bam Demanding level

#5860 Antón River, Coclé, Panamá

Panama, Cocle

This aquarium is inspired by the natural habitat of shallow areas of the Anton River. Many Poeciliidae species such as Poecilia mexicana and juvenile Cichlidae Andinoacara coeruleopunctatus are found swimming together around stones. Other Poeciliidae such as Brachyrhaphys terrabensis and Xiphophorus helleri are found swimming between slow and fast moving waters.

Submitted by: Juan Medina

GPS: 8.6107855, -80.1369705

Geographical region: Central America
Drainage Basin: Pacific Ocean
River catchment: Anton Basin (Basin #136)
Water body type: River
Water body name: Río Antón
Water body part
Water body course: Middle course
Water body: tributary of
Tributary name

Videos above and below water

Water Chemistry

Water information

Water type: Fresh water
Water color: Clear water
Water transparency: High
Concentration of sediments: No
Water temperature: 26 °C
Water flow/curent: None

Chemical parameters

pH: 7.0
Conductivity
GH
KH
Dissolved Oxygen

Aquarium information

Aquarium description

Set-up date

June, 2022

Aquarium decoration

Sand, stones and plants were collected from nature. Stones were sorted by size and arranged to create the illusion of perspective and deep. Hygrophila costata was placed to create a refuge for fishes. Aquarium was filled up to 30 cm to let Hygrophila grow and mimic natural water deep. Blue background was used to simulate the color of the water in nature.

Aquarium equipment

LED lights
External filtration

Fish care

Medication was used to prevent illness due stress when first adding the fishes to the aquarium. Fishes are feed with granuled and flakes dried food because Poeciliidae species rather eating in the top and Andinoacara coeruleopunctatus tends to spend more time at the bottom searching between the stones and sand.

Plant care

Stones are periodically clean to prevent algae overgrow. Some small stones remain untouched to keep algae growing since it’s a dietary source for Xiphophorus hellerii and Poecilia mexicana.

Water care