Cichlids from Barombi Mbo, Bermin, Ejagham

[peterK]

Hi all

I love Apistos, Dicrossus, Biotoecus, Taeniacara. Yes, I love them all.
But my absolutely favourite cichlids are species from cameroonian crater lakes!
Here are my several questions about them.
How long do they live in their habitats? When they came in their lakes?
It is possible to buy them in Europe?
I like especially Bermin's tilapias and Myaka.
Are they hard to keep?
Are their habitats very endangered?

Thanks for answers,
Piotr

 

[retro_gk]

The Cameroonian crater lakes are quite young, compared to the great rift lakes. The cichlids therein are thought to have evolved into their different forms over the past 10-15,000 years.

Yes, most, if not all, of them are available in Europe.

Neither the Bermin Tilapia nor Myaka myaka are hard to keep.

Yes, their habitats are under threat from a number of human activities.

 

[peterK]

Yes, most, if not all, of them are available in Europe.

Neither the Bermin Tilapia nor Myaka myaka are hard to keep.

Good to know.
Are they as cheap as malawi cichlids? Are they in germany?

Greetings,
Piotr

 

[retro_gk]

Cheap is relative

I doubt they're as cheap as "assorted mbuna".

 

[peterK]

Cheap is relative

I doubt they're as cheap as "assorted mbuna".

I agree with you, but for me cheap means price of popular mbuna:biggrin:
Yes I doubt, too, but I think that they aren't as expensive as very rare apistos

Greetings,
Piotr

 

[Nebraska_cichlids]

Piotr,

I'm keeping a bunch of cichlids from Barombi Mbo myself; they are truly exciting! I've heard from many hobbyists (including in Europe) that they have problems finding takers for their fry. I suspect this is because these fish don't have the breathtaking coloration of cichlids from the rift lakes. If you remain patient you should be able to get some "Barombis" from other hobbyists (rather than commercial sources) for a very reasonable price. This may not apply to those species that are a little more difficult to spawn, e.g., Stomatepia species.

Janos

 

[peterK]

Hi,

For me the southamerican dwarfs should be colorful and interesting. So, my fav apistos are for example Elizas, Bitas, Uaupesi, Paucisquamis.
But westafrican ciclids (especially from crater lakes and benitochromis, chromidotilapia, pelvicachromis, etc. etc.) don't must have "breathtaking" colours.
They are pretty fascinating me because they are unusually mysterious and enigmatic:biggrin:
Unfortunately, I can't find them in Poland, they are veeery rare in my country Only some of Pelvicachromis & Nanochromis are available.
Here in Poland is more possible to buy rare apisto than purchase e.g. chromidotilapia.

Greetings,
Piotr

Piotr,

I'm keeping a bunch of cichlids from Barombi Mbo myself; they are truly exciting! I've heard from many hobbyists (including in Europe) that they have problems finding takers for their fry. I suspect this is because these fish don't have the breathtaking coloration of cichlids from the rift lakes. If you remain patient you should be able to get some "Barombis" from other hobbyists (rather than commercial sources) for a very reasonable price. This may not apply to those species that are a little more difficult to spawn, e.g., Stomatepia species.

Janos

 

[peterK]

I have one more question:
I found Barombi Mbo on the map, but Ejagham and Bermin - not:frown:
Where they are?

Greetings,
Piotr

 

[westafrica]

Hi!

Many of the species you talk about are kept by some French aquarists (Stomatepia, Tilapia snyderae, Konia, Pungu). Also other rare African riverine and lake cichlids, such as Orthochromis, Ctenochromis, Steatocranus, Nanochromis, Hemichromis, Pelvicachromis, Benitochromis, Thoracochromis, Pseudocrenilabrus, Parananochromis, Lamprologus, Teleogramma can be found with time and efforts. I suppose that in Germany/Austria it's even easier than in France, because of the presence of well known scientists who try to spread their strains, for instance Dr. Lamboj... IMO if you can go to Germany and make the right contacts you won't have too many problems to find some of these jewels

Westafrica

 

[retro_gk]

I have one more question:
I found Barombi Mbo on the map, but Ejagham and Bermin - not:frown:
Where they are?

Greetings,
Piotr

They're all in the same general area, in the North West of Cameroon near the border with Nigeria. Google (or Fishbase) will give you geographic coordinates for the lakes.

 

[bacarospo]

Hi,

I suppose that in Germany/Austria it's even easier than in France,

I'm going to visit Vienna (Wien) next February.
Do you know a local shop rich in westies and other rare cichlids?

Sorry for this OT

Regards,
Fabio

 

[westafrica]

Sorry, I can't help you much. But you can try and contact Anton Lamboj, he's austrian and is specialised in westies. He's very nice, I think he will be able to help you...