Back from my trip to Surinam...

[emeraldking]

Hi all,
I'm back from my stay in Surinam. My plan was to partially be the tourist and partially to be the fish collector. This country has a great nature with lots of interesting wild life. In my case, the focus was on fish and most specifically guppies. I've also brought back home some guppies of different populations. I've also stayed a bit longer than planned.
Besides guppies, I've also caught tetras. One of them is th Head and tail light tetra (Hemigrammus ocellifer). But more tetra fish and cories were to be found. But those cories were a bit too fast for me to catch.

 

[GaryE]

That looks like fun.

 

[emeraldking]

That looks like fun.

It was...

 

[GaryE]

Are the different guppy populations from the various capture points different looking?

 

[emeraldking]

Are the different guppy populations from the various capture points different looking?

Yes, they are...

 

[Innesfan]

Welcome back.

Is there any commercial export of aquarium species from Surinam? It's one of the few locations for my holy grail Nannostomus species, N. bifasciatus. The other is the equally unfished Fr. Guiana.

 

[GaryE]

I've seen imports into Canada. Not of those species, but from Surinam.

 

[emeraldking]

Welcome back.

Is there any commercial export of aquarium species from Surinam? It's one of the few locations for my holy grail Nannostomus species, N. bifasciatus. The other is the equally unfished Fr. Guiana.

There should be a commercial export from Surinam. But it may differ from country to country if wild fish from Surinam is allowed or not.

 

[GaryE]

@emeraldking if you get a chance and don't mind, a few photos of the different location/colour forms of those guppies would be welcome. In the hobby, new aquarists get to see the result of livebearers thrown into a genetic blender, with all the distinct natural forms mixed and modified. Sometimes a trip to see what's natural can be a real eye opener.

 

[emeraldking]

I'll make some pics later on to show some phenotypes and how they look different from nowadays breeding forms. The guppy evolution made by man is enormous...

 

[Rusty_Shackleford]

There has to be at least infrequent imports as both Geophagus surinamensis and G. harreri, are endemic to Surinam and Fr. Guyana. There is some infrastructure in place as many dart frogs hail from Suriname/Fr. Guyana as well.
@emeraldking Please post photos of those wild puppies, I always like seeing the pure, natural, wild forms that have virtually disappeared from the hobby due to man's God complex. Also could you tell us about the process of bringing your own fish back? Do you have to use an exporter? What kind of fees did you have to pay? Was it an easy process and was it worth it?

 

[GaryE]

@Rusty_Shackleford I'm not emerald King (but wish I had his livebearer knowledge). As far as I know, the only countries where it's very hard to bring fish back to are the USA (a bureaucratic border with high fees, even before possible tariffs) and maybe the post Brexit UK. I've heard the British killie crew are having problems with bureaucracy and post Brexit regulations.

 

[Rusty_Shackleford]

@Rusty_Shackleford I'm not emerald King (but wish I had his livebearer knowledge). As far as I know, the only countries where it's very hard to bring fish back to are the USA (a bureaucratic border with high fees, even before possible tariffs) and maybe the post Brexit UK. I've heard the British killie crew are having problems with bureaucracy and post Brexit regulations.

Well if there is one universal truth it's that politicians can and will muck it up.

 

[WhistlingBadger]

Besides the guppies, it's great to see you in such good health. Do I assume correctly your heart conditions have improved? You look ready to run a triathlon!

 

[emeraldking]

Also could you tell us about the process of bringing your own fish back? Do you have to use an exporter? What kind of fees did you have to pay? Was it an easy process and was it worth it?

With the right paperwork (these are forms avialable at a number of local city halls and at the Ministry of Agriculture of this specific country. You need to fill out the numbers of the type of fish and their name. Not all fish are allowed to be exported and there's a max on the types of fish that are allowed to export. The only costs involved in my case are the costs for those forms. No further fees involved.
Well, I do ave to say that it was easy for me to go through this process. And yes, it was worth it...

and maybe the post Brexit UK.

Yes, it's not easy to ship fish to the Uk what I've experienced.

Besides the guppies, it's great to see you in such good health. Do I assume correctly your heart conditions have improved? You look ready to run a triathlon!

Well, thank you... But to be honest, I'm still dealing with serious health issues. I will never get better. That's a fact. But I try to make the best of it. And yes, the trip itself has been very positive to my mindset. I also have to admit that I'm paying the toll at this moment. But it was all worth it. So basically, I'm taking it slow at the moment. Tomorrow I'll have my dialysis treatment again. WHich was in need. For I've stayed overthere a bit longer than planned.
About my heart condition, that's still going on but I've found my way with it. Just like my other health problems. A positive mind can create more than people may think. It doesn't make my health problems less but it does give me more peace. I'm not a person who would claim that I can't do anything... Except that I'm not able to do a marathon... I try to focus on things that I can do even if that means that it's at a lower pace or taking more breaks...