After Rudolf Hans Wildekamp.(Ruud).

Berkenkamp H.O. 1973.

Beschreibung eines neuen Prachtkärpflings aus Ost-Kamerun, Aphyosemion wildekampi spec. nov.

Aquarienfreund 2 (7): p 113-119, figures 3 & 4.
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A description also was reprinted in the BKA newsletter 104, April 1974.

4.5 cm.

• D = 10, A = 17, D/A = +10, ll = 33 (Berkenkamp 1973)
• D = 10, A = 17, ll = 24-26 (Radda & Pürzl 1987)
• D10-12, A = 15-17, ll = 29-31 (Wildekamp 1993)

n = 15, A = 18 ( Scheel 1975)

Aphyosemion

elegans

• Aphyosemion K4 Wildekamp 1972
• Aphyosemion cf. wildekampi Huber 1980
• Aphyosemion wildekampi wildekampi Hannink 1982

• Aphyosemion K4 (Bertoua)
• Bertoua (eastern Cameroon)
• Diang
• Garabinzam (northern Congo)
• Kombetiko - Thys 1975
• Mang - Thys 1975
• Mannekono - Thys 1975
• Mawa (Has a distict red line in the anal fin close to the body)
• Mkak (southeastern Cameroon)
• Ngola
• Sembé - north (37 km north of)(northern Congo) RPC 150.
• Yokadouma (The red line in the anal fin close to the body is shown as a feint row of red spots)
• ABDK 2010 / 408 - aff.wildekampi
• BLLMC 05 / 10 - Petit Ngomlembele
• GKCAR 90 / 4 - (CAR)
• GKCAR 90 / 6 - (CAR)
• GKCAR 90 / 7 Ngola
• GKCAR 90 / 8
• JH 78 / 145
• JVC 08 - Gouekamg 1
• RPC 91 / 7

http://www.nakashima.org/gaphyosemion_wildekampi.htm Japan Gallery

Berkenkamp's original description of the type locality is incorrect (Wildekamp 1993). Vlaming (1988), the original collector states they were caught immediately east of Bertoua, along a road to the airport in a brook).
In BKA newsletter No. 104, April 1974 Berkenkamp mentions the type locality as being 'in the neighbourhood of Diang, 40 km west from Bertoua'.
Originally designated code Aphyosemion K4.

South eastern Cameroon, south western African Republic & Northern Congo (Brazzaville). The area is on the frontier of forest & savannah dividing the ranges of A.elberti & A.exiguum.

Water quality at a point 40 km west of Bertoua measured pH 7, DH 0·01, water temperature 22-24°C. In the dry season these measurements changed to pH 5·2, DH 0·03, water temperature 28°C. Sympatric sp. include Aphyosemion elberti.

Vlaming noted that at the time of the original collection the biotope was shaded by forest cover. The biotope was a 'plantless creek, but with emerse vegetation' & A.wildekampi was very abundant whilst A.elberti were few in number. Another collecting trip in 1971 found the forest cut back to expose the biotope to more sunlight. This had an effect on the fish stocks where A.wildekampi was less frequent than the more abundant A.elberti.

First collected by Mr. P.J.Vlamink who brought them to Holland in November 1971.When they first entered Holland they were distributed as Aphyosemion K4. The 'K' stood for Kameroen (the Dutch spelling for Kameroen) & the '4' referred to the 4th collecting locality. Other sp. brought in by Vlamink were A.bualanum (now elberti) Red form, A.cameronense, A.batesii, Barbus jae, Ctenopoma ansorgei, Phago maculatus & E.sangmelinensis which were received by Mr.B.J.Schrieken of Den Helder. Wildekamp received some of these K4 fish & sent a preserved trio to Berkenkamp in April 1973 who described them as Aphyosemion wildekampi in honour of Wildekamp.

Grell & Kohler collected at locations GKCAR 90/6 & 7. in 1990.

Berkenkamp mentioned in K/N 104 that in nature there breeding season was probably March, preceeding the dry season.

This sp. seems difficult to breed. Reports suggest that eggs are laid in peat fibre & hatch after 10-15 days in water incubation.
Berkenkamp suggested seperating the sexes & conditioning on live foods which seemed to aid more consistent spawning.
Growth of the young fish appears to be very slow with sexual maturity at 7-8 months.

Ralf Fredrich in BKA Newsletter No. 318 (March 1992) bred the Bertoua population in water of pH 7, GH 10-12°, water temperature 21°C. The sexes were seperated & conditioned on live foods for 2 weeks. A trio were put in a 12 litre tank with the bottom covered in a layer of peat fibre. A nylon mop was added which was the preferred spawning site. Sawning yielded 20 eggs in a week. At temperatures above 22°C the fish stopped spawning.
Water stored eggs took 4 weeks to develop. Fry are small on hatching & Java moss & peat was added to provide infusorians in addition to newly hatched brine shrimp. Growth rate is slow up to 15mm.

Edd Kray in BKA newsletter No.369, June 1996 reported sexing the young out in 3-4 months. Sex ratio was biased towards males (90%).