Poeciliopsis baenschi, Rio Tuxcacuesco

Extinct in the Wild Joined: Mar 06, 2007 Posts: 88

I made it out again today and the collecting was excellent. I went to the small arroyo that runs near Casimiro Castillo. The arroyo is in the Rio Purificacion drainage, so the fauna is distinct from that of the Ayuquila. I also caught a bunch of Poeciliopsis turneri and P. infans. The former of these is extremely pretty. There was a funny olive-colored thing that I failed to collect--I saw just a couple individuals of that one. I wonder what it was(?). I also got a single Poecilia chica.

It was a very pretty spot too. I had been getting frustrated because I hadn´t had the best photography opportunities, but I think I got some good pictures today. I need to go back to my room to open them up.

I might make a bid for a couple more species, but my collecting is mostly done. Now I just have to pray that American won´t lose my bags.

-Devin

Extinct in the Wild Joined: Mar 06, 2007 Posts: 88

.....whoops. i just found that this keyboard had the insert key set the wrong way and i lost a whole sentence from the post above. the really exciting thing that i found today in that stream was Xenotaenia resolnae. what a cool fish! i think i ended up with about 20 of them.

Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2008 11:35 pm

Congrats on the great finds. Good luck on the return trip!!
Michael

Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 1:13 am

So Devin, have you ever given any consideration to organizing a trip for some of us who would love to a little collecting in Mexico but don't know where to start? It seems like you do it pretty much "on the cheap". The one time I had an opportunity to go it was WAY too expensive. (As in more expensive than the trip to Tanganyika I was invited on. Couldn't afford that one either!)
Michael

Moderator Joined: Oct 03, 2005 Posts: 484

Yeah Devin, it is impressive how you manage to do it cheaply.

I would not bother without a car though, I think Alain Grioche managed quite successfully by public transport, but I still think you need a car to make it worth your while, especially considering how far we have to travel to Mexico.

The flights from the UK are around £500 and when I last collected in Mexico, I ended up doing 5,000 kilometres in two weeks; so the carhire £750 for 2 weeks, insurance £200 for 2 weeks, petrol £250 for 2 weeks and the tolls £200 for 2 weeks all mounts up.

I reckon you can do it cheaper, especially if you get a car which holds 4 people, but for 2 people, the trip cost £2,000 each!!!. With 4 it would be nearer £1,250-£1,500.

Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 10:22 am

Careful guys! If you keep talking like this, you are going to start getting my hopes up about making a trip to Mexico some day Very Happy

Joel

Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 12:41 pm

Joel, Mike Meyer and I have talked about it for years. We've just never puts words to action. Only if he went we'd have to look for those other non-livebearer fish, namely cichlids. They often come up in the same net though, so that's okay!!
Michael

Moderator Joined: Oct 03, 2005 Posts: 484

I went to Guatemala with a group of 7 consisting about 50/50 with cichlid and livebearer guys. I was a little bit worried, but I found that the cichlid guys increased my enjoyment of the fishing.

I never understand why you guys in the US don't make the trip to Mexico more often. If I lived in the US then I would pop across there 3 or 4 times a year!!!

Extinct in the Wild Joined: Mar 06, 2007 Posts: 88

hi all. i´m just checking in quick. i went out for my last trip today, to Via Purificacion. it was great. i went to get a larger series of Poecilia chica. the stream and the town there are very nice. i had an excellent day.

that´s an intersting exchange above. in this area, the bus connections are easy, so you can get to a bunch of sites without much bother. i find it to be easier and more fun than dealing with an auto. i have definately done this trip on the cheap.

an important factor to have in maind are the new regulations for collecting in Mexico. they are extremely expensive even for Mexicans and the wait is alleged to be a whole year or more. i was lucky to be included on a SEMERNAT permit as a research collaborator. even if one is unable to get a permit i think it is more than worth it just visit some of these sites to see the animals in their habitats. it is all so interesting.

i´ll write more later i gotta run.

-Devin

Extinct in the Wild Joined: Mar 06, 2007 Posts: 88

i just got home. i had a whole day's worth of travel days and glad to be out of the airport. the export/import experience was touch-and-go, but i got the fish home and they look good. where can i make more space? i have ~70 fish.

well, time to go unpack the little devils.

-D

Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 2:00 am

I have some tank space you can borrow Very Happy

Moderator Joined: Oct 03, 2005 Posts: 484

Cracking haul. Well done.

Your import / export comments bought back some memories of sweaty palms Very Happy

Extinct in the Wild Joined: Mar 06, 2007 Posts: 88

sumpnfishy wrote:

I have some tank space you can borrow Very Happy

Michael

well i have several people on my list. barring disaster, i will have extra fish for when the weather improves for shipping. remind me later on in the spring so that we can coordinate.

and remind me too if you ever want to ponder a trip down there. it would be great fun to get a group together to go. as i mentioned, collecting for export is complicated, but that area of Mexico is so interesting. i have some other goals for field activities, such as continued photography and also video.

cheers

Devin

Extinct in the Wild Joined: Mar 06, 2007 Posts: 88

Michael,

would you like some fish? i have some stuff here that's ready to go. i have many F1 juveniles (Poecilia butleri [Rio Ayuquila]; Ilyodon furcidens [Arroyo Ahuacapan]) originating from my collections last summer.

i have some F0 of a couple other species too. send me a PM if you have any room.

cheers,

Devin[/i]

Posted: Sun May 04, 2008 8:04 am

thats awesome...some time, i hope i can go on a collecting trip, all i have is aquarium strain:

Characodon Lateralis
Skiffia Multipunctata

but hey, they are working for me right now, while i am in college!