Scientific name:
Aphyosemion gardneri

Natural spread:
Gabon

already to a time as still no human being at a lover-community with name DKG thought, I dare to even claim, that only a fraction of the present-day DKG-Mitglieder was already aquarianist, Aphyosemion gardneri was described for the first time. One wrote the year 1911 as BOULENGER con a Captain behalf R.D. GARDNER three fish, which it described as Fundulus gardneri, got.

The animals became con Capt. GARDNER in Okwoga, caught in East-Nigeria at the main-run of the Cross River. Somewhat later, however also in the year 1911, BOULENGER described a type as Haplochilus brucei from the Cross River-Gebiet, which was caught in the area of Udi. 1915 however, it assigned Fundulus gardneri to Haplochilus brucei of the somewhat earlier described Art the Art. In BOULENGER's original-description of the H. brucei is called it u.a. Haplochilus brucei has 30-34 sheds in the middle longitudinal-row. With Gardneri against it is declared by BOULENGER'S 32 sheds in the middle longitudinal-row.

Now back, however, to the actual Gardneri, which was assessed to then time than a young sensation in the Aquaristik. 1913 and 1914, a fish was imported Haplochilus calliurus australis under the name after Germany for the first time. These fish came from Gabon, said more exactly from the local Cap Lopez. One didn't know exactly like it was called and simply named it after its place of discovery "Cap Lopez." it then was described 1921 as Haplochilus calliurus australis by RACHOW. Also our Gardneri profited from the "Liebhaber-Namensgebung" in that it was simply called "blue Cap Lopez" henceforth. However, this Namensgebung was not so off the point for the then time, because the lovers of that time lacked the knowledge which we in the attitude of Killifishesn has and already feels as obvious today. So, crossings often were built in ignorance of the things. Nevertheless, however, one had recognized a certain peculiarity of our Killifishes already at that time, maybe unconsciously, they let themselves cruise easily together. The then ignorance was still supported by a certain external equality of the females and the nature-conditional enormous activity of the males. All these factors must, one wants considered the actual resume of the Gardneri of its discovery until today builds and reconstructs.

Let's go back again in the year 1911. Not only in the main-run of the Cross River, Gardneri were discovered. On the basis of the general enthusiasm, which the fish caused in Europe through its color-splendor, it became fester sought after it. It was clear in from in the front that one could not cover aud the duration the demand with the occurrence in the Cross River area. It was therefore looked for fish in the course of the coming years and was also found. Now, one had to be amazed, however, at that time. Not only in the area of the Cross River but far from it, in the area of Agwarba and Awka, removes yes even in the Niger-delta was found Gardneri. Even an animal of a half-green form was found in Old Calabar. At this time, one had also already the first difficulties in the nomenclature of the Gardneri. This green form found spread Funulus arnoldi as species directly. In other sources, Gardneri was even described as Haplochilus arnoldi or as Aphyosemion nigerianum. One can this Namensgebung, covered on the then condition of the knowledge, not necessarily as wrong marks. RACHOW 1920 did the first, really serious mistake, as it animals, which came 1908 from the Niger-delta and were also after-bred in the basins of the lovers, as properly described to the Bivittatum-Gruppe. Presumably, however only some animals were x-ten Aquariengeneration available it. The dilemma shouldn't so however leaping. One argued about it which fish actually now belonged to Gardneri and one shall which to Arnoldi zurodnen. This chaos of the Species and Subspecies began as BOULENGER with the identification of aquarium fish after prepared material started. ARNOLD said 1925 that it - before BOULENGER began - in one of these prepared fish already Gardneri recognized, it galube however rather at a Subspecies of the Arnoldi. ARNOLD stood the so-called "steel-blue Fundulus" by the disposal at that time, which is to be considered, however, to be one of Filamentosum. Later, d.h. in the years 1930-1931 examined MEINKEN these animals, which were on the market under the name "Steel-blue Prachtfundulus." it recognized that these animals, which were marketed by DIETERICH (1915) and KRÃœGER (1913) under the above name, being among Gardneri are. In what way the blue form of the Filamentosum with involved now is there, avoids the knowledge of the author. Be certain, however, that at that time "Fundulus this form of the Gardneri under the name aud Togo" or "Fundulus arnoldi var. blue" widespread was.

Already to then time, the aquarianists with a variety of names had to themselves for one and diesselbe fish-type wraps around. The realizations of the last 20 years brought however important innovations and clearly showed that straight Gardneri under the Killifishesn probably takes the position of the type with the biggest variation-width. However, this realization brings all other than order unfortunately. Even then, if one restricts this order only to this group, the ruling chaos doesn't become smaller but even even bigger. in 1963, the types Arnoldi became from CROSS-EYED, Filamentosum, Gardneri, Spurelli and Walkeri as to a large group of Killifishesn belonging marked. Two subgroups are in this group loudly CROSS-EYED on the other hand. The first subgroup includes Arnoldi and Filamentosum while the second contains all remaining Species. This justifies CROSS-EYED through its examinations of the different forms of these two groups. it discovers Z.B. with Arnoldi and Filamentosum with 68 examined individuals 24-28 sheds in the middle longitudinal-row. The remaining 249 examined copies, which belonged to the second group, showed 29-34 sheds on the other hand in the middle longitudinal-row. Furthermore, mutualities also appeared when examining the fin-rays within each of the two groups.

It is to be noticed in this context that two especially showy Gardneri-Varianten were looked after in the basins of the lovers exactly in the 50er years and were increased. The first form showed prevalent blue-sounds. The flanks of the animals were covered smaller with dark-red points, which seen to the back of in the front, became. All vertical fins of this variation showed, a dark-red bandage and a gay bluish-whiten hem. This form was called Aphyosemion calliurum to then time. The same fish, but with shining sulphur-yellow hems of the vertical fins, was brought, however, in circulation as Aphyosemon calliurum ahli. If one now had the one or the other type in its basins and bred with her, so one got invariably both types of males innerhlat of a breeding. The female animals were not to be distinguished. A doubt, there is hardly exactly with this example that two Gardneri-Fromen were crossed successfully together someday once. This Art Gardneri vanished almost completely, however, in the course of the years. A similar fish came approximately on the market at beginning of the 69er years as Aphyosemion nigerianum. In contrast to it, I would like it as calliurum, form marks, it seemed which involved the yellow fin-hems to quite be reinerbig. Still, these forms had a phenomenon of our present-day Gardneri in its breeding. they were treated as Haftlaicher almost exclusively, also like this "cape Lopez." The Zeitigungsdauer of the spawn lay approximately with 20-22°C water-temperatures with 16 days. It was bred in pure rainwater in principle and, as the basins of the zoo-dealers showed it, with best success. At that time, one pair of these fish cost on average at most 5,--DM, a price therefore, which was possible only for one within the country generated fish. This short Zeitigungsdauer of the spawn lies no more at all with our today held Gardneri-Formen in there if the breeder wants to get moderately usable results.

Let's leave the Gardneri its small secrets quiet. Why it should be variable only in its coloring. Is it not entitled it either to give us lovers up puzzles of its reproductive-behavior? However, also the catchers and importers were not idle in the meantime. Thank essentially improved flight-connections to the black continent, ever newer and more beautiful forms of the Aphyosemion gardneri came into the basins of the lovers in the last ten years - as it is called today -. So, 1961 became from a Mr. Ulf HANERZ in the Wochoka-River, caught some especially beautiful copies in East-Nigeria with Port Hacourt. With a comparison with the animals caught with Akure earlier, a clear difference in the red points of the flanks appeared, which with the Port Harcourt animals in essentially larger number and more powerful red existing was. The blue reason-coloring of the Akure-Gardneri had given way to a powerful blue-green with the Port Harcourt-Gardneri. The waiters, and sub-edge of the tail fluke showed sulphur-yellow hems shining, while the backs, and anus-fin orange wide hems showed. However with it not enough. Meanwhile, one had a very beautiful, greenish variation of this in the area of Eymojok in west-Cameroon A. gardneri found. With this form, one saw red points only isolated in the rear body-half. These red points were so densely together in the fore body-half that they united to short wagerechten lines. The tail fluke of these animals was himmelbalu lined at its upper and low edge. The rear part of the tail fluke was Bordeaux-red.

Also recently, an Aphyosemion "Burundi" comparatively often was offered on the market. Many believe a new variation in this fish the A. to recognize gardneri. This may quite apply with superficial contemplation. If one sees however more exactly, so it shows sucked. Burundi essential differences to the A. gardneri. I have this Burundi and different A. gardneri-Formen together successfully crossed. However, the descendants of these animals were sterile in all cases. Until today is not certain yet, whether this A. Burundi, which was named after its place of discovery Burundi in East-Africa, an independent type or to Gardneri must be counted. As well, a fish was introduced as so-called "T1" recently. It is not clear also with it at this time yet whether it belongs to Gardneri.

Individual Gardneri-Typen have very unpleasant quality another for the breeder. they are not to be almost increased. Whether this peculiarity is to be led back on crossings of the individual forms, I am not able to clarify here. It may apply at least with some forms, however nich with all. There are even forms the A. gardneri their descendant sterile is, if it is crossing-products of two hits against the origin of different Gardneri. This should give to think and admittedly should not keep the serious lover from crossing-attempts but in stimulates, these not as Gardneri, to bring sodern as hybrids on the market. it protects other lovers from unnecessary efforts.

they therefore see that Aphyosemion gardneri is not only one of the quite old friend. Also it will give to still crack some hard nut for us, particularly, since it is certain to still receive some of this "old" new friend also in next period in the basins of the lovers to a visit. If we assume the size of the animals, so I had dwarf-forms, which didn't become over 5 cm big, in my basins beside true "Goliath" with real 12 cm. Perfect Gardneri were everything. There are Gardneri which as peacefully as a lamb are and others, that are agressiv so, that they are a match for the index finger of its keeper. There are slim animals beside penetrated, stocky, which don't know before strength, where. Animals in all only possible blue and green-shades, with and without yellow. With many or few red points. If one looks at the females beside it, so one must determine that they admittedly are not so colorfully however at least just as variably as Gardneri the men.

I believe to be able to notice in conclusion, however, that hardly still if an aquarianist employs himself intensively with Gardneri, it boredom knows. Offers enough alternation the Gardneri-Gruppe alone with its narrowness-hay-reindeer variation-width and leaves the fancy an expansion almost forgotten on other types.