Festae- Quality VS Trash!!

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This has been a very educational thread and there have been some amazing photos shared of quality specimens.

There has been some brief discussion on the differences between festae from Peru vs. Ecuador. I have read that the natural range of festae also included Colombia. Have there been imports of Colombian festae and if so does anyone know how they compare to the other two regions?

I don't know the topography or river systems well enough to know if there would be distinct populations or if these would just be a continuation of the Ecuador population? I was in Colombia for work last year in the far north coast (Cartagena & Barranquilla) and asked the people I was working with if they had ever seen festae or umbi while showing them pictures of them and the people I talked to were not familiar with them. Granted the kind of people I work with are not exactly your outdoor fishing type folks. Rio Mag runs right through Barranquilla at the coast and no one there had seen an Umbi so I took their experience with a grain of salt.

I found this link showing the different drainage areas for South America. http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...ew5neC0PQC_fwF2KA&sig2=XcZIWGj7e4x5UrmPT-Iw7g The map shows a Tumbe area which is what I assume is the location for the Peru festae. I am not sure which area represents the Ecuador population of festae?

Thanks again for those who have shared their wealth of knowledge on this thread!

Patrick
 
"Festae ( True Red Terror ) 1.5 " This fish very rare. Because is no longer legal to export from South America Countries.
F-0 Festae ( True Red Terror ) 1.5 " This one from Wild Bred in Central America. I have invoice to proof."

What does this even mean?

Matt


Here are a couple of lfs around my area offering wild festae. One of them even willing to show invoice as proof.

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/for/3137176629.html

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/for/3113560106.html
 
I just re-read that... If its wild bred from.central America then they must be introduced to area or farmed as festae originally come from Ecuador and peru. I believe the ones in Colombia are introduced as well...
 
"Festae ( True Red Terror ) 1.5 " This fish very rare. Because is no longer legal to export from South America Countries.
F-0 Festae ( True Red Terror ) 1.5 " This one from Wild Bred in Central America. I have invoice to proof."

What does this even mean?

Matt

Absolutely Nothing!:liar: These clowns need to stop.
 
Whats this hobby coming too!!!?? I have heard and seen wild caught festae hit the market that come in with orders from asia. Now im obviously a small voice but a voice to be heard nontheless... Its looking like the wholesalers and distributors are buying them up like crazy at dirt prices and who can blame them? But come on, who is gonna believe that theyre actually wild? thats the biggest load of crap ive heard. Im guessing the wholesalers are making them wild ecuador, peruvian or whatever so they sell which i totally disagree with. Its complete mis-representation of what is supposed to be true!! I apologize, i take alot of pride and love of festae to lay down and watch them get murdered by trash!!! So whether im right or wrong i felt the need to voice my opinion:) So here coming very soon to an LFS near you will be Wild Festae Trash!!!! I cant stop anyone from buying them cause people will do what they want, but please keep this thread in mind when buying festae especially when theres plans to breed and sell back into the hobby:)
 
This exact same scenario has been taking place since cichlids (pick a genus/species) first hit the market, I suggest that you get used to it. lol

In the grand scheme of things, misrepresented festae don't amount to more than a drop in the bucket compared to other cichlid species that have been misrepresented over the past couple of decades. As far as whose gonna believe that they are wild - plenty of people, that should be fairly obvious by now. :)
 
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