While we were in Mexico we me t up with Juan Miquel from the Cichlid Room Companion. Without a doubt THE expert on the Hericthys species and Mexican cichlids. Juan is noted as "discovering" Carpinte "Rio Salto"...which will likely be described as a new species of fish down the road. For the record, here's a Rio Salto cichlid. The hericthys complex is in a constant state of evolution in Mexico. No doubt many of the labridens and carpinte there will be further split or lumped as the hobby progresses and more are collected.
SO one morning Juan offered to take Ken Davis, another friend, Warren and myself down the base of Micos Falls for a personal tour while the others traveled on to Taninul Springs to collect the fish you see below. The other half went to the Springs to collect these fish...we went with Juan. Another reason was that the area is rather small and as always we were careful on making any serious "footprint" on the ecology of the site while collecting.
Here'a one photo of part of the falls.
In the past I've been told you were able to drive down this long road to the Springs...about a 45 minute hike. The site is a failed effort of the Mexican Park System, and was purchased by an individual who left it abandoned...and locked the gate to the road.
I'm told that the water there was a a beautiful clear turquoise and visible down to forty feet. Several breeding pair of the fish were found and they were careful to remove only a third of any one brood...letting the others for the care of the parents.
It's a very beautiful and unique Labridens. I've posted photos of them in the past. There'e the "back end of the story". If you are interested, I think Eddie Martin from Bluegrass Cichlids is selling them. He started raising them in his fish farm in Florida...and apparently doing very well.
Mine have just started to breed. Here's what the fish looks like out of breeding coloration:
And in breeding coloration. This is the female at about 7-8"
SO one morning Juan offered to take Ken Davis, another friend, Warren and myself down the base of Micos Falls for a personal tour while the others traveled on to Taninul Springs to collect the fish you see below. The other half went to the Springs to collect these fish...we went with Juan. Another reason was that the area is rather small and as always we were careful on making any serious "footprint" on the ecology of the site while collecting.
Here'a one photo of part of the falls.
In the past I've been told you were able to drive down this long road to the Springs...about a 45 minute hike. The site is a failed effort of the Mexican Park System, and was purchased by an individual who left it abandoned...and locked the gate to the road.
I'm told that the water there was a a beautiful clear turquoise and visible down to forty feet. Several breeding pair of the fish were found and they were careful to remove only a third of any one brood...letting the others for the care of the parents.
It's a very beautiful and unique Labridens. I've posted photos of them in the past. There'e the "back end of the story". If you are interested, I think Eddie Martin from Bluegrass Cichlids is selling them. He started raising them in his fish farm in Florida...and apparently doing very well.
Mine have just started to breed. Here's what the fish looks like out of breeding coloration:
And in breeding coloration. This is the female at about 7-8"
