Meeting Notes

April, 2010 (the day before Easter)

44 people present, 78 items in the mini-auction. Chris Stith of Leesburg was presented with a 20 gallon tank, as the winner of the drawing at the Super Pet Expo in March. Chris was on hand to receive the tank along with his dad, Bob.

President Sherry Mitchell, detailed several items of business: auction pre-registration for the auction on the 25th, group orders, the Delta Tale spring issue, 50th Anniversary plans, and a call to volunteers to hang posters in local stores for the spring auction. Three volunteers came forward to hang posters in Maryland stores.

Long-time PVAS member, John Mangan presented a talk on "The Fishes of Mexico," with an emphasis on Goodeids. John will be giving the same talk at the American Livebearers Association convention later in the month in Detroit. PVAS patrons got to see it first.

John's talk was based on his six trips to Mexico over a ten year period, and focused on goodeids. Goodeids are fish that are endemic to Mexico and some parts of the United States. Most goodeids are endangered to varying degrees in the wild. They range from one inch to one foot or more in size. John has working with scientists, local experts and graduate students in the field to collect and study these fish.

John stated that planning is of the utmost importance. Essential equipment includes:

• Reinforced Styrofoam boxes (reinforced with duct tape) with a duffle bag that the styro is put into for transporting fish. Inside the box are various sizes of jars containing single fish. Colored labels identify each fish.
• Fish traps. John does not use bait and still caught an incredible amount of fish on his trips. TIP: don't go for the black traps. The galvanized, silver-colored traps work better. Tie the fish trap to a branch on shore or mark it somehow. You will lose some, so bring extras.
• Bartering goods: granola bars, candy, hats, sun glasses, t-shirts for the kids.
• Seine nets and dip nets. Push the nets under vegetation at the banks of water to find the fish.
• Coffee filters for filtering source water.
• A container of salt for the leaches.
• A good pair of diving boots.

John remarked on the local people and how they are the most valuable resource for collecting fish. "The most valuable resource you have is the local people... Speaking Spanish is important... Act kind, be humble and respectful... The local people know every spot of water," he said.

When collecting fish, John recommends that water be collected as well. He filters water through coffee filters to filter out the sediment and debris. This water is used for water changes every 12 hours the first few days. Frequent water changes during this important time keeps losses to a minimum. After five days the fish eliminate their waste and water changes are not done as often. John also recommends the use of Clout in the field as this prevents major losses to disease and parasites once the fish are state-side. John said that he acclimates the fish in bowls with his water at home and discovered that fish can break down due to disease and parasites. He had major losses until he started using Clout with water changes in the field.

John and his travel companions also take samples of the local water and test for hardness, pH, and temperature so fish can be kept in similar conditions at home. He cautioned against wandering off alone while collecting and said that a person can sink quickly in muddy areas that appear shallow. "Gauge your footing and know what you're stepping into," he cautioned.

John detailed some of the Goodeids he has found in Mexico:

Ameca splendens: Found at a hot spring at Teuchitlan. Inside of a brick spring house/bath house, the water was 85 degrees, "like bath water," said John. The butterfly goodeids were in the water in the bath house and outside in the drainage ditch.

Allotoca regalis: Originally collected by an engineer in the 1800's and for over 100 years no one went to look for it. It was considered extinct until John and his companion Dominic Isla found it. The description was vague, but John got lucky and found them in a roadside ditch in Los Reyes using a dip net.

Allotoca maculata: Thought to be extinct, but has been found. It is critically endangered in the wild. John said the female was, "an incredibly beautiful fish." Commonly called the Opal Allotoca, the fish is very colorful with blue iridescence on the sides and stomach.

Hubbsina tumeri: Found at Zacapu Lake in Zacapu. Two inch fish, that is very unique. It's a nocturnal predator. Found with a seine net at night. The fish is difficult to keep in captivity. It eats live food and is very sensitive to water quality.

Goodea atripinnis: Found in Zacapu. John commented that the fish from Zacapu looked different from fish found elsewhere and cautioned that often the same species will look different depending upon where they are collected.

Ataeniobius toweri: Collected in Rio Verde. Commonly called the Blue-Tailed Goodeid. The body of the male is entirely blue and gets big in the wild (4 inches). The fish is highly endangered in the wild.

Source: http://www.desertfishes.org/na/goodeida/ataeniob/atoweri_/i_atower.shtml

Characadon (lateralis): Found in Amado Nervo, there is a debate on the taxonomy of this fish. John found several separate types of characadon in different locations, hence the importance of labeling specimens with location.

Characodon (audax): Found at El Toboso amid miles of cactus and lava rock. In the field through barely visible paths John was led to a small spring where audax was abundant. The fish look different in the wild than in captivity. John noted the small, highly toxic scorpions in the area.

Xenotoca variata: Found at Zucapu.

Xenoophorus captivus: Commonly called the Green Goodeid. Carries a notch on the anal fin. Found at Santa Maria.

Skiffia multipunctata: Males have black markings that intensify at breeding time.

Skiffia francesae: Extint in the wild and only captive fish are kept.

Zoogoneticus tequila: Common name is Tequila Goodeid. Considered extinct in the wild.

About John Mangan: John has a BS in Biology from George Mason University. He worked in the family owned pet store for 25 years, followed with 10 years working as the manager of a fish wholesale business. He has been a PVAS member for 30 years, has served on the PVAS board of directors many times and served as the editor of the Delta Tale magazine for 15 years. He is a board member of the American Livebearer's Association and has been chairman of their species maintenance program, as well as serving as editor of the ALA journal, Livebearers. At one time he kept 100+ tanks, but currently he maintains 50 tanks.

Submitted by Sherry Mitchell