An excellent article with some great aquarium photography tips. Although the author is drawing from his experiences photographing fish in public aquariums, many of the suggestions would also work with your own tanks. The article is geared toward DSLR cameras but some of the tips should work for non-DSLR cameras, especially those that offer some manual controls. Digital camera sensors have come a long way, especially in “point and shoot” cameras. You can get some very impressive shots from non-DSLR cameras by paying close attention to techniques like those recommended in this article.
You can read up on all of these tips at the Nikon USA website. For more aquarium photography tips visit the Photography section of the Library.
An in-the-wild video of Dicrossus maculatus. The video is in German but a link below is available for an English version. The English version wasn’t on YouTube so I couldn’t embed it here.
Dicrossus maculatus is a small and colorful cichlid found in rivers in the Brazilian Amazon basin. Reaching only 2.5″ in length, these fish are suitable for a 20gal aquarium. However, they do require a very low pH and hardness, especially if you expect them to reproduce. Males and females are very similar in size and appearance. Males do have a little more color, especially when putting on a show for the opposite sex.
Started almost 40 years ago, the Greater Chicago Cichlid Association is a not-for-profit, educational organization, dedicated to the advancement and dissemination of information relating to the biology of the fishes in the family Cichlidae, with particular emphasis on maintenance and breeding in captivity.
Next weekend, May 24th – 26th, the GCCA will be holding their annual GCCA Cichlid Classic at the Heron Point Conference Center in Lombard, IL. Speakers will include John Krepper, Greg Steeves, Charlie Grimes and Dan Sharifi. There will also be a fish show, raffles, vendor tables and an auction. For more details on the GCCA Cichlid Classic 2013, visit the association’s website at GCCA.net.
Short video of a pair of Eretmodus cyanostictus spawning.
This goby from Lake Tanganyika is an ideal addition to aquariums with other herbivorous cichlids like Tropheus and Petrochromis. Eretmodus cyanostictus is a pair bonding bi-parental mouthbrooder with a distinct, comical personality. Males and females are identical except for a slight size difference. The best way to obtain a pair is to get 6 juveniles and keep them together until a pair is formed. Remove the unpaired extras as they will not be tolerated by the pair. Other than aggression towards “extra” gobies and protecting their young, E. cyanostictus is quite docile and will not pick on other fish.
An interesting aspect of E. cyanostictus is the male’s active participation in caring for the young. The strongly bonded pair will stay together for their entire lives, both caring for and raising their young. About two weeks after spawning, the female will pass the developing eggs to the male who will brood the young until they are released. The fry are allowed to mature even while other broods are being released by the pair. At some point, when the offspring begin to get large, they will be chased away. It is best to remove offspring before they become too large.
The National Aquarium in D.C., which first opened its doors in 1885, is set to close September 30th. As part of the Herbert C. Hoover Building renovation, the 1500 species of animals are being moved to other aquariums. The closure of the aquarium will signal the end of the oldest continuously operating aquarium in the United States. In 1982, the aquarium became part of the National Aquarium Society, ending its federal funding. It was at this time that the aquarium became a non-profit organization funded solely by donations and attendance fees.
If you live near Washington D.C. or plan to visit before September 30th, make sure to take the time to visit the National Aquarium before it’s gone for good.
Google and Time Magazine have worked together to create a global database of zoomable, animated satellite views. Using satellite images from NASA and the U.S. Geological Survey, 30 years of change can be seen in a matter of seconds. An example like the amazon deforestation seen above quickly illustrate the changes taking place. Deforestation, drought and dam construction are taking its toll on the Amazon River’s wildlife, including several cichlid species.
Timelapse video from all over the world can be seen at the TIMELAPSE website. There is also the option to search any area and even street address to see animation of the changes. Just click the Explore the World link.
Ptychochromis insolitus, aka Mangarahara cichlid, is thought to be extinct in the wild. Officially described less than 10 years ago, its habitat along the Amboaboa and Mangarahara Rivers has been destroyed. The London Zoo, which has two male specimens, has launched a worldwide appeal for anyone with a female P. insolitus in an effort to save the species. According to the London Zoo, there are only 3 know specimens of this species, all males. The last known female was housed at a zoo in Berlin but died before she was able to spawn. The zoo is hoping that anyone in the hobby who has a female to please contact them at fishappeal@zsl.org.
While looking into information for this blog I came across an article on Malawi Cichlid Homepage about spawning the Ptychochromis mangarahara. Unfortunately since P. insolitus was only officially described in 2006, it is difficult to know for sure if these two species are the same fish.
For more information on Ptychochromis insolitus and the appeal for a female, visit BBC News.
Petenia splendida is a large, predatory cichlid inhabiting rivers and lakes in Southern Mexico and Central America.
P. splendida is currently the only species in the genus Petenia. Reaching as much as 20 inches in length, this ambush predator will consume anything it can fit in its extendable mouth. Like some other predatory cichlids, P. splendida is not overly aggressive and does well with other large, moderately aggressive fish. Keep in mind that tank mates should be large or they will be eaten. P. splendida readily adapts to pelleted foods. Adequate filtration is a must since it is a hardy eater.
An interesting characteristic of Petenia splendida is that it appears in two color forms. As seen in the video above, the coloration can be silver/green with black spots or a solid orange/red color. The color variations occur naturally in the wild. The orange/red coloration is more common in the hobby, but in the wild the silver/black morph is more abundant. Sexing can be difficult and it is recommended to raise a group of 6-8 together until a pair forms. Once the pair has formed, the others should be removed.
Founded in August of 1980, the Pacific Coast Cichlid Association exists to meet the needs of the west coast cichlid hobbyist. Since inception, the PCCA has grown rapidly from a local society of 20 members to one of national scope, with members all over the world. The PCCA meets every second Saturday of the month. Meetings are held a the Harry’s Hoffbrau in San Jose, CA. Meetings will feature a presentation from an expert in the hobby and an auction. Auctions items are provided by attendees, donations from local fish dealers, and from the PCCA itself which brings in rarer species to introduce them to association members.
If you would like more information about the Pacific Coast Cichlid Association, visit their website at CichlidWorld.com.
Clean your glass, charge your batteries and start clicking. Omega One, makers of a variety of fish food products, is having their 3rd annual photo contest. For a chance to win, submit your 3 best fish photos in high resolution JPG format to customercare@omegasea.net. Finalists will receive a $250 credit toward a year’s worth of fish food and their photographs will be featured in the 2014 Omega One Calendar. All finalists will also receive a copy of the Omega One Calendar. Entries will be accepted until September 1st, 2013. Make sure to include your name, address, phone number, email address and species/common name of the fish with your entry.
For more information, including the complete contest rules and entry requirements, visit the Photo Contest Page.
