It has been almost a full year since my last collecting trip, due to a lengthy La Nina rainy season that turned even most small rivers to raging torrents.
But yesterday, because the island of Taboga where I live, swarms with throngs of Carnevalian revelers as a last wingding before lent, it seemed like a good time (whatever the weather) to vacate the cacophony of the tiny rock out in the Pacific for the entirety of Carnevale week.
So Daniel Atencio, and I headed toward the Darien to collect.
Took about 2 hours to reach Lake Bayano, and then the road deteriorated so it took another hour + to reach Rio Ipiti about 30 miles to the east.
While I was busy taking photos, Daniel jumped right into casting the net, a great guide, and driver, he is also a pro at net casting, and on his first throw, caught this young Darienheros calobrense.
The river is devoid of any aquatic vegetation, with very sandy sections, along with rocky areas, with riffles, and strewn with leaf litter.along the banks covered in terrestrial,
plants. Below you can see tetras in the shallows, and an occasional young cichlid. The tetras outnumber the cichlids perhaps 50 or more, to each cichlid.
We took home 6 cichlids, and 3 chupapiedras (Plecos), haven't been able to sort out all species yet, although it appears most cichlids ae Darienheros,about 2-4" in size.
The Plecos were also young, 2 -3.
But yesterday, because the island of Taboga where I live, swarms with throngs of Carnevalian revelers as a last wingding before lent, it seemed like a good time (whatever the weather) to vacate the cacophony of the tiny rock out in the Pacific for the entirety of Carnevale week.
So Daniel Atencio, and I headed toward the Darien to collect.
Took about 2 hours to reach Lake Bayano, and then the road deteriorated so it took another hour + to reach Rio Ipiti about 30 miles to the east.
While I was busy taking photos, Daniel jumped right into casting the net, a great guide, and driver, he is also a pro at net casting, and on his first throw, caught this young Darienheros calobrense.
The river is devoid of any aquatic vegetation, with very sandy sections, along with rocky areas, with riffles, and strewn with leaf litter.along the banks covered in terrestrial,
plants. Below you can see tetras in the shallows, and an occasional young cichlid. The tetras outnumber the cichlids perhaps 50 or more, to each cichlid.
We took home 6 cichlids, and 3 chupapiedras (Plecos), haven't been able to sort out all species yet, although it appears most cichlids ae Darienheros,about 2-4" in size.
The Plecos were also young, 2 -3.
