Lacustricola bukobanus (Ahl 1924)

Lacustricola bukobanus Mityana, UGJ 99-17

Meaning of Name

After the town of Bukoba, western side of Lake Victoria.

First Description

Ahl E. 1924.

Neue afrikanische Zahnkarpfen aus dem zoologischen Museum Berlin.

Zoologischer Anzeiger 61 (3-4): 137-138.

Size

Males 4 cm, females 35 mm (Wildekamp).

Meristics
  • D = 10-11, A = 15-16, ll = 24-25 (Ahl 1925)
Karyotype

 

Sub-Genus

 

Group

 

Synonyms
  • Haplochilichthys bukobanus Ahl 1924
  • Cynopanchax bukobanus Ahl 1928
  • Aplocheilichthys bukobanus Wildekamp 1989
  • Aplocheilichthys meyburgi Meinken 1971
  • Micropanchax meyburgi Huber, Seegers & Wildekamp 1983
  • Micropanchax ericae Meinken 1971
  • Aplocheilichthys ericae Wildekamp 1977
  • Haplochilus pumilus (non Boulenger 1906): Worthington 1932
  • Aplocheilichthys pumilus (non Boulenger 1906): Myers 1936 (in part)

Populations

  • Bukoba
  • Bussisi
  • Butiaba
  • Entebbe
  • Karungu KE 01-1
  • Kisumu
  • Lake Wamala
  • Masindi
  • Mityana, UGJ 99 / 17
  • Myanzi
  • Rutshuru River

Photo courtesy of Gottfried Marschitz

   
Type Locality

Bukoba, northwest Tanzania.

Distribution

Lakes Victoria Kioga George Edward, Albert, Nakavali & Mamala. Also the Rivers Kafu & Katonga.
Also found in rivers around lakes.

Habitat

Shallow edges of Lake Victoria in papyrus swamps. Also rice fields, ditches & rivers entering lakes.

Distinguishing Characteristics
Colour/Pattern Variability
History

Breeding Notes

I have bred this species in a 15" square tank with a large brown mop suspended in the middle of the tank. This is a hard water species so I added a little Epsom salts & Bicarbonate of soda to make the water more alkaline. The addition of these increased egg numbers next day.
Water incubation takes around 12-14 days. Growth is quite rapid when given newly hatched brine shrimp & regular water changes.
Eggs are quite large when you consider the small size of the brood fish. I had very few fungussed eggs incubating in water taken from the tank.

Diameter of Egg
Remarks

Some authors regard this species as a synonyn of Lacustricola atripinna.

Although not a west African species I have bred it & include it on the site with my experiences.