Rio Xingu - A trip from dreams....

[husky_jim]

Hello to all,

Many of you you know about our recent trip to Rio Xingu, Altamira that me Marcel and Ole organize last September along with Leandro and Walter.

I am creating this topic to share photos and information to our beloved forum.

Except the fish collecting part we help Leandro and Walter on a new research regarding biotope sounds (Walter can explain better the subject of the research ) and also redesign some tanks in the university breeding facility.

****Jools feel free to use any pic for fish profiles and send me a message to send you original pics with correct orientation.

Here some pics..(not in correct/chronological order - more will follow)


































































Here some vids also:
















As i said more pics will follow and i will be happy to exchange information about the trip!

[bekateen]

Very nice, Jim. Thanks for sharing.

Cheers, Eric

[TwoTankAmin]

@ husky_jim

TY for posting these great images. I have a few quick questions if you don't mind answering.

- Is the yellow meter showing a depth of 75.6 meters? If not what it it reading?
- Is the black meter reading a temperature of 31.4 C?
- How bad did the water look as a result of the damming activities?
- How do plecos taste?

Also, the videos wont play for me.

[bekateen]

@ husky_jim ...the videos wont play for me.

Here you go TTA: Fixed.

Here some vids also:

[husky_jim]

@ husky_jim

TY for posting these great images. I have a few quick questions if you don't mind answering.

- Is the yellow meter showing a depth of 75.6 meters? If not what it it reading?
- Is the black meter reading a temperature of 31.4 C?
- How bad did the water look as a result of the damming activities?
- How do plecos taste?

Also, the videos wont play for me.

1)Yes it is depth below Bello Monte (i think i 've measured 76,3 also but don't have a pic of it) and imagine this was at the peak of dry season
2)Yeap that was the water temp....i caught a L020 in an isolated pool at 36 degrees...here is the pic...

3)There was a 'lake' effect in the river above and below the pimental and belo monte damns.....this is a huge discussion....
4)at first i didn't want to eat but they taste unbelievably good...almost lobster-like

thanks for fixing the vids!

[amazonaquatics]

Great pictures and videos! This trip is definitely on my bucket list! thanks for sharing

[husky_jim]

Some new pics....

The Belo Monte dam....the picture cannot show it's monsterous size...



Wild Iguana relaxing on a tree at Altamira...



A huge Jacare Caiman relaxing on a Xingu river bed.....

[TwoTankAmin]

I wish I were young and in good enough condition to make the trip you guys did. Instead, I will have to do so vicariously through others.

I have another Q if you do not mind. I am wondering if you folks spotted any of the B&W Hypancistrus species, especially zebras?

[bigward]

Fantastic videos and photos - thanks very much for posting

[husky_jim]

I wish I were young and in good enough condition to make the trip you guys did. Instead, I will have to do so vicariously through others.

I have another Q if you do not mind. I am wondering if you folks spotted any of the B&W Hypancistrus species, especially zebras?

Yes and the zebra situation is disappointing....and not due to the dam.....the biggest threat is the smuggling.....in the places that the best fishermen in the past usually caught 20-30 pieces of L46 now they find only 2 or 3 at best and most of them juvenile.....we must educate ourselves and do not accept any smuggled fish...we must appreciate the captive bred...

after this trip i don't give any chance imo for the zebras to survive in the wild in the next 2-5 years....

The same for L174

The other 'stripped' hypancistrus are chaotic.....we find a huge variety in the lower xingu even in an area of only 100 square meters.....i will post more pics about....

[husky_jim]

Here two examples of stripped Hypancistrus from the same location....

[Deb]

What a wonderful trip it must have been! Thanks for all the great pictures and thanks to Eric for re-posting the videos. I, too, could not see them in the original post. I do have one question - and it's simply because I don't know how long a catfish, such as the Baryancistrus shown, can remain out of the water and still be okay. It seems to me that he was out of the water for a long time. Was he?

[jac]

Brilliant post, liked it a lot even though it's the numerous time I've seen the pics and video's
Thanks for sharing!!

[husky_jim]

What a wonderful trip it must have been! Thanks for all the great pictures and thanks to Eric for re-posting the videos. I, too, could not see them in the original post. I do have one question - and it's simply because I don't know how long a catfish, such as the Baryancistrus shown, can remain out of the water and still be okay. It seems to me that he was out of the water for a long time. Was he?

We just have them out of water for a couple of secs....and all were released on their original location...

Jacqueline***these are new 'unpublished' pics.....hundreds more will follow...and i have better vids... ;)

[Fundulopanchax76]

Hi ! I have a question too - when you caught fishes you wanted what happened next - i mean what are rules or law to export fishes from Brazil ?

[Bas Pels]

Hi ! I have a question too - when you caught fishes you wanted what happened next - i mean what are rules or law to export fishes from Brazil ?

Good question. Nobody - unless permitted - is alloowed to own life fish in the Amazon area. Penalties are severe.

Basically I would say - don't even think about bringing your own fishes home. I've heard about people going into the bush with collectors, pointing out the fishes they wanted, and following the exporters car in their own car - never ginving the impression they own anything.

Untill the fishes are savely arrived in the USA or Europe. That's the only save way

[Fundulopanchax76]

But these are wanted fish in all world ! How do they make export from Brazil ?

[Narwhal72]

Foreigners are not allowed to possess fish. Brazilians are. They need to go through a formal exporting process that is regulated by the Brazilian government.

[Annabellam]

Seems like you guys really had a good time. Thanks for sharing all the photos and videos.

[husky_jim]

I uploaded a vid of Cachoeira do Jericoa at Volta Grande...enjoy!

[husky_jim]

Another vid at Gorgulho da Rita - Rio Xingu while trying to catch a Pseudancistrus....unfortunately i didn't see the Rhinorodas hiding behind....

[TheFishGuy1]

Thanks for sharing your trip! I enjoyed the videos and photos.