Finally wild caught cichlids in Panama
- Thread starter duanes
- Start date
I do see the 180 as a small tank, and very microscopic compared to reality, this is why you see in many of my posts, me ragging about putting oscars, Parachromis and other similar sized cichlids in inadequate sized tanks.
Whether wild or not, the issue for me is always proper size accommodations.
These Andinoacara top out at 5"-6" (maybe less), so I consider a 180 close to fair lodging, and also why, if I'm offered Parachromis loisellii or Vieja maculicauda, I won't take them, because I consider in the end, as adults the tank would be too small that size fish.
This is also why, for my first 3 years in Panama, I didn't have a tank, getting one a proper size for cichlids, was difficult to find, and until I found this one, too expensive for me.
After 3 years fishes, a new (used) 180.
Or.....beyond tank size, are there the moral ethics in the removing wild fish from the wild?
Yes and no, these are some of the most common cichlids in Panama, so my dent is pretty minor compared to say what a bird might take in a day.
My hope is, that if they spawn for me, and the tank remains disease free, I may take a bucket full of juvies back to San Martin.
The most flagrant damage I see here, are the from commercial ocean fishing fleets, that haul up entire schools, and all that goes with them. 10 years ago, there were sharks in the waters off Taboga, no one has seen one in the last 7, and the size of fish in a normal catch (such as Chilean sea bass, and red snapper) have been declining steadily.
I only buy from the cool/line guys.
Yes and no, these are some of the most common cichlids in Panama, so my dent is pretty minor compared to say what a bird might take in a day.
My hope is, that if they spawn for me, and the tank remains disease free, I may take a bucket full of juvies back to San Martin.
The most flagrant damage I see here, are the from commercial ocean fishing fleets, that haul up entire schools, and all that goes with them. 10 years ago, there were sharks in the waters off Taboga, no one has seen one in the last 7, and the size of fish in a normal catch (such as Chilean sea bass, and red snapper) have been declining steadily.
I only buy from the cool/line guys.
In my above post, it should read "Hook/ line guys" not cool/line.
The extra river water was to make changes along the way if needed, schedules here often vary according to weather conditions, or maintenance issues. What might be a 1 hour trip one day, could easily turn into a 3 or 4 hour
one another day, where water changes every hour or so could keep fish alive.
And as opposed to what might be needed in the states, here, keeping fish cool is more important than the other way around.
The extra river water was to make changes along the way if needed, schedules here often vary according to weather conditions, or maintenance issues. What might be a 1 hour trip one day, could easily turn into a 3 or 4 hour
one another day, where water changes every hour or so could keep fish alive.And as opposed to what might be needed in the states, here, keeping fish cool is more important than the other way around.
I didn't give instructions, just turns out Jose the guy who collected the fish seemed to know what to do.
I had left a bunch of plastic jugs in the truck with my normal cab driver Julio.
Jose had the battery operated air pump cranked, and it was somehow running off his truck battery, and he bucket lid had air holes he had cut in it.
Next time he brings fish, I will ask how he knew what to do.
I must admit that I was a bit surprised at the time, just by the fact showed up out of the blue, with fish (and cichlids yet too) in and of itself.
.
I had left a bunch of plastic jugs in the truck with my normal cab driver Julio.
Jose had the battery operated air pump cranked, and it was somehow running off his truck battery, and he bucket lid had air holes he had cut in it.
Next time he brings fish, I will ask how he knew what to do.
I must admit that I was a bit surprised at the time, just by the fact showed up out of the blue, with fish (and cichlids yet too) in and of itself.
.
Say what now??? I sure hope that means the tank is kept outside!
Congrats Duanes! I had never heard of that species before, but could tell straight away it was andinoacara.
Yes the tank is on my patio, mostly in the shade, but gets early morning, and late afternoon partial sun.
About half the plants I collected in lake Gatun did well, although not enough sun for Water hyacinth, and another floater. I moved the last hyacinth to the sump which is in partial sun, and even that seems wimpy.
The Hydrilla, Hydrocotyl, and Ipomoea are doing best, some emerging.
The Ipomea (above) seems to grow inches per day.
About half the plants I collected in lake Gatun did well, although not enough sun for Water hyacinth, and another floater. I moved the last hyacinth to the sump which is in partial sun, and even that seems wimpy.
The Hydrilla, Hydrocotyl, and Ipomoea are doing best, some emerging.
The Ipomea (above) seems to grow inches per day.
Now that they are settling in, I have been quite surprised by the shoaling, social behavior. Aggression seems to be minimal, and they move around the tank as a loose shoal much of the time.
