Obudu

Codes
  • A.gardneri SP1 = Obudu
  • A.gardneri SP2
  • A.gardneri SP3
History

First imported into the BKA in July 1973 & were distributed in September 1973. These were collected in a small stream near Obudu in southeast Nigeria 50 km from the Cameroon border by John Hughes of Kano, Nigeria.
Ten specimens were sent to the BKA (3 males & 7 females). John Hughes collected 3 types of 'gardneri' & assigned the codes shown above.
A provisional description of the A.gardneri from Obudu appeared in BKA newsletter No. 99, November 1973 with a breeding report which considered this population to be more of an annual form of gardneri.
Eggs were laid in a peat substrate & found to hatch in water in 15-20 days. Eggs were laid daily but were few in number. Long periods were noticed of no spawning activity.
It was also noted in this report that females were unlike any other gardneri form known to date & resembled female ndianus.
In 1974 A.J.Wright & J.Jeremy (BKA) described fish caught from the environments of the River Obudu, eastern Nigeria as Aphyosemion gardneri obuduense.
Also collected sympatric with the Obudu population were Fp.ndianus but these did not reach the UK alive.

Habitat
 Obudu is situated at the head of a drainage area which eventually flows into the Cross River drainage. Obudu is well seperated from presently known populations of Fp.nigerianus. Misaje & Makurdi lie some distance to the north & west
Geography
 This is an interesting population as Obudu is seperated from the main area of mamfense distribution to the south by a range of high ground which forces the water drainage into a different system although this eventually feeds the Cross River drainage by a circuitous route.
Images

Photographer unknown but possibly Fred Wright or Jim Jeremy. BKA photo.
Traits
  
Variability
  
Notes
 A BKA I/P was published around 1974. A breeding report in this publication reported breeding them in trios in water of pH 6·7, DH 4, temperature 74°F. Floating & submerged mops were used, also peat fibre. Males were seen to be quite hard drivers. Few eggs were laid & without exception were found in the peat fibre. Egg size varied from 1·3 - 1·5 mm & were colourless. These eggs were collected & stored in water at 72°F. Hatching occured in 15-20 days.
Later spawnings were observed in the floating mops & filter wool used to block a hole in the cover glass. More eggs were found in floating mops than peat fibre in subsequent spawnings.
Eggs from these later spawnings were again water incubated & found to take 33-40 days to hatch in water at 72°F.
Wild fish were timid in tanks without vegetation & adequate top cover. Females were less timid.
Fry were small on hatching & fed 'Liquifry' as a first food with newly hatched brine shrimp following on 3 days later. Growth rate was rapid up to three quarters of an inch.