20 inch ex-Cichlasoma festae

[Modest_Man]

RD - Given the circumstances, and the claim, there should have been photos documenting this. That's where I'm coming from. Any scientist knows this. Anybody can claim that they saw a 32 inch Oscar, for that matter.

Yes, your post was straightforward, but you didn't mention photos, which is why I asked.

I'd still like to see these other big ones that a couple of you have mentioned. I haven't heard of those guys.

This made me chuckle. Give up Neil, it seems that some people have no understanding of SCIENCE.

We've sampled some remarkably large fish for their species and not once felt it was necessary to document it with a photograph - the years of experience my bosses have in the field and the quality of their research spoke for themselves and meant we didn't have to "prove" anything with photos to other scientists. (We measured a 130mm speckled dace - which is huge - a whole 20mm longer than the "max" on Fishbase and the largest my boss had seen in over 25 years and tens of thousands of daces.)

In the scientific field if you make a false claim ALL your other research is suspect. It's pretty much game over for your career. Who wants to hire or work with someone who falsified research? On the other hand, anybody off the street can claim whatever they want - you can't hold scientific work and people commenting on a forum to the same standard.

Scientific claims don't need photographs to document things - it's already documented in the recorded measurements, and in this case additionally in a preserved fish!

 

[Miguel]

RD - the circumstances being it's hearsay at this point. I haven't seen any of the fish that are an inch or two smaller, either (which is why I've asked, out of curiosity.)
If somebody claims to have such a large fish, possibly a world record, then naturally photos would accompany the article. I don't mean to be a bug, but I'm used to scientific claims being backed by visual documentation. That's all

But you are, in fact ( although we all would love to see pix ) being a bug, mainly vis a vis RD. The Man just shared with us what he had, considereing most of us would find it interesting. And now his whole action ( a mere report of things that got to his knowledge ) is somewhat being "demeaned" by your ( for lack of a better word, I am sorry ) "pestering"....

 

[Psylant]

RD - the circumstances being it's hearsay at this point. I haven't seen any of the fish that are an inch or two smaller, either (which is why I've asked, out of curiosity.)
If somebody claims to have such a large fish, possibly a world record, then naturally photos would accompany the article. I don't mean to be a bug, but I'm used to scientific claims being backed by visual documentation. That's all

RD. is one of the most reputable and knowledgeable members on this site. Why don't you write this University of Guayaquil yourself and ask for pictures if you're in such doubt that a preserved festae couldn't be nearly 20"? I agree with Neil that he was lucky enough to receive responses to his inquiries at all. I wouldn't push my luck if I were in his shoes either (being doubted in an online community that he was just trying to share knowledge in). It amazes me that nearly every thread Neil posts in people seem to doubt/argue with him for no real reason. I don't see why the University of Guayaquil or Neil would have any reason to lie about this lol

 

[Miguel]

It amazes me that nearly every thread Neil posts in people seem to doubt/argue with him for no real reason. I don't see why the University of Guayaquil or Neil would have any reason to lie about this lol

Neil being of Masterclass is a natural challenge for all young lions. It is human nature at its most normal and predictable.

Story of son versus Father, sort of....is part of growing up.

 

[Cyberman]

I thought 16 - 18" is the max for Festae... but I could well believe there are 20"+ specimens out there.

 

[Chub_by]

Neil being of Masterclass is a natural challenge for all young lions. It is human nature at its most normal and predictable.

Story of son versus Father, sort of....is part of growing up.

I accept that Neill has a greater knowledge of fish than me and lots of other members, but there is no need for him to be as provocative as he's being in this thread.

Sent from my MK16i using Tapatalk App

 

[Miguel]

He is not. i am sorry. His info is being diminished without any justifiable reason.

 

[Aquanero]

Interesting info Neil. I suppose just like the brown bears living in Kodiak get larger than other populations an isolated population of Feste feeding undisturbed on a diet of fish and given enough time can attain a size larger than might be found elsewhere. I don't know that this is the case but certantly not beyond the relm of possibility.

 

[caribemob]

Interesting info Neil. I suppose just like the brown bears living in Kodiak get larger than other populations an isolated population of Feste feeding undisturbed on a diet of fish and given enough time can attain a size larger than might be found elsewhere. I don't know that this is the case but certantly not beyond the relm of possibility.

very well put

 

[RD.]

................. but there is no need for him to be as provocative as he's being in this thread.

provocative?

OMG, if you only knew what some of my pre-edited comments were.

Seriously some folks must be a wee bit short of a lorry load if they think that some researcher in Ecuador is creating bogus info on the size of a festae that he electro shocked. A 50cm male festae wouldn't even make so much as a blip on the radar in that part of the world. In Ecuador, most festae of that size that are caught end up as someones dinner!


Tom, add to that this fish was caught in a "wetlands" area, not a river with fast flowing current, and this could also be a clue as to why it managed to get to this size. Saved energy = larger gains in growth. If one looks at a map of the area surroundling Vinces, in the Province of Los Rios, where this fish was stated to be collected, there are indeed large wetland areas.
http://nona.net/features/map/placedetail.1804775/Vinces/



hola

Si el especimen era un macho preservado en el lab de Acuacultura de la fac de CCNN de la U de Guayaquil, la longitud era total (LT), y el pez fue capturado en Abras de Mantequilla (Vinces-Los Ríos) en el año 2008 por un estudiante que no recuerdo el nombre, espero poderte ayudado.

Saludos