Because I live in Panama, and collect here, I also snorkel with the fish I collect, to try to get a good idea of the actual composition of species in their natural habitat.
One of the things I find interesting is the ratio of non-cichlids to cichlids.
where ever I have snorkeled, for every 1 or 2 cichlids, there are perhaps 50 to 100 tetras, some Plecos, and a few gobies, so in lieu of typical cichlid dominated tanks, I am looking at what is a true biotope, and so only a few cichlids in a large space, surrounded by lots of dithers seems to be the answer.
Below is a river (the Utive) where I have caught Andinoacara.
Note the number of cichlids to tetras in the habitat. If you blink, you could miss the 1 Andinoacra in the last minute.
Cichlid (Chogorro), in the Rio Utive, Panama
One of the things I find interesting is the ratio of non-cichlids to cichlids.
where ever I have snorkeled, for every 1 or 2 cichlids, there are perhaps 50 to 100 tetras, some Plecos, and a few gobies, so in lieu of typical cichlid dominated tanks, I am looking at what is a true biotope, and so only a few cichlids in a large space, surrounded by lots of dithers seems to be the answer.
Below is a river (the Utive) where I have caught Andinoacara.
Note the number of cichlids to tetras in the habitat. If you blink, you could miss the 1 Andinoacra in the last minute.
Cichlid (Chogorro), in the Rio Utive, Panama
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