Welcome to the Amazon. The greatest river, and the greatest rainforest on earth, home to an extraordinary biodiversity matched nowhere else on the planet. Green. Pristine. Perfect.
The Amazon river system
Francisco de Orellana's 1541 expedition down the Amazon River (source: Encyclopaedia Britannica)
Ok so Lizzie and I haven't managed to get a last-minute deal to the lungs of the world, but we have brought a tiny piece of the Amazon river to our own front room, courtesy of a tropical fish tank! It has been quietly bubbling away for nearly two months now, and I have been busy monitoring water chemistry, establishing filter bacteria, and cultivating a number of live aquarium plants, all of which are native to the south American river system. Everything is now settled, so yesterday, the tank's first new inhabitants moved in; a school of lovely black widow tetras. see their video here:
Now despite the poisonous name, these are a very harmless and peaceful fish (unless you're a bloodworm or a water flea.) Their black colouration makes a wonderful and striking contrast to the rich green foliage, and their energy and activity is infectious, compelling to watch. These are amongst my favourite aquarium fish, and it's great to be keeping them once again - they're real characters to have around the home. On a drab, cold, rainy Sunday afternoon, it is a pleasure to pull up a chair and watch these little critters fuss around their new home - indeed, it becomes a real escape from the downpour going on outside, to be instantly transported to some unknown tributary, high up the river system, shadowed by the forest canopy and shrouded in mystery. It's like embarking on an adventure, following in the footsteps of great explorers, and all without leaving the comfort of home.
A river taxi on the Peruvian Amazon (source: Wikipedia)
I have always liked fish, and put together my first tropical fish tank at the age of 13 or 14. I had to abandon the hobby a few years later, but always vowed to return to it in the future. The years passed, but the enthusiasm never diminished, and all that excitement and fulfilment came flooding back yesterday. As for what's next - we'll be looking to add some rummy nose tetras in a few weeks time, and also some cory catfish, which will really bring this little biotope to life.
