I have found one of the best ways for me to try to maintain my aquariums is by using the biotope concept.
Combining species in this way, assures that the fish come from the same water parameters, such as pH, temp, hardness and flow.
It also sometimes helps in maintaining a less aggressive, and conflicted system, because if they are species found together in nature, it usually suggests they have worked out strategies for coexisting.
In the past I have kept Lake Barumbi mbo and Lake Bermin biotopes of Cameroon in west Africa, Madagascar biotopes, and separate Mexican, and Central American country biotopes.
These days, living, and collecting fish in Panama, it only seems natural to put fish together, that I find togther in the eastern side of the country, where the water is hard, pH is around 8.2, and water temps around 80'F .
In these rivers, I have (so far) only found 3 species of cichlids.
Isthmoheros tuyrense above, Andinoacara coerleopunctatus below.
And Darienheros calobrnse (below)
There are 2 species of Gobies
Awaous banana above,
And Gobiomorus dormitor below.
The Gobiomorus turns out to be one of the apex predators from these rivers, and to maintain a semblance of peace in the community, those caught have been given separate quarters.
Characins are the most common and populous fish in these rivers, and are often caught 50 to 1 compared to non-characins.
At the moment the only representative of Characins in the tank is Ctenolucious ellioti.
Most other Characins such as Cyphocharx, or Tetras have been plagued with Lernaea parasites, so eventually returned to the river
One species of Pleco, Chaetostoma fischeri is commonly caught in the rocky riffles.
Shrimp are also common in these rivers. There are a couple in the tank at the moment, that are hopefully too big to be eaten, yet small enough not to eat the fish.
.
As you can see above, there is no lack of variety , even though they were all caught in only a single river system.
Combining species in this way, assures that the fish come from the same water parameters, such as pH, temp, hardness and flow.
It also sometimes helps in maintaining a less aggressive, and conflicted system, because if they are species found together in nature, it usually suggests they have worked out strategies for coexisting.
In the past I have kept Lake Barumbi mbo and Lake Bermin biotopes of Cameroon in west Africa, Madagascar biotopes, and separate Mexican, and Central American country biotopes.
These days, living, and collecting fish in Panama, it only seems natural to put fish together, that I find togther in the eastern side of the country, where the water is hard, pH is around 8.2, and water temps around 80'F .
In these rivers, I have (so far) only found 3 species of cichlids.
Isthmoheros tuyrense above, Andinoacara coerleopunctatus below.
And Darienheros calobrnse (below)
There are 2 species of Gobies
Awaous banana above,
And Gobiomorus dormitor below.
The Gobiomorus turns out to be one of the apex predators from these rivers, and to maintain a semblance of peace in the community, those caught have been given separate quarters.
Characins are the most common and populous fish in these rivers, and are often caught 50 to 1 compared to non-characins.
At the moment the only representative of Characins in the tank is Ctenolucious ellioti.
Most other Characins such as Cyphocharx, or Tetras have been plagued with Lernaea parasites, so eventually returned to the river
One species of Pleco, Chaetostoma fischeri is commonly caught in the rocky riffles.
Shrimp are also common in these rivers. There are a couple in the tank at the moment, that are hopefully too big to be eaten, yet small enough not to eat the fish.
.As you can see above, there is no lack of variety , even though they were all caught in only a single river system.
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