Larryochromis: OK, let’s open the floor for a question or two and let’s stick with each question for a few minutes before going on to another one...OK?

Larryochromis: As most of you know that I travel to Lake Malawi annually

Larryochromis: This year will be my 9th trip

Larryochromis: I am at this point, going to work on a project there for 2 months

Larryochromis: Installing “ANDs”, anti netting devices around Maleri Islands

Larryochromis: Which include Nancoma, Maleri and Nakentenga

Larryochromis: but we are not bound by questions of this sort...so fire away

PhillyzCichlidz: Is there a season for exporting the Malawi crab?

Larryochromis: I have been there while the boys have been collecting and I guess they would export crabs all year...it’s a water clarity issue

Larryochromis: they may not be able to collect them in the south when the rain starts as down in that section the water does get turbid

Larryochromis: other than that that I guess they could expert them all year.

PhillyzCichlidz: Have you ever kept them Larry? (with mbuna/haps)

Larryochromis: No I have never kept Malawi crabs

Pam Chin: I wanted to eat them

Larryochromis: the crabs taste like algae

StructureGuy: (notice that Larry knows what algae tastes like.)

Larryochromis: yes SG I know what algae tastes like! Doesn’t everyone!

StructureGuy: I know what dirty tank water tastes like. (Tryin’ to get a little siphon going)

StructureGuy: So these anti-netting devices I’ve heard about through the ACA .... is their installation approved of by the surrounding African countries?

MontyBurnz420: what does an anti netting device look like?

Glaive: One can see a picture here: http://www.ohiocichlid.com/oca-jim-smith-fund/

Larryochromis: Now with regards to AND’s by StructureGuy

Larryochromis: The Maleri Islands are in Malawi waters, there are no surrounding countries in this part of the lake

StructureGuy: I just wonder if ACA pays to put them in and the African fishermen just rip them back out?

Larryochromis: StructureGuy, the ACA does not pay for Ands, they donate money to the conservation effort

Pam Chin: StructureGuy, it’s the Stuart Grant Foundation that is putting them in. The ACA has donated to the cause.

Larryochromis: the idea of Ands is that the fisherman loose their nets, they cannot rip them out, they are to heavy...and that’s why I am going

Larryochromis: at this point I am not sure how often the Ands are installed (how far apart) but what I do know is that a diver is required

Glaive: Larry, Pam told me about local fishermen using anti mosquito nets instead of regular nets, what is the difference?

Pam Chin: They can still fish, the AND’s prevent net seining from the shore

Pam Chin: so the dragging of the net across the sandy areas to the shore, that is what the AND’s are designed for.

Glaive: Okay, prevent a shore based drag netting of all life

Larryochromis: Glaive the mosquito nets are provided free or almost free...they are not often used for what they are supplied for (avoiding Malaria) so they use them for fishing which as you know the holes are very small and when used for fishing catch EVERYTHING!

Pam Chin: They use mosquito nets for everything, on the shore and out in the open water.

Pam Chin: Mosquito nets are bad because they catch the small fish

Larryochromis: let’s stick with mosquito nets for a bit

Larryochromis: was just looking to see if I had a pic posted...I know I do somewhere!

Larryochromis: OK if there is no more ?? on nets...next

Glaive: http://lh6.ggpht.com/_G30rejaErpY/RuDA6bbopEI/AAAAAAAAAQA/0zs7gSUIJHM/s720/DSCN1332.JPG

Glaive: picture of nets

Larryochromis: yes those are the types of nets...I had one at Chembe Beach, of them lying in the sun drying

Larryochromis: OK found the pic...you can see the nets during on the beach http://cichlidkeeping.com/forums/gallery/albums/userpics/10005/normal_Chembe_Beach.jpg

Larryochromis: the green pile on the right is a mosquito net

why_spyder: Larry, do you need a lot of dive equipment on your ‘safaris’?

Larryochromis: yes you need it all except dive weights and scuba tanks, these are supplied

hefe: do any fisherman appreciate the idea of conservation there?

Larryochromis: they have no understanding of conservation, its no in their language

Jeff F.: Larry, fish in the wild, you take it for granted, and do you remember your first experience?

Jeff F.: It’s only a dream to most of us going to the homeland!

Larryochromis: I thought I would only go once until I got there!

Glaive: what are the typical costs involved with going to Lake Malawi?

Larryochromis: Glaive last year the flight cost me $3200 CDN which may be different from where you live...the daily Safaris costs are $125 U.S. per day

Glaive: So once you are there the costs are not that bad

PhillyzCichlidz: I really want to get a Malawi crab for my 300 but still haven’t read enough reviews on them with cichlids to do it

PhillyzCichlidz: Wow $3,200 both ways

Larryochromis: no and things are cheap. Cigarettes are 4-5 dollars a carton, beer is about a $1 depending on where you go and there really is nothing to buy.

PhillyzCichlidz: what is the cost of living over there like compared to Canada?

Larryochromis: fishing is good and tastes like Walleye (Rhamphochromis), catfish is great on the BBQ

Larryochromis: you can fish for it or buy it right from the guys on the water

PhillyzCichlidz: You are only into lake Malawi Larry?

PhillyzCichlidz: or have you visited the other lakes

Larryochromis: I’m stuck on Lake Malawi, Ad has asked me to go to Tang, but I said no

Jeff F.: Larry, What’s it like “dancing with cichlids”??

Larryochromis: The only thing over there dancing...is Konings on the front of the boat! LOL And I have the video to prove it.

Larryochromis: swimming with the fish are great though!

Jeff F.: I’m sure I’ll see it!

hefe: do they fish/eat all fish or only certain ones?

Larryochromis: Mbuna as I hear are bitter, but the haps if large enough are OK I guess, some are sun dried and dipped in ketchup...the other large ones are great though

Pam Chin: They have their favorites but they eat everything they catch

Jeff F.: PLEASE! You experience what I can only dream of. What’s it like on the “under”.

Pam Chin: Jeff, I remember the first fish I saw!! It was Fossochromis rostratus juveniles on the sand, I will never forger it.

Larryochromis: yes those are cool!

PhillyzCichlidz: Nice Pam!

Larryochromis: not scared as juveniles

PhillyzCichlidz: mine just colored up

Larryochromis: stand still long enough in the shallows and the fish pick at the hair on your legs!

Pam Chin: I want everyone to know that I didn’t have that problem!

Glaive: hehe

PhillyzCichlidz: HAHAHA

Larryochromis: Pam you didn’t

Larryochromis: LOL

Glaive: rofl

Jeff F.: Continue please........the experience

Larryochromis: Personally I like going with PEOPLE, was there in 2007 by myself and it was a bit boring

PhillyzCichlidz: When are you going next

Glaive: you have a large enough piece of luggage to fit me in it?

Pam Chin: People make the trip, got to go with your best fish buds

Larryochromis: even diving there was no one to talk about what I had seen.....I’m going in the fall as usual

Glaive: is our fall their spring?

Jeff F.: Would be nice, but most of us don’t have those funds Pam. Chats like this are as close as I’ll get,

Larryochromis: Myself (left), Ad and Martin Geerts having a bit of fun. Camera was on auto for the pic

Larryochromis: you can go if you REALLY want to, really there is NO excuse

Glaive: I’d happily go with the usual suspects

Larryochromis: I invite people every year and some do go. Last years group was only four, one person was only 19 from Sweden.

Glaive: But I can under stand where something that monumental is best shared

Larryochromis: I thought that if a 19 old kid could go then any one could. He worked and saved for the summer

Glaive: Do you still get excited when it’s time to go?

Larryochromis: mind you he is still living at home, but made the choice to go

Larryochromis: OH yes!

Larryochromis: not thinking of the BUTT busting plane ride though!

Glaive: I found the Airfare, round trip out of SFO for just under $2400 not too bad really

Glaive: way less that the camera equipment I would want to bring

Larryochromis: yes this year I have been looking and things are much cheaper

Glaive: Do you lead Safaris now, Larry?

Larryochromis: Yes I have lead 4 so far and shared a couple with Ad. He would do the first week and then I would do the second

Glaive: So a typical Safari is two weeks? Can one go for longer?

Larryochromis: yes a typical Safari is two weeks Sunday to Sunday. I usually go for around 3- 3 1/2 weeks

Larryochromis: when I go and am ‘hooking up’ with Ad then I stay longer

Larryochromis: we end up doing more dives

PhillyzCichlidz: right on what is the deepest you have been in Malawi?

Larryochromis: I went the one year with just him and Martin Geerts. Ad was doing research so we spent about 3 weeks on the boat

Larryochromis: around 150 feet

Larryochromis: not much down there

PhillyzCichlidz: Sweet what kind of species were down there

Larryochromis: found Taeniolethrinops spawning between 90 and 130 feet last year at the “Boarder”

Jeff F.: Swimming with Aulonocara must be incredible, what are they like?

Larryochromis: Aulonocara are cool, depending on where you go and what species there are sometimes found in large schools!

Larryochromis: large catfish, large cichlids and even some Lethrinops!

PhillyzCichlidz: What types of cats do you generally see?

Larryochromis: the eating kind ...bagrid cats some over 4 feet!

briansbelle: are Aulonocara Nkhata Bays rare??

briansbelle: or are Aulonocara stuartgranti Mkondowe?

Larryochromis: I have been diving around Nkhata Bay and have observed them there, but not what I would say swimming around in schools...a few here and there...that’s it

briansbelle: ok I have a friend who breeds them and he told me that the Nkhata bays are hard to find

briansbelle: he told me he got his Mkondowe directly from Stuart grant

Larryochromis: Mkondowe is a bit far, and the Usisya side of the mountain is much better for Aulonocara. At that location they are found in large schools

Larryochromis: I love Aulonocara they are all nice

Jeff F.: What kind of Aulonocara are the best in coloration coming in wild at this time in your opinion?

Larryochromis: any fish being caught in the Lake surpasses what we see in the aquarium

Jeff F.: They’re nice with my Vics so I call them awesome!

PhillyzCichlidz: Where do you usually see Protomelas?

Larryochromis: although we are not handling OUR fish much, like we would over there, in the sun for a few pics

Larryochromis: Protomelas are observed almost everywhere

Larryochromis: Chiofu Bay is one of the better spots though

Larryochromis: many species over and in the weed beds there, Kirki, etc

hefe: Larry what’s your favorite part of the lake, and what species are there?

Larryochromis: Gome Rocks are one of the better spots but Minos Reef is by far the largest Cichlid aquarium!

Larryochromis: Gome has about 75 species

Larryochromis: not sure about Minos, but the Red Zebra comes from there and they are outstanding!

PhillyzCichlidz: What about the Placidochromis milomo or VC-10 where would you typically see them

Larryochromis: VC 10’s are in a lot of places but the best spot I have found them is Chinyankwazi Island

Larryochromis: they are not shy there

Larryochromis: http://cichlidkeeping.com/forums/gallery/albums/userpics/10005/Chimyankwazi__Island_%2818%29.jpg

Larryochromis: Pam anything to add. You're quiet.

Jeff F.: Almost looks like a weird Vic!

Larryochromis: Pam and I were on Safaris together in 2005

hefe: what’s your favorite fish at home in your aquariums Larry?

Larryochromis: Aulonocara for sure

PhillyzCichlidz: nice blue in that male

Larryochromis: Right now I have some Nimbo linni that are spawning and there’s also some Placidochromis electra Blackface

Pam Chin: I would say I have never been to a bad site, all the sites I went to were awesome, and had so great fish at all of them. On the east coast I would say Lions cove was my favorite. but this year when I went to Cape Maclear I can hardly pick a favorite. site they were all so great.

Glaive: If one goes on a Safari, how hard is it to bring a few fish back?

Larryochromis: Glaive it’s a bit of a problem ...the fish will have to be shipped back ...you cannot “check” them

Glaive: I take one would work with one of importing companies?

Larryochromis: yes you could do that

Larryochromis: OR you could do a group import as long as there are about 8 boxes then the freight is worthwhile

Larryochromis: Lions Cove is a great spot when it’s the dry season

Larryochromis: surrounded by mountains

Pam Chin: It’s really steep, and so you can see a longs ways down!

Glaive: How hard are S. ahli to come by?

PhillyzCichlidz: That’s where the Labs hang?

Larryochromis: yes

Larryochromis: S. ahli are only found at certain spots at certain times of the year. I have many pics of fryeri but no ahli

Glaive: Figures lol

Larryochromis: Glaive you can do it. We just have to figure it out before hand

Larryochromis: there is an option for the safari...taking a diver/collector with us

Glaive: Thanks Larry, it is a fish I have always wanted to keep. Maybe I can personally destroy the name confusion. ;)

hefe: Larry have you ever seen any hybrids there?

Larryochromis: OK with out going into cross bred fish. Yes I have I have observed one, once.

Larryochromis: Glaive which name confusion?

Larryochromis: sorry Glaive

Glaive: fryeri being labeled ahli

Glaive: My cichlid pet peeve is the trade name electric blue ahli being used for S. fryeri

Larryochromis: getting people to use the right name after using the wrong name for so long is a tough one!

Glaive: I agree Larry

Larryochromis: or people using “Hap Ahli”...even worse!

Glaive: I figure it ill be one person at a time, but having pictures of my own group out of the lake will help :)

Glaive: were they all Hap. jacksoni at one point?

Larryochromis: Sciaenochromis for those sitting back, is the proper genus

Larryochromis: I don’t remember all of them being Hap. jacksoni...but all of them were called Haps at one point

Pam Chin: Glaive it was a importer mix up not a taxonomy mix up. I think Trewavas had the both described properly

Larryochromis: http://cichlidkeeping.com/forums/gallery/albums/userpics/10005/normal_Boarder_%281%29.jpg

Glaive: Thank you Pam

Larryochromis: importers often make up their own names...like Laif Demason calling that new zebra a Blue Dolphin

Jeff F.: Reminds me of a blue bar

Glaive: right I encountered a vic recently with that issue and was warned about a tropheus I shot

Larryochromis: I mentioned P. electra Blackface earlier

williebone: Larry, after seeing their natural habitat, has it influenced the way you have your Tank set-up?

Larryochromis: Pam mentioned camaraderie on the trips...this is what happens when you hook up at Conventions after!

http://s237.photobucket.com/albums/ff67/cichlid_haven_profiles/?action=view&current=DSC_4810.jpg

Pam Chin: oh it’s a Larry Sandwich!

Larryochromis: Yes Pammy...,that’s the famous Pam sandwich!

Larryochromis: I just found Pam on Facebook

Glaive: lol

Glaive: I had not thought to hunt y’all down on face book hehe

Larryochromis: Yes, I’m there...have some pics and video there for the fishy friends

Pam Chin: I haven’t done it yet, Pam has been trying to get me to do it.

Larryochromis: Pam you might as well...its only about as much time to do as e-mail...I stop in at mine about 1-2 times per week

Larryochromis: williebone all of my tanks are bare

williebone: Why?

Larryochromis: williebone, I import

Larryochromis: and there are just too many to clean gravel

Larryochromis: running 60 at this point

williebone: makes sense

Larryochromis: more to install this summer!

Glaive: --quick picture run--

Sciaenochromis fryeri

Sciaenochromis psammophilus Electric Blue Kande - Male

Sciaenochromis ahli

Courtesy of Blair Howell

Larryochromis: Glaive that second group of fryeri will color up very similar

Glaive: I have had a fryeri before and their color is amazing, but I honestly want something rare and ahli has always been near the top of the list

Larryochromis: Pam, I heard that it started raining there before you left last year, did it rain a lot...so as to affect the water clarity?

williebone: Larry, which would you keep a Sciaenochromis fryeri with, Mbuna or Haps/Peacocks?

Glaive: plus it gives me the opportunity to introduce a rare fish to those hobbyists who want something different

Larryochromis: I keep them all

Glaive: If you had the tank space either would be fine

Larryochromis: what ever is on the list I bring in and some I keep longer than others

Glaive: fryeri are fast muscle twitch fish they can hit full speed in a tank so length helps (think 5 foot tank)

Larryochromis: Glaive yes they can really move

PhillyzCichlidz: Does anyone know someone who has successfully kept the Malawi crab with cichlids?

Pam Chin: Philly, not really, the problem is they eat the fish while they are sleeping.

williebone: Debating on moving him from the 4ft Mbuna to the 6ft Hap/Peacock

Larryochromis: the people I know have kept them with cichlids for a while but this crab is aggressive and has powerful claws!

Glaive: willie I would consider it

williebone: Thanks G

Larryochromis: probably best kept on their own!

williebone: Larry he’s solo right now and I needed to decide

Glaive: If I were to keep fryeri again I would consider a 75 gallon with 1-2 males and 3-5 females

Larryochromis: I always prefer 3 males...so one is not always picked on

Pam Chin: If it was me I would get like 18 - 24, and get a real group going!

williebone: I’m may be though only Odd Ball with All Male Tanks. LOL

Glaive: could that work in a 75 or would I need to go with a 125?

Larryochromis: Pam with that many you could populate the whole U.S.!

Pam Chin: Glaive, well it’s going to take them like 5 years to get to full size, so you would have plenty of time

Glaive: true

Glaive: would you folks recommend a similar grouping for ahli?

williebone: What is the Max size?

Glaive: fryeri can range, mine was 7.5 inches or so when he passed away

williebone: Ok, he’s 6” now

Glaive: he was my julie fry control device ;)

Larryochromis: here at home I use 50 gallon tanks for groups...and sometimes mix things that obviously will not interbreed’

Pam Chin: glaive, no, the true ahli get a lot bigger

Glaive: 8 foot tank big?

Pam Chin: Glaive, oh I don’t know that you need that big of tank but if you could that would be nice!

Glaive: I would rather have a large under stocked tank honestly

Pam Chin: glaive just depends on how good you are at cheating.

Pam Chin: you can keep in a 30 gal tank if you leave the hose running all the time!

Glaive: I don’t cheat ;) I manage my water like a science

Pam Chin: lol!

Glaive: it was one of the things I went to school for after all ;)

Pam Chin: you are to be commended for your discipline!

Larryochromis: S. fryeri Luwala reef

Glaive: great looker there Larry

Glaive: nice to see one who looks a little different than the norm

Larryochromis: took a while to find the darn pic!

Larryochromis: Glaive he’s not really big either...probably about 5 inches

Glaive: I like the red anal fin and the much milder blaze

Larryochromis: found a lot of young fish here at this reef...,including females!

williebone: So, are they common or did I just luck out?

Glaive: females are good lol

Larryochromis: they were found around the catfish nests

Glaive: They are common in the hobby

Glaive: picking off fry?

Larryochromis: yes...the dinner bell was ringing...I don’t have a pic on the net of the one that had his mouth full

Larryochromis: the one with the mouthful was observed swimming in the opposite direction from the catfish...so my guess is that he was done for the day

Glaive: As if the anatomy did not give it away, the testimonial does ;)

williebone: So, if I convert the 4ft tank into a 3 or 4 species Mbuna tank, the S. fryeri would

control population?

Glaive: depends on the mbuna

Larryochromis: here’s one for everyone watching, photo is from the same reef

Larryochromis: yes, I do that at work Glaive...add fryeri for fry control!

Glaive: Okay since I am so good at identification what species are we looking at?

Larryochromis: anyone else?

Glaive: crickets

Larryochromis: Hemitaeniolatus spilopterus

Glaive: Okay I was way off

Larryochromis: nice fish, nice color...,never seen this fish in the hobby...and it’s not thinly populated at this reef either!

Glaive: you do realize if I can ever make that trip you will be hearing burble burble underwater as I ask what we are looking at ;)

Larryochromis: lol, yes you can

Glaive: do you have any ideas why? or just not quite flashy enough?

Larryochromis: yes you will’

Larryochromis: collecting fish is what is required and asked for

Larryochromis: not what the diver thinks he should bring back

Larryochromis: each trip is a mission with a list

Jeff F.: A list?

tchill93x: Larry...who is allowed to export the fish legally...how does it work?

Larryochromis: there are only certain people in Malawi that can export fish...they are licensed by the government

Larryochromis: the proforma is taken to the fisheries office and stamped

Larryochromis: for each export

tchill93x: then what is in it for the locals...who do they sell to...?

Larryochromis: I have a nice collection of them

Larryochromis: the exported hires the divers to collect and make a monthly wage doing so

Larryochromis: a typical dive team consists of at least 5 people

Pam Chin: Tchill, they don’t sell, they eat.

Larryochromis: the locals do not sell fish outside the country

Pam Chin: the percentage of fish that are actually exported for the tropical fish hobby is probably less 1%, probably not even .25%

Pam Chin: so that is 99.75% of fish are caught and eaten

tchill93x: interesting...so they kill all the smaller fish while trying to get at the bigger fish?

williebone: Only the larger ones right?

Pam Chin: In some cases.

Pam Chin: williebone, no, there is no one saying that fish is too small throw it back, it is what ever they catch they eat it.

Pam Chin: The saddest part of the Malawi National park is fish can’t be collected there, but they can be caught and eaten

williebone: Man, I can’t see my A. baenschi in a frying pan

Glaive: I’m not sure how many of you have been to a third world country, but my own experiences in South America have proven that people do not always think about the environment and sustainability

Larryochromis: Conservation is not in their vocabulary

williebone: I guess not

williebone: Do they know how much we value the fish?

Larryochromis: Glaive this is what you might see at breakfast time in the morning...about 5:30 am

Glaive: I hope that’s a coffee pot!

Larryochromis: yes that’s a coffee pot! Dennis is good at getting things started in the am!

Glaive: I like Denis already :D

tchill93x: I understand that...but then are there efforts to find a way for people to eat instead of eating the cichlids? Are there gov’t efforts?

Pam Chin: willie, they think it is funny that we would want to keep the fish. But they are so friendly that if they know you are into the fish, they want to catch fish for you and by the end of the day they come and have a big stringer of fish for you. all dead!

Larryochromis: no they don’t...they collect and turn the fish in...,the only ones who really know how much we pay for them is the office staff at the export station

Pam Chin: Tchill, the people who are on the lake are the luckiest, they can go and fish for food, the people who live in the cities are worse off.

Seedy: As someone who eats his local native fish, I see no reason that they shouldn’t harvest a reasonable amount of fish for food

Glaive: In Peru the poor people in the country have a chance, however in the heart of Lima those of the same poverty level are, for lack of a better term, screwed. I would imagine much of Africa is the same.

Pam Chin: Larry where is the shot with the eggs that have been under the table for 4 days?

Glaive: I can go a day or two with out food... no coffee and I am very grumpy lol

Pam Chin: Seedy, exactly who am I to say they can’t fish and eat it.

Larryochromis: I will see if I can find it Pam

Pam Chin: what a good looking group!

williebone: I guess if we catch and eat our fish here, then why not there.

Larryochromis: And as you guys can see...you CAN take the wife or girlfriend

Larryochromis: here’s Lions Cove we were talking about

Pam Chin: We were all married but not to each other!

Larryochromis: beautiful spot

Larryochromis: LOL

Glaive: okay Lion’s cove is beautiful

Larryochromis: some mornings I felt like the wife was there...,after about the 10th day of setting up and taking things down!

Glaive: lol

Glaive: why do I think I would end up being the beast of burden on a trip like that ;)

Glaive: I’m not sure I could hit a point where I would call Pam Pammy though

Larryochromis: Ah, you would have a great time!

williebone: How do they treat outsiders there?

Larryochromis: lots of horizontal time when traveling in the boat

Larryochromis: everyone is friendly

Pam Chin: Malawi is the warm heart of Africa they love visitors

Larryochromis: you are out on the boat most of the time and there is really not a lot of contact with the locals, but when you do they are friendly

williebone: Far away from any violence?

Larryochromis: oh yes

williebone: Can’t swim, so I guess it would be boring for me

williebone: LOL

Glaive: I can swim :D

williebone: LOL

SuddenUrge: I sink really well *thumbs up*

Glaive: and if I couldn’t I would be at the Y pronto

Pam Chin: willie, I don’t really like water, and I don’t like boats, but they fish make it all worth it.

Larryochromis: this is where you might be diving so as you can see there’s not anything happening here above the water line!

Glaive: Yeah SuddenUrge is skinny lol

williebone: Understand you Pam

Larryochromis: Pam just snorkels around in the shallows

Glaive: now do you dive the whole face? plenty of different habitats I would guess

Larryochromis: can touch bottom anywhere kind of diving

Pam Chin: most of the fish are not deeper then 35 feet

Larryochromis: Glaive, it takes 2 hrs to dive from one end to the other at Tsano Rock

Pam Chin: so as snorkeler you can just about every thing.

SuddenUrge: I think its time for me to dig through the garage to find my tanks

Larryochromis: right on Pam

Seedy: Are there strong currents in the lake?

Pam Chin: and if you get bored, you climb up on a rock watch the birds

Larryochromis: I think its time for me to dig through the garage to find my tanks (as your name implies!)

Pam Chin: Seedy, yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I nearly drowned at Chimyamwezi Rocks.

SuddenUrge: Did the fish ever get territorial with you and try to chase you off or where they pretty scared of divers?

Pam Chin: Seedy, and at Mdoka, when Doogie jumped in the water, it pulled him back so fast that a couple locals had to pick him up and bring him back he lost his fin

Pam Chin: SuddenUrge, you just hold still and they come out, and sometimes they swim with you, and they are all very friendly

Larryochromis: Chimyamwezi Rocks Chinyankwazi Island

Pam Chin: The current got me and I almost went back thru isthmus!

SuddenUrge: So just like marine diving than but the water tastes better

Larryochromis: Yes at Mdoka and elsewhere in the lake there are some strong currents

Pam Chin: SuddenUrge, yeah and no sharks!

Pam Chin: Mpanga rocks is out in the middle of the lake, and strong current there too.

Larryochromis: If it has been windy then the water currents pick up

Pam Chin: I think the further out you are the worse it is. I didn’t have an issue around the bigger islands, or the east shore line

williebone: What’s the largest Fish encounter?

Larryochromis: Mphanga is not a long ways from shore, but yes, there are currents there at times

Larryochromis: 3 1/2 meters

Seedy: But no visible thermocline?

Pam Chin: dang, catfish?

Glaive: a 3.5 meter fish?

Larryochromis: looked bigger at the time...yes it was a cat

Glaive: hmmm dang

Larryochromis: 18 inch wide mouth

SuddenUrge: Jeezes...I thought you said nothing that could eat ya lol

Pam Chin: Kapango?

williebone: Oh boy!

Glaive: is that 11.5 feet? vegetarian I hope lol

Larryochromis: was routing through the rocks looking for dinner and I was taking pics … Laying quite still and it came right up to me ...within touching distance!

Pam Chin: http://gallery.me.com/pamchin#100028/DSC_6441&bgcolor=black

Larryochromis: the fish locally is called Bombay, or Clarius gigatica (sp?)

williebone: They eat that too?

Seedy: something tells me that if it is “meat” they eat it

Glaive: gentle giant?

Glaive: lol

Larryochromis: yes they will eat this fish but it is not liked by all

Larryochromis: I came to the surface and got on the boat

williebone: I can’t blame you there. LOL

Glaive: gah the chat ate Larry

Glaive: he survived a giant catfish but the chat got him....

Larryochromis: OK as I was saying

williebone: Catfish spit him back.. LOL

Seedy: damn thing squeaks like George Jetson

Glaive: wb Larry, to fast for the giant catfish but to slow for the chat room door lol

Larryochromis: I got into the boat and one of the guys asked me what was up

Larryochromis: I said I ran into a large catfish

Larryochromis: we figured out what it was ...Bombay

Larryochromis: then I asked him how big can this fish get

Larryochromis: he says...I cannot lift...it takes 3 men

Larryochromis: now consider this guy lifts a 40 gallon barrel of fish that is filled 1/2 full and he says it takes 3 men to lift this catfish!

Larryochromis: hope you get he idea!

Glaive: I can imagine that fish topping 300 pounds easily

Larryochromis: yes me too

williebone: Think I’d be calling out Mama!

williebone: Or worse

Glaive: having lifted a 70 pound fish myself I would not try a fish that large and powerful with out help

Larryochromis: Ad says he warned me about this fish but I must have had my head turned...LOL

Larryochromis: scared the $hit outta me

Larryochromis: had my camera in my hand and never even thought to raise it and take a pic

Seedy: So, Larry, you’re saying you wouldn’t try “knoodl’ n” that cat?

Glaive: you were too busy using a natural “stink” defense ;)

Larryochromis: no noodling there!

Glaive: it is wise to be sure when noodling that one is the noodler and not the noodle

Larryochromis: well the cat was very shy...I jerked my body and it sent out the sound waves and that cat turned on a dime and was outta there!

Larryochromis: yes...,I was at that point thinking I was going to be the noodle

Larryochromis: been trying to get pics of that fish ever since but they are shy

williebone: I’d think I could walk on water at that point all the way to shore. LOL

Glaive: how far can you shoot on a clear water day?

Larryochromis: if you sit still and do not move they are curious and come right up to you...which I was doing at the time

Seedy: and from a divers perspective, what is the usual visibility?

Larryochromis: well I swear I can see at least 1oo feet U/W on some days at some locations

Glaive: thanks for putting it into proper English CD

Glaive: but the camera never “sees” as well as we do, gotcha

Larryochromis: if the fish gets to far from the camera then the flash is not much use so you have to be at least within 10 feet of the fish

Larryochromis: the more water between you and the fish ...the more fluff is floating around and the flash will light it up like snow flakes

Seedy: WOW...that’s like Cozumel type visibility...How deep can one dive in the lake and still see fish? Is there a whole other “deep water” biotope?

Larryochromis: I have some shots at 130 feet of Taeniolethrinops that came out ...just OK...could not get close for a great shot

Seedy: That’s pretty dang deep for regular tank diving...

Larryochromis: here’s one at 108 feet

Seedy: wow

Larryochromis: I have a dive computer, so it tells me when to head up

Seedy: nitrogen narcosis?

Larryochromis: no, but if you do get them...you’re done!

Larryochromis: no hyperbolic chamber in Malawi

Larryochromis: although they do have tri-mix!

williebone: Nice shot Larry

Seedy: Not “the bends” but getting “high” from the nitrogen turning into nitrous oxide...OK, so you aren’t diving regular “air” then

Larryochromis: you can see the difference here in water depth as the background is showing...not black like deep water

Larryochromis: yes, I dive only on ‘regular air’

Seedy: Ok...I was thinking “trimix” was something like nitrox diving...

Larryochromis: 70 ft mark but this fish is close to the sand so the background is picked up by the flash

Seedy: What is the invertebrate fauna like?

Larryochromis: yes...there are several options when diving ...for mix’s...not familiar though

Larryochromis: just Malawi crabs...a few rosette eels at Mbenji...nothing else I can remember

Seedy: I have heard about fresh water cnidarians and things like that in Tanganyika, have you seen any fresh water jellies or anemone like creatures?

Larryochromis: shallow water (25 feet) but farther away from the fish

Larryochromis: no, no jellies there

Larryochromis: here’s 70 feet, but shooting off the drop off into deeper water

Glaive: do you find the blue of the water to make some shots difficult?

Larryochromis: no but deeper shots with fish farther away...it gets green and its harder to correct in PS

Larryochromis: here’s right at the surface,head bobbing out of the water

Seedy: Labeotropheus species?

Larryochromis: trewavasae

Glaive: Seedy has to go and say one of the few genera I can name correctly lol

Glaive: I like the coloration

Seedy: Are there any fish that are extremely common in the lake that we never see in the hobby?

Larryochromis: yes it’s interesting along this shoreline…less brown (okra) up at the Border and almost blue at other spots

Larryochromis: some people thought it was a Mphanga red

Larryochromis: over the sand at 70 feet

http://s237.photobucket.com/albums/ff67/cichlid_haven_profiles/?action=view&current=DSC_4211.jpg

Larryochromis: Luwala Reef when the wind was blowing so I used a 60mm macro so I had to get up closer and less ‘fluff’ between the fish and me...first time using this lens!

http://cichlidkeeping.com/forums/gallery/albums/userpics/10005/normal_Luwala__Reef_%281%29.jpg

Seedy: Does Malawi have any fish that are comparable to Cyprichromis or sardines that school in massive numbers?

Larryochromis: Copadichromis can school by the thousands

Seedy: Those aren’t exactly “small” fish either!

williebone: Larry, if you had to tell someone to model their tank after what you’ve seen, what would be in it?

Larryochromis: Copadichromis chrysonotus spawns in open water, like Cyps

Larryochromis: I like the LARGE ROCK look!

williebone: Sand or gravel?

Larryochromis: no sense in trying to make caves with small rocks just add large ones and there’s no way they fit together

Larryochromis: NO SAND!

Larryochromis: clogs drains

Larryochromis: use reef aggregate

Larryochromis: aragonite

Larryochromis: small size and can be gravel siphoned

Larryochromis: looks like sand

williebone: Rock wall or painted

Larryochromis: well I just paint here at home...but any rocky looking background...,most of it would not be seen anyway

williebone: got it

Seedy: What is the flora like in the lake? Any large plants that thrive?

Larryochromis: Baobab trees

Larryochromis: lots of flowers ...where they can be watered

Larryochromis: fruit trees, banana trees

Seedy: any plants that would fin in an aquarium?

Larryochromis: sure, in the weedy bays

Seedy: Any idea what kind of plants they are? And is the water composition different in the bays?

Larryochromis: here’s an awesome spot to stay

Larryochromis: there are some types of Vallisneria, apotomegeton and such

Larryochromis: this bay gives it all...weedy areas, reed beds...rocks and drop offs down to probably 150 +

Seedy: What kinds of fish would you find living amongst them?

Larryochromis: Dimidiochromis compressiceps!

Larryochromis: This is Chiofu Bay...we camp here

Larryochromis: Protomelas taeniolatus,kirki,similis,and steveni Imperial is not to far away

Larryochromis: D. kwinge...ripping out large portions for their 6 ft wide sand nests

Larryochromis: Fossochromis rostratus swinging by and making a guest appearance to see who’s there

Larryochromis: yes lots of fish in weed beds

Seedy: Do they actually “sand dive”?

Larryochromis: yes they DO!

Seedy: So, Larry, in your opinion, if someone was to be setting up a large “hap” tank with things like Fosso and Dimidio, would you say that the “correct” set up would be an open sandy bottom with reeds and plants?

Seedy: correct being the “most natural” in this instance

Larryochromis: I’ll have more pics of weed beds when I get up the 2008 pics on my web

Larryochromis: the Dimido will not dig up the bottom so much as the Fosso will make the bottom look like a thousand golf balls were sitting on it.

Larryochromis: Rocks with open areas are probably the best overall thing to do

Seedy: Ok, that makes sense, Larry, this may have already been asked, but do you keep any tanks?

Larryochromis: I have 60 running now

Larryochromis: one end of the fish room

Larryochromis: those old 65 gallon tanks got replaced 1 year ago

Seedy: wow. have you been able to bring back many of your fish?....also, besides Malawi Cichlids, do you have any other “fishy favorites”?

Larryochromis: Seedy all my fish are wild, except for the ones that have spawned

Seedy: Larry......to say I’m jealous would be an understatement :)

Larryochromis: you guys just have to make up your minds to go

Larryochromis: put away 150 a month and you can go every other year!

Larryochromis: most do not want to go every year but will go every other year or 3rd year

Larryochromis: here’s that D. kwinge nest in the weed beds

Glaive: lol I have made up my mind, just need the money

Seedy: Larry, I want to thank you for taking the time to answer my (our) questions this evening....I hate to say it, but I have to make my exit. Thanks again for sharing your experiences and photos.

Seedy: Wow....big pit

Larryochromis: Large rock theme

Larryochromis: OK I’ll take another question from you guys then I’m off as well

Larryochromis: Seedy you are welcome

Larryochromis: OK before you go!

maccichlid: I’ve been sitting here quietly enjoying this

Larryochromis: I am out and about speaking and will be in Washington in November and Regina Sask in April

maccichlid: so Larry, I’ll offer this insightful question: what’s it like to have a dream job? :)

Larryochromis: Thanks Mac was wondering what you were doing!

Larryochromis: To me, a dream job would be diving in Lake Malawi, writing articles on my laptop and sending them to magazines like TFH and Cichlid news...making enough to keep me diving and living in Malawi!

Larryochromis: Until then

Larryochromis: I’m working as the Manager of Big Al’s Aquarium Services in Hamilton, ON and doing fish daily at work and nightly at home!

Larryochromis: Or working here to get there!

Larryochromis: OK guys I’ll leave the floor to you! Carry on...I have a few fishy things to do before I head off to bed!

 

For those of you who enjoyed this chat and would like to see more please take a look at his web site which provides many more pictures from his Safaris. Thank you again Larry it was a lot of fun.