Archiaphyosemion guineense

 ARCHIAPHYOSEMION GUINEENSE (Daget 1954)

Originally published as: B.K.A. Information Pamphlet No.59 June 1970

Habitat: High Guinea, Upper Niger Drainage, Sierra Leone. Exact water conditions unknown.

Size: Male – Reportedly to 4″ Female – Approximately 3″ plus.

Colouration and description of male: The body shape is not quite what one would expect to see in a member of this genus. The general appearance is more that of Pachypanchax. The dorsal is well developed and placed near the caudal fin. The caudal is spade shaped and the anal is large. Dorsally the colour is green-grey. The flanks are pale when out of breeding condition with traces of indigo and splashes of rich violet. At times several faint bars are apparent. At times the whole head appears pinkish with an overcast of blue. The chin has a distinct black bar; also present are a few vermiform streaks of violet. The root of the ventrals is reddish and is about the only red colouration that is present. The eye is golden. The dorsal fin is greenish blue with a margin of dark blue which at breeding appears as a rich maroon. Several violet and indigo spots are present. The caudal is very beautiful having a centre of velvety green with the rays marked in intense violet with splashes of indigo. The upper and lower edges are in brilliant white. The anal is basically blue-green with a darker edging of a purple hue. Pelvics are blue with a tinge of pink at the base. The ventrals are tinted blue.

This is a very difficult species to describe as the mood of the fish changes quickly and likewise the colour pattern.

Colouration of the female: A very chunky fish and very much so when carrying eggs. The overall colour is of dull brass with at times a greenish overcast. The flanks sport a number of vertical dark bars, more plain than in the male. The fins are quite pretty being moderately formed and a pleasant green in colour with a few rusty specks. The iris is golden, and the lower lip marked in black.

Care and Breeding: A fish that must have large tanks to be seen at its best and allowed to grow to its fullest extent. They are not fast growers as one might expect from a species that is not an annual. Not at all fussy as to water conditions but they do appear to revel in well oxygenated water and do best with heavy aeration under which conditions they will spawn. They do not seem to mature till well advanced in age and perhaps only sexable at the 1.5-inch stage. The pH in which the writer’s fish were kept and bred was 6.8 with a hardness of 4 German and a temperature between 74 and 76F. It has been stated by one authority that eggs are only laid on the roots of floating plants, this is not quite true. Eggs are laid in any part of the tank but mainly in the lower regions, on mops, on peat or even on the glass sides of the tank. They are not at all difficult to bring into breeding condition; a diet of good quality dried food with an occasional feed of live food will suffice. They are, however, heavy eaters. The hatching time for the eggs seems very variable, some eggs having hatched in eight days at a temperature of 70F. with the maximum time (at 76F.) being some thirteen days. The young are large on hatching and appear to be able to consume all the normal live foods offered to fry. If egg collection is practised no difficulty will be experienced in finding the eggs, which are quite large.

Summary: A very pretty fish that must become a firm favourite. It is not at all timid and presents every opportunity for observation and study. Breeding efforts to date are proving fruitful and it is to be hoped that its distribution throughout the Association will not long be delayed.

References:
KilliData Archi.guineense
Killifish of West Africa – Archiaphyosemion guineense