Al Qudra lakes. Situated in the Seih Al Salam desert in Dubai. It was created as part of a project to green and enrich part of the desert of Dubai. It is one of at least six other huge freshwater bodies located in Dubai.
Some general info about the area.
- About 40 hectares of desert shrubs surround the 10km of lakes.
- What has been identified thus far in the area: 26 species of reptile, 9 of mammals, 39 of plants, 204 native bird species, 158 species of migratory birds.
Testing the water – (17th May 2019, 5 30pm). Three water tests done to make sure results we as accurate as can be.
- 31.5 degrees Celsius
- NO2: 0ppm. NO3: 0ppm
- PH 6.8
- GH >21 (375ppm) (the tests couldn’t read higher than this, seemed maxed out)
- KH 3
I have been visiting this area for the last couple of years, and as I have mentioned in a previous thread there was a wide variety of fish living in these lakes. In the winter times there used to be a greater abundance of species (I suspect it could be people releasing their no longer wanted aquarium pets) including Koi, gold fish and Central/South American cichlids and of course a lot of hybrids.
However, it seems that over the last year or so the fish population has “stabilized” with the authority’s tighter control over what people do in the area. The pics and videos you will see below are the current fish stocks taken from different points all around the lakes. It seems there are only a few species now that are living and thriving there. I am no expert when it comes to identifying fish, I was hoping someone could help identify them.
All appear to be cichlids; I suspect a type of African cichlid? There are a lot of fry in all areas of the lake, but they are lighter in colour and not always easy to see and photograph. The darker cichlids are all about 16 – 17cm in Length, none much bigger than this size. You will notice in the videos that these guys like to dig holes and guard them quite fiercely from other fish that get to close.
Any type of fishing in prohibited in these lakes, so I couldn’t net any to give you guys a proper view. I’m hoping to get hold of equipment that would allow me to film underwater. My phone in a zip-lock bag didn’t seem to do the trick sadly.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUjVpsTEfgw&feature=youtu.be
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdM0V8xliGU&feature=youtu.be
Some general info about the area.
- About 40 hectares of desert shrubs surround the 10km of lakes.
- What has been identified thus far in the area: 26 species of reptile, 9 of mammals, 39 of plants, 204 native bird species, 158 species of migratory birds.
Testing the water – (17th May 2019, 5 30pm). Three water tests done to make sure results we as accurate as can be.
- 31.5 degrees Celsius
- NO2: 0ppm. NO3: 0ppm
- PH 6.8
- GH >21 (375ppm) (the tests couldn’t read higher than this, seemed maxed out)
- KH 3
I have been visiting this area for the last couple of years, and as I have mentioned in a previous thread there was a wide variety of fish living in these lakes. In the winter times there used to be a greater abundance of species (I suspect it could be people releasing their no longer wanted aquarium pets) including Koi, gold fish and Central/South American cichlids and of course a lot of hybrids.
However, it seems that over the last year or so the fish population has “stabilized” with the authority’s tighter control over what people do in the area. The pics and videos you will see below are the current fish stocks taken from different points all around the lakes. It seems there are only a few species now that are living and thriving there. I am no expert when it comes to identifying fish, I was hoping someone could help identify them.
All appear to be cichlids; I suspect a type of African cichlid? There are a lot of fry in all areas of the lake, but they are lighter in colour and not always easy to see and photograph. The darker cichlids are all about 16 – 17cm in Length, none much bigger than this size. You will notice in the videos that these guys like to dig holes and guard them quite fiercely from other fish that get to close.
Any type of fishing in prohibited in these lakes, so I couldn’t net any to give you guys a proper view. I’m hoping to get hold of equipment that would allow me to film underwater. My phone in a zip-lock bag didn’t seem to do the trick sadly.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUjVpsTEfgw&feature=youtu.be
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdM0V8xliGU&feature=youtu.be
