But I can show some other pics of African killie fishes..

Diapteron cyanostictum from Gabon (I think??), still juveniles..(1-1,5 cm)

/MickeM

Micke, very nice - a cool (pardon the pun) killi indeed. I have a couple of pics of one this species as well, which I'll try to post later. Thanks for sharing yours!

 

[Ekona]

Male starting to settle in...not my favorite chrom - but not looking to bad.

"One of these days I'm going to get a better camera"

 

[Josh]

Wow these are beautiful fish! Thank you all for sharing

 

[Ekona]

Wow these are beautiful fish! Thank you all for sharing

Thanks, Josh, very nice forum. Great job!

 

[Chromedome]

Concerning Diapteron, they are found primarily in small streams and pools under heavy canopy. I've spoken to collectors who say the tree canopy is so thick that it's almost as dark as night, even at midday. Because there is no sunlight, the water tends to stay very cool. If you follow the same streams to the edge of the forest where they emerge into bright sun, the water temperature can be 8-10C warmer and you will find mostly Kathetys!

I've bred georgiae and fulgens at 18.5C by keeping them on a bottom shelf in my basement; had abacinum (only got one deformed fry from them). The thing to remember is darkness, not just the cool temperature. The only plant I was able to keep in such tanks was Java Moss, and this allowed the fry to grow up with the parents. Also, keep the pH extremely low - below 5.5 - if you want females. Most people in my region were getting lots of male fulgens, and when I donated a dozen of my excess females to the Milwaukee club auction, they sold for more than pairs!

 

[Chromedome]

Figured I'd add a shot of Diapteron fulgens. Sorry about the poor quality, but he was at a show and in a bowl, and this is from a scanned slide. This was the daddy to the ones I bred.

 

[MickeM]

Concerning Diapteron, they are found primarily in small streams and pools under heavy canopy. I've spoken to collectors who say the tree canopy is so thick that it's almost as dark as night, even at midday. Because there is no sunlight, the water tends to stay very cool. If you follow the same streams to the edge of the forest where they emerge into bright sun, the water temperature can be 8-10C warmer and you will find mostly Kathetys!

I've bred georgiae and fulgens at 18.5C by keeping them on a bottom shelf in my basement; had abacinum (only got one deformed fry from them). The thing to remember is darkness, not just the cool temperature. The only plant I was able to keep in such tanks was Java Moss, and this allowed the fry to grow up with the parents. Also, keep the pH extremely low - below 5.5 - if you want females. Most people in my region were getting lots of male fulgens, and when I donated a dozen of my excess females to the Milwaukee club auction, they sold for more than pairs!

I know what you mean about the gender issue... I have kept my D.cyanostictum for 3 generations now..
Got 9 males+1 female in the last generation I bred !! Thought I would be safe considering the future, when having 10 fry ...
I was a happy man when I at last spotted a female after approx. 2-3 months !!!

 

[MickeM]

Hi Ekona+all..

Better late than never.......

Chromaphyosemion volcanum "Mbonge"
(Not the best pics.., but it`s something..)

/Micke