I 1st started keeping cichlids in @ 1958,
But back then there were only a smattering of what eventually became what is available today, it wasn't until the late 80s my list started to take shape.
There are actually 11 cichlids on the list, although many others fell within the cichlids cracks
Number 10 way back then, and the 1st "exotic" cichlid I was able to keep, was Parachromis managuense around 1988
It took almost 10 years for the next mile stone to appear,
#9 a major coup appeared 2008 when Nandopsis haitiensus showed up on the GCCA website close to my section of the woods
Around the same time, ( the late 2000s) Madagascan cichlids of the genus Paretroplus started being imported, and #8 P menerambo a major obsession hit the scene
along with 3 other species, I lump together as 1 number on the list in the genus hit my tanks
.
https://hosting.photobucket.com/alb...tuce002-1.jpg?width=320&height=320&fit=bounds, https://hosting.photobucket.com/alb...ghres/050.jpg?width=320&height=320&fit=bounds
https://hosting.photobucket.com/alb...222.jpg?width=320&height=320&fit=boundsThings
Things really started moving at this point, and my next golden fleece appeared (again in the GCCAs classifieds)
in 2013, I found #7 when I finally got my hands on Mayaheros beanii
At this point I realized drastic measures were needed to get this list fullfiled before I croaked
So in 2015, I moved to Panama, I had come to the reality that collecting cichlids myself was the only way to beat oncoming doom,
And once Covid restrictions let up, 2024 has been like winning the cichlid lottery for me.
I collected and now keep #8 both at the same time.
Darienheros calobrense, and Isthmoheros tuyrense
But I have now come to the conclusion, with geography, and the remaining time left on my odometer, the last 3 will probably remain an unfulfilled pipe dream.
Iranocichla hormuuzensis is at best, a political nightmare for an old Gringo like me.
Heterochromis multidens will obviously never get to Panama.
And in order to get Nandopsis ramsdeni, it would take a collecting trip to eastern Cuba, probably too ambitious at this stage of geezerness.
Isthmoheros tuyrense below.
But back then there were only a smattering of what eventually became what is available today, it wasn't until the late 80s my list started to take shape.
There are actually 11 cichlids on the list, although many others fell within the cichlids cracks
Number 10 way back then, and the 1st "exotic" cichlid I was able to keep, was Parachromis managuense around 1988
It took almost 10 years for the next mile stone to appear,
#9 a major coup appeared 2008 when Nandopsis haitiensus showed up on the GCCA website close to my section of the woods
Around the same time, ( the late 2000s) Madagascan cichlids of the genus Paretroplus started being imported, and #8 P menerambo a major obsession hit the scene
along with 3 other species, I lump together as 1 number on the list in the genus hit my tanks
.
https://hosting.photobucket.com/alb...tuce002-1.jpg?width=320&height=320&fit=bounds, https://hosting.photobucket.com/alb...ghres/050.jpg?width=320&height=320&fit=bounds
https://hosting.photobucket.com/alb...222.jpg?width=320&height=320&fit=boundsThings
Things really started moving at this point, and my next golden fleece appeared (again in the GCCAs classifieds)
in 2013, I found #7 when I finally got my hands on Mayaheros beanii
At this point I realized drastic measures were needed to get this list fullfiled before I croaked
So in 2015, I moved to Panama, I had come to the reality that collecting cichlids myself was the only way to beat oncoming doom,
And once Covid restrictions let up, 2024 has been like winning the cichlid lottery for me.
I collected and now keep #8 both at the same time.
Darienheros calobrense, and Isthmoheros tuyrense
But I have now come to the conclusion, with geography, and the remaining time left on my odometer, the last 3 will probably remain an unfulfilled pipe dream.
Iranocichla hormuuzensis is at best, a political nightmare for an old Gringo like me.
Heterochromis multidens will obviously never get to Panama.
And in order to get Nandopsis ramsdeni, it would take a collecting trip to eastern Cuba, probably too ambitious at this stage of geezerness.
Isthmoheros tuyrense below.
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