cyanostictum meaning blue spots.

Lambert J.G. & Géry J.1968.

Poissons du bassin de l'Ivindo III, le genre Aphyosemion.

Biologia Gabonica 3 (1967) (4), pages 308-312, figure 4 & plate.

2-3 cm

• D = 10-11, A = 11-12, ll = 26-27 (+2-3) ( Lambert & Géry 1968)
• D = 10-12, A = 10-12, D/A = 1-2/1, ll = 26-27 (Huber & Seegers 1977)

n = 17, A = 25 (n = 16, A = 23) Scheel 1974, 1990). Variable between different populations.

Diapteron

• Aphyosemion (Diapteron) cyanostictum Huber 1980
• Diapteron cyanostictum Seegers 1980

• Bempoko (RPC 153)(Northern Congo)(caught in 1978)
• Makokou (Northern Gabon)
• Sam ( GBN 88 / 29 )
• Zomoko
• Yekara - BDBG 04 / 11

Small brook close to the village of Belinga located in the basin of the Ivindo River, northern Gabon.

The Ivindo & Benito River drainages of northern Gabon.
Known to have been collected at Makokou, north of Ovan & 50 km north of Massaha.

Small, swampy rainforest brooks.

At this collection site near Ovan, Gabon A.cyanostictum & A.georgiae were collected.

Photo: Courtesy of Ed Pürzl.

Gery collected the sp. in small streams in the area around Belinga, approx 600 metres above sea level. He also collected A.georgiae.
Collected by Herzog & Bochtler in the summer of 1972 & took back alive to Germany.
Collected by Roland Numerich in February 1987 between Belinga to Mayebut on the Ivindo River. Also collected A.georgiae & 2 sp. of Aphyosemion. See also A.georgiae.

Not an easy species to breed. They are reportedly best bred in a permanent set up with peat fibre. One male should be provided with several females. Eggs when water incubated hatch in 8-12 days. When the fry reach 5-7 mm they should be removed to a growing on tank as they will start to eat younger fry just starting out. Parents do not seem to eat their young.
Sexual maturity is slow coming & may take 8-9 months.

Jaroslav Kadlec in BKA newsletter No.239, July 1985 reported that the pH should be 5·8 - 7·2, hardness 1-2° , temperature 18-28°C. It was noted that males lose there colour at temperatures lower than 18°C & the fish will become less active. Five eggs per week per female was noted as a normal yield although it was observed that the pair will eat there own eggs.
Egg development was considered best at DH2. On hatching the fry measured 3·5mm & were a reddish colour. Fry can be cannibalistic towards each other at early stages of growth. At one month of age they measured 7-8mm. Sexing out can be observed in 2 months with red starting to develop in unpaired fins. Sexual maturity was observed at 4 months with full size being obtained at 6-7 months.
One sided sexing out was observed with young. A male 3 months older than the females was found to give good results in water with a pH of 6·2.