Posted by quequel on September 21, 2003 at 14:46:16:
In Reply to: Endlers -- the most amazing little guy posted by giveawayboy on September 21, 2003 at 13:24:28:
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: I remember the first time I encountered Betta macrostoma and the feeling of wonder and awe I had. I think it is the feeling of seeing something unexpected for the first time, that is kind of like an epiphany. Wow! I was head over heels for several months. Even to this day when I see B. macrostoma I can recall that fresh, first glance. It was like looking at a betta for the first time. Well, today Jay calls me and mentions Endler's Livebearer. Well, I had never heard of the ELB before and this was like a new 'B. macrostoma' opportunity for me. So, I had to immediately go online and track this baby down. And I was immediately satisfied. Here was a fish unlike any I had seen before it. It was as if I had discovered a live-bearing toothcarp for the first time. At first glance, the ELBs resemble guppies. I would not equate them as there do seem to be enough differences to distinguish them., especially in the females. Stilll, I was excited to see this wonderful creature. The operative word here is wonder. Poecelia endlers, similar to the Guppy, Poecelia reticulata, was discovered by Prof. John Endler in 1975 in Laguna de Patos, near Cumana, Venezuela.
Ooh! I want to go to Venezuela and see them live! It's so hard to imagine going snorkling and seeing the tiny, bright fish like you see in the pet stores, but someday I want to do it. I really liked the snakeskin ones, and the ones that were mixed with the peacock. My favorite tropical fish are still the clown loaches, though. They're not much to look at, but it's fun to watch them play.