bam Demanding level

Cross River, Nigeria

Sponsored by

It is a biotope aquarium for Rare fish Snakehead “Parachanna obscura” fish according to their natural habitat in Cross River Nigeria. Cross River is the main river in southeastern Nigeria and gives its name to Cross River State. It originates in Cameroon, where it takes the name of the Manyu River. Although not long by African standards its catchment has high rainfall and it becomes very wide.

Over its last 80 kilometres (50 mi) to the sea its flows through swampy rainforest with numerous creeks and forms an inland delta near its confluence with the Calabar River, about 20 kilometres (12 mi) wide and 50 kilometres (31 mi) long between the cities of Oron on the west bank and Calabar, on the east bank, more than 30 kilometres (19 mi) from the open sea. The delta empties into a broad estuary which it shares with a few smaller rivers. At its mouth in the Atlantic Ocean, the estuary is 24 kilometres (15 mi) wide. The eastern side of the estuary is in the neighbouring country of Cameroon.

Submitted by
Citra Amalia Dewi
Approved by
Ad Konings & Stefano Valdesalici
GPS
5.8867350, 8.7159481

Videos above and below water

Water Chemistry

Water information

Water type
Fresh water
Water color
Mixed water
Water transparency
Medium
Concentration of sediments
Medium
Water temperature
25 °C
Water flow/curent
Slow

Chemical parameters

pH
7.0
Conductivity
GH
KH
Dissolved Oxygen
70 %

Aquarium information

Aquarium description

Set-up date
January, 2020
Aquarium decoration

Sand, stone, wood, aquatic plants and fish.

Aquarium equipment
  • 70 watt lamp
  • Filter canister
Fish care

Daily feeding with fish, and insects.

Plant care

Giving liquid fertilizer once a week.

Water care

30% water change / 2 weeks.

Dimensions

Length
100 cm
Depth
40 cm
High
50 cm
Volume
200 L

Substrate in aquarium

Sand
Black
Pebble/Gravel
Mixed
Stone
Mixed
Stone form
Roundish
Silt/Mud
Black
Leaves
Many
Driftwood
Many
Submerged terrestrial vegetation
Yes

Bibliography

  • Global Journal of Agricultural Sciences. - "Aspects of the biology of snakehead, parachanna obscura (gunther 1861) in the Cross River, Nigeria". by Ama-Abasi, D.; Affia, I. N.
    ISBN 7–13. ProQuest 873638098.
  • "Fishes of the salonga national park, democratic republic of congo: survey and conservation issues" by Inogwabini, Bila-Isia
    ISBN Oryx. 39: 78–81. doi:10.1017/S003060530500013X.
  • Science. 304 (5676): 1415. - "Snakeheads: Coming down the mountains" by Hurtley, S
    ISBN ProQuest 213579765.

Comment by the expert

Ad Konings: Criteria #5 – There is only a single fish in the aquarium (at least that’s what the video shows as no list is given). But even so, the fish can grow to a length of 50 cm, so an aquarium of 100 cm is way too small for such an animal. Criteria #6 – Vallisneria, the main decoration of the aquarium, has not been reported from the Cross River. See FAO.

Stefano Valdesalici: Limited biogeography. Too small tank…and Vallisneria?