After 3 years fishes, a new (used) 180.

[FESHMAN]

I have kept both Tomocichla species twice before (3 if you count seiboldi).
The first pair of afraci spawned, but one partner killed the other immediately after the spawn, the next time I acquired a group of juvies, they were all deformed, so not worth breeding more. With the tuba, a group of juvies arrived at my LFS, I bought them, and grew out, but ended up with only males. My friend ended up with large female, and they spawned in his tank, after I ended up after giving him my males (she killed 2 out of 3, before accepting "the" one, she later killed.
My objective and challenge with all cichlids, has always been to keep any species long enough to have it spawn at least 3 times, get a large amount of experience with it, and make the species available to others.
Below a young T asfraci

below a female tuba, the brown string below her are eggs


seiboldi below (now moved into the genus Talamancaheros

These are all rheophillic, and I believe my ignorance in providing a strong enough current contributed to increased aggression, and my failure to achieve my goals with them.

These fish are awesome!
Do you have an idea if such fish are available in the Asian market? Like Singapore and Thailand, because that's where we import out stuff

 

[duanes]

No idea of the Asian market, the tuba are only occasionally available in the U.S., and the asfraci were only available twice in about 20 years that I trying to get them, and was aware of. Although they may becoming less rare, as there are reports of spawning reported in the last year or 2.
The first pair of asfraci for me, came from someone who caught them wild in Panama.

 

[dan518]

This pic by Hans van Heusden always got me wanting tomocichla tuba.

 

[krichardson]

I had what was sold to me as a tuba years ago when I was more heavily into cichlids.
Looking forward to seeing photos of your upcoming fish collecting adventures.

 

[Woefulrelic]

Recently found myself learning about the Kuna tribe through some pirate history. From what I understand they are still around today and potentially not that far (Atlantic side, however) from you. That part of the world seems to carry a lot of charm and I hope you are enjoying life out there.

 

[duanes]

I see and talk to many of the local, original people from the area quite often, and will be employing them as guides to help find some of the fish I'm after, they have amazing knowledge.

 

[Woefulrelic]

Looks like you'll be repeating a tradition over 500 years old, because that was how the buccaneers used them. Apparently they were quite good at guiding, tanslating and most importantly when you had a Kuna guide you never went hungry. I suppose they were unparalleled at fishing, apparently manatee is among the food they would catch. They may have assisted in the second or third sack of Panama.

 

[duanes]

Today, they, and a number of other aboriginal groups are a major political force in Panama concerned with protecting the environment and using land in a sustainable manner, and have considerable clout in protecting traditions.

 

[jaws7777]

Congrats duanes i know you must be excited. Looking forward to seeing this progress

 

[duanes]

The tank was a bit imposing where it was, blocked some of the vista, so after checking out the shape of the stand (some parts rotting pretty good) and some of the gear, the stand and a few pieces are being tossed.
Found what appears (so far) to be a better spot.
I want to use some of the local Lake Gatun water lilies, and be able to see the flowers, so dropping ithe height down and putting it at an angle to the patio seems to be the answer.

came with a fairly good sized sump, that I think may go behind the tank, in the garden.