Rio Meta Columbia

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Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Jul 21, 2007
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Winnipeg, Canada
So, have an order scheduled from Columbia for the middle of March, looking at ordering "Rio Meta Pikes". The river is a tributary of the Orinoco, so, what are the odds that I get something other than Belly Crawlers? LOL They are supposed to be 6-8" fish, so, that leaves me wondering what they could be. Any ideas? There must be at least one lugubris type there?
 
You could end up with a lot of random things, hopefully something nice though. Might end up with a lot of common things though. . . .would be nice to get some lents from that area though!!!

Pictures when you do! I'll give you my address for shipping too! :)
 
BigPic;4915335; said:
So, have an order scheduled from Columbia for the middle of March, looking at ordering "Rio Meta Pikes". The river is a tributary of the Orinoco, so, what are the odds that I get something other than Belly Crawlers? LOL They are supposed to be 6-8" fish, so, that leaves me wondering what they could be. Any ideas? There must be at least one lugubris type there?
Click to expand...

C. sveni
C. lenticulata
C. sp. 'VZ'
C. sp. 'Atabapo' (there are at least two species here [I & II] + another lugubris type)

I bet there are several others, but that's all that comes to mind. It's always fun to have a box of mystery pikes come in. I hope that when you get it there are like 10 different looking fish in there and you get to keep them all and we get to see your awesome pix and help you ID them. Christmas time in March Crenicichla style!!! LOVE IT!!!!
 
Ya, I didn't think of Sp. Venezuela lol I really need to brush up on my Columbian topography! I didn't realize how close the Rio Atabapo was to Rio Meta . . . But, after going to Uruguay and collecting, I am not sure that it's close enough to say that the Atabapo pikes would be the same as ones in Meta.

Thanks for making me think. . . just what I was looking for :D
 
BigPic;4917103; said:
Ya, I didn't think of Sp. Venezuela lol I really need to brush up on my Columbian topography! I didn't realize how close the Rio Atabapo was to Rio Meta . . . But, after going to Uruguay and collecting, I am not sure that it's close enough to say that the Atabapo pikes would be the same as ones in Meta.

Thanks for making me think. . . just what I was looking for :D
Click to expand...

Well, years ago I remember seeing boxes of assorted cichlids from certain areas.....usually Belem, Santerem, or Altimira. They were always a hodge-podge of species.....a bag of these, a bag of that sort of thing.

In your case, a similar situation only one step more specific......all pike cichlids. At 6-8 inches I am going to assume that whatever they all are they're probably going to be smaller specimens of one or two species. At 6-8 inches there is no mistaking a sveni, or even a lent for that matter.....but you never know. And even if they are very similar (i.e., sp VZ, which is widespread throughout Colombia, too) it would be really great to devote a couple hundred gallons to growing out as many as you can keep for yourself. Let a couple pairs form and pass along the rest to other hobbyists.

I am excited for you, best of luck, and fingers crossed!!!!
 
At 6-8" Sveni and Belly crawler would be full blown adults LOL I think Lents would be the ultimate score, I am not holding my breath on that. . . I guess it's a waiting game at this point. I am going to help land an order from a different exporter in Columbia tonight, I don't think there are any pikes with this supplier. The other is slated for arrival on the 15th or 17th of March, after Spence gets back from Brazil.

Even if they turn out to be "Venz", that pike doesn't get the cred that it deserves, mostly because nobody keeps them to maturity or in groups. I think half of the battle is going to be knowing the collection location, that way we can keep track of how they turn out haha
 
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