What do you want answered?

[Aquamojo]

Hey Moe, thanx for putting this together.

I'd love to find out any info on Astronotus crassipinnis. Mainly, is anyone actively spawing these Os in captivity? There were several available a few years ago that all sold to one outfit but, I haven't heard anything about any captive spawnings. Also, is anyone importing them? I'd love to devote a few hundred gallons towards growing some out and trying my hand at spawning them.

Hello:
Mo, I am a long time admirer of your Parachromis, and your site has been invaluable learning tool for me.
I have been catching and breeding Jags in Miami for a couple of years. I would be interested to know if anyone out there has done any research into the Managuense population in S. Florida.
I am of the opinion that the Jags down here are as beautiful and valuable as any wild caught in Central America. I have seen the the IFGA lists a florida caught Jag as the world record at 21.5" and 3 1/2 lbs. I wonder if conditions in S. Florida are such that we will eventually see this as the mainstay habitat for this cichlid.

I'm just getting these questions now. But I will be sitting with Ad Konigs, Don Danko, and a few other knowledgeable folks. At best I will ask and try and get them answered....maybe not on video tape...but i will ask.

I was just talking to a guy about collecting. It old him that my next trip out would be to Florida. I think you are correct. I have heard of some insane fish coming from the canals. One of the local fish farms would like me to come down to photograph their stock. They're going to set up a photo tank and bring them in one after another for pictures. Pretty cool.

At the end of the day I DID buy fish. This despite my internal mantra...I DON'T NEED ANY FISH...I DON'T NEED ANY FISH...I DON'T NEED ANY FISH...

I bought six really nice Honduran Red Points, Two Metynsis Shombourgi (spelling? Black Barred Silver Dollar) and I got another male H. Labridens "Taninul" for my colony at home.

The auction last night was nuts...six two inch Cuban cichlids $11, six three inch P. Bifas $11..in between the bidding they were handing out free shots of Tequila...it was a wild *** time. The fish pries were RIDICULOUS. I don't think I have ever seen as much stock available at any one show.

You monster fish lovers....WAIT till you see the Photo of the Green Umbee in the show. ZOWsa....this was the alpha male that started all of the fry that are out there right now. Owned by Rusty Wessel.

More to come.

 

[BrynMichael]

Wow. Sounds like a real blast. Is this the biggest fish show that gets put on in the US? Or at least for New Worlds?

 

[Aquamojo]

Hey Moe, thanx for putting this together.

I'd love to find out any info on Astronotus crassipinnis. Mainly, is anyone actively spawing these Os in captivity? There were several available a few years ago that all sold to one outfit but, I haven't heard anything about any captive spawnings. Also, is anyone importing them? I'd love to devote a few hundred gallons towards growing some out and trying my hand at spawning them.

I talked to Wayne Leibel on this subject. Wayne is a big fan of Astronotus...and i believe at one point had a pair of Crassipinnis. In fact I was at Jeff rapp's fishhouse one day and remember having a conversation about the fish. Wayne said that to the best of his knowledge, no one is working with them now. It was a flash in th pan a while back. No idea if anyone is importing them. What I did hear from Jeff was that getting fish out of Brazil is tough right now. Hope that helps, if I hear of them I will let you know. I was hot for them myself a while back. Just never had luck with Oscars in general.

 

[Aquamojo]

Hello:
Mo, I am a long time admirer of your Parachromis, and your site has been invaluable learning tool for me.
I have been catching and breeding Jags in Miami for a couple of years. I would be interested to know if anyone out there has done any research into the Managuense population in S. Florida.
I am of the opinion that the Jags down here are as beautiful and valuable as any wild caught in Central America. I have seen the the IFGA lists a florida caught Jag as the world record at 21.5" and 3 1/2 lbs. I wonder if conditions in S. Florida are such that we will eventually see this as the mainstay habitat for this cichlid.

Interestingly enough...no. No real research has been done. I would have to agree that the fish down there are or can be as beautiful. I talked to a few of the fish farmers that said that the fish in the canals are more of a scurge than anything else. The fish is already established as well as most of the larger CA/SA cichlids...Oscars and Red Devils. My good friend Chuck Davis tells me that a collection trip in the canals of Florida rivals any trip to Central America. I plan on making that trip soon.

I'm going to pose this question to some of the other members of the ACA. Interesting question.

Mo

 

[lostnight]

Everyone should see the Bifa in person. It is insanely big. A true tank buster.

I agree with that, it was very powerful looking. Would be fun to catch a fish like that on rod and reel.

 

[lostnight]

Mo, you showed me the Honduras freddies (yellow head?) that were for sale at the ACA, and I bought some from Allen (I think). Do you know who he got his from? I heard Ken Davis had some and so did Jeff Rapps, and it would be good to get males from one source and females from another to give more genetic diversity. Since mine are still so young, I'm willing to try that out if I figure out where mine are from.

 

[Aquamojo]

Mo, you showed me the Honduras freddies (yellow head?) that were for sale at the ACA, and I bought some from Allen (I think). Do you know who he got his from? I heard Ken Davis had some and so did Jeff Rapps, and it would be good to get males from one source and females from another to give more genetic diversity. Since mine are still so young, I'm willing to try that out if I figure out where mine are from.

I'm not sure where Allen got his fish. How many did you buy? He had males and females in that tank. You would be fine breeding them. Most of the fish came from Rusty Wessel. Ken bred some of his. I think Jeff got his directly from Rusty...but at this point may have a breeding pair.

Are you the one that I introduced to Allen? The price he was charging was ridiculous....Five bucks for a fish that size is an absolute steal.

 

[lostnight]

I'm not sure where Allen got his fish. How many did you buy? He had males and females in that tank. You would be fine breeding them. Most of the fish came from Rusty Wessel. Ken bred some of his. I think Jeff got his directly from Rusty...but at this point may have a breeding pair.

Are you the one that I introduced to Allen? The price he was charging was ridiculous....Five bucks for a fish that size is an absolute steal.

Yes, you also showed me some pics of yours on yout cellphone. I was eyeballing those fish all weekend. I also bought some Cubans (they are in a different aquarium) and I bought a Beani, my most expensive purhase at 20$ for 1 fish. Unfortunately, that's the one that didn't make it home alive. All the other fish did fine.

 

[Biggfeast]

Hey aquamojo, can you help me id this cichlid, it was sold to me as a motaguense x loiselle hybrid, but the store i got it from is often mistaken with their "hybrid" tag, so i was wonderin if you can see if you recognize it, thanks alot!

 

[Aquamojo]

First I want to say I really appreciate your work. Second thanks for being so helpful.

Okay so my question is, and you might be able to answer this without the experts, but...
What are the main types of Herichthys Carpintis. I have been reading lately that there could be some differences in them. I know already there is the "escondido" which I believe comes from a lake in Mexico called Lago Escondida and that collections from here are different than others. I guess what I want to know is aside from the escondido, are there other strains of H.Carpintis or just one. I have recently found that some people claim there is one called Lahillas and one called Chairel. I would assume these are also different locational groups and thus a varried appearance. Supposedly the Chairel has large blocky tight pearling much like the escondido only without the worm pearling on the face. The Lahillas is supposedly your "common" Carpintis which has less pearls or that they are more spaced out and there is less on the face. Is there any truth to this? Or can any H. Carpintis become great looking with enough care?

Thanks,
Bryn

It's taken a little while, but i am finally getting around to editing the tape.
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