Habitat Profundulus mixtlanensis, a pool of the stream El Rosario, Oaxaca
6th place in Biotope Aquarium Design Contest 2016
Mexico. Victor Manuel Ortiz Cruz
Aquarium Volume: 70 L
Fish and invertebrates: Profundulus mixtlanensis, frog tadpoles, gender Lithobates
Plants list: Eleocharis parvula, Eleocharis acicularis, Bacopa monnieri, Fontinalis antipyretica, Nasturtium officinale (plant that was introduced by the Spaniards in Mexico), grass, ferns and lichens not yet identified
Biotope description: Last year was discovered a population of endemic fish of recent scientific description: Profundulus mixtlanensis, in a stream of the municipality of “Santa María Peñoles” in the southern state of Oaxaca, Mexico (1884 meters above sea level). The stream is called “El Rosario” and born between a ravine where the pine-oak predominates, so a lot of leaves of these trees is clear, which nourish the soil and sink to the bottom of the pools that form the stream; the riverbed is composed of metamorphic rock, having large rocks to small, gray especially with the coated sand bottom slightly yellow color, taking over abundant decaying organic matter and soil that emerges from the edges, besides being submerged branches of dry brush or pieces of trees, there are roots of the vegetation that exists in the margin of the pools is introduced into the water, creating shelter for fish spawning substrates and “nursery” of the fry. At the bottom of the ponds, born some grass seed specimens falling margins. Adults and dominant fish tend to grab the leaves, where they hide beneath them and seek their food, youth are in the middle and at the top and near the vegetation that comes in contact with water or roots are hatchlings. Of the species that cohabit with “Profundulus mixtlanensis” is a species of frog genus Lithobates, and its tadpoles properly those found in the stream. On the banks of the stream, grow on some rocks moss genus Fontinalis and lichen on pieces of wood, as to the strict aquatic plants are not observed submerged, but in emerged state: Eleocharis parvula, Eleocharis acicularis, Bacopa monnieri, Fontinalis antipyretica, Nasturtium officinale (plant That was Introduced by the Spaniards in Mexico), grass, ferns and lichens not yet identified. The values of the physiochemical parameters of the stream are: pH: 7.2; GH: 220 mg / l; KH: 150 mg / l; NO2: 0.5 mg / l; NO3: 2.5 mg / l; NH3 / NH4: 0.1 mg / l; Cl: 0.8 mg / l; Ca: 80 mg / l; PO 4: <0.25 mg / l; Fe: 0 mg / l; O2: 4.12 mg / l (The observations are personal and are the first record).
Fish and invertebrates: Profundulus mixtlanensis, frog tadpoles, gender Lithobates
Plants list: Eleocharis parvula, Eleocharis acicularis, Bacopa monnieri, Fontinalis antipyretica, Nasturtium officinale (plant that was introduced by the Spaniards in Mexico), grass, ferns and lichens not yet identified
Biotope description: Last year was discovered a population of endemic fish of recent scientific description: Profundulus mixtlanensis, in a stream of the municipality of “Santa María Peñoles” in the southern state of Oaxaca, Mexico (1884 meters above sea level). The stream is called “El Rosario” and born between a ravine where the pine-oak predominates, so a lot of leaves of these trees is clear, which nourish the soil and sink to the bottom of the pools that form the stream; the riverbed is composed of metamorphic rock, having large rocks to small, gray especially with the coated sand bottom slightly yellow color, taking over abundant decaying organic matter and soil that emerges from the edges, besides being submerged branches of dry brush or pieces of trees, there are roots of the vegetation that exists in the margin of the pools is introduced into the water, creating shelter for fish spawning substrates and “nursery” of the fry. At the bottom of the ponds, born some grass seed specimens falling margins. Adults and dominant fish tend to grab the leaves, where they hide beneath them and seek their food, youth are in the middle and at the top and near the vegetation that comes in contact with water or roots are hatchlings. Of the species that cohabit with “Profundulus mixtlanensis” is a species of frog genus Lithobates, and its tadpoles properly those found in the stream. On the banks of the stream, grow on some rocks moss genus Fontinalis and lichen on pieces of wood, as to the strict aquatic plants are not observed submerged, but in emerged state: Eleocharis parvula, Eleocharis acicularis, Bacopa monnieri, Fontinalis antipyretica, Nasturtium officinale (plant That was Introduced by the Spaniards in Mexico), grass, ferns and lichens not yet identified. The values of the physiochemical parameters of the stream are: pH: 7.2; GH: 220 mg / l; KH: 150 mg / l; NO2: 0.5 mg / l; NO3: 2.5 mg / l; NH3 / NH4: 0.1 mg / l; Cl: 0.8 mg / l; Ca: 80 mg / l; PO 4: <0.25 mg / l; Fe: 0 mg / l; O2: 4.12 mg / l (The observations are personal and are the first record).
Photo Gallery
Comments of the members of the jury of Biotope Aquarium Design Contest 2016
Very good bottom, “dirty” in a natural way 🙂 Also the land part is very good – healthy plants, adapted to living over the water. However, the tanks might be too small, especially when you consider the amount of decomposing decorations.
It is always nice to look at the works of Víctor. When the names of the designers have not been yet announced, I already knew that it was his aquarium and had no doubt that he will be in the top ten. Bravo!
This is it! To me, this biotope aquarium has a strongly balanced everything. Let me explain better… It has not a lot or little amount of leaf litter, it has the perfect amount. The benthic sediment is not perfectly white or perfectly brown, it is a perfect mixture of grain sizes and colors. The submerged roots and branches are not many, huge or thick, they look natural. Certainly a biotope aquarium to set as an example, and then the tadpoles… genius!Every year that passes and I gain a bit more of experience, I get more convinced that science is one of the most important factors in our hobby. I did not think this way when I started my voyage “beyond the aquarium”. I was actually skeptical about the need to collect fish as voucher specimens. Nowadays I respect and help Ichthyologists from all over the world with images, specimens and data. The scientific description of fish has become one of the most important factors in my work. The Habitat Profundulus mixtlanensis, a pool of the stream El Rosario, Oaxaca biotope aquarium brings you just one of these new described species. To me it is like a tribute to the cool people behind the scene, the ones that keep the physical archive of the fish that we have in our aquariums.