Post by pezerologo on May 10, 2015 20:57:38 GMT
Hi all !!
We return to the island of Borneo to meet this time a biotope in the Sultanate of Brunei Darussalam.
Located in the northern part of the island sandwiched between the Malaysian provinces of Sarawak and Sabah you have many parts of the still virgin territory.
This is because it has a small population (less than 400,000 people) and abundant energy resources like oil and gas that make it the country with the lowest public debt in the world and one of the first in per capita income.
For its comfortable economic situation, this devastated country not their natural heritage, at least in a very aggressive way. If this has occurred in neighboring Sabah and increasingly often in Sarawak, where the rain forest and the forest gives way to monoculture palm to extract its oil as biofuel.
Returning to Brunei in its eastern part are the province or district Belait, mostly crossed by a river of the same name.
The Belait River rises in the mountains of the center of the island and in its descent through this province to lead through a mangrove forest on the South China Sea.
In the upper part or head moves between jumps and pools, small canyons and overgrown environment.
In the middle part through a marshland, caught between two chains of hills and its speed is reduced, to collect rain frequently during the year, these swamps and flooded areas remain water constantly.
At this point it is where we find a greater variety of species, some of them well known to the aquarium and other of the most sought or requested.
In the course of this river are also known plants, many species of Cryptocoryne and Bucephalandra genres.
Another interesting point of this swampy region are small tributaries that flow into this area. In them we find different combinations of species and one of them is feasible to move it to the aquarium.
I have selected one of these streams as an example, I hope you like it, let's see how serious the habitat and how to emulate five crystals.
These small tributaries flow through dense vegetation that reaches the shore, have a greater width to 3 meters and rarely more than 2 meters deep. The bottom is a layer of leaves, fallen branches, trunks as well as rocks. Under this we find a mixture of substrates such as sand, gravel or pebbles river small. With the dense vegetation around them, these streams receive little direct sunlight, and only a few rays get through the canopy and light here and there. In various parts of the channel are Cryoptocoryne sp. And where it grows abundant to create a small jungle imitating the surroundings.
The Bucephalandra however found on rocks, in the margins or around a waterfall or fast-flowing areas.
The water temperature varies between 24 - 29 ° C, with a pH of 4.5-5.5.
In total 70 species of freshwater fish approximately live in this basin.
Not all are valid to keep in an aquarium, but if there are a large number of them.
In fact, only this river can go several examples of distinct biotopes, from mountain torrents with abundant fish of the genus Gastromyzon, through the swamps with just several centimeters of water, where several species of Betta dominate this environment or ending in mangroves where we find Gobies and other interesting species.
You see this area of Brunei is very rich in diversity and we hope to continue keeping it in good condition and wild.
We will then see a list of species of ornamental considered where you can select for our aquarium inhabitants.
Barbus barilioides
Puntius johorensis
Puntius binotatus
Puntius pentazona
Rasbora cf. Pauciperforata
Pangio agma
Macrognathus maculatus
Betta akarensis
Betta macrostoma
Channa striata
Dermogenys sp.
Gobiupterus chuno
Redigobius bikolanus
Stigmatogobius brocki
Tetraodon nigroviridis
Gastromyzon sp.
As you can see is a long list and not all live sympatrically, but in some cases we find combinations that are very aquaristics.
Let's see two very different examples, one in a rocky area with faster waters (without rushing) and one in a stream of sandy bottom, we can see that both have different species.
We started with the rocky biotope, we will need an aquarium from 100 liters to mix all species, better if it's something more.
The way it is advisable to be lower and wider as several species are bottom dwellers and claim their small territories.
To keep the water in good condition use an external filter that offers enough to create currents flow around the aquarium. We can optionally install an internal filter or make one with a circulation pump and a sponge.
Lighting should be intense without exceeding, to promote the growth of algae, of which depends on the power of our fish in this example.
A temperature of 24 ° C and a pH of 5.5-6 help maintain health and even achieve the reproduction of some of the selected species.
The decor will be similar to other rocky streams, place several somewhat larger to stand and where to rest and otearan gobies around rocks.
Around them we put pebbles of varying size (from a tennis ball to a marble) and any remaining gaps will spread sand or gravel river.
Substance will place some branches or sticks also leaves but not in large numbers. If we have obtained copies of Bucephalandra sp. We place them in crevices between rocks or in any place we have previously prepared. These plants also can put them out of the surface, mimicking how they grow in their natural habitat.
And after seeing the aquarium would Stony Brook in the Belait River, we know the fish that inhabit it.
The cyprinid Rasbora cf. pauciperforata with its attractive color, create a school that will move around the aquarium. Not as lively as other cyprinids are a highly recommended for community aquarium species. Reaches a size of 7 cm, but usually less in aquarium. It has a wide distribution as Southeast Asia and other Rasbora a peaceful behavior and even slightly retracted.
In the wild it feeds on small invertebrates and creatures that are still a microdepredador. Reproduction is possible and to be a fish shoal we include at least 10 of them and if possible more.
Gobiopterus chuno is a tiny goby that barely reaches 3 cm in size.
With its transparent body will turn heads in any aquarium to house it.
You can live in fresh or brackish water and is widely distributed in Southeast Asia mainland and islands. Unlike other gobies this can swim in the water column without usual in shops if usually in the lists of wholesalers so it should not cost us so. Its maintenance has several points of attention in relation to its small size. The first is its tank mates other than predators or a sufficient size to give serious damage and the second is in their food. Need live prey it can catch with his tiny mouth.
.jpg/1024px-Redigobius_bikolanus(Yaizu,Shizuoka,Japan,2007).jpg)
With its adaptability the Redigobius bikolanus is a great candidate to live in aquariums. It is found from Australia to Japan, via island systems in the Pacific and Southeast Asia. Reaches a size of 4 cm and can live in both freshwater and brackish. It feeds in the tidal zone of small fish and invertebrates, changing the diet in freshwater for a greater variety of invertebrates, algae and aufwuch.
The fourth species inhabiting this biotope is rare in the aquaristik circuit, this can be changed by the growing interest in Gobies. The Stigmatogobius sella reaches a size of 4 cm and I could not find a single picture of him. Hopefully in the future to know the best kind. It is distributed in Borneo, Indonesia and Singapore.
After seeing our first example we go with the second, in this case a stream with sandy bottom near Kampung Sukang.
For this assembly is the recommended size from 200 liters to keep species, but if we want to maintain a similar habitat environment where groups are abundant, we increase the size to about 400 liters.
The leak must be efficient to maintain good water quality, with a high number of copies in the aquarium. An external filter is the recommended option.
Illumination need not be intense because the Cryptocorynes dislike very insolation.
As in the previous example a temperature of 24 ° C and a pH near 6.0 will please all the people.
In the decoration we give emphasis to a forest of Cryptocoryne ciliata we will place on the side. The mixture of sand background with light colored gravel, anger covered by leaves and branches as we find in the biotope. Some pebbles or trunk serve to break the monotony and highlight certain points.
Leave enough space for species that like to swim through the column, which in this case are several. We will see and we will select the best coexist as well as by its availability.
The cyprinid Rasbora cf. pauciperforata with its attractive color, create a school that will move around the aquarium. Not as lively as other cyprinids are a highly recommended for community aquarium species. Reaches a size of 7 cm, but usually less in aquarium. It has a wide distribution as Southeast Asia and other Rasbora a peaceful behavior and even slightly retracted.
In the wild it feeds on small invertebrates and creatures that are still a microdepredador. Reproduction is possible and to be a fish shoal we include at least 10 of them and if possible more.
Desmopuntius johorensis is an attractive and active cyprinid it reaches a size of 8 cm.
It is a major consumer of algae and equally small insects and invertebrates. It is a peaceful species and must be kept in a school with a high number of fish.
It is not a very common species, for that matter if we get we should try to reproduce it to share with other fans. He prefers acidic water, removing it is a very contentadiza species.
With similar to the popular Barbo Tiger coloring, Desmopuntius pentazona is a much more quiet and peaceful species. Reaches a size of 5 cm and usual small rows between males but never go beyond. With the other fellow has a peaceful behavior.
It has some glitter in the body that appreciate better with natural light. He prefers to live in areas with high vegetation where it provides food as a small yet microdepredador shelter larger species that can devour.
Pangio agma is similar to the popular Khulis.
It is unusual in the aquaristik circuit and know if it will. Reaches a size of 6 cm and guess like other fish of its kind playback aquarium is difficult.
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Our last species of this biotope would not be very advisable for this community. While you can live and coexist without problems in a smaller aquarium's specific enjoy in all its glory.
This species is Betta akarensis, that without as spectacular as other representatives of the genre coloring, if you have to my view certain appeal.
Reaches a size of 6-8 cm depending on its origin and wild preys on various aquatic and terrestrial organisms.
We can move the aquarium example I have proposed for this biotope and place in an aquarium from 60 liters, preferably low or water without much height.
If we keep in good condition and with a varied diet we may get played.
I can not leave the Belait River basin without showing another example of a species that is very interesting to maintain and highly attractive.
I'm talking about Betta macrostoma we can find in any stream and flooded areas. Reaches a size of 10 cm and having seen them live I can say that is a Betta that impresses with its jaw wide. It's incubator paternal oral and reproduction is not complicated. In the wild they feed on aquatic invertebrates with which it shares habitat in the aquarium we usually live food and varied offer or failing quality frozen.
For maintenance in the aquarium is the recommended size from 100 liters for a couple. Its height should not exceed 30 cm and serious decor similar to the previous example. Should add some caves with coconuts or logs where repose overnight or incubation.
The filter should not be excessive and it is recommended a filter cascade or an outer canister type.
Water conditions would be similar to those of the above examples, temperature of 24 and a pH of 5.5-6.0
Although it is a relatively widespread species in the aquarium, the Betta macrostoma is on the red list of threatened species.
It is endemic to Borneo and Brunei only stocks and one in Sarawak known. Unfortunately in Sarawak even though it seemed impossible a few years ago, is increasingly enclosed ecosystem by monoculture palm oil.
Fortunately in this case the Sultan of Brunei and his people able to appreciate the natural wealth of their country. We hope that this continues so long and this species with the common name of Brunei Beauty, sponsored runs and national fish or something like that and ensure their habitats through reservations. Likewise it's kind of not much information on it in the wild so it would be appreciated, further investigations to verify the health of their populations.
And with that we finished with our examples of biotopes in Rio Belait in Brunei, we have started with the aquarium biotope Stony Brook, we have continued with the aquarium biotope Sandy Creek and we finished with a specific Aquarium for Betta macrostoma.
I hope you have enjoyed reading it and I have been permitted to travel even a little, the paradise on earth that is the island of Borneo and in the case in Brunei Darussalam. Be clear that we will see more examples of biotopes of this privileged island.
Encourage them to answer if you have any questions or suggestions, likewise if you have fallen here by chance or through a search on biotopes register in the forum where we try every day to learn something new.
Gr3tings !!!
Sources
www.fishbase.org
www.wikipedia.org
www.seriouslyfish.com
Atlas Mergus I&II
Fishes of the Belait River – Lynne R. Parenti and Amy L. Downing Meisner
We return to the island of Borneo to meet this time a biotope in the Sultanate of Brunei Darussalam.
Located in the northern part of the island sandwiched between the Malaysian provinces of Sarawak and Sabah you have many parts of the still virgin territory.
This is because it has a small population (less than 400,000 people) and abundant energy resources like oil and gas that make it the country with the lowest public debt in the world and one of the first in per capita income.
For its comfortable economic situation, this devastated country not their natural heritage, at least in a very aggressive way. If this has occurred in neighboring Sabah and increasingly often in Sarawak, where the rain forest and the forest gives way to monoculture palm to extract its oil as biofuel.
Returning to Brunei in its eastern part are the province or district Belait, mostly crossed by a river of the same name.
The Belait River rises in the mountains of the center of the island and in its descent through this province to lead through a mangrove forest on the South China Sea.
In the upper part or head moves between jumps and pools, small canyons and overgrown environment.
In the middle part through a marshland, caught between two chains of hills and its speed is reduced, to collect rain frequently during the year, these swamps and flooded areas remain water constantly.
At this point it is where we find a greater variety of species, some of them well known to the aquarium and other of the most sought or requested.
In the course of this river are also known plants, many species of Cryptocoryne and Bucephalandra genres.
Another interesting point of this swampy region are small tributaries that flow into this area. In them we find different combinations of species and one of them is feasible to move it to the aquarium.
I have selected one of these streams as an example, I hope you like it, let's see how serious the habitat and how to emulate five crystals.
These small tributaries flow through dense vegetation that reaches the shore, have a greater width to 3 meters and rarely more than 2 meters deep. The bottom is a layer of leaves, fallen branches, trunks as well as rocks. Under this we find a mixture of substrates such as sand, gravel or pebbles river small. With the dense vegetation around them, these streams receive little direct sunlight, and only a few rays get through the canopy and light here and there. In various parts of the channel are Cryoptocoryne sp. And where it grows abundant to create a small jungle imitating the surroundings.
The Bucephalandra however found on rocks, in the margins or around a waterfall or fast-flowing areas.
The water temperature varies between 24 - 29 ° C, with a pH of 4.5-5.5.
In total 70 species of freshwater fish approximately live in this basin.
Not all are valid to keep in an aquarium, but if there are a large number of them.
In fact, only this river can go several examples of distinct biotopes, from mountain torrents with abundant fish of the genus Gastromyzon, through the swamps with just several centimeters of water, where several species of Betta dominate this environment or ending in mangroves where we find Gobies and other interesting species.
You see this area of Brunei is very rich in diversity and we hope to continue keeping it in good condition and wild.
We will then see a list of species of ornamental considered where you can select for our aquarium inhabitants.
Barbus barilioides
Puntius johorensis
Puntius binotatus
Puntius pentazona
Rasbora cf. Pauciperforata
Pangio agma
Macrognathus maculatus
Betta akarensis
Betta macrostoma
Channa striata
Dermogenys sp.
Gobiupterus chuno
Redigobius bikolanus
Stigmatogobius brocki
Tetraodon nigroviridis
Gastromyzon sp.
As you can see is a long list and not all live sympatrically, but in some cases we find combinations that are very aquaristics.
Let's see two very different examples, one in a rocky area with faster waters (without rushing) and one in a stream of sandy bottom, we can see that both have different species.
We started with the rocky biotope, we will need an aquarium from 100 liters to mix all species, better if it's something more.
The way it is advisable to be lower and wider as several species are bottom dwellers and claim their small territories.
To keep the water in good condition use an external filter that offers enough to create currents flow around the aquarium. We can optionally install an internal filter or make one with a circulation pump and a sponge.
Lighting should be intense without exceeding, to promote the growth of algae, of which depends on the power of our fish in this example.
A temperature of 24 ° C and a pH of 5.5-6 help maintain health and even achieve the reproduction of some of the selected species.
The decor will be similar to other rocky streams, place several somewhat larger to stand and where to rest and otearan gobies around rocks.
Around them we put pebbles of varying size (from a tennis ball to a marble) and any remaining gaps will spread sand or gravel river.
Substance will place some branches or sticks also leaves but not in large numbers. If we have obtained copies of Bucephalandra sp. We place them in crevices between rocks or in any place we have previously prepared. These plants also can put them out of the surface, mimicking how they grow in their natural habitat.
And after seeing the aquarium would Stony Brook in the Belait River, we know the fish that inhabit it.
The cyprinid Rasbora cf. pauciperforata with its attractive color, create a school that will move around the aquarium. Not as lively as other cyprinids are a highly recommended for community aquarium species. Reaches a size of 7 cm, but usually less in aquarium. It has a wide distribution as Southeast Asia and other Rasbora a peaceful behavior and even slightly retracted.
In the wild it feeds on small invertebrates and creatures that are still a microdepredador. Reproduction is possible and to be a fish shoal we include at least 10 of them and if possible more.
Gobiopterus chuno is a tiny goby that barely reaches 3 cm in size.
With its transparent body will turn heads in any aquarium to house it.
You can live in fresh or brackish water and is widely distributed in Southeast Asia mainland and islands. Unlike other gobies this can swim in the water column without usual in shops if usually in the lists of wholesalers so it should not cost us so. Its maintenance has several points of attention in relation to its small size. The first is its tank mates other than predators or a sufficient size to give serious damage and the second is in their food. Need live prey it can catch with his tiny mouth.
With its adaptability the Redigobius bikolanus is a great candidate to live in aquariums. It is found from Australia to Japan, via island systems in the Pacific and Southeast Asia. Reaches a size of 4 cm and can live in both freshwater and brackish. It feeds in the tidal zone of small fish and invertebrates, changing the diet in freshwater for a greater variety of invertebrates, algae and aufwuch.
The fourth species inhabiting this biotope is rare in the aquaristik circuit, this can be changed by the growing interest in Gobies. The Stigmatogobius sella reaches a size of 4 cm and I could not find a single picture of him. Hopefully in the future to know the best kind. It is distributed in Borneo, Indonesia and Singapore.
After seeing our first example we go with the second, in this case a stream with sandy bottom near Kampung Sukang.
For this assembly is the recommended size from 200 liters to keep species, but if we want to maintain a similar habitat environment where groups are abundant, we increase the size to about 400 liters.
The leak must be efficient to maintain good water quality, with a high number of copies in the aquarium. An external filter is the recommended option.
Illumination need not be intense because the Cryptocorynes dislike very insolation.
As in the previous example a temperature of 24 ° C and a pH near 6.0 will please all the people.
In the decoration we give emphasis to a forest of Cryptocoryne ciliata we will place on the side. The mixture of sand background with light colored gravel, anger covered by leaves and branches as we find in the biotope. Some pebbles or trunk serve to break the monotony and highlight certain points.
Leave enough space for species that like to swim through the column, which in this case are several. We will see and we will select the best coexist as well as by its availability.
The cyprinid Rasbora cf. pauciperforata with its attractive color, create a school that will move around the aquarium. Not as lively as other cyprinids are a highly recommended for community aquarium species. Reaches a size of 7 cm, but usually less in aquarium. It has a wide distribution as Southeast Asia and other Rasbora a peaceful behavior and even slightly retracted.
In the wild it feeds on small invertebrates and creatures that are still a microdepredador. Reproduction is possible and to be a fish shoal we include at least 10 of them and if possible more.
Desmopuntius johorensis is an attractive and active cyprinid it reaches a size of 8 cm.
It is a major consumer of algae and equally small insects and invertebrates. It is a peaceful species and must be kept in a school with a high number of fish.
It is not a very common species, for that matter if we get we should try to reproduce it to share with other fans. He prefers acidic water, removing it is a very contentadiza species.
With similar to the popular Barbo Tiger coloring, Desmopuntius pentazona is a much more quiet and peaceful species. Reaches a size of 5 cm and usual small rows between males but never go beyond. With the other fellow has a peaceful behavior.
It has some glitter in the body that appreciate better with natural light. He prefers to live in areas with high vegetation where it provides food as a small yet microdepredador shelter larger species that can devour.
Pangio agma is similar to the popular Khulis.
It is unusual in the aquaristik circuit and know if it will. Reaches a size of 6 cm and guess like other fish of its kind playback aquarium is difficult.
Our last species of this biotope would not be very advisable for this community. While you can live and coexist without problems in a smaller aquarium's specific enjoy in all its glory.
This species is Betta akarensis, that without as spectacular as other representatives of the genre coloring, if you have to my view certain appeal.
Reaches a size of 6-8 cm depending on its origin and wild preys on various aquatic and terrestrial organisms.
We can move the aquarium example I have proposed for this biotope and place in an aquarium from 60 liters, preferably low or water without much height.
If we keep in good condition and with a varied diet we may get played.
I can not leave the Belait River basin without showing another example of a species that is very interesting to maintain and highly attractive.
I'm talking about Betta macrostoma we can find in any stream and flooded areas. Reaches a size of 10 cm and having seen them live I can say that is a Betta that impresses with its jaw wide. It's incubator paternal oral and reproduction is not complicated. In the wild they feed on aquatic invertebrates with which it shares habitat in the aquarium we usually live food and varied offer or failing quality frozen.
For maintenance in the aquarium is the recommended size from 100 liters for a couple. Its height should not exceed 30 cm and serious decor similar to the previous example. Should add some caves with coconuts or logs where repose overnight or incubation.
The filter should not be excessive and it is recommended a filter cascade or an outer canister type.
Water conditions would be similar to those of the above examples, temperature of 24 and a pH of 5.5-6.0
Although it is a relatively widespread species in the aquarium, the Betta macrostoma is on the red list of threatened species.
It is endemic to Borneo and Brunei only stocks and one in Sarawak known. Unfortunately in Sarawak even though it seemed impossible a few years ago, is increasingly enclosed ecosystem by monoculture palm oil.
Fortunately in this case the Sultan of Brunei and his people able to appreciate the natural wealth of their country. We hope that this continues so long and this species with the common name of Brunei Beauty, sponsored runs and national fish or something like that and ensure their habitats through reservations. Likewise it's kind of not much information on it in the wild so it would be appreciated, further investigations to verify the health of their populations.
And with that we finished with our examples of biotopes in Rio Belait in Brunei, we have started with the aquarium biotope Stony Brook, we have continued with the aquarium biotope Sandy Creek and we finished with a specific Aquarium for Betta macrostoma.
I hope you have enjoyed reading it and I have been permitted to travel even a little, the paradise on earth that is the island of Borneo and in the case in Brunei Darussalam. Be clear that we will see more examples of biotopes of this privileged island.
Encourage them to answer if you have any questions or suggestions, likewise if you have fallen here by chance or through a search on biotopes register in the forum where we try every day to learn something new.
Gr3tings !!!
Sources
www.fishbase.org
www.wikipedia.org
www.seriouslyfish.com
Atlas Mergus I&II
Fishes of the Belait River – Lynne R. Parenti and Amy L. Downing Meisner
