| As the current issue finds us in the middle of a long, hot summer when
much of our attention is drawn to outdoor activities and travel, let me
start with a rejoinder: don’t forget your cichlids! Indeed, retreating
to a cool, dark basement rec room to get reacquainted with your fishy pals
is a perfect way to escape the swelter. And another is to enjoy a fresh
issue of Cichlid News. Start with an account of an impressive group
of predators from Lake Malawi, the genus Dimidiochromis. Ad Konings
reviews their natural history and makes the point that despite their size
and carnivorous habits, these species adjust well to the aquarium. Next,
we’ve been extremely fortunate the last few issues to offer coverage on
little-known cichlids from out-of-the-way places, and we have two people
— Randall Kohn and Nick James — to thank for this. Their contributions
continue here as Randall helps to clear up the identity of a beautiful
jewelfish, Hemichromis cerasogaster from the Congo, while Nick introduces
us to a dwarf member of the tilapiine lineage (Tilapia ruweti) from
southeastern Africa. Hopefully, we’ll be able to keep both of these newcomers
in our tanks very soon. And there’s more. Dan Woodland, who’s spent a lot
of time rummaging around the “wilds” of Mexico, brings another one back
alive with his account of Herichthys sp. “Rio Salto”, a poorly-known
variant from Veracruz. As usual, his account gives us a real flavor for
his collecting experiences, in addition to providing useful information
on keeping neotropical cichlids. What no Tanganyikan coverage, you ask?
Read on. First-time author, Mikael Oloffson recounts his observations on
keeping shell-dwellers, offering up valuable tips on keeping and enjoying
these fascinating miniatures from Lake Tanganyika. So take a break from
your busy summer schedule and get reacquainted with your cichlids!
Another update on our Mystery Fish feature. In the past the “winner”
(selected randomly from among all the correct responses) has been rewarded
with a free one-year subscription (or extension to an existing subscription)
to Cichlid News. Starting with this issue, we’re adding to the prize.
In addition to the free magazines, the winner will be able to select from
a number of books to complete the reward. Just visit our web-site (www.cichlidnews.com)
for all the details.
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