[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

Re: question about aphy. elberti and related species



On 17 Oct 2000,, Tony wrote:

>      What is the difference of  the 20 plus populations of Aphyosemion
>      elberti
> [formerly bualanum], A. dargei, A. kekemense, and A. exiguum?  

To begin with, it is *bualanum* not *elberti*. Check the letter Huber 
posted to the AKA early this year. You will find a link on the AKA 
home page. Also, all the above speices are s in the subgenus 
*Kathetys* according to Henrik Korzen.

> I just
> look at the pics in Axelord's atlas 9th edition and Baensch's atlas
> and each seems to have a lot of variation in color and pattern but
> within one population there seems to be quite a few different looking
> fishes.  Is it that the number and width of the red bars on the side
> varies within fishes from the same population [and the present or
> absent of yellow in the dorsal and anal fins]?  E.g. blue/green fishes
> with wide red bars and yellow edge dorsal and anal fins and extensions
> on both lobes of caudal fin [like in the aquarium fish magazine March
> 2000 pp. 66-67 and in Baensch atlas vol.1 - elberti/bualanum from
> eastern Cameroon] would be present in many populations, isn't it?

They are all very closely related. Crosses between the valid 
species yielded sterile hybrids as determined in work by Scheel.
I don't think the species are determined by colour. More than likely 
scale counts etc... 

>      Are there any trend on color and pattern on this elberti group
>      like fishes

It is the *exiguum* group. They all look like *exiguum*: bright blue 
background with red verticle bars and funny sickle fins.

>   In Baensch's atlas vol.1 it is said that the
> elberti/bualanum is easy to keep, but info elsewhere said otherwise. 
> Is it easy or hard to keep and breed?  Can they be kept and bred in
> like 28-29 'C?  How big can they actually get SL?

Like most rainforest fish I doubt they would be happy above 24 deg 
C. I suspect the temp will have to be lower for breeding.
If I recall correctly, they have been caught sympatricly with various 
Chromaphy. species and can be treated in the same way.
 
>      There are more questions but this is getting long so this's it
>      for now.

Questions is why the list exisits. Questions also make for good 
science.

Bye

Tyrone Genade
http://www.geocities.com/tyronegenade/intro.html

Department Biochemistry        Molecular Cell Physiology Lab
University of Stellenbosch              Ph: +27-021-808-5880
Republic of South Africa               fax: +27-021-808-5863                  
*************************************************************
"Everything works for good for those who love The Lord"
                           Romans 8:28
---------------
See http://www.aka.org/AKA/subkillietalk.html to unsubscribe


References: