bam Demanding level

Lake Barombi Koto affluent, Cameroon

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Fish like us

CMR__Cenral-Africa, Dipartimento di Fako

Lake Barombi Koto, also known as Lake Barombi-ba-Kotto, is a small lake in the volcanic chain in the Southwest Region of Cameroon. It is a volcanic lake with a diameter of about 1.2 km. There is a small island in the middle, which is densely inhabited by the Barombi, a tribe of fishers. The Tung Nsuia and Tung Nsuria streams, each about 1–2 m wide and 0.3 m deep near their mouth, are the only inflows into the lake, and they dry out in dry season.

Apart from these 2 streams, there are a multitude of unnamed secondary streams. They are present especially in the rainy season and are not deeper than 0.30 m, with a variable length and width and which in the dry season can dry completely or partially. Water of the these creeks is soft, lesser than 100 µS, temp around 26°C, pH close to 7.0. No water plants within. Just layers of leaves, branches, roots.

Submitted by
Emil Visan
Approved by
Ad Konings & Anton Lamboj
GPS
4.4639182, 9.2668333
Geographical region
Cenral Africa
Drainage Basin
River catchment
Meme River
Water body type
Stream
Water body name
Tung Nsuia
Water body part
Water body course
Lower course
Water body: tributary of
Lake
Tributary name
Lake Barombi Koto

Videos above and below water


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Water Chemistry

Water information

Water type
fresh-water
Water color
Clear water
Water transparency
High
Concentration of sediments
Low
Water temperature
26-28 °C
Water flow/curent
None

Chemical parameters

pH
close to 7.0
Conductivity
100
GH
dGH
KH
dKH
Dissolved Oxygen

Aquarium information

Aquarium description

Set-up date
Aquarium decoration

The aquarium is trying to restore a small creek that, especially in the wet season, supplies water to the volcanic lake in Southwestern Cameroon, Barombi-ba-Koto.

The stream is small both in length and depth. On its bed are many dried leaves, branches and roots. There is no emerging vegetation in the small creek, but the paludous plants on its banks create areas of shade and hiding. In the fallen leaves at the bottom of the stream, a lot of invertebrates and small organisms develop, a rich source of food for small fish and future generations.

Specimens of Chromidotilapia guentheri loenbergi in the shelter of riparian vegetation and fallen branches are fighting for territories. Some of the females are ready for reproduction and put on their beautiful and bright wedding dress. Close to the surface of the water, they play and watch specimens of Procatopus sp. that look like fireflies. Everything is full of life.

Aquarium equipment
  • Filtration: 2x internal filters – Eheim pickup 200 and Eheim pickup 60
  • Lighting: DIY Led lamp, dinable, with maximum total power of 150w
Fish care

Chromidotilapia guntheri loennbergii, is a small, rare, interesting, beautiful West African cichlid. This variety of Cromidotilalpia guntheri is an extinction fish in its original location, the Barombi-ba-Koto volcanic lake and the streams that supply it with water.

Who likes pastel colors (gold, blue, pink) very like a this fish. The way of reproduction makes it even more interesting. It is a paternal mouthpiece for the first 12 days after the laying, then the care of the fry returning to both parents, the fry in case of the danger can shelter in the mouth of both parents. They are very good parents and care for chickens for more than 30 days.

Fishes:
  • 3 x Chromidotilapia guntheri loennbergii
  • 5 x Procatopus sp.
Plant care

No aquatic plants. Just layers of leaves, branches, roots.

Water care

Ordinary weekly maintenance.

Dimensions

Length
80 cm
Depth
45 cm
High
40 cm
Volume
144 L

Substrate in aquarium

Sand
Beige
Pebble/Gravel
Mixed
Stone
Beige
Stone form
Roundish
Silt/Mud
None
Leaves
Few
Driftwood
Few
Submerged terrestrial vegetation
Yes

Bibliography

  • Cichlidae by Stiassny, M.L.J.; A. Lamboj; D. De Weirdt; G.G. Teugels
  • The fresh and brackish water fishes of Lower Guinea, West-Central Africa / Poissons d’Eaux Douces et Saumâtres de Basee Guinée, Ouest de l’Afrique Centrale. Vol. 2. Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Musée Royal de l’Afrique Centrale. pp. 269–403. by M.L.J. Stiassny; G.G Teugels; C.D. Hopkins (eds.)

Sitography

→ Wikipedia
→ DBpedia
→ Place and See
→ IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017
→ IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010

Comment by the expert

Ad Konings: The aquarium is rather small but nicely decorated. No reason is given for having three adult fish whereas the species forms pairs and a pair would have been a better fit for the size of the tank. The 5 Procatopus should be plenty to act as dither fish.

  • 5 – Project’s name is Barombi crater LAKE, but now it appears the biotope is a small stream flowing into the lake.
  • 6 – It also appears that BIN and BAM are mixed and it is not clear the water quality parameters given are for the natural environment (what should be in BIN) or the participant’s aquarium.Aquarium size is OK, most settings too – just plants are not African and are too much present with the roots in the water, more free space should be given. Therefore it is not absolutely showing how the biotope looks like.

Anton Lamboj: Aquarium size is OK, most settings too – just plants are not African and are too much present with the roots in the water, more free space should be given. Therefore it is not absolutely showing how the biotope looks like.