Festivums? Anyone?

[brewmaster15]

As referenced elsewhere I am sorting pics and walking down memory lane. I have actually been seeking festivums again, but I want wild caught and they are scarce. Everything I have seen available , which isn't much frankly, are tank raised. These were my last Festivums, Mesonauta acora.

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Anyone like Festivums? do you have any currently?

al

[Discus-n00b]

Loved them. If I remember correctly my group came from you way back in 2011 Al, I had to go back and look at dates. They bred very well for me in my 100gal wild tank. I remember the males especially got really chunky, much bigger than you expect.






Here are a few stages of the fry

[brewmaster15]

Loved them. If I remember correctly my group came from you way back in 2011 Al, I had to go back and look at dates. They bred very well for me in my 100gal wild tank. I remember the males especially got really chunky, much bigger than you expect.






Here are a few stages of the fry

Matt, yes.. those were from mine.

https://forum.simplydiscus.com/showt...-acora-from-Al!

I think you were one of the first that got some. That really was a while ago! They were such great fish to keep. .. My males also grew big and chunky... mini severums lol. Great photos!

[LizStreithorst]

Fascinating fry pics, Matt.

[gimaal]

Now that there are six recognized species where there used to be one, does anyone know if one matures to be particularly more colorful than the others vis-a-vis green iridescence around the head? The form/species I had years ago surprised me in this regard. I always thought of Festivums as black and white fish but these matured with substantial green iridescence.

[brewmaster15]

Now that there are six recognized species where there used to be one, does anyone know if one matures to be particularly more colorful than the others vis-a-vis green iridescence around the head? The form/species I had years ago surprised me in this regard. I always thought of Festivums as black and white fish but these matured with substantial green iridescence.

My experience is only with M.acora .. if Ryan sees this thread he maybe able to answer that.

Im really surprised that I literally can not find any wild festivums anywhere. I guess this will be one of those long term goals for me. Patience maybe a virtue but thats not compatible with me when I get an itch for a fish.

[illumnae]

Maybe you can do a special request with an importer? They arrive not often but not rarely either where im from, usually I think from Colombian shipments but sometimes also Peru so they're definitely on the exporters' stocklists. Possibly US importers don't think they'll sell well and so don't order them in?

[brewmaster15]

Theres domestic imports I think that are just cheaper and easier for many sellers


I subscribe to alot of wild importers stock lists here as well but contacting and requesting is always an option.

I think I may have located wild caught Mesonauta insignis I will post more if it works out.

[illumnae]

Theres domestic imports I think that are just cheaper and easier for many sellers


I subscribe to alot of wild importers stock lists here as well but contacting and requesting is always an option.

I think I may have located wild caught Mesonauta insignis I will post more if it works out.

Took this photo today at an importer whom I buy almost all my wild SA cichlids from. I believe these came from Columbia so I think they're M. insignis?

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[brewmaster15]

Took this photo today at an importer whom I buy almost all my wild SA cichlids from. I believe these came from Columbia so I think they're M. insignis?

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They most likely are M. Insignis.

al

[brewmaster15]

My last order of new fish for a very long time. Over the weekend I found a supplier of wild festivums.. M. Insignis and bought them Sat. They arrived today. All alive and well. Currently floating the bags .

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I have a group of 10 now .. should be a pair or two from them .

Guess I will call it and early birthday present.

Al

[brewmaster15]

My last order of new fish for a very long time. Over the weekend I found a supplier of wild festivums.. M. Insignis and bought them Sat. They arrived today. All alive and well. Currently floating the bags .

20240424_170025.jpg

20240424_170045.jpg

20240424_165836.jpg

20240424_170142.jpg

I have a group of 10 now .. should be a pair or two from them .

Guess I will call it an early birthday present.

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Al

[brewmaster15]

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Quite the friendly and curious group.

[gimaal]

Nice! They settled in fast! Glad to see I'm not the only one who buys fish for myself for my birthday.

[Willie]

The Internet is filled with pictures/videos of heavily scaped discus tanks with tetras, Corydoras, plecostamus, rams, even angelfish. But when you view underwater videos of discus in nature, you never see any other fish with them. There is only one exception to this rule.

I've seen several videos of wild discus in their native habit intermingling with flag cichlids, i.e. Festivum.