Aphyosemion sp. 'Oyo' RPC 91/8

Aphyosemion: from the Greek aphúe (Gr. ἀφύη), meaning 'a small fish', and semeion (Gr. σημεῖον), meaning 'banner, flag', in reference to the "ornamented, often lyre-shaped" caudal fin in male individuals of genus members.

Collected for the aquarium hobby in 1991 from close to the town of Oyo, Cuvette department, Republic of the Congo. The town lies on the Alima River, a right bank tributary of the middle Congo system.

No details known, but expect it to have been collected from quiet backwaters, affluent streams or pools rather than the main river channel. Sympatric species comprised Epiplatys multifasciatus.

A tank or container with base measurements upwards of 45 ∗ 30 cm18 ∗ 12 in is acceptable for a pair or trio.

A dark substrate should be used and the tank should have dense areas of planting and pieces of wood to serve as cover. The use of floating plants to further diffuse the light is also recommended. This species is an accomplished jumper so the cover must be very tight fitting.

Small live or frozen foods such as Daphnia or bloodworm are preferred although the fish will also accept good quality flake in most cases.

Best maintained alone since the emphasis should ideally be on captive breeding.

Highly pronounced, the male being the larger, far more brightly-coloured fish with longer caudal, dorsal and anal fins.

This fish may be synonymous with the congener A. castaneum.