Let's see if I remember how to do this ;)

bigguapote · Oct 4, 2017

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Where to start? I suppose most recent is easiest.
Many of the really rare Brazil imports are still on hand.
I'll copy/paste species entry from my web page stock list of a few examples.

Crenicichla sp. 'cobra' 3-3.5" 200.00 ea. wild Pimental, Rio Tapajos collected 'cobra pikes' in very ltd qty; it's been many years since I've seen any offered/imported

Immediately below is current stock photo. Below is that are several previously taken photos (some no doubt taken >15 years ago) that detail the pattern and color transformation this incredible species displays through maturity.

Crenicichla sp. 'Tapajos red' 7" 175.00 ea. wild Rio Arapiuns collection of deep solid red colored, lg growing, remarkable pikes

Cichla pinima 3-3.5" 125.00 ea. extremely rare collection/import of wild Rio Jaguaripe, Bahia stock

For the Cichla fans, there are other species on my stock list at this time as well - including kelberi and piquiti.

Geophagus proximus 4-4.5" 125.00 or 3 @ 115.00 ea. extremely rare wild Rio Tefé, Amazonas collection of lg growing, gorgeous colored & impressive earth eater

Geophagus sveni 5-5.5" 125.00 or 3 @ 115.00 ea. wild Rio Paraná collection of already super colored stock sporting fin filaments/trailers

As many readers know, I am a long time big fan of earth eaters. There are more than 12 species on my stock list at this time.

Heros efasciatus 'Rio Negro' 3.5-4" 55.00 ea. wild Rio Negro 'red striped turquoise severum' - glowing turquoise severum w/ red striped face & body

Apistogramma kullanderi 1.25-1.5" 200.00 ea. uber rare wild Rio Curuá collection of the largest growing species of Apistogramma - very ltd qty available

The Dicrossus sold quickly, but I still think it's worth sharing a pic here anyhow.

Peckoltia compta 2.5-3" 75.00 ea. L134 'leopard frog pleco' collected from Pimental, Rio Tapajos; one of the most highly requested & attractive plecos for breeding

Baryancistrus sp. LDA033/L142 2.5-3" 65.00 ea. LDA033/L142 'snowball pleco' collected from Pimental, Rio Tapajos; sports bold contrast of lg white polka dots on solid black body

For pleco fans, there are more than 30 species of Loracariidae included on my stock list at this time.

Scleromystax barbatus 2-2.5" 25.00 or 4 @ 22.00 ea. Magé, Rio de Janeiro collection; the epitome of Cory cats - hugely impressive & boldly marked species

I think I will share some rare Thai imports while I'm at it.

Bagrichthys majusculus 7-8" 125.00 ea. uber rare import of highly curious, velvet black 'lancer-type cat' w/ white whiskers & sky blue rimmed eye-only a few available

Bagroides melapterus 5" 175.00 ea. Thai collected uber rare 'Harlequin Lancer'; boldy ornate gold & black - only one individual available

Heteropneustes kemratensis 6-7" 125.00 ea. extremely rare import of Thai clarid cat; attractive mohagany body & fins w/ horizontal gold stripes - only 1 available

Mystus mysticetus 5-6" 75.00 ea. rarely imported Thai bagrid cat w/ bold indigo & white horizonal stripes- very ltd qty only

Pangasius conchophilus 7-8" 150.00 ea. extremely rare import of lg growing Thai 'paroon shark' species w/ distinctive metallic bronze colored body- only 1 available

out of room on this thread... To be continued

bigguapote · Oct 4, 2017

part ll

Pangasius conchophilus 7-8" 150.00 ea. extremely rare import of lg growing Thai 'paroon shark' species w/ distinctive metallic bronze colored body- only 1 available

Sperata acicularis 4" 75.00 ea. seldom imported, copper colored, lg growing 'Burmese shovelnose cat'

Hemibagrus filamentosus 5-5.5" / 6-7" 85.00 ea. / 100.00 ea. rarely imported Thai bagrid cat of tawny/caramel body color; grows to about 18-20"

Hemibagrus wyckii 7-8" 175.00 ea. Thai 'crystal eyed cat'-only two individuals avail of extraordinary show cats; velvet black w/ white trim tail, glowing/iridescent eyes

Kryptopterus cheveyi 5-6" 50.00 ea. very rare collection of Thai Silurid cat w/ iridescent green-violet sheen; grows to about 12" - only 2 imported

There are a couple dozen more species of uncommon to rarely offered (non-pleco) catfish species posted on the stock list as well. Please do check it out.

Thai cyprinids! There are many on hand. I'll share a few below.

Carlocarpio siamensis 3.5-4" / 7-8" 65.00 ea. / 165.00 ea. Thai 'giant carp'; a very rarely collected/imported, xl growing & highly impressive cyprinid in ltd qty- only two of lg size avail

Cirrhinus microlepis 3-3.5" / 4.5-5" 25.00 / 35.00 or 3 @ 30.00 ea. seldom imported red-finned Thai mud carp; semi-elongated iridescent body w/ very cool red tail

Cyclocheilichthys enoplos 6-7" 100.00 ea. Thai 'sword spine barb'; a very rare import of lg growing cyprinid w/ uniquely tall sword spined dorsal fin - ltd qty only

Hampala macrolepidota 4-4.5" / 6-7" 40.00 ea. / 65.00 ea. rare import of lg growing, robust, colorful, & active cyprinid; coveted sport fish that amounts to a great larger community species

Hypsibarbus wetmorei 3-4" 28.00 or 4 @ 25.00 ea. wild Thai 'lemon fin barb'; a seldom imported & attractive cyprinid that reaches about 10"

Neolissochilus soroides 3-4" 65.00 ea. Thai 'Soro brook carp'; a rarely imported 'yellow fin mahseer' that grows to about 18"

Osteochilus hasselti 4-5" 50.00 ea. seldom imported red-finned Thai hard lipped barb; attractive red fins w/ long dorsal fin

Incisilabeo behri 2.5-3" 50.00 or 4 @ 45.00 ea. wild Thai 'hump head shark'; a rarely imported show species - very seldom offered in juvenile size

Dawkinsia filamentosa 3-3.5" 35.00 or 4 @ 32.00 ea. Myanmar-collected 'filament barb'; a super colorful (chartreuse & red w/ black), md growing (5") barb ideal for md community

Barbodes lateristriga 3"+/- 35.00 ea. Thai collected 'spanner barb' of great size (wild); an attractively striped/banded barb that grows to robust 6-7" size

Barbonymus altus 3-4" 25.00 ea. Thai 'red tail + red fin tinfoil barb' (wild as opposed to common hormone bred); grows to 8" - perfect for md-ml community
" schwanenfeldi 3-3.5" 25.00 ea. Thai 'red & black fin tinfoil barb' (wild as opposed to common hormone bred); grows to 14"-super show fish for ml-lg community

Labeo dyocheilus 4.5-6" / 8-10" 65.00 ea. / 165.00 ea. Thai 'blue shark'; a rarely collected, lg growing & impressively finned cyprinid- ltd qty on md & only 2 lg size available

Leptobotia taeniops 3.5-4" 75.00 or 3 @ 70.00 ea. rare import of 'Chinese honeycomb loach'; a robust cool-hardy species w/ very attractive, individually intricate pattern

Not from Thailand species again:

Brycon falcatus 3.5-4" 50.00 ea. Colombian collected stock sporting black half moon on tail & black based anal fin; an extremely robust & lg community focal point

and out of room again...

bigguapote · Oct 4, 2017

part lll

skipping around the list a little before I finish up here

Crenicichla marmorata 6-7" 175.00 ea. wild Santarem, Rio Tapajos collected 'Brazilian marbled pikes'

Kronoheros umbriferus 3-3.5" 40.00 or 4 @ 35.00 ea. wild from Giradot on Rio Magdalena, Colombia - 'blue freckled umbies'

Mesoheros atromaculatus 2" 25.00 ea or 4 @ 20.00 ea wild R. Calimas, Colombia collected stock of orange & black banded rarity in the trade

Mesoheros cf. ornatus 1.25-1.5" 40.00 or 4 @ 35.00 ea. wild juveniles from R. Calimas in extreme south of Choco State, Colombia - a rarely imported, brilliant red & blue spangled beauty
" " 3.5-4" 90.00 or 4 @ 85.00 ea. next size up on wild collected grow outs of chunky size & great color

Acarichthys heckelii 'albino' 2-2.5" 50.00 ea. cb juveniles of stunning albino form; shining white body w/ gold head & red ventral fins

Amatitlania sajica 1.5" 15.00 or 5 @ 12.50 ea. cb Costa Rica gem of blue, yellow, & red colors; remains < 5"

" septemfasciata 1" 8.50 ea. cb juveniles of Rio San Jose, CR collection
" 2-2.5" 18.00 or 4 @ 15.00 ea. F2 Rio San Jose, CR grow outs of rarely offered, sm-md growing, blue-eyed maroon colored gem; sexed pairs available

" cf. siquia 'marbled Honduran' 1.5-2" 10.00 ea. cb 'marbled Honduran convicts' This is my 1st distribution of this form; unique pearly sides w/ blue-black marbling

" cf. nigrofasciata 'marbled convict' 1.5-2" / 2.5-3" 7.50 ea. / 12.50 ea. cb juveniles of 'marbled convict' in two sizes - no two fish are patterned alike; the larger 2.5-3" size = young adult males

Amphilophus labiatus 1" 10.00 ea. F2 'Isla Zapatera, Lago Nicaragua' juveniles of 'red devil' from wild red female x F1 red/white male

Chiapaheros grammodes 1" 10.00 ea. F1 juveniles from collection at Tuxtla Guttierez, Rio Grijalva, Chiapas, MX

Cincelichthys bocourti 5.5-6" 75.00 ea. cb grow outs of huge growing, orange sided, mild mannered beauty in ltd only

Herichthys carpintis 2" / 2.5-3" 15.00 ea. / 25.00 ea. cb huge pearl spotted, emerald green stock; most similar to the 'Laguna Escondida' form I once bred/distributed - lty qty only

Nandopsis tetracanthus 3.5" 25.00 or 4 @ 22.00 ea. cb 'Cuban cichlids' grow outs of uncommon size; a ml growing, highly attractive species sporting black/white wavy pattern

Osphronemus exodon 2.5-3" 85.00 or 3 @ 80.00 ea. Thai 'elephant ear gourami'; a very rarely imported red & black scaled giant growing gourami - unique species for lg community

" laticlavis 5" 85.00 ea. giant 'red tail gorami' of Indonesia/Malaysia; a highly attractive show fish for lg communities that can reach 20"

Pygocentrus piraya 5" 200.00 or 3 @ 175.00 ea. R. São Francisco giant growing, brilliantly honey to red colored piranha; all reside together in same tank w/ no nipped fins

" ternetzi 5" 250.00 ea. Rio São Francisco collected at Três Marias, Minas Gerais; brilliant gold colored, bulldog-faced beauties - only 2 still available

Like to see more?
You know the way. Just check the stock list and photos of species I may highlight in photos now and again at my web page!

bigguapote · Oct 5, 2017

These photos are shared both for fun as well as to remind we ornamental fish aficionados that first and foremost, so many of the fish we covet were and continue to be resourced for subsistence in their native regions.

My wife and I traveled in Myanmar (mostly) and Thailand for 3 weeks.
I won't turn this into a travel blog. I only wish to share some relevant photos taken at fish markets. I absolutely loved strolling around and studying the fish at these markets!
The spices, fruits and veg, etc. were all so interesting to see and smell too.

Most of us did not grow up in a culture where fresh fish, poultry, pork and beef, etc are laid out in the hot sun all day for shoppers to select from. I am sad to admit, yet quite confident that I lack the beneficial bacterial colonization in my intestines which would allow me to eat the fresh meats we saw at such markets.

Barbecued bats, sparrows, and crickets were not included in my street food sampling.
Anthony Bourdain is paid well to do so. I am far more curious in culinary endeavors than most I know, but..

I will need to make two posts to include this particular file of photos.

Now that's a prawn!

Serious ornamental fish stocking here.
Can you identify most of the species for sale?

Fish paste is made on site. It's very fragrant in the heat of day.
But I can tell you that fish-based sauces and stocks would never taste the same without use of the paste.

Lates are exceptionally palatable. Loved them any way we ate them.

I ate Chitala. Very good.

This is apparently a frequent issue with the Channa and Clarias! They can remain alive all day on account of their auxiliary air breathing advantages.
So the vendors are constantly kicking and flipping the escapees back into booths and display bowls.