El Pujal, fast current part of Tampaon River, Panuco River Basin, Mexico

94th place in Biotope Aquarium Design Contest 2019

Russia. Marina Kolodan

Volume: 80 L
Dimensions: 60х48х40 cm
List of fishes: Xiphophorus pygmaeus
List of plants: Vallisneria spiralis
Description of decorations: The stones are large, dark gray, the sand is fine, light yellow, the driftwood is small, dark.
Description of equipment: AQUAEL lamp, LEDDY SMART 2 SUNNY, Tetra EasyCrystal FilterBox 300 filter, Tetra HT 50 temperature regulator.
Water parameters: Temperature 25 degrees C, pH 6.8, KH 4, GH 6, NO3 – 20 mg/l
Additional info: This aquarium contains one species of fish: Xiphophorus pygmaeus. In nature, Xiphophorus pygmaeus can live with Gambusia atrora, Xiphophorus cortezi. But, according to Mexican biotope researchers, the sites where the Xiphophorus pygmaeus are found are small, so they often live there alone without neighbors.

INFORMATION ABOUT BIOTOPE

Description of the area surrounding the biotope: The Panuco River begins at the confluence of the Moktezuma and Tampaon rivers and flows to the southeast, after which it turns to the northeast and flows as it flows into the Gulf of Mexico. The river flows both in the mountains and in the plain, flowing through several cities. Panuco has a length of 510 km and is Mexico’s fourth river by catchment volume.

Description of the underwater landscape of the biotope: Since the Panuco River flows through the mountains, there are a lot of stones in it. The substrate consists mainly of fine sand of light yellow color. Due to the fact that Panuco flows near the forest, there are driftwood in the water, but because of the fast current there are quite few of them.

Description of the parameters of the habitat: Clear water, pH 7.2-8.0, temperature 24-28 degrees C.

List of fishes and invertebrates occurring in the nature biotope: Ictiobus labiosus, Herichthys tamasopoensis, Cualac tessellatus, Xenoophorus captivus, Ataeniobius toweri, Goodea gracilis, Notropis tropicus, Goodea gracilis, Poecilia latipunctata, Gambusia atrora, Xiphophorus cortezi, Xiphophorus pygmaeus.

List of plants found in the nature biotope: Myriophyllum aquaticum, Cabomba caroliniana, Vallisneria americana, Vallisneria spiralis, Cabomba sp., Ceratophyllum sp., Potamogeton sp., Myriophyllum sp.

Threats to the ecology: 34 endemic fish species live in the Panuco River, some of which are threatened with extinction, such as Ataeniobius toweri or Xenoophorus captivus.

Sources of information:
https://legacy.lib.utexas.edu/maps/atlas_mexico/river_basins.jpg
https://web.archive.org/web/20110726053320/http://www.feow.org/ecoregion_details.php?eco=167
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pánuco_River
https://www.urban-pets.ru/2015/12/xiphophorus-pygmaeus.html?m=1
https://www.worldfortravel.com/2013/05/10/rio-tampaon-mexico/
fishbase.org/summaryhtml/Xiphophorus-pygmaeus.

Comments of the members of the jury of Biotope Aquarium Design Contest 2019