Fundulopanchax Gardneri

[invader]

I bought a pair of Fundulopanchax gardneri (labeled A. gardneri) at my LFS yesterday and have added them to my planted tank (were then moved to be on their own in a smaller tank, because of their slight territorial issues). I originally thought that I had a male and a female, but further research has made me think twice. I have some pictures that I would like you all to look at and see what you think. I thought the more colorful one was the male, but in a sense, they are both colorful, so I am very confused. Here ya go.

Male(?)

Female(?)

Male top, female bottom

Thanks for all of your help!

 

[Chuka1212]

Hey, you posed quite the conundrum. It is a bit confusing but most of the females of the killifish I have seen have been very dull, but your "female" is brighter than most, but pales in comparison to the male. If I had to guess I would say it was female based on the fact that there is no red on her fins, a color that female fish (along with blue) tend to hone in on. But then again just a guess! I'd be interested to know if they ever spawn...

 

[helterskelter]

Yes u got two males.

The females have no colour what so ever and a fat fummy.

 

[Amerce]

You have all males, the females may have red freckles but not the yellow on their finnage, they look as though they are N'sukka, and very nice.

I breed the Akure variety and get photo's of the females, most gardneri females look the same, you can really only tell which sub variety they are from the males.

These are old shots of the Jos Plateau that I once kept -

Female

Male

 

[invader]

Thanks for your help everyone, this one definitely had me stumped.

Does anyone know where I could find females? Actually, the question that should be first asked is, what variety do you think I have? I thought they are nigerianus, but I'm no expert. Any help would be appreciated!

 

[BigC]

Hi,
Fundulopanchax gardneri are primarily found in Nigeria hence the nigerianus part in the name but within Nigeria and tentively into Cameroon. there are "type localities" or geographical locations such as Jos Plateau, Akure, P82, Port Harcourt, Makurdi. Misaje and N'sukka to name but a few. Without a doubt the fish you posess are Fp. gardneri but to which geographical region they belong to can sometimes be hard to establish especially as the females do look alike and are easily crossed. (please refrain from this practice). Sometimes your LFS will be supplied with Killifish from local breeders from time to time and I would be almost certain that this is the case with yours. Approach your local dealer and try to assertain where he got his stock from in order to get your true strain of gardneri. A little tip is to reduce the lighting somewhat using floating plants such as salvinia and also have a dark substrate and this will truely transform you Killifish into a far more coulourful spectacle than in you posted photos.
Regards
BigC

 

[invader]

Fundulopanchax gardneri are primarily found in Nigeria hence the nigerianus part in the name but within Nigeria and tentively into Cameroon. there are "type localities" or geographical locations such as Jos Plateau, Akure, P82, Port Harcourt, Makurdi. Misaje and N'sukka to name but a few. Without a doubt the fish you posess are Fp. gardneri but to which geographical region they belong to can sometimes be hard to establish especially as the females do look alike and are easily crossed. (please refrain from this practice). Sometimes your LFS will be supplied with Killifish from local breeders from time to time and I would be almost certain that this is the case with yours. Approach your local dealer and try to assertain where he got his stock from in order to get your true strain of gardneri. A little tip is to reduce the lighting somewhat using floating plants such as salvinia and also have a dark substrate and this will truely transform you Killifish into a far more coulourful spectacle than in you posted photos.

Thank you for all of your help, especially concerning the "type localities" mix up. They look a little bland in the picture because they are in a relatively bare tank. The tank I put them in previously brought out their colors much better and they are honestly some of the most gorgeous fish I have ever seen.

I'll start hunting for a female of the species... hopefully it won't be too difficult!