Zoogoneticus tequila

Family:- Goodeidae JORDAN,1923

Zoogoneticus_tequila_small.jpg (19186 bytes)

 

Described:-     Webb, S.A., and R.R. Miller. 1998

Range:-      The upper reaches of the Rio Teuchitlan Ameca Basin Mexico.

The species was only discovered by Smith,Rodriquez,Butler and Lambert in 1990 yet just 10 short years latter and it         would already appear to have disappeared. Fortunately though there are a number    of reliable colonies of this species    around the world not least amongst them the one at Morelia University. This species seems to be very popular in the          hobby too, as not only is it quite colorful but also very peaceful and will readily fit into an average community tank. It              also seems to tolerate a large range of water chemistry form hard to soft if the change is not done to quickly.They do           best in a good sized aquarium with good water changes and a temperature of around 72f. There fry are quite large at          birth and do well on newly hatch brine shrimp. 

Balneario teuchitlan 9 2003 Small.jpg (37129 bytes)

 Cafe at Teuchitlan 1small.jpg (47240 bytes) Habitat Balneario Teuchitlan 2003 2 small.jpg (40210 bytes)

Habitat Balneario Teuchitlan 3 2003 small.jpg (59415 bytes)

 Habitat Balneario Teuchitlan 4 2003 small.jpg (66270 bytes) Habitat, Balnearo Teuchitlan 2003 small.jpg (37826 bytes)

Above are just a few shots giving one some indication of the current useage of these springs.These was taken at the            other end of the day when most people had gone home

The above idyllic early morning shot of the mists rising from the main springs at Teuchitlan gives little indication to the      amount of human activity there will be there just an hour or so latter when it is used daily as a lido and recreation center           for people from miles around. This activity alone could be sufficient to severely disturb any species of a nervous or          sensitive disposition, but when you add to this the introduction of non indigenous and predatory species such as Catfish,   Tilapia, and Bass for the purpose of helping to feed the local population then one begins to get some indications as to            why so many of the waters natural fauna is being lost. Amongst these the Goodieds are being severely affected. The          Ameca splendens from here for instance could once have been found in good numbers throughout the upper reaches               of the Rio Ameca, now they seem to be almost entirely restricted to the area around these spring. And while I am not           saying that the demise of the A tequila to this point was caused by the above I am saying that it is not helping the                  current situation and unless some steps are soon taken all indigonous species could be lost here.

Habitat

 

On right

The last bus leaves the site at the end of the day bound for Guadalajara and Chapala

 HabitatCamp_Site_Rio_Teuchitlan_small.JPG (29644 bytes)  

Below

Dr John Lyons and his party searches for the missing species

February 2000

Habitat at Camp Site Rio Teuchitlan Dr Lyons..JPG (29798 bytes)

 Dr_John_Lyons_Feb_2000Mex..JPG (28293 bytes)

This year "the millenium" ( 2000 ) we took another expedition back to this site and again carried out a search. On this   occasion we had Dr John Lyons   from Wisconsin USA with us and he brought along his Electro fishing equipment, so           we were able to do a more thorough survey but there was still no sign of the Skiffia francesae or the Zoe,tequila.         However the Ameca's where still here in reasonable numbers although they were more numerous the nearer the                   spring you got

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Mail to:- ivandibble@blueyonder.co.uk