Around the world - with pockets full of fish

If you couldn't resist and attended the conference in Brno, you certainly didn't regret it. This time we had the opportunity to literally travel the whole world.

The first speaker, Mgr. Dr. Anton Lamboj, took us on a breathtaking journey during his lecture titled "Around the World - with Pockets Full of Fish" and presented so many interesting places and fish species that it made our heads spin. For some aquarists, it was a pleasant reminder of the amazing species they had bred and reproduced or still keep. For others (like me), everything was interesting, and if the lecture had been a whole day or several days long, I wouldn't have minded at all.

Almost none of the scenery photos lacked a body of water, but what changed were photos with minimal vegetation alongside photos depicting lush forest stands reaching into the rivers, depending on where we were. And the speaker's eyes were already shining as he looked forward to presenting the selection of species that he personally studied during his expeditions and had prepared for us.

I would like to share some particularly interesting observations in this article.

Cameroon - Polycetropsis abbreviata

For Cameroon, a fish was chosen whose shape is similar to and perhaps even inspired by fallen leaves, making its camouflage perfect. In the literature, it is referred to as the African leaf-fish - Polycetropsis abbreviata. It grows to around 8 cm. Thanks to its appearance, it can calmly wait for its prey until the unsuspecting victim approaches.

Eritrea - Danakilia sp. 'Shukoray'

During the lecture, we traveled to a very interesting place in East Africa, Eritrea, which is located on the Red Sea right next to Sudan. There, the team led by Dr. Lamboj set out for the flooded Danakil Depression, which has its lowest point, now hold on tight, approximately 125 meters below sea level. The goal was nothing less than the fascinating cichlid from the African desert, Danakilia sp. 'Shukoray'.

Danakilia sp. 'Shukoray' is a symbol of how amazingly adaptable cichlids can be. Just imagine the incredibly harsh desert environment where the water heats up to around 30°C and the alkalinity is extreme. As if nothing had happened, this peaceful cichlid roams around here.

It is also very interesting in appearance because it has, but does not have to have, a bump on its head. This is because during the mating season, not only does the coloration change, but the male is able to create this bump with the help of water. So it's not a fat bump like in other species, but an artificially created hump that he later gets rid of.

During reproduction, the male defends his territory and lures females into a nicely arranged pit in the sand. Danakilia sp. 'Shukoray' is a "maternal mouthbrooder" which means that the female incubates the eggs in her mouth until they hatch.

It must have been an absolutely amazing experience to observe something like this in the wild, and at the same time it seems like a miracle how this cichlid has adapted to such harsh conditions.

Thailand, Vietnam

For India, the Croaking Gourami, Trichopsis vittatus, was chosen as a representative, among others. The aquarists sitting next to me immediately confirmed that it croaks nicely, and keeping them was something that definitely couldn't be overlooked by any visitors to their homes.

Both males and females make croaking sounds by vibrating their pectoral fins to communicate, especially during courtship and territorial disputes. So if anyone still has the idea of a silent or even mute fish, know that this may just be an illusion.

Australia

Here we were made aware of how inconsiderate aquarists can be. In the wild, they release species that are not native and disrupt the fragile ecosystem.

And so the expedition often encountered Oreochromis mossambicus, known as the Mozambique tilapia, which can grow up to 39 cm, is highly adaptable, and is known for its aggressiveness.

That's why education is so important so that aquarists behave responsibly.

Uruguay

Regarding Uruguay, the speaker praised the fact that fishing and examining fish was relatively easily accessible. The locals were happy to help the ichthyologists, and overall it was very pleasant. The gourmet aspect also left a lasting impression, where the diet consisted of very high-quality beef, which was often also the side dish.

As for the fish, the beautifully colored Australoheros scitulus, which is peaceful and at the same time undemanding and therefore suitable even for beginner aquarists, made it to the top rankings for this presentation.

Another was Gymnogeophagus tiraparae, specific for the fat hump on the head of males (this time permanent). It inhabits places with sandy or rocky bottoms and sparse vegetation in the clean, flowing Río Negro and Río Tacuarí.

Also presented was Gymnogeophagus mekinos, similar in coloration, but this time without a hump.

Gymnogeophagus balzani occurs in slow-flowing or stagnant waters with sandy bottoms near the border with Brazil. It is called the Argentinian hunchback, and for good reason: Its hump is pronounced and complements its beautiful coloration. It can grow up to 20 cm.

Gymnogeophagus rhabdotus, again without a hump this time, but the mere fact that it is called the "Pearl cichlid" suggests that it is a beautiful fish. Its scales often shimmer with iridescent colors and reflect shades of blue, green, or gold depending on the lighting and viewing angle. It prefers areas with sandy or muddy substrate and moderate water flow.

I was intrigued that they hibernate. It is important to realize that we are in a subtropical area and therefore the temperature in winter can drop to 5°C. The fish's metabolism slows down and they spend more time resting or seeking shelter. They eat very little food and their bright colors are more subdued.

Colombia

We move to the areas near the Andes. The water here undergoes natural filtration as it flows through layers of rock and sand and is therefore renowned for its purity.

Characidium zebra or Chupa - both species are quite similar and have in common that they are not very common in aquariums.

Andinocara - They often have a more elongated body shape and a larger head. Coloration can vary considerably among species, but many exhibit blue or green hues with spots or stripes.

Bujurquina - Unfortunately, due to time constraints, the speaker had to speed up the lecture, so he only had time to tell us quickly that these are his favorites, and perhaps to allow the next speaker to better follow up, he then gave an example of the killifish Anablepsoides sp. centromedulus.

You can read more about killifish and the lecture dedicated to them in the following article.

Many thanks to Zdeněk Dočekal for the photos.