Meeting #2!!  Tuesday, January 30, 1996, 10pm FRT
          Topic:  Payara Goes Fishing!!

Roger says: welcome everyone to the second catfish room meeting
Sabrina has left FishRoom.
Gecko smiles.
Roger says: tonight's topic will be "Payara Goes Fishing"
Gecko cheers enthusiastically.
Roger says: I'll let him describe what it means himself
Roger says: before we begin, I'd like to say a couple of things
Roger says: first of all, I'm really going to need help from some
of you if we are going to be able to keep this as a weekly
meeting
Roger says: if anyone would like to be the speaker in a meeting,
please let me know before I have to start acting like Juanmi and
forcing you :-)
Roger says: for anyone new to these meetings, you have probably
guessed that you cannot speak now
Roger says: if you have a question, you can either ask Payara by
using a 'tell', or by asking me for the microphone
Roger says: if I give you the mic, you can then speak
Roger says: when you get finished with your question, please give
the mic back to me by typing 'give roger mic'
Roger says: ok, let's begin
Clk has entered FishRoom!
Roger gives the mic to payara.
Payara says: ahem...
Roger says: oops, that should be 'give mic to roger'
Payara says: ok
Payara says: ok, well...due to the consequences the speech is
aliased only in part
Payara says: I will display it and proceed form there
Payara says: Well....for those of you who donØt know me, my name
is Dan and I come from Caracas, Venezuela.  Venezuela is a
country which is well known for itØs very large variety of
spectacular fauna and flora.
Clk transports into the room.
Payara says:  One of the most fascinating  varieties is that of
the water fauna.  Most of the tropical fish you most likely heard
of (i.e. angel fish, apistogramma, Arowana, astronotus, etc)
originate from from South America, namely Venezuela, Peru and
Brazil.
Dustin has entered FishRoom!
Payara says: <excuse me if it's alittle choppy :) >
Payara says:  Amongst the freshwater fish of the region we find
the ever fascinating catfish.  I have had the opportunity of
collecting many different species of catfish and I have had the
unique opportunity of watching them in their natural habitat, for
away from any fish tanks.  My speech tonight will focus on my
collecting expeditions and the search for new and exotic fish.
Payara says: The first expedition I will talk about took place in
the reservoir of a hydroelectric plant which lay at the foothills
of a vast mountain range.  The spot is located approximately 2
hours away from Caracas, towards the south east deep with the
jungle.  There is a stream which has been dammed in order to
provide energy for a small and obsolete electric plant which once
supplied a small portion of territory with electricity.
Payara says:  Now, the reservoir which has formed is no big
deal..it's approximately 30 meters long and 15 meter wide.  The
water is VERY cold (for tropical standards) at an estimated 60 to
65 degrees Fahrenheit.
Dev transports into the room.
Payara says:  Upon arrival, I stuck my head into the water to see
if there was anything worthwhile.  At first glimpse all I saw
where some types of Tetras (possibly Bloodfin, but a tad on the
large side) but then I looked a little harder and I noticed brown
globs moving about the leave covered bottom (5 to 7 feet in
depth).  I decided to jump in and catch these globs, knowing that
there was a good chance they where some kind of ÕplecoØ (or
panaque, or something along the lines).
There is a shimmer and Dustin appears!
There is a shimmer and Dustin disappears!
Payara says: My typical catching utensils consisted of a large
gathering net (or ÕAtarrayaØ) and smaller fish tank nets for the
challenging ones, along with a diving mask, fins, snorkel and a
holding receptacle.
Payara says: I proceeded to slowly and carefully slide into the
water, once in I floated at the surface to get accustomed to the
temperature and to look for interesting specimens.  I
immediatedly saw quite a few plecos clinging to rocks and
whatever substrate they could fix themselves to.
Payara says:  Contrary to my previous belief, these fish were
VERY active swimmers and it appeared that they were very
territorial as well.  So, what else could I do than catch one? :) 
I submerged and followed the critters everywhere.
Payara says:  They are very quick and they will hide in  the
darndest places!  I was finally able to corner one specimen
against the dam and he was swiftly scooped up and placed in the
holding big.  At that moment I went to the surface and inspected
my catch (from here on itØs improv)
Payara says: ok...
Payara says: when I checked the fish out
Payara says: he definitively fit the 'pleco'
stereotype...hard/armored body, large mouth (sucker) etc..etc
Zeide transports into the room.
Mdun transports into the room.
Payara says: the first specimen was a light brown color, with
large dark spots covering its body.  Aprox. length was 6 inches
Fekton has left via a broken connection.
Kenkearney has entered FishRoom!
Kenkearney transports into the room.
Lamptoae has entered FishRoom!
Payara says: a very pronounced dorsal fin
Lamptoae transports into the room.
Payara says: after talking with the natives, they pointed out to
me that it was a 'leopard pleco' (not sure if the same one as in
the US)
Gomberg has entered FishRoom!
Payara says: they also asked me why the hell I was tossing it in
a ttank when I could toss it in the fire and have a great lunch
:)
Roger laughs.
Gomberg enters
Payara says: after placing the first specimen in a makeshift tank
I went underwater again to look for any other type
Payara says: Instead of catching another one of the same species
I decided to wait for anotyher type to innocently swim by me
Roger gives the mic to lamptoae.
Payara says: but, none came around....all I could see were these
light brown ones.  I then resorted to watching their behaviour
Payara says: no leaches in the water...no
Payara asks: is lamptoe speaking?
Lamptoae asks: payara, did you read water conditions first?
Lamptoae gives the mic to Roger.
Payara says: no...I really wasn't equipped to.  My equipment is a
little rustic and simple
Payara says: I did dtermine that the temp.
Payara says: was very cold ..aprox. 60 to 65 F
Payara says: like I said...cold for the tropics.  But it being
mountain water I guess it passes
Payara says: ok...now for the behaviour patterns
Horus has entered FishRoom!
Roger gives the mic to lamptoae.
Rgrmill has left via a broken connection.
Payara says: I hope all you pleco afficionados have niticed your
plecos give sudden jolts from their resting spots...be it to get
food or defend territory
Horus enters
Payara asks: lamp?
Lamptoae asks: do you think many of the "Plecos" in the hobby
might prefer colder waters?  I mean, couldn't the mouth also be a
mountain adaptation, so they can cling in fast currents?
Bernieh has entered FishRoom!
Lamptoae gives the mic to roger.
Payara says: yes..very deffintively.
Payara says: On another trip I saw plecos clinging on to rocks on
a relatively rapid current
Payara says: they were very strong and determined
Dev has left FishRoom.
Payara says: the cold water being prefereed is very variable...
There is a flash and bernieh appears!
Payara says: in the tropics there are two seasions
Payara says: rainy season and dry season..no more.  none of this
autumn or winter stuff
Roger gives the mic to horus.
Payara says: so, they will definitively adaept to drastic temp.
fluctuations
Payara asks: horus?
Horus asks: hi payara, sorry i missed the beginning of the mtg.
if this has been answered already, skip it. two things...lots of
leeches, parasites and what not where you werecollecting and B)
why are the wild ones so damn hard to keep alive according to
others i have spoken with?
Tizy has entered FishRoom!
Payara says: ok...question 1
Peter has left FishRoom.
Payara says: there are no leeches down there...
Horus gives the mic to roger.
Payara says: th
Roger gives the mic to chrish.
Zeide transports out of the room.
Payara says: I have yet to see ANY leech, small or large
Teresa has left FishRoom.
Payara says: ok..question B
Payara says: no...lies lies lies
Payara says: that one I caught outlived any other fish I have
ever kept
Chrish gives the mic to roger.
Roger gives the mic to horus.
Horus says: so the wild specimens are not inundated with nasty
creatures? wonder why so many people have a hard time keeping
these plecos then.
Horus gives the mic to roger.
Payara says: not the ones I've caught...no.. Maybe I was lucky
Lamptoae has left FishRoom.
Roger gives the mic to bard.
Bard exclaims: I have never had a probelm keeping f0
plecos..con't kill them with a stick!
Payara says: I have rarely seen any parasite on any fish...mostly
seen them on the piranhas
Roger says: Payara, why don't you tell us more about the other
specimins that you caught
Bard gives the mic to roger.
Payara says: ok..
Payara says: thx bard :)
Payara says: ok
Dwebb has entered FishRoom!
Payara says: well...like I said..these plecos were very active
andd territorial, quickly chasing away any other pleco which
would come near its domain
Dwebb transports into the room.
Payara says: Another trip I did a few yerars back was to a pond
on the western edge of Carcas
Payara says: inside a military complex so there was no pollution
or disturbace from being so close to the city
Bernieh leaves north
Payara says: rog will love the way these plecos were caught :)
Roger listens with baited breath
Payara says: i would walk around the pon looking for fallen palm
leaves in the water
Rgrmill has entered FishRoom!
Rgrmill appears in the room.
Payara says: upon finding one I would pull the HUGE leaf out of
the water with a large recepticle at my side
Chrish transports out of the room.
Dwebb transports out of the room.
Rgrmill leaves north
Payara says: and shake the leaf over the pan....tons of plecos
would fall out.  thousands of $$ in plecos in a kitchen pan
Bernieh enters
Payara says: mostly juvinile ones...
Payara says: these were similar to the 'mountain' pleco in that
they were brown with spots
Juanmi has entered FishRoom!
Payara says: but the body was darker and the spots were
considerably smaller
Roger gives the mic to bard.
Payara says: the dorsal fin wasn't as prominent and
Wearing a T-shirt with a big guapote on it, Juanmi appears!
Bard asks: where the spots lighter or darker?
Juanmi bows.
Payara says: protruding from the lips was a sort of mustache or
wisker
Payara says: darker spots, sorry
Payara says: I remind you all that to this day I have NO clue as
to what the names of the specimens are/were
Payara says: total enigma
Dwebb has left FishRoom.
Bard gives the mic to roger.
Payara says: at one time I was keeping 10g tanks absolutely
riddled with plecos.
Dwebb has entered FishRoom!
Payara says: I decided to release the vast majority into the tank
Payara says: gec asks if there are no books on Ven. fish
Payara says: there are, but like roger said, dif. types of plecos
are discovered every day and there is no way to accuratly keep up
with them
Dwaink has left via a broken connection.
Payara says: ok..I'll movce on to my latest specimens
Payara asks: any quetions?
Payara says: ok...it's clear then
Payara says: on my last trip I was able to get my hands on some
new plecos for
my tanks
Payara says: aprox. 4 to 5 new kindsM 
Sanjay has entered FishRoom!
Payara says: almost most of my pleco collecting takes place in
the shallow rivers of southern ven. approaching Colombia to the
south west and brazil to the south
Chrish has left FishRoom.
Payara says: ok....river #1
Shell leaves north
Payara says: this river is located aprox. 3 hrs from CCS to the
southeast
Gecko has left via a broken connection.
Payara says: it is very clear and it is mostly filled with sharp
rocks which make for a very turmulent current
Payara says: out of this river i was able to extract two very
peculiar and beautiful plecos
Payara says: specimen 1) measures 4in. in length.  Light grey
tone with whitish belly
Payara says: its body is covered with grey spots of a darker
tone...
Payara says: the spots are medium sized...
Payara says: it's belly has a rather large concetration of these
spots
Payara says: a unique feature in this fish is the fact that its
dorsal fin
Payara says: has a bright yellow color to it
Payara says: it has a very pronounced forehead and it's eyes are
unlike other plecos I've seen
Payara says: much like the eyes of a lizard and when peerd into,
a shade of electric blue can be seen...
Payara says: much like the green eyes of a cat or a dog
Payara says: that type of tone
Sanjay has left via a broken connection.
Payara says: the other specimen #2
Payara says: was NOT a pleco but it had the same type of sucker
mouth
Payara says: this fish is dark bwn and it has a very streamilned
body
Payara says: it's nose rteminds of that of a sturgeon
Bernieh leaves exit
Payara says: in fact, the fish looks like a small and chubby
sturgeon
Zeide has left via a broken connection.
Payara says: no bright colors or patterns...just wierd looking
Tizy has left via a broken connection.
Bernieh has left FishRoom.
Payara says: On yet another trip I was able to collect
Shell has left via a broken connection.
Payara says: a pleco much like your average cheap fishstore
plecostomus...dark brown with black spots all over
Payara says: only difference is that the spots are bordred with a
tint of blood red
Payara exclaims: a beaut!
Payara says: <to finish off>
Payara says: I will be collecting once again
Payara asks: bard asks how big?
Payara says: mine is about 6 to 7 in. long
Payara says: collecting in mid may/early june...who knows what
new stuff I will bring back to tell you about in my next meet
Payara says: thank you
Payara has left FishRoom.
Roger says: that won't work, Payara
Payara smiels
Payara exclaims: ACK!!
Gustavo laughs.
Payara catches his breath
Roger asks: does anyone have any questions?
Payara says: ok...ya'll can wake up now
Roger would like to remind everyone that he will be needin ghelp
from other volunteers to keep these meetings going
Roger says: ok, I'm going to deactivate the mics so we can get a
little more informal
Payara says: go 4 it
Roger says: thanks for everyone's attention, and another
wonderful and well attened meeting
Payara bows.
Roger says: and thank you Payara for volunteering (with a little
arm twisting) to tell us about your adventures
Payara smiels
Roger has released muting.
Roger says: you can all speak freely now

Below is an addendum that was added to the meeting after most people
had already left:

Payara says: this pleco is the strangest of all...
Payara says: it is of a very light grey color..nearing white with no spots
orspecles anywhere
Payara says: it is very flat
Payara says: especially at the head   
Payara says: it's tail is rather thick
Payara says: there is one awesome thing about it...
Speebo asks: thick which way?Payara says: its body is covered entirely by 
spines
Payara says: even the lips exhibit little spines or jagged edges
Payara says: I have noticed that this pleco is not as active as the other ones
Payara says: yet it is very domineering
Payara says: (sp?)
Payara says: it's eyes always appear to be looking at something
Payara says: unlike many plecos which look like they're staring into infinity
Payara says: as it gets older, the spines become more prominent
Payara exclaims: it is a real sight to see!
Payara asks: any <?> ?  
Payara asks: questions?
Speebo says: sounds neat
Payara says: oh, yeah...
Melissa asks: How long is it approx?
Payara says: roger thinks it might be a satan pleco
Payara says: my specimen is 5 inches at the moment
Payara says: seen one 6.5 in
Speebo asks: how long are the largest spines?
Payara says: umm....
Payara says: lemme think
Payara says: 1/2 cm