Collecting in Peru

[Ttw]

Tomorrow I will be heading to Peru on a collecting trip. Although plans need to be fluid the initial plan is to collect in the Tapiche Reserve. Then on the way back to Iquitos to collect in southern tributaries of the Ucayali and Amazon. I have not been further east of Jenaro Herrera when I hiked the road to Brazil to collect A. nijsseni in the type locality. Hopefully will find something interesting.

 

[Mike Wise]

If you get near Pucallpa I would look in the Rio Shahuaya and see if the Pink Apisto (A. cf. eunotus Shahuaya) still exists. It was the original species sold in the hobby sold as A. eunotus - and it might just be the real A. eunotus.

 

[anewbie]

Have a fun and safe trip. Be sure to leave the mosquitoes behind for the fishes.

 

[Ttw]

If I get near Pucallpa I will keep my eyes open.

 

[MacZ]

Be sure to leave the mosquitoes behind for the fishes.

Isn't South America one of these continents like Australia where everything in nature is potentially trying to kill you, anyway?

But also from me: Good luck and let us know what you caught in the end!

 

[Mike Wise]

Isn't South America one of these continents like Australia where everything in nature is potentially trying to kill you, anyway?

Ttw has been going to South America for decades. He knows that rumor is overblown.

 

[MacZ]

Ttw has been going to South America for decades. He knows that rumor is overblown.

I know, wanted to chime in with the mosquitos.

 

[rasmusW]

Pictures or it didn’t happend.

Have a safe trip.

-r

 

[Mike Wise]

I know, wanted to chime in with the mosquitos.

The first time I went to collect in the Amazon I used citronella insect repellent. The mosquitos considered it a condiment - and I was the main dish!

When I last was in the Amazon I brought a mosquito repellent containing 100% DEET. I left what I had left with a group of Danish killi collector. I warned them to be careful or they might grow and extra head.

 

[anewbie]

The first time I went to collect in the Amazon I used citronella insect repellent. The mosquitos considered it a condiment - and I was the main dish!

When I last was in the Amazon I brought a mosquito repellent containing 100% DEET. I left what I had left with a group of Danish killi collector. I warned them to be careful or they might grow and extra head.

Now that it has been several years later did you learn if they grew that extra head ?

 

[Mike Wise]

Not them nor me!

 

[martin_c]

Have a nice trip!
If I'll ever make a trip like that, I'd probably be looking for dwarfs from the genera Microphilypnus, Elachocharax, and Fluviphylax. They are so hard to find in the aquarium trade.

 

[Ttw]

Back from Peru. Why is it that when you review your notes you can hardly understand them.
Arrived in Peru and went through customs.Then on to Iquitos.

View attachment IMG_0165.jpeg

The next day we went by bus to Nauta then on by speedboat (rapido) to the Rio Tapiche where we boarded our expedition boat.

We traveled up the Rio Tapiche to a small tributary View attachment IMG_0182.jpegthat we followed up to a small lake.

In among the floating vegetation we found Apistogrammoides pucallpaensis and lots of various knifefish.

The next day we traveled to the Ucayali. Here is where the blackwater Tapiche meets the Ucayali.
View attachment IMG_0190.jpeg
We caught piranah as well as catfish for dinner.

View attachment IMG_0194.jpegView attachment IMG_0192.jpegView attachment IMG_0195.jpeg

Evening on the Ucayali.

View attachment IMG_0197.jpeg

The next day we landed near Jenaro Herrera and took a path up to a small lake.

View attachment IMG_0207.jpeg
Here we collected agassizii.

Also some rivulus.

Mornings were often peaceful and just right for a hot cup of coffee.

View attachment IMG_0227.jpeg

Here you can see the high water mark on the trees.

Oops ran out of space. Will continue in another post.

 

[rasmusW]

Looks amazing. Thanks.

-r

 

[Mike Wise]

Not to be anal, Tom, but your A. agassizii pictured is now recognized as an unnamed agassizii-like species. It is genetically different from other species found farther downstream of the Ucayali. In Estivals et al. 2020 they listed it as "Cluster 1" The species list Tom, Frank and I keep we call it A. sp, aff. agassizii (Jenaro Herrera).

Isn't taxonomy fun?!

​

 

[Ttw]

Sorry, I neglected to put in collection site characteristics.
Pucallpaensis site: S 5° 7' 2" W73° 51' 40" pH 6.6 TDS 222 ppm T 81°
Water shallow, muddy and mostly covered with Water Lettuce. Deep muddy bottom.
Agassizii site: S 5° 5' 59" W 73° 52' 48" pH 5.8 TDS 4 ppm T 83.7° Blaclwater lake with deep mud bottom.
Fish caught along edge in the vegetation.
Agassizii site #2: S 5• 54" W 73° 40' 48" pH 5.5 TDS 4ppm T 85.9° Blackwater pond with muudy
bottom.
Bitaeniata site: Yarapi River S 4° 34'12" W 73° 27' Sorry no measurements. Midsized stream white water muddy bottom.

 

[Ttw]

Continuing the story:
We continued down the Amazon to the community of Santa Ana. We walked to the community pool where kids played and laundry was done.

This is one of the feeding streams where we caught A norberti.
View attachment IMG_0234.jpeg

S 4° 3' W 73.9° pH5.7 TDS 29 ppm T 80.7° Stream was small with blackwater. Shallow muddy bottom. The pool had white sand bottom. The fish were collected from the stream. Years ago I caught A. eunotus here.
From here we went up the Rio Tamshyacu. Hiked to a very small stream where we caught lots of "cories".

S 4° 1' 48" W 73° 8' 24" Did not take measurements. Water muddy with muddy bottom covered with leaf litter.
Along the way we did seine at various sandbars catching lots of catfish and miscellaneous silver fish that I was not interested in. Also caught a stingray.
Visited an exporter in Iquitos who will be shipping our fish home. He had 22 different apistos available at very low prices, around $2. He had discus 4-5 In. size at $6.

 

[MacZ]

First of all: Great report, thank so so much!

Also caught a stingray.
Visited an exporter in Iquitos who will be shipping our fish home. He had 22 different apistos available at very low prices, around $2. He had discus 4-5 In. size at $6.

Now I'm interested: Would you be willing to post the whole list of fish you brought back ultimately?

 

[anewbie]

Sorry, I neglected to put in collection site characteristics.
Pucallpaensis site: S 5° 7' 2" W73° 51' 40" pH 6.6 TDS 222 ppm T 81°
Water shallow, muddy and mostly covered with Water Lettuce. Deep muddy bottom.

Is 222 correct - that seems bloody hard - what is that gh 10 or 12 ? I presume kh was pretty low since the water is acidic maybe 2.

That sp agassizii is bloody nice looking and that norbert is near identical to the ones i purchased from wetspot - nothing like the ones on Tom's website.

 

[Ttw]

MacZ - You must want more than what I brought back. I am bringing only norberti and a bunch of neons.