Collecting Rio Mamoni, mostly catfish

[duanes]

One of the last times I collected this river, its was the dry season and it looked like this, a patchwork of island, with tetras stranded in temporay pools, waiting to be devoured by hungry birds of prey

Today we went back, and most of the islands had disapeared, and the river was now almost half mile wide.

The pH had dropped significantly from an average of 8.2 into the 7s, althugh nitrates remained undetectable.
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Netting produced an slightly different set os species, with the stronger current.
We landed 2 Sturisomatichthys panamense

A semi adult Chaetostoma fischeri (maybe 6")
ATTACH=full]1563189[/ATTACH]
and a juvenile Robalo (Centropomus sp)

 

[duanes]

I was a little worried when I noticed the strength of flow where I caught these fish that my tanks flow might be too wimpy.

Above is the movement where the Sturisomatichthys were found, while wading thru it, I was easily knocked off my feet.
But so far, they are OK and working on the plethora of algae that plagues the walls of my outside situated tanks on the patio.
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[danotaylor]

very cool mate!

 

[Oftelith]

Turbid water sources sometimes promote interesting mutations or variations. Try taking a small DNA sample or taking detailed photos of fins/scale markings to confirm a more in-depth taxonomy!

 

[duanes]

Couple different shots.


The juvie Robalo

 

[FJB]

Gorgeous fish. Very nice chronicle. Thanks for sharing.