This week in Panama
- Thread starter duanes
- Start date
Been kind of a crazy week on the island over this last couple days, we have been isolated from travelers and the rest of Panama due to the Covid-19, which may make the island, one of the most safe places on earth to be. We have had to resort to alternative methods of shopping, not being able to go to the mainland for groceries, and other stuff like the hardware store, or dental appts, much like the rest of the world has had to do.
Panama has instituted a 9pm to 530 am curfew.
In order to catch iguanas for dinner, some of the locals (or maybe poachers) stretch gill nets across trees, and they light fires below, hoping to drive them into the nets. But its the dry season, haven't had rain in 3 months...... so everything is tinder dry.
Surprise, Surprise the fires got out of control, and the military had to be called in to help keep the flames from getting too close to town.
Helicopters scoop big bags of water from the sea in front of our place. the government has probably had to spend thousands per iguana as a result, rumor has it around 6 iguanas were actually caught.
Then carry the water to drop on the fires.
And as a result of trying to escape the flames, animals in the hills are venturing into populated areas they may not usually venture into.
This boa showed up in the garden of our friends place this morning.
A lack of water has required me to slow my normal water change schedule and amount, but this is kind of a normal and natural situation for Panamanian species during the dry season, when water bodies dry up, or what's left become saturated with nutrients. Because the tank is so heavily planted, and lightly stocked parameters haven't changed much. But I have also restricted feeding to every other day, until the water situation is ironed out.
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Panama has instituted a 9pm to 530 am curfew.
In order to catch iguanas for dinner, some of the locals (or maybe poachers) stretch gill nets across trees, and they light fires below, hoping to drive them into the nets. But its the dry season, haven't had rain in 3 months...... so everything is tinder dry.
Surprise, Surprise the fires got out of control, and the military had to be called in to help keep the flames from getting too close to town.
Helicopters scoop big bags of water from the sea in front of our place. the government has probably had to spend thousands per iguana as a result, rumor has it around 6 iguanas were actually caught.
Then carry the water to drop on the fires.
And as a result of trying to escape the flames, animals in the hills are venturing into populated areas they may not usually venture into.
This boa showed up in the garden of our friends place this morning.
A lack of water has required me to slow my normal water change schedule and amount, but this is kind of a normal and natural situation for Panamanian species during the dry season, when water bodies dry up, or what's left become saturated with nutrients. Because the tank is so heavily planted, and lightly stocked parameters haven't changed much. But I have also restricted feeding to every other day, until the water situation is ironed out.
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Last edited:
- Dec 2, 2018
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Jesus. Stay safe dude. Both from corona and from the fires.
Also, what's wrong with that boa's head? Is it a burn?
Also, what's wrong with that boa's head? Is it a burn?
Crazier than normal this week. Our electrical system on the island is a patchwork of wire dating back to WWII when the U.S. had a PT boat base here.
JFK was one of those stationed here while then.
Last Saturday one of the transformers fried, and sent a power surge thru my house taking out some fans in the house, and my tanks pump.
The tank has been sans water movement since, except for a jug with a drip tube to break surface tension, I refill thejusg with rain water every couple hours.
Because of Covid everything is closed and the island is sequestered, so buying a pump is nearly impossible.
Calling around I finally found large enough one at a LFS today, and we tried to work out getting here, but the impeller turned out to be broken.
So I broke down an ordered one from the states, the duty and import taxes will cost almost the same as the pump, and be here "maybe" next week.
I am amazed that there haven't been any floaters yet, although in between filling the jug I notices some labored breathing.
The constant rain water overflowing the sump onto the lawn is slowly beginning dilute the tannins.
I ordere a Sicce 1500 GPH pump as a relacement.
Never a dull moment, living in an island paradise.
JFK was one of those stationed here while then.
Last Saturday one of the transformers fried, and sent a power surge thru my house taking out some fans in the house, and my tanks pump.
The tank has been sans water movement since, except for a jug with a drip tube to break surface tension, I refill thejusg with rain water every couple hours.
Because of Covid everything is closed and the island is sequestered, so buying a pump is nearly impossible.
Calling around I finally found large enough one at a LFS today, and we tried to work out getting here, but the impeller turned out to be broken.
So I broke down an ordered one from the states, the duty and import taxes will cost almost the same as the pump, and be here "maybe" next week.
I am amazed that there haven't been any floaters yet, although in between filling the jug I notices some labored breathing.
The constant rain water overflowing the sump onto the lawn is slowly beginning dilute the tannins.
I ordere a Sicce 1500 GPH pump as a relacement.
Never a dull moment, living in an island paradise.
The 1st casualty of the electrical surge/pump blow out came yesterday evening, the Eleotris goby.
After not seeing it for a month it was front and center, and its size probably contributed to its death in the non-filtration, low oxygen water.
Over a foot long, and about 5" wide when I took the carcass to the beach to be recycled by the buzzards.
Nothing is wasted here, the fishermen clean their catch almost directly across the street from me, with only a few bones left over within a very short time, by the resident population of vultures.
After not seeing it for a month it was front and center, and its size probably contributed to its death in the non-filtration, low oxygen water.
Over a foot long, and about 5" wide when I took the carcass to the beach to be recycled by the buzzards.
Nothing is wasted here, the fishermen clean their catch almost directly across the street from me, with only a few bones left over within a very short time, by the resident population of vultures.
Because of the Covid isolation, all travel is restricted in Panama to a select few people, and then only on certain days.
To go to the mainland where there may be that sort of pump, I'd need to get permission from the local government, and my first available day, will be this coming Thursday.
But that is a great idea for later.
It's possible my newly ordered pump will arrive earlier ( it supposedly arrives in Miami Monday), and I know a grocery store vendor that I can pay to pick it up if it does..
And yes, the goby was by far the most interesting individual.
Hopefully when the Covid crisis is over, I can collect another one (or similar species).
All other fish in the tank are stressed, but the hourly (daylight hour) rain water additions are buying some time.
