PlanetCatfish.com

We all get those annoying e-mails forwarded almost an infinite number of times but I receive one yesterday that was not the ordinary junk.
I first looked it up on Google and found some of the original photos and a site link I could use without violating someone's copyright. You would think we would be familiar with a Colombian river that is this extraordinary and one that must be some plecos's paradise but the story is about the incredible colors and scenery of this river which until fairly recently was in territory controlled by Colombia rebel army FARC.
For your visual pleasure may I present to you the Rio Cano Cristales.
http://clipmarks.com/clipmark/D152BE45- ... 1874DC85C/

Cool Larry,

Thanks for the link. Speaking of the issues in Columbia. I hear Blue Eyed Plecs (Panaque cochliodonare) are making it out in small numbers again. It would be cool to be able to own them again. There is a shop in Boston that has one, I have actually been giving some thought to choking up the 1k price tag!

Rich

I haven't figured out what makes folks go agog over the Blue Eye Panaque. $1000 is cheap compared to those belowwater had for $1800 from Venezuela.
I choke at the price of Zebra plecos and as much I love wild Discus, I find it really hard to justify prices of $150 up and yet I know in the USA, our resistance to pay more than $150 is why the most spectacular specimens go to Japan where they will pay closer to $1000 and up for superb quality wild Discus.
I think I like Discus in a way that allows me to enjoy wild specimens which are good enough but maybe aren't world class quality wise.
I think the prices of some S.A. fresh water Sting rays have surpassed $3000 per specimen so I guess it boils down to what we like and how much are we willing to pay for some of the rarer fish.
At least Discus don't need ponds to reach their full size.

But I digress, that river is something else isn't it?
Only the smaller but still very impressive geothermal features in Yellowstone National Park can compare. High temperature tolerant bacteria and algae provide much of the color seen in the various deep hot pools in Yellowstone and I have gone "Yellowstoning", as I call my fly fishing pilgrimages to the place, many times for the great fly fishing but I had no idea there were algae and bacteria which evolved to live in more ordinary water temperatures which where capable of creating such a range of brilliant colors as seen in the Rio Cano Cristales.
At least along this Colombian river I doubt one has to worry about making a misstep into a boiling mud pot or hot spring along it's banks.

Wow...crazy colours. Would sure make me happy if I were a pleco.

On the topic of Blue Eyes, there are definitely fish on the market. Locally, there have been about 5 or 6 sold that are about 13 - 16". Awesome fish. 2 things stop me from having one current and that's the price + tank size needed. Both require funds that I am not willing to lay out at the moment, as I've got other projects on the go. I'm hoping that the more frequent import will drive the price a bit lower, so say $600 - $800 so that it's more reasonable. That would make them cheaper than big Asian Arowana.