Andreas Tanke | Sat. Sept 17, 2023 | Biotopes of Plecos of the Rio Xingu

Andreas had his first contact with fish keeping as a youth through his parents. At about 10 years old, he got his first aquarium. In the 1990s, due to his studies in mathematics / computer science and the founding of his IT company, other things came to the fore. However, he returned to the aquarium hobby in 2002.

After the first beginnings in the Usenet newsgroup de.rec.tiere.aquaristik (d.r.t.a) he developed his social network of aquatic hobbyist acquaintances and friends more and more. For years now, he has been a member of the German Cichlid Society (DCG), the VDA Zwergcichliden (AKZ) and the International Community Barben-Schmerlen-Salmler-Welse (IG BSSW), or their predecessor, the BSSW working group in the VDA.

His interests are in the underwater fauna of the South American continent, especially in the dwarf cichlids of the genus Apistogramma and the Harnischwelsen. In the meantime, I have cared for more than 25 different Apistogramma species, most of which I could multiply. My biggest passion, however, are the catfish and especially the genus Panaqolus, of which I currently hold about 10 species and increase.

In 2008, for the first time, I had the opportunity to experience my fosterlings live in the wild. I traveled with some friends to Suriname and the Brazilian state of Roraima. Meanwhile, I also went on expeditions to Peru, others to Brazil and with the company JBL I accompanied as a guide a tour group to Venezuela.