Andinoacara river system diversity

[duanes]

In 2019, a friend caught a dozen Andinoacara coerleopunctatus for me near St Martin Panama, in the Rio Pacora, a part of the Chagres river system.

The 3 above are part of that catch
Over the last couple months, I've been catching Andinoacara coerleopunctatus in the Rio Mamoni, a part of the Bayano/Tuira River system.
These rivers are separated by only about 16 miles, but are from separate sources, and don't connect.
Below are the same species collected lately n the Rio Mamoni.

Physically both rivers appear similar, and water parameters closely match.

But the Pacora is slightly closer to human development, and civilized bustle.

Above the Pacora river where the first variants were caught. (tests for pH, ammonia and nitrate)
Below the Mamoni, more rural, and forested



Mamoni tests Nitrate and pH

Instead of as many humans, Howler monkeys were more present

 

[newworld]

Very cool Duane, I notice you aren’t collecting another cichlid species found in the chagres….

 

[duanes]

So far I'm only going for the Bayano drainage, I saw some photos of crassilabrus there.

 

[newworld]

It would be great to see that fish in the hobby again…

 

[duanes]

Cichlid (Chogorro), in the Rio Utive, Panama
In the last minute of the video above, an Andinoacara can be seen in its habitat.
The tank my current pair are in below, an attempt at trying to mimic the habitat with some terrestrial plants, and their roots.

 

[puffers4puffers]

Thanks for sharing

 

[coltiger1975]

Those two fish look completely different, sure there are similarities but from body shape, scales, face markings and so on. I would have said two different fish. This is on my bucket list to keep, I have a friend moving down there soon. I may go visit to check them out.

 

[duanes]

Those two fish look completely different, sure there are similarities but from body shape, scales, face markings and so on. I would have said two different fish. This is on my bucket list to keep, I have a friend moving down there soon. I may go visit to check them out.

If you are going make a trip here, give me aheads up, and we can try to connect.

In 2 weeks I am going to try and do a little cast netting on the northern side of Panama, near the Caribbean coast.
Below a couple recent shots of Rio Mamoni Andinoacara, and some other Mamoni river fish.