Scriptaphyosemion schmitti (Romand 1979)


Photo courtesy of Tony Terceira.

Meaning of Name

After G.Schmitt, a French killie keeper & collector.

First Description

Romand R. 1979.

Vorläufige Beschreibung von Roloffia schmitti spec.nov., eine Killifisch aus Liberia.

Die Aquarien und Terrarien Zeitschrift (DATZ) 32 (9): p 299-300, figures.

Size

4.5 cm

Meristics

D = 11-13, A = 17-18, D/A = +5-6, ll = 26-28 (Romand 1979)

Karyotype

n = 21, A = 30 (Scheel 1981)

Sub-Genus

 

Group

liberiense

Synonyms
  • Aphyosemion cf.liberiense Huber 1978
  • Aphyosemion species Tchien Schmitt & Schmitt 1979
  • Roloffia schmitti Romand 1979
  • Aphyosemion liberiense schmitti Radda 1987
Populations
  • Greenville (Liberia)
  • Juarzon (Liberia)
  • T'chien (northeastern Liberia)

Juarzon male. This BKA photo taken in the '70's

Juarzon female. This BKA photo taken in the '70's

Juarzon. Photo courtesy of Ed Pürzl.
  • Greenville - Collected by Romand in 1978.
  • Juarzon - Collected by Romand in 1978.
  • T'chien (Type locality) - Collected by Romand in 1978.
Type Locality

Near Tchien, Liberia.

Distribution

An area between the Cavally & Sese-Nipoue Rivers of eastern Liberia.

Habitat

Small rainforest brooks & streams.

Distinguishing Characteristics

A more elongated species than the related S.liberiense. The caudal fin appears larger & more splayed out with extensions top & bottom.

Females are said to differ from Script.liberiense by lacking a dark spot on the caudal peduncle.

Colour/Pattern Variability  
History

Collected by Romand & M.Schmitt in 1977 near Tchien, Eastern Liberia.

Breeding Notes

Anthony Pinto in BKA Newsletter No.270 (February 1988) gives the following breeding notes:
No problems encountered regarding water conditions. The fish will breed in water from 2 - 10°DH. Softer water was recommended for breeding.
If more than one pair is set up in the same tank this tank should be large enough to provide space for their territorial nature. Obviously the tank should have plenty of cover in the form of mops & plants.
A yield of 20-40 eggs per week can be expected from such a set up. Most eggs were reported from top mops. Fry will grow on in the parents tank providing enough cover is present.
Eggs were stored in water & some were tried on damp peat & wet after 3 weeks.
Newly hatched fry are small & require infusoria as a first food. Reports suggest they are quite fast growing in the early stages quickly graduating on to newly hatched brine shrimp. Growth has been observed to slow down at around 4 cm where males become territorial. First signs of male colouration show at around 4 weeks.
Adult size has been reported at 4 months of age.

Diameter of Egg Less than 1 mm.
Remarks

This may be a subspecies of S.liberiense as aquarists in Holland have crossed the two species over several generations & produced viable offspring.