 |
|
|
|
It’s July again, and the livin’ is easy. What a nice respite from the cold, cold, interminable past winter of our discontent. Those of you with ponds or other outdoor set-ups should be deep into their enjoyment by now. July is also time for the annual American Cichlid Association (ACA) convention, this year in Louisville, July 10-13. If you haven’t already made plans, check it out (www.aca-convention.com) and consider attending! Always a great time! This issue finds us with several multi-part articles. We offer Willem Heijns’ last installment on the thirteen species of the South American genus Cichlasoma. Begun in the April issue, this is the most current and up-to-date treatment of the “Port” cichlids available in print or online. Fascinating fish! Hans von Heusden shares his experiences in quest of rare Orthochromis species in Zambia. This first part is much more than a travelogue, introducing us to the interesting geography of the area, as well as several more common cichlid species and their natural history, in addition to his coveted Orthochromis species. We eagerly await Part 2 scheduled to appear in the next, October issue. Frequent contributor and Mexican aquarist Juan Miguel Artigas Azas likewise commences his photo-filled narrative about a recent trip to the enchanted Laguna Miramar in the heart of the tropical jungle in Chiapas, along with Ad Konings and Melo Salazar. Again, cichlids are his focus as he shares natural history observations and anecdotes of the ichthyofauna of this magical place. Part 2 to come in October. Last, but certainly not least, well-known aquarist Paul V. Loiselle writes about a suite of colorful cichlids that made their aquarium debut in the 1970s and 1980s, but which subsequently disappeared from the trade. As their habitats are more or less still readily accessible to exporters, Paul presents the case for their reintroduction to the hobby. Reading his account of these species and accompanying photos, I am sure you will most certainly agree. In conclusion, frequent Cichlid News contributor Patrick Tawil shares his “My Favorite 6 Cichlids” with us, and Laif DeMason contributes another installment of his regular feature “What’s New”. All this makes for some fine reading on a sultry July evening. We at Cichlid News wish you a good summer: enjoy your cichlids! |
Wayne S. Leibel, Editor  |
