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Botia kubotai in natural habitat

Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2006 3:58 am
by Nonn
Probably the fisrt underwater shot of one of the most popular loach around.

This is Suriya River (The Sun River) which originate in Thailand and flow north to meet Salween river in Myanmar. It is one of the most remote and most difficult to access river in Thailand. From Bangkok I have to drive 5 hours to Sangklaburi the town between Thai-Myanmar border then, another 10 hours of hard-core off road and 2 hours walk to get here. Then I get to spend only one and a half hour before we have to turn back because the time was so limit.

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It was one of the most memorable one and a half hour of my life to spend quality time underwater with these fishy!

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more picture over here: note soilder carrying gun and frag accompany us as we were very close to the border where Myanmar troop and Karen are still actively fighting.

http://www.siamensis.org/webboard/webanswer.asp?id=5525[/url][/i]

Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2006 4:05 am
by Nonn
Btw, can you see B. kubotai and B. berdmorei in the picture?

Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2006 9:46 am
by Mark in Vancouver
Fantastic, Nonn! I'm so glad you do this stuff. I'm very envious.

Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2006 10:45 am
by newshound
excellent!
I could see the kub but not the other botia.
Swimming in warm waters.
I just kayaked in the St. Mary rapids (infront of Sault Ste. Marie) and let me tell you it was like 1000 pins being stuck in deep when my leg went in the water! I wear 3 wetsuits but my legs aren't as well covered.
Over 200 people jumped into a hole in the ice during the closing of the winter carnival called "Bon Soo".
All this to say "man warm water to swim in. Ahhhhh" 8)

Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2006 11:07 am
by Erik
Hey Newshound didn't know you paddled white water! I also paddle white water. Learned in ontario, did the ottawa etc. But now live in bc whitewater heaven:) The water is so clean out here.. Btw get yourself a drysuit , it's the only way to go.
Erik

Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2006 12:11 pm
by Emma Turner
8) 8) 8) 8) 8)
Awesome, Nonn! Keep 'em coming! :wink:

Emma

Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2006 12:44 pm
by mikev
Great pic.... If I may ask: what is the topfeeder on the right? Blackline rasbora?

Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2006 12:48 pm
by Nonn
mikev wrote:Great pic.... If I may ask: what is the topfeeder on the right? Blackline rasbora?
A Poropuntius...I'm not sure what species it was as I couldn't capture any.

Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2006 2:48 pm
by Graeme Robson
Superb pictures Nonn! :D

Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2006 3:21 pm
by newshound
Erik wrote:Hey Newshound didn't know you paddled white water! I also paddle white water. Learned in ontario, did the ottawa etc. But now live in bc whitewater heaven:) The water is so clean out here.. Btw get yourself a drysuit , it's the only way to go.
Erik
well I am not a true WW paddler. My boat is a 10ft puddle jumper with a sharp nose. But the hell with it-I use what I have. Sure it gets dinged up but that is the point :twisted:
Anyhows I looked at the photo again and I did see the other loach!
It is funny how one can miss something at one point and see it at another time.

Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2006 4:46 pm
by Jim Powers
Fantastic, Nonn!!
As always, thanks for letting us see into the worlds of our favorite fish.
I hope you realize how lucky you are.

Wow!

Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2006 8:58 pm
by cybermeez
Excellent photos Nonn! It really is a thrill to See these fish in their natural habitat. I kind of glad it's not easy to get there too since it means they probably won't be over collected and become endangered. Thanks for sharing!

Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2006 11:28 pm
by prairieguy
So very fine! Marvellous. Thanks. The picture with the kubotai reminds us again how vastly different their natural home is from the aquaria we provide.

Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2006 12:28 am
by Spankenstyne
Wow impressive pictures, thanks for sharing them. Takes a very special type of dedication to go through what you did for just such a short swim. Fascinating, very beautiful pics.

Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2006 6:01 pm
by sophie
Nonn wrote:Btw, can you see B. kubotai and B. berdmorei in the picture?
stripy fish under the log to the left of the pic? (b. bermorei, that is)