#goodied

An Ameca Splenden with a tail deformity that I put in with my discus a while back. It isn't severe enough to majorly hinder the fish but at the same time I didn't want him with the main colony in case it is a genetic thing. Deformed tails are common with ameca splendens; I'm not sure if it is related to inbreeding since they are an endangered species or a birth defect since they give birth to large, fully formed dry with umbilical cords. Anyway, I separated him just in case and it is interesting to see him thrive with the discus. It was always my impression that they preferred cooler temperatures since I keep my breeding colony without a heater but this guy is also in breeding condition at 84 degrees. Also he holds his own with the discus just fine and doesn't get bullied away from food. They really are a very tolerant species and would surely be saved from extinction if they became more popular in the hobby like white cloud mountain minnows did when they went extinct in the wild.

The plan for the day was to visit nearby Teuchitlán Springs where Phase I of the Tequila Splitfin (Zoogoneticus tequila) reintroduction project is underway. This project is run by Dr. Martina Medina and students from the Aqualab. Afterwards we would explore the prehistoric site of Los Guachimontones. During breakfast Claire and Citlalli from the Universidad de Guadalajara joined us and would be tagging along for the day.

We arrived at the town of Teuchitlán and after a brief talk about the recovery status of the river we started a short walk upstream to the springs.

An interesting site in the river.

Once we reached the springs we got to hear more about the Tequila Splitfin project and saw the initial pool where Phase I was being implemented.

The Tequila Splitfin Pool (Photo by Ben)

Afterwards we went to the lower pools, which were swarming with hundreds of Butterfly Splitfins (Ameca splendens). In short order I caught both a male and female.

Species #190 - Butterfly Splitfin female

Species #190 - Butterfly Splitfin male

There were a few Blackfin Goodea (Goodea atripinnis) and Two-Spot Livebearer (Heterandria bimaculata) in the pool as well. Also heard rumors of La Luz Splitfin (Zoogoneticus purhepechus), but none were caught.

I started fishing in the river outside the protected pools and managed to catch this baby Blue Tilapia (Oreochromis aureus). First Tilapia of the trip, but as you will see it was not the last.

Ben also caught a Blue Tilapia, which was a new species for him.

Ben on the hunt for Tilapia.

After awhile we headed to nearby Los Guachimontones, which is pretty interesting prehistoric site which consists of circular stepped pyramids surrounded by circular building complexes. Additionally, there were also ball courts where prehistoric games were played.

One of the stepped pyramids (Photo by Ben).

Los Guachimontones

After our tour of the site and museum we stopped by a local restaurant on the lake which was built around a spring and allowed fishing. It was a very neat experience. After our meal was done, we fished for awhile and caught dozens and dozens of Tilapia which filled the pool and loved tortillas.

Sign says something along the lines of “The fishing rod is the responsibility of the user to avoid accidents”.

View of the spring in the restaurant and the lake in the background.

Most of the day was going to be spent driving back to Mexico City, but since we had to return the Aqualab van to Morelia, we were going to take some time to hit one of the locations that we missed earlier in the trip due to the broken down vehicle. There was a location right outside Morelia called La Mintzita Springs where we could still collect some fish. After a long morning of driving, we finally turned off the main roads and started winding our way back to the spring.

The spring was pretty remote and getting to it was quite the challenge.

View of the spring

Once we got down to the spring it was filled with kids swimming and they were pretty curious as to what were doing. Ben and I quickly caught a few fish. First new species for me was #191 Lake Cuitzeo Jeweled Splitfin (Xenotoca cf. variata). This is an as of yet undescribed species, but similar to the regular Jeweled Splitfin. Ben and I both caught several of these. What is pretty cool is that none of these were caught with the other sampling methods this day. So they only specimens examined were the ones Ben and I caught via hook and line.

Species #191 Lake Cuitzeo Jeweled Splitfin (Xenotoca cf. variata)

I also managed to hook one of the smallest fish I have ever caught, species #192 Yellow Shiner (Notropis calientis) which is a native minnow to the area.

Species #192 Yellow Shiner (Notropis calientis).

As soon as the regular sampling of the water got underway, the visibility became bad and no more fish were caught. 

Another view of the spring.

John and Norman shocking the spring run

Today we started out by visiting the offices of  Dr. Eduardo Santana of the Universidad de Guadalajara where he gave us a presentation of a new natural history museum being built. There is a special section going in that will house several Goodied populations and this was a presentation and meeting between all the different parties that are involved including Dr. Lyons, Dr. Mercado, the Universidad Michoacana de San Nícolas Hidalgo, Universidad de Guadalajara, NAGWG, and NANFA members in attendance. 

Dr. Santana talking about the new museum

Model of the new museum

Overall the discussions and meetings were very good and productive and I look forward to hearing more about the future of the museum and its native fish populations. Afterwards, we shared lunch with Dr. Santana and some of this staff members. We then packed up our gear and headed for Lake Chapala to sample the waters.

Lake Chapala

Lake Chapala was very murky and visibility was not good. It was going to be next to impossible to target any of the native goodieds or silversides that the lake is famous for. Instead I just popped on some tortilla and started catching Blue Tilapia.

There was a lot of Tilapia but they all looked the same and were much more washed out that the ones we had been catching before.

The sampling crew on the beach had more luck seining with lots of different species, but there was no way for us to target them with hook and line.

Locals helping out with the fish sorting.

We ended the day at Lake Chapala by watching some guys hanging upside down from a giant pole and swinging to the ground. I have a video of it I will post some time.

Ben and I on the shores of Lake Chapala

We started the morning back at the Aqualab where we exchanged Norman’s personal vehicle for the Aqualab’s 14 person van and we also picked up two more team members -  Dr. Martina Medina of the Universidad Michoacana de San Nícolas Hidalgo (UMSNH) and graduate student Arely. Our plan for the day was to travel to the city of Zacapu to check out La Angostura Springs which is the most diverse goodeid site in Mexico with a total of seven species.

La Angostura Springs

After paying our 5 peso entry fee we started looking around the edges of the spring and immediately noticed several fish swimming around. The highest concentration seemed to be inside a protected concrete bunker and we started fishing. Meanwhile the rest of the team started shocking downstream towards the lake.

The concrete pool.

The fish were very finicky and it wasn’t until I switched to shrimp that I started to actually catch some. The first fish I pulled in was a beautiful Jeweled Splitfin (Xenotoca variata) which is species #186.

Jeweled Splitfin (Xenotoca variata)

I continued to work the little pool and pulled out a different species #187 a Blackfin Goodea (Goodea atripinnis). I got a much better picture of another Blackfin later, but this is the one I caught at  La Angostura Springs.

Blackfin Goodea (Goodea atripinnis)

We continued fishing the pool for the rest of the time we were there and I ended catch a bunch of Picotee Splitfin (Zoogoneticus quitzeoensis), species #188.

Picotee Splitfin (Zoogoneticus quitzeoensis)

I ended up catching 2 Jeweled Splitfin, 1 Blackfin Goodea, and 4 Picotee Splitfin. The sampling crew managed to find all 7 species of goodied that exist in the spring. We packed up and headed for the next location, which was La Luz Springs in the nearby city of Jacona. This place was a very popular park and swimming hole and was very crowded.

La Luz Springs

Lake at La Luz Springs

The fishing here was tough for me - there were lots of kids splashing and making noise, and there was loud music playing. It was a festive scene, but not an ideal one for fishing. I only managed to catch two different species here, and only one of them was new. 

Species #189 Barred Splitfin (Chapalichthys encaustus)

Another Blackfin Goodea (Goodea atripinnis)

Ben did much better than I did and caught many fish here. We spent the majority of our time chasing Mexican Redhorse (Moxostoma austrinum) but there was too much commotion and too little time to catch one. There were dozens of them swirling around in the bottom of the main swimming area.

In the morning over breakfast we learned that Norman had been able to procure another vehicle from the University, but it was only an extended cab Fort Ranger. So Norman also volunteered his personal car and we were back on the road, but split up into two vehicles. It was determined that the best course of action would be to continue to the lake for sampling that we were supposed to hit yesterday afternoon and then continue on to Morelia and the Aqualab. This would put us back on schedule, but would mean that we would miss both sites originally intended for the day, as well as increase our driving time drastically. We finally got both vehicles and left Cuernavaca around 11:00.

Our new ride - me and Pat. Photo by Ben.

We went high into the mountains to Lagunas de Zempoala National Park to check out a lake that has a very interesting population of Darkedge Splitfins (Girardinichthys multiradiatus).

One of the lakes in the National Park.

It was fed by a nice little mountain stream.

Ben crossing the makeshift bridge.

Aside from the splitfin population, the only other fish in this lake was introduced Rainbow Trout. A couple were caught in the stream by shocking, but they were only about 5 inches long. Ben and I poked around for fish while the other guys started netting in the weeds. They caught a few in the nets and Ben found a bunch along the shore of the lake. I attempted to hook one for like an hour but they were very spooky and tiny fish. Ben finally landed one near the end of our visit and it was the only fish caught this day. 

I am from Florida, so this is the highest elevation I have ever fished.

After leaving the lake we stopped at a roadside vendor and had some of the most interesting tacos ever. From top to bottom, left to right: Pumpkin, Chorizo, Chicharrón, Blood Sausage, Corn Fungus, Chicken, Beef. 

Afterwards we drove over four hours to make it to Morelia Aqualab by nightfall. The Aqualab runs a goodied breeding facility and is currently working on a project to reintroduce the extinct in the wild species Tequila Splitfin (Zoogoneticus tequila). The keep most of the species of goodieds and the facility was very impressive.

Goodieds at the Morelia Aqualab

Goodied at the Morelia Aqualab

Kurt using a photo tank at the Aqualab

We also got to examine the facilities specimen collection.

Finally, after checking into our hotel late at night, we had dinner across the street from the cathedral.