Chilatherina bleheri
Apr 11, 2017 8:48:01 GMT -6
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Post by dave pauls on Apr 11, 2017 8:48:01 GMT -6
Chilatherina bleheri is a lake dwelling Chilatherina which is endemic to Lake Holmes in the Mamberambo drainage if New Guinea. It is closely related to C fasciata but is clearly a distinct species. It was collected by Heiko Bleher and Gerald Allen in 1982.
The story took place the year before though when Heiko went to the lake to search for new rainbowfish. The lake was pristine with heavy vegitation going right to, and overhanging, the edge. Heiko tried to collect but could only do so by dipping his nets from overhanging trees. A huge corocodile lived in the lake and made it impossible to access from the shore.
After a few days of netting, he found several species but no rainbows, and it was time for him to leave. The float plane landed on the lake and picked him up. As they pulled out to the middle of the lake, Heiko got an idea... The crocodile patroled the edges of the lake but never the middle. He put on his snorkle and mask and jumped in.
There in the deeper water in the middle of the lake, he saw bright flashes of yellow darting around. he knew right away that it was a rainbowfish and that it was going to be a very special one at that.
The following year he returned with Gerald Allen and more appropriate collecting equipment and brought Chilatherina bleheri out to be distributed to the hobby. This fish bears his name and with good reason. Its display is spectacular and like Heiko observed in the wild, it prefers to display near the bottom of the tank often in the afternoon or evening or in a dimly lit tank.
The display is what makes this species great and is something that can't be accurately captured in a picture. Even video has a hard time catching its true beauty. I tried with this one but I'm not entirely happy with it.
rainbowfish.angfaqld.org.au/Bleheri.htm
The story took place the year before though when Heiko went to the lake to search for new rainbowfish. The lake was pristine with heavy vegitation going right to, and overhanging, the edge. Heiko tried to collect but could only do so by dipping his nets from overhanging trees. A huge corocodile lived in the lake and made it impossible to access from the shore.
After a few days of netting, he found several species but no rainbows, and it was time for him to leave. The float plane landed on the lake and picked him up. As they pulled out to the middle of the lake, Heiko got an idea... The crocodile patroled the edges of the lake but never the middle. He put on his snorkle and mask and jumped in.
There in the deeper water in the middle of the lake, he saw bright flashes of yellow darting around. he knew right away that it was a rainbowfish and that it was going to be a very special one at that.
The following year he returned with Gerald Allen and more appropriate collecting equipment and brought Chilatherina bleheri out to be distributed to the hobby. This fish bears his name and with good reason. Its display is spectacular and like Heiko observed in the wild, it prefers to display near the bottom of the tank often in the afternoon or evening or in a dimly lit tank.
The display is what makes this species great and is something that can't be accurately captured in a picture. Even video has a hard time catching its true beauty. I tried with this one but I'm not entirely happy with it.
rainbowfish.angfaqld.org.au/Bleheri.htm