Expedition to Rio Nanay-Perú

[aquatechnics]

Hi guys,

We have just arrived from the Peruvian Amazon and we had a great time over there! ;D

This time, we were very fortunate to have a selected group of fish-addict friends who joined us in this adventure: Daniel Gillespie, David Hlasnick, Luis Tamarelle and John Vandemark.

Here we are at the Miami Airport about to board the plane to Lima.... 8)


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Arriving to Iquitos airport..... :)


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Our expedition started in Iquitos, heart of the Peruvian jungle.

We visited an arapaima hatchery and we were avid spectators of the ritual process to catch arapaimas…

:o

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8)

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A tiger shovelnose was also caught with the arapaima...
;)



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Trying to lift the arapaima which easily weighs 150 pounds... I could not make it, lol!
:P


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A big Mata Mata turtle was also caught.... :D


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Luis having a nap in the hammock while waiting for iced coconuts to drink...
Dan was getting ready to take some close up pictures with his big big camera!

8)

[aquatechnics]

We also went searching for dart frogs in the middle of the jungle. Hard to see these tiny creatures but we were delighted when we found them. :D

Here some pics……

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Dendrobate reticulatus (poison dart frog) :o


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Dendrobate ventrimaculatus ...
:)

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8)

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We went to the local dock to board the “big boat” and sail the Nanay River for 4 days: no TV, no radio, no telephone, no computer, nothing! Just piranhas all over the river!


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Our Discus discussions in the boat with Raul!
;)

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Here is Dan with Annabella and Gabriela (Raul's wife) aboard "La Nenita"boat.

;D

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A local transportation for wood...... neat!

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Our dinning room with a great river sight.

Of course, we had fish for breakfast, fish for lunch and fish for dinner!!!!!
We even ate piranha nuggets... :P

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[aquatechnics]

Finally, after 12 hours on the big boat, somewhere in the Nanay River, we reached the first fish collection point.

Dark black night, no moon, dugout canoes ….. big time arrived: Discus and Angels collecting experience!!! Look at the excited faces of all of us.


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Here the first to go with the fishermen: Dan with Pastor and Luis with Brujo!!!

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We were not kidding... black dark night, no moon!!!!
::)


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Our first catch.... spotted angels :)


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More angels and discus... :)


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Nanay Green ;)

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Nanay RSG! ;D


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8)



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Hard working fishermen coming back to the boat...
::)

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We were also visiting some local communities to buy "juanes" (typical jungle food made with rice, pork and chicken in a banana leaf) ;D

Here we are Annabella and I with our boat in the back.


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Searching for more fish in the morning....



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We were looking for leaf fish in this stream...



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Discus habitat ....


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A "palizada" another favorite place for discus.... very dificult to catch them here.... :-(


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Morning train, lol!
;D

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Me catching black piranhas :o


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Black piranha smiling for the camara ;D


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Wild Green discus after a few days!
8)

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Spotted Angels...

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Last but not least...... our Nanay girls (Alex and Annette)!

We really had a great time and we enjoyed so much Dan, Dave, Luis and John's company. Thank you guys for this excellent experience!!!

8)
Alberto & Annabella

[oodi]

Alberto,

Thank you so much for sharing your pics from what must have been a wonderful experience!!! Absolutely awesome and amazing!!!

Judi
:)

[Tad]

Alberto,
As always Im so thankful for you taking the time out of your busy schedule to post such awesome pics of your adventures to the Amazon. This years adventures included some special friends and it had to make the overall trip something special to you and for them. Its also great to see Annabella share in your trips and your enthusiasm for adventure. As always the wild RSGs are incredible and impressive in color and spotting. Im becoming a real fan of the wild spotted angels as well. The arapaimas WOW!

I am also blessed to have you as a friend and was also happy to have recieved an invitation to this years expedition (which I regrettably had to decline) but again your friendship is always forwarded by the surprise mail that I recieved today which included a special note and card along with one of your groups "Rio Nanay Peru" tee shirts.

For your friendship,for your fantastic wilds,and for your sharing of your expeditions you have my deepest respect,

Tad

[RyanH]

Hey Alberto,

Thanks for sharing the pics. I enjoyed them alot! My wife and I want to get down there so bad... your pics only made things worse! Thanks again!

-Ryan

[aquatechnics]

Tad,

I am glad to see you wearing the Nanay T-shirt we all had in our Amazon adventure! It looks great in you, my friend!

I know you could not make it this year but maybe you will join us in our next expedition with Judi. 8)

Judi and Ryan, thank you for your kind words; we really enjoyed this adventure and we also had an excellent crew!

Regards,
Alberto

[Chinaman]

Awesome...... thanks for sharing your photos

I like to go to the amazon one day, the only problem is I don't eat fish............. Fish for breakfast, lunch and dinner :'( :'( :'(

Jim

[ping]

Hi Alberto,

Thanks for sharing the pictures :) very nice :)

Hi Tad :)

Regards,
Ronny

Hi, Alberto & Annabelle,

Those are some awesome photos!!! What a great time you all had!! Neat looking "cruise lines" too. ;D

Alberto,

Did you get a few driftwoods/branches from the palizada? They do look enchanting in tank filled with Angels & Discus?

Hi, Tad,

You have been blessed and is lucky to have went on this year's adventure! ;)

I'm joining in for next year 2005! That's it. :) I supposed to go to Brazil in 2005 but I may do a double journey and stay longer just to meet up with Alberto and his people.

Nice work!! :D

Best regards,

*Angie*

[Tad]

Hi, Tad,

You have been blessed and is lucky to have went on this year's adventure! ;)



Angie ;D,
I did not go this year ...other obligations and the lack of vacation time prevented sharing in this fantastic oppurtunity...hopefully in the future... :), This is definately one of those "once in a lifetime" adventures!

regards,
Tad

[Jeff]

Nice pics. Thanks for sharing. ;)

[Fishin dude]

Hey Alberto,
Great journey! Wish I could have been there ::)
Thanks for the pics. Lee

[daninthesand]

Alberto. Great pics.

That little digi camera of yours impresses me. I gotta get me a digi one of these days.

You must have found it difficult to select only a few pictures to post.

I recall holding those Nanay greens for you to take pics of just minutes from capture in the wild, especially 29discusss1 post reply#22. I'm pretty sure thats the same fish in picture 52greennn (post reply #34. Is it? Wow what a difference a few days of tlc does for a wild caught fish.

I was impressed by the colour and health of the wild fish right out of the river. I kept asking myself....."THESE are wild fish?!?! incredible!

Thanks again for a great trip.

Daniel

One word : "Awesome" 8) 8) 8)

Ronald :)

[jimmyjoe]

So I want to be the 1st to say GRE__ Oh some already beat me too it.......... Anyway some really nice photo's Alberto. I'm sorry though , that I didn't see any Blue-face Heckel's in those great Pic's ??? ??? ??? I'm so disapointed :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( Look's like you guys had a blast..............Jim

[yogi]

Great pictures and thanks for showing them to us. It's nice to see where some of our fish really come from.

[ozone]

Hi there,

That must have been the trip of a lifetime.

It looked like so much fun. I had never seen a full grown piranha before and the teeth were big.

The discus looked great aswell .

what a trip

[discusnutz]

One word,,,,"WOW"

Thanks so much for sharing the wonderful pics, gonna have to take me a trip like that one day....personally I could eat fish for brekky, lunch, and dinner...sshhh don't wanna say that too loud....discus might hear!!! LOL

Thanks again

Best Regards............Brenda

[aquatechnics]

I recall holding those Nanay greens for you to take pics of just minutes from capture in the wild, especially 29discusss1 post reply#22. I'm pretty sure thats the same fish in picture 52greennn (post reply #34. Is it? Wow what a difference a few days of tlc does for a wild caught fish.

I was impressed by the colour and health of the wild fish right out of the river. I kept asking myself....."THESE are wild fish?!?! incredible!


Dan,

The eye of the beholder!
You are right! It is the same discus and yes, the improvement in the tank with the proper care is amazing.

Here is another example......

8)
Alberto

[aquatechnics]

other...... ;D

[Ryan]

Alberto, those are great pictures. Love those spotted angels :) I see you had some angel enthusiasts on the trip with you!

Ryan

[Mike_T]

when's the next trip? sign me up....

tell us more about the locals.

-mike t 8)

[Denny]

This is a great thread and the fish look great.

But who used Photoshop to put a picture of Pat Morita in place of my buddy Tad? ;D

[oodi]

;D ;D ;D :thumbsup:

[aquatechnics]

Alberto, those are great pictures. Love those spotted angels :) I see you had some angel enthusiasts on the trip with you!

Ryan


Hi Ryan,
I enjoyed those pictures too...specially sunsets like this.
I love those angels ... the body shape and the weird nose ;).
We spent a very good time talking about these angels with Dan Gillespie (Canada), David Hlasnick (Breeds), Luis Tamarelle ( Fla. Guppies Plus) and John Vandemark.

Regards,
Alberto

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[aquatechnics]

when's the next trip? sign me up....

tell us more about the locals.

-mike t 8)


Hi Mike,
We will going back to Peru next year in August for a 7 day expedition........If you want I can send you some info. ;)


Alberto

[Wahter]

Thanks for sharing the pics Alberto. So that's where those RSG's you sent me came from! ;D heh heh!

[DISCUS USA]

Very nice pictures Alberto.. glad no one got stung by any of those nasty amazon bugs.. Hope to see more pics next year. :thumbsup:

[JULIO L.]

Hey Alberto.

You did it again, great trip and pics, only I am sad we could not find each other in Lima, those busy schedules, anyway thank you for what you do for the hobby in Peru and in the US.

Best of luck my friend and greattings to Anabela and your chancletitas.

Julio Linares :D

[jim_shedden]

wow........I have been away for quite awhile and to come back to this.............wow...........thankyou

Jim

[Mike_T]

alberto,

sent you a PM.

[aquatechnics]

tell us more about the locals.

-mike t 8)


Hi Mike,
The people in Iquitos ( Peru) are very friendly.. ;) ;)
We have the opportunity to take some pictures of kids....just like this, real sweet!!!

:) :)

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[1977]

Wow, what an adventure! I hope to do this someday.

[daninthesand]

Hey Alberto!

That kids looks familiar...:)are you still alive or did the hurricane get you?
:-\

Daniel

[aquatechnics]

Hey Dan,

Yeah you should have some pictures of this kid too.......

We are still alive...but if Ivan hit us I don't know :o :o :o

I got your mail....

Alberto

[kpix99]

SWEET SWEET SWEET! Brother Man!


THANKS FOR SHOWING US ALL


Cary + Family

P.S Your little girls are DOLLS ;D

[mench]

Great thread...I am with you Jim,I don't eat fish either,Himmm may be a way to go on a diet LOL...Where's the Mickey D's?????????

Again nice thread.

Mench

[bryalk1]

wow :drummer: :drummer: :drummer:
great pics
bryant

[Augusto]

Hi guys,

The Pirarucu (Arapaima) is in extinguishing ...

[aquatechnics]

Hi Augusto,

Yes, the pirarucu is also endangered with extinction in Perú. We visited an arapaima hatchery in Iquitos were these species are bred in captivity. We were very fortunate to have the owner of the hatchery caught a medium size arapaima (50 kilos) for us to take pictures. 8)

It was indeed a very interesting experience!

Alberto

[Ardan]

Thanks for sharing, looks like an awesome trip and lots of fun :) 8)

[Augusto]

Hi Alberto,

Im happy to know about that! ;D

Thanks!

[Condor]

Thought I would bring this awesome thread back.:D

Adrian

[marielou20]

lucky gang.....must be so exciting!!!!! its a dream come true!!!

[Kevin22]

great trip, guys

[willysz]

Great Trip, dream comes true

[FLGirl1977]

This is a nice thread. Does anyone here still set up trips like this? I would definitely be up for one!

[Heiko Bleher]

Hi,

yes, Nanay green discus are nice, but originate from Brazil... introduced by accident over 30 years ago. before there were no discus this far west in Amazonia.

I also wanted to tell you of one recent exciting expedition one:

www.aquapress-bleher.com and go to Read more... quite a few photos...
And two more to come, in the next days on the site, also one of greens in the upper Jutaí River with lots of photos...

And this year two again... one again for greens...

all the very best

Heiko Bleher
www.aquapress-bleher.com
www.aqua-aquapress.com

[blkrob]

I love that website. I sit and stare at it often! I had my wife look at it too. Now I tell her that's what I want as a anniversary gift. Wish me luck.:D

[Ichthyology]

I do resaerch in Iquitos in the Rio Nanay. I will be going back in August, so e-mail me if anyone is interested in coming along. I will be collecting fish everyday in the back waters of the Nanay.....

[plecocicho]

Man i would gladly do so, just for some food and water, but unfortunally i am unemployed and dont have any money.but please load some pics and data about fish habitats and fish in zhose areas.

[rwong2k]

I do resaerch in Iquitos in the Rio Nanay. I will be going back in August, so e-mail me if anyone is interested in coming along. I will be collecting fish everyday in the back waters of the Nanay.....

Wow that would be a dream trip of a lifetime, i doubt I can get an ok from my wife though =(

Raymond

[DiscusChris]

Shocking, just awesome. Those pictures were incredible, thanks for sharing them with us.