Post by pezerologo on Apr 25, 2015 1:26:17 GMT
Hi All !!
I'll show this time a biotope I have met in person. It was during our trip to Cuba in 2009 accompanied by our friends Aquarists Cuban, Yudi, Cardet and Daniel.
The particular place where we were digging a bit was the place known as "El Nicho" famous for its waterfalls. Here the River Hanabanilla effected several jumps as numerous waterfalls that create large pools where these nice fish thrive.
Embedded in the spectacular Sierra del Escambray or massif Guamuaya as known in the indigenous language, certainly in the same language Hanabanilla means Small basket Gold, these waterfalls are surrounded by lush vegetation with many well known and beautiful species as the Orchids, Tillandsias, Tree Ferns, Palma Real Cuban and various ferns and mosses.
Underwater vegetation is testimonial, some filamentous algae growing on the rock and creeping vegetation.
We were diving in search of plants and barely found, it is possible that the current does not allow them to thrive well, closer to the lake water is calmer and there abound different species.
This whole area is very rich in biodiversity and a large index of endemic species, both flora and fauna.
The data "technical" on the River Hanabanilla would, in the Massif birth Guamuaya, its influx to River Arimao and subsequent flows into the Caribbean Sea. Walking the length is 43 km and is dammed at Lake Hanabanilla.
For much of the day we were touring the area and found several ponds several separate meters from the main channel where Guajacones abounded.
This is how they are called the group of viviparous fish as Girardinus, Limias, mosquitofish, etc.
In large ponds where we found greater amount of fish was in the rock walls in areas less hit by the current. Also among the creeping vegetation sought shelter many of them, in this case fry and juveniles.
The most abundant and interesting species were Girardinus denticulatus a very interesting viviparous, though not very colorful. Females reach a size of 8 Centimeters while males remain at 4 centimeters.
Love bright and fresh water, forming groups in areas with less current. They are detritivores also by feeding on small invertebrates and algae.
This species is endemic to Cuba and its distribution is limited in the mountain ranges of Central and East of the island.
If we wanted to set up a tank for them would be recommended size from 80 liters ideal, being in a container 120-150.
The decoration would be composed of rock groups and a group of plants in the back or side.
A current area will be grateful and with good lighting facilitate the growth of algae.
There is a species that infrequent the commercial circuit, if we were interested we could set up a similar aquarium Girardinus metallicus opt for this if it is not uncommon to find and are great similarities.
Thanks to Rafael Cardet we could know many of the things that I comment today, and we would count on the fly, so it was a day of very didactic charqueo.
Normally we tend to imagine these adventures in Africa or the Amazon and the truth is that anywhere in the world has its interesting habitats, in the case of Cuba we miss you more time to know but what we saw left us a great taste.
From here a big hug to all who participated in this great day: D Yudi, Rafael, Daniel, Igor, Manolito, Bitxo, Karol, Eider !!!
Let's see some photos we took over there both on water as below it.
Girardinus metallicus ( The G. denticulatus is very similar but not let me put her picture I put the link)
www.fishbase.org/images/species/Giden_m0.jpg
Satellite Captures the Saltos del Nicho
So we find nothing but get a fantastic place
This is the largest of the ponds we find, besides it was independent and did not communicate with the river.
Had a size of 3 or 4 meters per side and was full of different species, Girardinus, mosquitofish and some colorful little Guppys Wild
Here we can see more detail one of the ponds.
This was very suggestive, the bottom leaves, fallen branches, sand and sun&shadow that they did very attractive, aquarium biotope here could also be interesting
The large pool where were diving and where are performed the underwater photographs
The Pezerologos in search of the best place for charqueo, eventually went where noted Cardet
In this picture we see Girardinus preferences, snacking on rock groups
An underwater more where we can see the group and virtually none in open water
I hope you liked the approach, encourage and answer that always makes illusion leeis know that in our next trip to Cuba visit other beautiful places like the Cienaga de Zapata just that...to see who gets the water to take pictures with that plagued Cayman
Gr3tings !!
Sources
www.ecured.cu
www.fishbase.org
Guia de Campo - Peces Cubanos de la familia Poecilidae / Jose Luis Ponce de Leon y Rodet Rodriguez
I'll show this time a biotope I have met in person. It was during our trip to Cuba in 2009 accompanied by our friends Aquarists Cuban, Yudi, Cardet and Daniel.
The particular place where we were digging a bit was the place known as "El Nicho" famous for its waterfalls. Here the River Hanabanilla effected several jumps as numerous waterfalls that create large pools where these nice fish thrive.
Embedded in the spectacular Sierra del Escambray or massif Guamuaya as known in the indigenous language, certainly in the same language Hanabanilla means Small basket Gold, these waterfalls are surrounded by lush vegetation with many well known and beautiful species as the Orchids, Tillandsias, Tree Ferns, Palma Real Cuban and various ferns and mosses.
Underwater vegetation is testimonial, some filamentous algae growing on the rock and creeping vegetation.
We were diving in search of plants and barely found, it is possible that the current does not allow them to thrive well, closer to the lake water is calmer and there abound different species.
This whole area is very rich in biodiversity and a large index of endemic species, both flora and fauna.
The data "technical" on the River Hanabanilla would, in the Massif birth Guamuaya, its influx to River Arimao and subsequent flows into the Caribbean Sea. Walking the length is 43 km and is dammed at Lake Hanabanilla.
For much of the day we were touring the area and found several ponds several separate meters from the main channel where Guajacones abounded.
This is how they are called the group of viviparous fish as Girardinus, Limias, mosquitofish, etc.
In large ponds where we found greater amount of fish was in the rock walls in areas less hit by the current. Also among the creeping vegetation sought shelter many of them, in this case fry and juveniles.
The most abundant and interesting species were Girardinus denticulatus a very interesting viviparous, though not very colorful. Females reach a size of 8 Centimeters while males remain at 4 centimeters.
Love bright and fresh water, forming groups in areas with less current. They are detritivores also by feeding on small invertebrates and algae.
This species is endemic to Cuba and its distribution is limited in the mountain ranges of Central and East of the island.
If we wanted to set up a tank for them would be recommended size from 80 liters ideal, being in a container 120-150.
The decoration would be composed of rock groups and a group of plants in the back or side.
A current area will be grateful and with good lighting facilitate the growth of algae.
There is a species that infrequent the commercial circuit, if we were interested we could set up a similar aquarium Girardinus metallicus opt for this if it is not uncommon to find and are great similarities.
Thanks to Rafael Cardet we could know many of the things that I comment today, and we would count on the fly, so it was a day of very didactic charqueo.
Normally we tend to imagine these adventures in Africa or the Amazon and the truth is that anywhere in the world has its interesting habitats, in the case of Cuba we miss you more time to know but what we saw left us a great taste.
From here a big hug to all who participated in this great day: D Yudi, Rafael, Daniel, Igor, Manolito, Bitxo, Karol, Eider !!!
Let's see some photos we took over there both on water as below it.
Girardinus metallicus ( The G. denticulatus is very similar but not let me put her picture I put the link)
www.fishbase.org/images/species/Giden_m0.jpg
Satellite Captures the Saltos del Nicho
So we find nothing but get a fantastic place
This is the largest of the ponds we find, besides it was independent and did not communicate with the river.
Had a size of 3 or 4 meters per side and was full of different species, Girardinus, mosquitofish and some colorful little Guppys Wild
Here we can see more detail one of the ponds.
This was very suggestive, the bottom leaves, fallen branches, sand and sun&shadow that they did very attractive, aquarium biotope here could also be interesting
The large pool where were diving and where are performed the underwater photographs
The Pezerologos in search of the best place for charqueo, eventually went where noted Cardet
In this picture we see Girardinus preferences, snacking on rock groups
An underwater more where we can see the group and virtually none in open water
I hope you liked the approach, encourage and answer that always makes illusion leeis know that in our next trip to Cuba visit other beautiful places like the Cienaga de Zapata just that...to see who gets the water to take pictures with that plagued Cayman
Gr3tings !!
Sources
www.ecured.cu
www.fishbase.org
Guia de Campo - Peces Cubanos de la familia Poecilidae / Jose Luis Ponce de Leon y Rodet Rodriguez