Go Wild Peru Blog
Fish collecting with friends
20th November 2019
On the 30th October I along with three good friends, Danny Blundell Gerald Buswell and Chris Ralph, set of on a two week tour to search for new fishes in the Madre de Dios and Cusco regions of south eastern Peru. We sampled several new before inaccessible locations and found many species we had not seen before. Of special interest were the Ancistrine species of the Rio Araza drainage.
A new location, a clear water fast moving stream draining into the lower Las Piedras.
Gerald, Danny and Felix sampling a new stream we called Mad 2a, here we found a mass of small 2 inch Megalechis catfish, a number of Corydoras sp. CW123
Corydoras sp CW123 after being settled into their new UK home.
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As well as the fishing, I was also looking out for flowering orchid species to continue with my Flowering Orchids of South Eastern Peru project, and I was not disappointed, finding around 40 species in flower.
Orchid species precariously growing on the edge of a large overhanging rock over a very fast turbulent river.
Close up of the flower head.
Written by Ian Fuller
Orchid research in South Eastern Peru continues
3rd September 2019
The 31st August saw the publication of the second book in the series of the "Orchid Species of South Eastern Peru"
Book 2 species flowering in February).
The book contains 158 pages, covers 70 flowering species and contains 225 images.
Cost £12.50 + P&P
Contact – ian@gowildperu.com
Written by Ian Fuller
Orchid research in South Eastern Peru
8th August 2019
While making many trips to South Eastern Peru with groups of tropical fish hobbyists, I descovered that the region is a hot spot for Orchids, especially at the higher altitudes, from 600 to 3,500 meters. So I decided as well as sample for new fishes in the many streams and rivers we come across, I would also record the flowering orchid species we come across, and we soon discovered that there are literally hundreds if not thousands to be found. Obviously they do not all flower at the same time, so I set myself the task of recording as many flowering species as I could fine on each trip I made. Not only recording images of the flowers, the plants and their habitat, but the conditions they were growing in, such details as the location, altitude, air temperature, plant temperature, the host they were growing on, light and shade, flower size. Basically as much information as I feel necessary to be able to maintain the species in the home or green house.
November 2018 was the first of my dedicated Orchid trips, and I have now produced a small book on the flowering species that we found. This will shortly be followed by book II 'Orchids of South Eastern Peru' flowering in 'February'
The Books are £12.50 each and are available directly from myself. Anyone interested please Contact me for shipping price or any queries.
Written by Ian Fuller
In search of Orchid November 2018
6th December 2018
From November 19th to the 2nd of December I spent a very enjoyable time exploring firstly the lowlands of the Madre de Dios region and then at the higher elevations in the Andes towards Marcapata looking for and recording flowering species of Orchids. Yes I am known in the fish hobby as a Corydoras specialist, but Orchids are another great interest of mine, and it is not often that one can enjoy two passions at the same time.
The districts of Madre de Dios and Cusco in south eastern Peru are one of the most bio diverse regions on the planet, and to be able to see and study Orchids and fishes in the same area is a real bonus for me. However this particular trip was to be dedicated to my interest in Orchids.
Knowing from literature that Peru was the home to more than 3000 know species of Orchid, I decided that it would be good to dedicate a trip just to see as many flowering orchids as possible in the time I had planned.
November is the start of the rainy season (Spring time in the southern hemosphere), so I was prepared to get wet at times, I knew from experience that when it rains it is very often extremely heavy and constant, and often making travelling difficult. With all this taken into consideration I suitably eqiopped my self and headed out along with friends Felix and Lance to search some of the lowland areas we had previously been to on fish collecting trips. It was soon apparent that these lower lying areas although fairly plentiful in Orchid plants, no flowering specimens were found. we then decided that if we headed up towads the mountains (Andes) where spring time would have started a little earlier, we hopped to be more successful and find orchids in flower.
After a good nights sleep we left early (5.30 am) and headed out for the town of Quincemill in the Andean foothills. Compared to the same journey that my friend Lance had taken in the early 2000's, which was on dirt/gravel roads through thick jungle, and which took many days to complete, our journey was on a nice tarmaced international highway. This was compleded in 2012, and make many areas easily accessible and is a prety comfortable drive with journey times down to hours instead of days to reach your destination.
Once we reached the first real inclines where the roads started to climb from the pretty constant 240m above sea level, we were very soon up to 700 meters and encountered our first noticible Orchid flowers in the form of Sobrilia and Bletia. After stopping to record the habitat and natural growing conditions, we proceded to head for our base destination Quincemill.
Written by Ian Fuller
April 2017
18th April 2017
I'm well into the second week of my trip to Peru with Gowildperu. I can straight away say it's been worth every penny. I'm fortunate to be travelling in the best company - Jamie Horne, Steven Grant, Alan James, Ian, Lance Peck and Felix Manami. We have caught so many superb species, easily more than 125 species of fish, most of them being catfishes, but also knife fishes. This has exceeded my expectations. It's not an 'easy' trip - I'm an extreme arachnophobe. I've cut my ankles on razor grass, been bitten by sandflies and mosquitoes and 'no see 'ems', but to be fair I expected this. And at times it's very warm! At times we had to make our way through heavy rainforest, passing army ants, fire ants on certain plants etc, to get to swampy waters - each time it was worth it. We also scrambled over boulders and cobbles in rapids. There was also fantastic insect and bird life, beautiful butterflies everywhere. The base lodge is quite basic and safe, but comfortable enough... with all the facilities you need. The food provided is excellent! A laundry service is available, beds are made and the place is cleaned daily. The transport and the guides are simply the best. Where to catch and information on local conditions is great. The fish caught are transported and housed with superb skill and professionalism. All in all, I've had a great experience with Gowildperu and thoroughly recommend it!
Richard
Written by Richard "Knife fish" Smith
2017 Collecting Trips
26th March 2017
There are still a few openings for scheduled GoWildPeru 2017 Collecting Trips. If you are intersted in other dates and can get a group of at least four together then please let us know and we will do everything possible to make your trip a lifetime experience to cherish.
November 4 - 18 - Collecting with Ian Fuller (UK) and Michael Barber (US) for fifteen days/fourteen nights. Exploring new collecting locations for potentially undescribed and new species. Plus returning to some of our favorite collecting locations in the Cloud Forest looking for Hillstream Ancistrus species. Just a couple spots remain on this trip.
October 4 - 11 - Focus on Collecting Corydoras (and Brochis) - only space for one more Corydoras collector on this eight day/seven night collecting trip. Here is the list of Corys collected by GoWildPeru in the Madre de Dios (new ones are found nearly everytime we visit; however., we can never guarantee success in this regard - we will try):
C. acrensis
C. knaacki (CW032).
C. weitzmani
C078
C115/116
C120
CW016
CW039
CW041
CW062
CW080
CW096
CW097
CW100
CW109
CW110
CW123
CW124
CW136, a new Brochis type
Soon to get new CW numbers
C. aeneus type with with a long snout
Written by Michael Barber
Collecting in Florida
31st December 2016
Working on details for the May collecting trip to Florida.
Arrivals in Tampa on Sunday, 7 May with visits on Monday and/or Tuesday to a small independent fish farm; a manufacturer of ornamental fish shipping bags; and an industry leader for wholesale ornamental fish, supplying pet stores, public aquariums, and research institutions. Monday evening we will attend the Tampa Bay Aquarium Society meeting. After several days collecting and visiting aquarium related destinations in the Tampa area we will travel down the west coast of Florida stopping at a few locations en route to the Miami area. While in the Miami area we will visit one of the nation's leading producers of aquarium plants. We will have notable local guides accompany us during this trip.
GWP will provide hotel rooms and transportation - cost is tentatively set to come in around $1,000 per person double occupancy, single occupancy will be about $500 more. Meals are not included; however, the hotels do provide breakfast. Details and costs are all subject to change as we further refine the plans. Travel to Tampa and return home from Miami is not included.
If interested please send an email to MIchael@GoWildPeru.com
Written by Michael Barber
GoWildPeru and MT Amazon Expeditions collaboration
7th November 2016
We are very excited that our good friend Devon Graham launched the new MT Amazon Expeditions website. The calendar contains our Rain Forest to Cloud Forest GWP/MT combined trip in August & September 2017. See details below:
Fish Collecting Expedition: Amazon AND Southern Peru Combo!
- Sun, Aug 20, 201710:00 Sat, Sep 2, 201710:00
Description: A unique northern-Peru/southern-Peru fish collecting opportunity thanks to a collaboration between GoWildPeru (based in far southern Peru) and MT Amazon Expeditions (based in the northern Peruvian lowland Amazon). Boat-based Amazon fish collecting trip out of Iquitos, Peru, with option of adding night-time Discus collecting on 18 & 19 August 2017 (additional cost and earlier arrival). Travel from Iquitos to Puerto Maldonado (Madre de Dios State in far southern Peru) on 26 August until 2 September 2017 for lodge-based cloud forest collecting. There is very little overlap in the fish fauna of the two sites, and while more species will be encountered in the Iquitos region, the Puerto Maldonado region has numerous cooler water specialties rarely seen in the aquarium hobby.
Cost: $2,995 (includes Peru domestic airfares Iquitos-Lima, Lima-Puerto Maldonado). A deposit of $500 is required at time of booking so that airfares from Iquitos to Puerto Maldonado can be purchased. Travel insurance in case of cancellation is included.
Itinerary: Depart Iquitos aboard the M/V Esperanza at 10 AM on Sunday 20 August 2017. Participants should arrive on an early flight on Sunday, or on Saturday 19 August (hotel included). Return to Iquitos around noon on Friday 25 August 2017, transfer of fish to exporter facilities and opportunity to purchase additional fish. On Saturday, 26 August, travel from Iquitos to Puerto Maldonado (via Lima). Collect in the Puerto Maldonado area from Sunday 27 August to Friday 1 September 2017. On Saturday 2 September, fly from Puerto Maldonado to Lima and onward destinations.
Optional Extension: Add an additional week with GoWildPeru in southern Peru from 3-9 September 2017. Cost: $1000. Will include two nights at a local rainforest lodge.
Optional Pre-Extension: Add an additional week in the Iquitos region from 13-18 August 2017 with MT Amazon Expeditions (see the Expedition Calendar on this website for details)
Contacts: Michael@GoWildPeru.com / Devon Graham
Discus collecting: Arrive in Iquitos by early afternoon on Friday 18 August 2017 for travel to a local fishing village on the black-water Nanay River. Accommodations aboard the M/V Esperanza riverboat. Each participant will be paired with a local fisherman for two nights of discus collecting using dug-out canoes. On Saturday 19 August, there is also the option of local day-time fish collecting. Cost to be advertised.
Written by Michael Barber
Zika virus
29th October 2016
Written by Ian Fuller
Collecting with Ian Fuller - 18 November to 4 December 2017
26th September 2016
We had a cancelation due to medical conditions on the November 2017 collecting trip. Regretably, I can't take the open slot due to Thanksgiving in the United States.
This means there is an open slot on the trip for anyone interested in joining Ian for two plus weeks of very interesting collecting in the Madre de Dios with a trip into the Andean foothills to explore new areas.
Please send an email to Michael@GoWIldPeru.com if interested in special pricing for this last slot on this trip.
Written by Michael Barber
GoWildPeru tropical fish collector visits Machu Picchu
17th September 2016
Irwin Phua, from Singapore, is posting his experiences visiting Cuzco and Machu Picchu on his Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/irwin.phua
Many really nice pictures of his trip are available for viewing.
He booked the five day/four night trip in three star hotels listed on the GoWildPeru website.
Written by Michael Barber
2017 Tropical Fish Collecting Trips Announced
9th September 2016
GoWildPeru is thrilled to post the 2017 Calendar.
11 - 18 March - 8 day / 7 night package. Second Annual one week trip with focus on collecting Annual Killifish: Moema and Aphiolebias. We may also fit in collecting other target species if there is interest and collecting conditions permit. Cost $1,495.
8 - 22 April - 15 day / 14 night package. Collecting Moemi quiii with Ian Fuller. Cost $2,495.
7 - 13 May Collecting in Florida with GoWildPeru and the authors of the Florida Collecting Guide: A Guide to Collecting, Identification and Aquarium Maintenance of Florida's Non-Game Fishes . Cost TBD
July - open dates. Will select dates dependent on interest for a 11 day / 10 night package of collecting. Cost $1,995. Please contact Michael@GoWildPeru.com if interested.
August & September - Rain Forest to Cloud Forest collaboration with MT Amazon Expeditions.
Basic Package: 20-26 August boat based Rain Forest collecting trip out of Iquitos, Peru with option to add night Discus collecting on 18 & 19 August for an additional cost. 26 August - travel to Puerto Maldonado, Peru. 26 August - 2 September lodge based Cloud Forest collecting trip out of Puerto Maldonado. Peru. Cost $2,995 includes domestic airfare from Iquitos to Puerto Maldonado.
Gold package: add an additional week with either MT Amazon Expeditions 13 - 19 August or GoWildPeru 3-9 September.
Platinum package: two weeks with MT Amazon Expeditions 13 - 26 August and two weeks with GoWildPeru 26 August - 9 September.
If interest in premium package please email Michael@GoWildPeru.com.
4 - 18 November - end of dry season collecting trip. Cost $2,495.
GoWildPeru encourages Aquarium Society groups and others to charter open dates on the calendar. The advantage is that GWP can arrange shipping of fish collected to the nearest USF&WS port of entry for the entire group as opposed to trans-shipping through an east coast airport. A minimum of four participants is required for a charter.
Written by Michael Barber
GoWildPeru Visits San Francisco and Sacramento - 2 & 3 September
1st September 2016
Really excited to travel to San Francisco and Sacramento California this weekend to speak.
Looking forward to sharing GoWildPeru with new friends.
Will share some pictures when I return.
Written by Michael Barber
Early morning visitor
6th August 2016
This little Agouti was an early morning visitor outside of our aquarium facility.
Written by Ian Fuller
Snorkelling in a clear mountain stream pool.
6th August 2016
Go Wild Peru guest Danny Blundell snorkling in a mountain stream pool looking for catfishes
Written by Ian Fuller
Bellafern Orchid and Pepper farm
29th July 2016
While on our recent fish collecting trip to the Madre de Dios, we called into Bellafern in El Triunfo to visit our friends Lance and Belinda Peck at there orchid and pepper farm.
Written by Ian Fuller