Heiko Bleher has an almost endless selection for possible lectures and seminars, what the topic fresh and brackish water is concerned, as it has been with him his entire life – and in the 3rd. generation.
He can give a seminar of anyone of the order of Pisces, their family, or just of a single genus or species, as well as on aquatic plant (his grandfather is still considered to be the “father of aquatic plants”). Many of his seminars concern their natural habitat (which he researched in more than 160 countries), or their nutrition in nature and in the aquarium. Heiko lectures about fish diseases and treatments (from his more than 40 years of practical experience with millions of fishes he yearly imported, treated and sold to 86 countries – more than 5000 different aquarium fish species).
But his lectures are not limited to fishes and aquatic plants, but also to the actual status of the environment around the globe and the effects of global warming. In his archive of more than two million photos he holds probably the most extensive record of the destruction of tropical rain forests in all countries – past and present. He can talk about the useless construction of hydroelectric dams and show the consequences in nature, its flora and fauna, if that is in countries like Ghana, Mali, Brazil, if in Laos, China, Colombia or India – to name just a few. And Heiko has the most unique and up-dated record of the destruction of freshwater habitats worldwide – our most precious resources overlooked by many – including a record of all exotic introductions. He can document facts, which probably no media-report has ever captured, shown or recorded.
Most of the lectures and seminars Heiko has given around the world – in more than 80 countries – were about nature, expeditions, new and/or re- discovered species. (Over 6000 – of which some bear his name – he has managed to introduce into the aquarium hobby and public aquaria worldwide.) But he also talks and shows the natural habitats of aquatic animals and plants in all continents, including the chemical water parameters.
Heiko is also often asked to hold lectures and seminars on the development of the pet industry, past present and future – specially for the aquatic side of the industry. He lectures about the market share of fishes and their positive (as well as negative) influence, all over the world. His data book is full of statistics of the latter and being for three generations with the aquatic pet and plant business, gave him a unique feeling and prospective of its possibilities. He knows exactly its weak and strong points and how to succeed also in bad times. Many companies he consults and gives adequate advice for the future.
None of his lectures or his seminars he has presented twice, but if he is asked told hold them again, he will always update it to the newest discovery and knowledge…
Below one can find some of the above mentioned possible lectures and seminars – but not limited to – divided by categories. Each lecture or seminar lasts in average one hour – except for those mentioned otherwise:
2. Lectures by expeditions/field trips and discoveries
3. Lectures and seminars by fish orders – families
4. Lectures and seminars on aquatic plants
5. Lectures and seminars for students, apprentice, retailers
6. Lectures and seminars on certain fish groups
7. Lectures on explorations in specific continents and/or recent new discoveries
8. Lectures and seminars on global warming, destruction of primary rain forests
and possible improvements in each habitat/region/country
1. Lectures by country:
– For lectures by country please refere to the List of Expeditions and choose one
of over 110 different ones were Heiko made extensive research in its aquatic
habitats. But not only: he also recorded its people, their cultures and traditions
(past & present), its flora and fauna today, the environment, the habitats, and
also surveyed the man-made-destruction in detail as well as the global warming
effects in each one.
2. Lectures by expeditions/field trips and discoveries:
Oceania & Australasia
– Aru Archipelago and its new species;
– New Guinea: Papua New Guinea & Irian Jaya (a two hour presentation);
– Mamberamo – the largest swampland on Earth & discovery of new species;
– Vogelkop – Expeditions to the lake and rivers of the bird-head-peninsula of New Guinea;
– The southern Molluccas (a one and one half hour presentation);
– Waigeo – discovered by Wallace and hardly explored island;
– Batanta – an unexplored island;
– Misool Island and new discoveries;
– Kaimana and the Triton Bay – exploring the Lakes Kamaka & Lakamora;
– The Kai & Aru Islands – 100 years after the first discovery;
– Irian Jaya’s northern coast, past and present with new discoveries;
– The Kiunga and Oktedi Mining area and and the actual status of the Oktedi river
drainage;
– Unexplored lakes and caves of the Tabubil region, an area with the highest rainfall
on Earth;
– Popondetta and the Safia Valley – discoveries under native tribes;
– Mount Hagen, the Papua New Guinea-highlands and – Lake Kutubu, a
dream Lake;
– Lake Wanam and its endangered endemic rainbowfish species;
– Port Moresby and the Orient of Papua New Guinea with new findings;
– Vogelkop Peninsula – two trips to unexplored areas;
– Yakati on the birds-neck – an extraordinary expedition into the past;
– Bintuni Bay – the largest mangrove bay on earth with new discoveries;
– 10 days flying over Irian Jaya with an missionary plane that crashed;
– Wamena and the highlands of Irian Jaya – an extraordinary expedition;
– In search for the Tapini rainbowfish;
– The quest to recover Kiunga ballochi;
– Discovery of Kiunga bleheri;
– Central Sulawesi;
– Trans-Sulawesi – 5000 km of jungle roads (a one and one half hour);
– The re-discovery of Lake Lindu with its most unusual endemic fish;
– Lake Poso, Pendolo and the fight between Muslims and Christians;
– The Malili lakes in Central Sulawesi and its endemic species;
– Bali and the introduced exotics:
– Luzon and Laguna – the status of the largest freshwater lake in Asia;
– Lanao – the lake with many endemic species, which became extinct;
– Lake Taal, the lake in the lake – a unique aquatic environment worldwide;
– Mindoro Oriental & Mindo Occidental;
– Java – the island and its nature today;
– Flores today and its amazing tribes people with ancient traditions and culture;
– Bougainville and Buka – little known islands in the Pazific;
– Moorea and Bora Bora – the most beautiful island on Earth?
– Borneo and its destruction by Man – including new discoveries;
– Kalimantan Tengah discoveries;
– New Zealand – collecting all endemic and introduced species;
– New Caledonia today and its amazing fauna and vanishing flora and the
Kanaka tribes people;
– The fishes of New Caledonia – all freshwater species.
Asia (excluding Central Asia):
– Rare temperate fishes of Japan and Korea;
– Hong Kong and Guangzhou – fishes, breeders and market places;
– Collecting in the Guangxi Province;
– Unique Chinese and Mongolian fishes;
– Collecting in Lao;
– Untouched native tribes people in the mountains of the Vietnamese border;
– The search for the Mekong freshwater seahorse;
– Asia’s largest catfish extinct in nature due to over fishing;
– The first collecting of the amazing paradise fish in Indochina and its biology;
– Peninsula Malaysia today and Aqua Fair 2006;
– The first expeditions to Myanmar (former Burma);
– Exploring the Irrawaddy river with new discoveries;
– Darjeeling – and not only Tea;
– The remote Assam and its struggle;
– Westbengal and amazing fishes;
– Calcutta – the worst or most fascinating city on the planet;
– Bihar collecting and the Ganga river;
– From Mumbai to Trivandrum (a one and one half hour presentation);
– Rare and fascianting fishes from southern India;
– The destruction of the aquatic habitats and water ways of the Western Ghats;
– The amazing pollution of India’s rivers and lakes;
– Rhajastan and the fantastic desert of Indian and Pakistan;
– The Brahmaputra river basin and its history;
– Northeastern India Expedition;
– Nagaland – the land of the only Asian headhunters & new discoveries;
– Western Kalimantan – new discoveries & diamonds forever.
Central Asia (including Eurasia):
– The Pamirs – On Top of the World
– 1500 km along the Turkish Black Sea coast;
– Georgia and Azerbaijan today;
– Turkmenistan and the Caspian Sea;
– Karakom – the second largest desert on earth;
– Western Uzbekistan and Khiva;
– The Aral Sea – the largest man-made-disaster and its true story (a one and
one half hour presentation);
– The Syrdarya and what is left of it;
– The Amudarya and what man made of this once mighty river;
– Kazakhastan after the Soviet occupation;
– Almaty (Alma-Ata) – the most environment friendly city on Earth with its fascinating
mountain range;
– Eastern Kazakhstan and the Chinese border region;
– Bishkek, – capital city of Kyrgyzstan;
– God’s Land – Kyrgyzstan;
– Issy-kul – the second highest navigable lake on Earth;
– The valley of the unique Metzbacher lake and Pik Pobedy (7,500 m);
– The fishes of the high lakes of Kyrgyzstan;
– Kyrgyzstan and the toy game at 3000 m high;
– Tajikistan and Alexander the Great;
– The fascinating Iskander – a emerald green lake at 2,700 m with an amazing
fish species;
– The Dungan of Kyrgyzstan and Karakol.
Africa:
– Expeditions through West Africa (a two hour presentation);
– Southwestern Ethiopia and the Surma – untouched tribes people;
– Expedition into Ethiopia’s Rift Valley;
– Africa’s highest fishes and aquatic plants;
– The amazing Grand Canyon of Ethiopia;
– Along and down into the Ethiopian Rift valley;
– The southern most fish species of Africa;
– The Kimberley’s of South Africa;
– 9000 km across Mozambique (a two hour presentation);
– The hinterland of Mozambique and its unique flora and fauna;
– People, flora and fauna of Mozambique and Zimbabwe today;
– Southern Cameroon and Gabon – untouched;
– East Cameroon with amazing discoveries of fishes and plants;
– North Cameroon and its (dangerous) lakes;
– The quest to explore Lake Bemin (Bermin);
– Sierra Leone and Guinea in search for new cichlids & killis;
– Guinea, an amazing West African country, tribes people, flora & fauna;
– Senegal is drying up – global warming;
– Along the Niger river in Mali;
– Timbuktu with the president of Germany;
– 99 landings with Ghana’s presidents helicopter in northern Ghana;
– Western Ghana and its remaining rain forest;
– The fishes of the largest desert of planet Earth;
– 8000 km across the Sahara with the Heikomobil;
– Algeria today – a survey of the terrorist shaken country;
– Lake Victoria and its cichlids – past, present and future of the lake;
– Malawi – collecting around lake Malawi;
– Ivory Coast today – including its national parks and the capital city;
– Gambia – the river country and its flora and fauna today;
– The Senegal;
– Lake Tengrela in Burkina Faso and its fisherman culture;
– Lower Congo and its rapids – flora and fauna and its people;
– Lac Fwa – the dream lake, unique on Planet Earth;
– Ubangui river – an adventure and time in prison;
– Kananga and its rapids – culture and tradition of tribes people;
– Equateur – an rarely researched and collected region of central Africa;
– Expedition and journey along the mighty Congo river;
– The search for Phenacogrammus bleheri;
– Expedition to Central African Republic;
– Discovery of new dwarf cichlids in the Congo region;
– Angola after 30 years of civil war.
North America:
– Expedition across the southern states in search for the last pubfishes;
– Florida – aquatic habitats and its endemic species;
– North American cyprinids and their behavior;
– Chattanooga Aquarium, Tennessee – unique worldwide;
– The Death Valley and the survival of endemics;
– The Colorado river;
– New Mexico and Texas field trip;
Central America:
– Nicaragua Crater lakes Cichlids;
– Nicaragua Adventure;
– Collecting in Mexico in the early 1970s and in the 1980s;
– The lake Peten and the Tikal adventure;
– Honduras and Guatemala expedition;
– The fascinating ‘Cichlasoma’ tuba and its first live discovery;
– Costa Rica – virgin forest, flora and fauna and amazing fishes;
– Lake Nicaragua and its freshwater sharks;
– The Gap – the connection Panama-South America;
– Collecting new species in the Darién with the Chocó;
– Fishes of the Atlantic coast of Costa Rica and Panama;
– Discovering the Río Jaqué but its species already extinct;
– Finding the big green cichlid and freshwater sawfishes;
– The life of the Chocó indians;
– Central America discoveries (a one and one half hour presentation);
South America:
– The early days of Amazon discoveries (a one and one half hour presentation);
– Transamazonica 1975 (a one and one half hour presentation);
– Along the Brasilia-Belém in 1965 – before it was officially inaugurated;
– The history of Belém (former Pará) near the mouth of the Amazon;
– The Rio Xingú – past and present;
– The gigantic Rio Iriri – an untouched environment;
– Alenquer and Óbidos today;
– Exploring the Rio Trombetas and its rapids;
– The history of the Amazons and Nhamundá;
– The Uatumã and the Jatapu rivers and lakes;
– Nhamundá, Jatapu, Urubu and Rio Negro – the northern black water affluents
of the Amazon;
– Rio Negro – history of discovery – from Ferreira to Spruce;
– Barcelos and its Festival do Peixe Ornamental;
– Lago Amanã and Lago Anamã – two destinct Amazon lakes;
– San Ántonio do Içá and the hardly explored Rio Içá;
– Tabatinga and Leticia – Brazil-Colombia today;
– Iquitos, Peru – past and present;
– Rio Jutaí adventure;
– Alto Jutaí discoveries & collecting 400 green discus;
– Alto Aracá expedition to Brazil’s highest waterfall;
– Barefoot 100 km into virgin Amazon rainforest – were only a couple of white man
have penetrated so far;
– Eirunepé and the Juruá river;
– Igarapé Preto – 87 fish species in 4 cubic meter of water;
– Expedition into the unexplored Apaporis;
– Exploring the lower Caquetá and its environment;
– Rio Inirida Expedition;
– Indigenous Amazon tribes people commuting thousands of years prior Colombus
across the Oceans;
– History of Pre-Columbian South America;
– Coari region and the gas pipeline across the jungle;
– Rio Urucú today;
– Lago Aiapuá- past and present;
– The Lago Uauaçú expedition with new discoveries;
– The giant Lago Jari and the fishermen;
– Tapauá – history of a city along the Purus river;
– Discoveries along the black water Itaparaná and Ipixuna rivers;
– The Rio Madeira and its affluents;
– Rio Guaporé and Marmoré history of discovery;
– The Iténez and Amanda Bleher – richest river with aquatic vegetation worldwide;
– The second Transamazonica Expedition;
– Guajará-Mirim today and the Bolivian border town;
– Expedition along 1360 km down the Rio Guaporé – 43 years after Amanda Bleher
(a two hour presentation);
– The Brazilian Plateau – past and present;
– The Guyana-shield, its flora and fauna;
– Collecting in the Guyana’s with its native tribes;
– 7500 km across southern Brazil along thousands of kilometers of soja plantations;
– Status of the aquatic flora and fauna in Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul;
– Rondónia and Acre – the continuous Amazonian desiccation;
– The proof that over 30% of the Amazonian primary rainforest has disappeared
during the last 50 years and its reasons (a two hour presentation);
– The rios Uaupés, Içana and Xié;
– São Gabriel da Cachoeira and the Serra da Néblina;
– Lima and Peru – before and after Ché Gevarra;
– The Departamento Paco;
– The Departamento Huanuco;
– History of the discovery of the Neon tetra;
– Colombia and Venezuela – the early collections;
– Ecuador and the Jivaro – past and present history of the shrunk-head hunters;
– Across the Andes and new discoveries in south western Ecuador (a one and
one half hour presentation);
– Along the most dangerous highway on Earth in Bolivia;
– Lake Titikaka and its amazing history and discovery;
– The Altiplano and its history;
– The Bolivian Amazon region;
– On the traces of Nathan Everett Pearson in Bolivia;
– Paraguay and the Chaco;
– Calafate and Perito Moreno, Argentina;
– San Martin de los Andes and Bariloche;
– Chile after Pinochet;
– Tierra del Fuego and the offshore oil drilling.
Europe:
– Coastal rivers of Croatia;
– Estonia after the Soviet occupation;
– Field trip in southern Finland;
– Southern Italy – la bella Italia;
Middle East:
– Field trip in the United Arabian Emirates;
– Collecting in Central and South-Western Iran;
3. Lectures and seminars by fish orders – families:
(most of them limited to fresh and brackish water forms)
– CARCHARHINIFORMES – Caracharhinidae;
– PRISTIFORMES – Pristidae [Pristididae];
– MYLIOBATIFORMES – Dasyatidae [Dasyatididae] and Potamotrygonidae;
– CERATODONTIFORMES – Ceratodontidae;
– LEPIDOSIRENIFORMES – Lepidosirenidae and Protopteridae;
– POLYPTERIFORMES – Polypteridae;
– ACIPENSERIFORMES – Acipenseridae and Polydontidae;
– LEPISOSTEIFORMES [SEMIONOTIFORMES] – Lepisosteidae;
– AMIIFORMES – Amiidae:
– OSTEOGLOSSIFORMES – Osteoglossidae, Arapaimidae, Pantodontidae,
Hiodontidae and Notopteridae;
– MORMYRIFORMES – Mormyridae and Gymnarchidae;
– ELOPIFORMES – Eleopidae Megalopidae;
– ALBULIFORMES – Albulidae;
– ANGUILLIFORMES – Anguillidae, Murenidae, Ophichthidae [Ophichthyidae,
Ophichthydae], Congridae;
– CLUPEIFORMES – Clupeidae, Engraulididae and Pristigasteridae;
– CHARACIFORMES – all 19 families [only 14 families by recent authors];
– SILURIFORMES – all 34 recognized families;
– GYMNOTIFORMES – Gymnotidae, Sternopygidae, Rhamphichthyidae,
Hypopomidae, Apternotidae and Electrophoridae;
– GONORYNCHIFORMES – Gonorinchidae, Kneridae and Phractolaemidae;
– CYPRINIFORMES – Cyprinidae, Psilorhynchidae, Gyrinocheilidae,
Catostomidae, Cobitidae and Balitoridae [Homalopteridae];
– ESOCIFORMES – Esocidae and Umbridae;
– OSMERIFORMES – Osmeridae, Salangidae, Sundasalangidae, Retropinnidae,
Lepidogalaxidae and Galaxiidae;
– SALMONIFORMES – Salmonidae;
– AULOPIFORMES – Synodontidae;
– PERCOPSIFORMES – Percopsidae, Aphredoderidae and Amplyopsidae;
– OPHIDIFORMES – Bythitidae;
– BATRACHOIDIFORMES – Batrachoididae;
– MUGILIFORMES – Mugilidae;
– ATHERINIFORMES – Atherinidae, Bedotiidae, Melanotaeniidae,
Pseudomugilidae, Telmaterinidae, Dentatherinidae and Phallostetidae;
– BELONIFORMES – Adrianichthyidae, Belonidae and Hemiramphidae;
– CYPRINODONTIFORMES – Profundulidae, Fundulidae, Valenciidae,
Anablepidae, Poeciliidae, Goodeidae and Cyprinodontidae;
– GASTEROSTEIFORMES – Gasterosteidae, Syngnathidae
[SYNGNATHIFORMES by some] and Indostomidae;
– SYNBRANCHIFORMES – Synbranchidae, Chaudhuriidae and Mastacembelidae;
– SCORPAENIFORMES – Aplocatinidae, Platycephalidae, Cottidae, Comephoridae
and Abyssocottidae;
– PERCIFORMES – Centropomidae, [Latidae partim], Chandidae [Ambassidae],
Moronidae, Percichthydae, Centrachidae, Percidae, Apogonidae, Sillangidae,
Carangidae, Lutjanidae, Lobotidae, Gerreidae, Haemulidae [Pomadasyidae],
Sparidae, Centracanthidae [Maenidae], Polynemidae, Sciaenidae,Mullidae,
Monodactylidae,Toxotidae, Nandidae [Polycentridae],, Badidae, Arripidae,
Terapontidae [Therapontidae], Kuhliidae, Elassomatidae, Cichlidae (America,
Africa and India), Emboitocidae, Pomacentridae, Zoarchidae, Bovichthyidae,
Cheimarrichthyidae, Uranoscopidae, Tripoterygiidae, Dactyloscopidae,
Blenniidae, Gobiesocidae [GOBIESOCIFORMES by some], Rhyacichthyidae,
Odontobutidae, Eleotrididae [Eleotridae], Gobiidae, Kraemeriidae, Kurtidae,
Scatophagidae, Siganidae, Luciocephalidae, Anabantidae, Helostomatidae,
Belontiidae , Osphronemidae, Channidae [CHANNIFORMES by some];
– PLEURONECTIFORMES – Achiridae, Paralichthyidae, Pleuronectidae,
Soleidae and Cynoglossidae;
– TETRAODONTIFORMES – Tricanthidae, Balistidae, Tetraodontidae.
4. Lectures and seminars on aquatic plants:
– 5000 years of history of pond and aquarium plants;
– Aquatic plants in nature, how they grow emers and submers and their habitats
worldwide – in temperate, semi-temperate and in tropical zones;
– True aquatic plants were and how they grow and the best way to grow them
in aquariums;
– Aquarium plants and fishes – what is best? Suggestions for authentic biotope
aquariums.
– Echinodorus – history of discovery, its distribution and growth in nature as well
as their new taxonomy and which species are best for aquariums;
– Completely new and extreme rare plants – unknown beauties for the aquarium;
– Discovery and re-discovery of new and rare aquatic plants for the aquarium
and best way to grow them.
– Flowering aquarium plants;
– Non aquarium plants – plants to be eliminated from any aquarium;
– History of the father of aquarium plants Adolf Kiel – my grandfather.
5. Lectures and seminars for students, apprentice, retailers and wholesalers
of live stock:
– The evolution of fishes;
– The evolution of the aquarium hobby – the last 50,000 years;
– When did the first glass-aquarium appear and how did it mature;
– The first aquarium plants (Wasserpflanzen) appeared in Germany and were
send all over the world – a seminar about the birth of aquarium plants and
their story;
– The (real) history of the gold fish;
– The history of Nishigikoi (koi-carp) and the HIV-problems worldwide and natural
possible solutions;
– History of aquarium fishes during the last 150 years – from temperate to tropical;
– The history of collecting fishes worldwide;
– Fish breeding and plant cultivating around the world and which percentage goes
to aquarium vs. wild species collected;
– How fishes (and plants) live in nature and what is the best way to acclimatize and
keep them in the aquarium – new and easy methods (Heiko suggests that such a
seminar should be done in sequences and first subdivided in:
– Temperate and Tropical, and than in continents as:
– Europe; Africa; Asia, Australasia; South America, Central America; North America
and Oceania;
– Large schooling fishes vs. smaller groups – an very important message for the
shopkeeper and aquarist;
– Authentic biotope aquarium vs. Takashi Amano’s beautiful aquarium decorations
and Dutch aquascape;
– Display aquariums in pet shops and how to do them;
– How to attract customers and promote the most beautiful hobby in the world;
– Aquarium decorations according to the inmates and their natural habitat – the most
important fact for successful aquarium and long lasting customers;
– Temperature and water parameters for the most important fish (and plant) groups;
– How to keep discus in a petshop, how to feed and maintain them correct and
successfully (in most petshops done wrong – globally);
– Where to buy your (best and healthy) fishes around the world (Heiko knows almost
every collector, shipper and/or trans-shipper and has a life-time experience with
imports and the quarantine methods around the world);
– Problem fishes – what to buy, how to keep and promote them correctly, which
species to avoid and those which are banned (prohibited to buy);
– Individual filter systems vs. central filter systems;
– Waters of the world – important for fishes and plants – their composition and
parameters;
– The light-systems: adequate light and how to illuminate your aquarium in the shop
and at home the best way;
– Precaution to take in the petshop as well as at the home (or public) aquarium to
have healthy fish and plants – and satisfied customers;
– Past, present and future of the aquarium hobby worldwide and what do to
improve it;
– International regulations and quarantine laws.
6. Lectures and seminars on certain fish groups:
Cichlids:
– Cichlids of Nicaragua
– History and evolution of the family Cichlidae – including their taxonomy
and associations;
– Central and South South American Dwarf cichlids;
– West and Central African dwarf cichlids;
– Cichlids of Madagascar and southern India;
– North and Central American cichlids;
– South American cichlids;
– Large Central & South Americcan cichlids;
– Angelfishes – described and undescribed species;
– The history of the real Pterophyllum altum vs. Pterophyllum scalare;
– The African Rift Lake cichlids;
– New cichlids from Africa;
– New cichlids from South America;
– Which cichlids to keep together;
– Discus and angelfishes and their best tank mates;
– Wild discus vs. tank breed discus (same for angelfishes and others);
– Rare and difficult to keep cichlids;
– Tilapine and saltwater adapted cichlids;
– Iranocichla, a unique cichlid species from Iran – its biology;
– Breeding of cichlids.
Characoids (tetras):
– History and evolution of the characoid families – including their taxonomy
and associations;
– Community and schooling species and what to keep with what;
– African characoids;
– South and Central American characoids;
– Difficult characoids and how to keep them;
– Correct environment for neon and cardinal tetras, how many to keep and density
as well as adequate nutrition information – and how many species there are;
– Predatory characoids and their maintenance;
– Breeding of characoids.
Catfishes:
– History and evolution of catfishes – including their taxonomy and associations;
– South and Central American catfishes;
– North American catfishes;
– African catfishes;
– Asian catfishes;
– Australasian and catfishes in Oceania;
– Brackish and saltwater catfishes;
– Family Loricariidae – the plecos & co.;
– Rare and hardly kept catfishes;
– New catfishes and species endangered;
– The poison of different catfish species;
– How to keep catfishes correctly in the aquarium – something done frequently
wrong;
– Adaptation of catfishes to unknown habitats and their survival methods;
– Breeding of catfishes.
Killis(annual fishes) and livebearers :
– History of killi-fishes and their taxonomy and associations;
– African killi-fishes;
– South, Central and North American killis;
– Asian killi-fishes;
– Killi-fishes of the Middle East;
– Threatened killis and extinct species in nature;
– New discoveries in South America;
– New discoveries in Africa;
– Breeding of killi-fishes.
– Guppies – their taxonomy, history, distribution, nutrition, how and with what
to keep in an community-aquarium, the breeding, man-made-variants and
associations;
– Swordtails and Platys – their taxonomy, history, distribution, nutrition, how
and with what to keep in an community aquarium, the breeding and
man-made-variants;
Rainbowfishes & Blue-eyes – Melanoateniidae & Pseudomugilidae
– Rainbowfishes, history, taxonomy, biology and distribution;
– Blue-eyes, history, taxonomy, biology and distribution;
– Rainbowfishes of Australasia;
– Rainbowfishes & Blue-eyes of the Aru Archipelago;
– Rainbowfishes of the Vogelkop Peninsula;
– Rainbowfishes of Iran Jaya (West Papua);
– Rainbowfishes of Papua New Guinea;
– Rainbowfishes and Blue-eyes of Australia;
– Rainbowfishes of Madagascar (Betotidae);
– Rainbowfishes of Sulawesi (Telmatherinidae);
– Breeding behaviour of Rainbowfishes & Blue-eyes;
– New discoveries of Rainbowfishes & Blue-eyes.
Labyrinth fishes (Anabantoids):
– History of Anabantoids, their recent taxonomy and associations;
– Gouramis – distribution and species of this group with new discoveries;
– The Bettas – history, distribution and new findings;
– Macropodus – one of the first aquarium fishes, its distribution, habitats and
diversity;
– African Anabantoids;
– Asian Anabatoids;
– Adaptation of Anabantoids to unique habitats;
– Collecting Kholisha in India and their history;
Snakeheads (Channa and Parachana):
– History of snakeheads, their taxonomy and associations in the net;
– The genus Channa – its distribution, recent new discoveries and habitats;
– The African genus Parachanna, distribution and habitat;
– The survival and unique behavior and their adaptation to strange
environments – one of Asia’s most important food fishes;
– Breeding of snakeheads.
Strange, rare and oddballs in the aquarium:
– Stingrays – some of the very popular fishes for aquarium in the last decades –
taxonomy, distribution, species (also prohibited species), maintenance, food
and breeding;
– Elephant fishes (mormyriforms) – their taxonomy, distribution, maintenance,
food and breeding;
– Freshwater and brackish water puffers – their taxonomy, distribution, habitats,
nutrition and which species to keep in aquarium;
– Knifefishes (gymnotiforms) – their taxonomy, distribution, habitats, very strange
behaviour, nutrition, maintenance and breeding;
– Loaches – taxonomy, distribution, habitats, behaviour, nutrition, maintenance
and breeding;
– Barbs (only those kept and adequate for aquariums) – the taxonomy of the family
Cyprinidae, distribution, habitats, nutrition, best maintenance and communities,
breeding results;
– Arowanas (osteoglossids) – their taxonomy, distribution, habitats, adaptations,
variants, maintenance, nutrition and breeding;
– Freshwater pipefishes and seahorses – their taxonomy, distribution, habitats,
maintenance, nutrition and breeding;
– Freshwater soles – their taxonomy, distribution, habitats, maintenance,
nutrition and breeding.
– Freshwater Sawfishes – taxonomy of the order Pristiformes and its species,
distribution, biology and discoveries.
– Blind cave fishes of the world.
7. Lectures on explorations in specific continents and/or
recent new discoveries:
– Collecting and discoveries in South America – with highlights of new aquarium
fishes and plants during the last 50plus years of research by Heiko Bleher
(a 2-3 hour presentation with intermission/break);
– Collecting and discoveries in Brazil – with highlights of new aquarium fishes and
plants during the last 50plus years of research by Heiko Bleher and family
(a 3-hour presentation with an intermission/break);
– Collecting and discoveries in Central and North America – with highlights
of new aquarium fishes during the last 40 years of research by Bleher
(a two hour presentation with an intermission/break);
– Collecting and discoveries in Africa – with highlights of new aquarium fishes
and plants during the last 40 years of research by Heiko Bleher (a 2.5 hour
presentation with an intermission/break);
– Collecting and discoveries in West and Central Africa – with highlights of new
aquarium fishes and plants during the last 40plus years of research by Heiko
Bleher (a 2-3 hour presentation with an intermission/break);
– Collecting extensively in Ethiopia (4 field trips) – with discoveries of new
species and incredible tribes people researched by Heiko Bleher (a 2-3 hour
presentation with an intermission/break);
– Collecting and discoveries in former Portuguese African countries (Cameroon,
Angola, Mozambique) – with highlights of new aquarium fishes and plants during
the last decades of research by Heiko Bleher (a 2-3 hour presentation with
intermission/break);
– Collecting and discoveries in Southeast Asia – with highlights of new aquarium
fishes during the last decades of research by Heiko Bleher (a 2-3 hour
presentation with intermission/break);
– Collecting and discoveries in South Africa and Mozambique – with highlights
of new aquarium fishes and plants researched by Heiko Bleher (a 2 hour
presentation with intermission/break);
– Collecting in the Northeast of India – with may new discoveries and highlights
of adaptation to extreme water temperature (a 1-2 hour presentation);
– Collecting and discoveries in Australasia – with highlights of new aquarium
fishes and plants during the last 30plus years of research by Heiko Bleher
(a 3 hour presentation with an intermission/break);
– Collecting and discoveries in Australia – with highlights of beautiful aquarium
fishes and plants during the last 30plus years of research by Heiko Bleher
(a 2-3 hour presentation with an intermission/break);
– Collecting and discoveries on the world’s second largest island of New Guinea –
with highlights of new aquarium fishes during the last 30plus years of research
by Heiko Bleher (a 2.5 hour presentation with intermission/break);
– Collecting and discoveries in Papua New Guinea – with highlights of new
aquarium fishes during the last 30 years of research by Heiko Bleher (a 2
hour presentation with intermission/break);
– Collecting and discoveries in Irian Jaya, Indonesia – with highlights of new
aquarium fishes during the last 30 years of research by Heiko Bleher (a 2-3
hour presentation with intermission/break);
– Collecting and discoveries in many States of India – with highlights of new
aquarium fishes during the last 30 years of research by Heiko Bleher (a 2-3
hour presentation with intermission/break);
– Collecting in the Far East (Japan, Korea, Hong Kong and China) – with
highlights of beautiful (mostly temperate) aquarium fishes researched by
Heiko Bleher (a 2 hour presentation with an intermission/break);
– Collecting and discoveries in Central Asia – with highlights of very interesting
(temperate) aquarium fishes during the last 20 years of research by Heiko
Bleher (a 2-3 hour presentation with intermission/break);
– Collecting and discoveries in the Middle East – with highlights of amazing
adaptation of fishes to almost unbelievable temperatures and chemical water
parameters (a 1.5 hour presentation);
– Collecting fishes between 3000 and 4500 metres above Sea level, on the
Top of the World in never before explored regions and habitats
(a 1-2 hour presentation);
– Collecting and discoveries in 5. Continents – with highlights of new aquarium
fishes and plants during the last 50plus years of research by Heiko Bleher and
family (a 2-3 hour presentation with an intermission/break);
8. Lectures and seminars on global warming, destruction of primary rain forests
and possible improvements in each habitat/region/country:
South America:
– Amazon region report – giant deforestation for Soya-plantations, cattle ranching
(in both Brazil is now the largest global producer) – updated to 2007:
– Rondonia and Acre report – the entire state is desiccating, almost desert-like –
updated 2006;
– Lower Amazon region report – deforestation unlimited – updated 2006:
– Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, devastating report on man-made
destruction of nature by the world’s largest Soya-plantations;
– Roraima, Brazil, report – desiccating state – updated to 2007;
– São Paulo and Rio Tieté – Brazil’s most contaminated river-bed –
updated report 2006;
– Bolivian Amazon region report – due to giant cattle farms (as in Mato Grosso) all
trees are history – updated to 2007;
– Peru, Paco and Huanuco Departemento report – giant corn plantations along the
rivers and continuous deforestation;
Central America:
– The Darién, Panama, ruthless deforestation, 2000;
– Nicaragua report – desiccating;
– Guatemala report – desiccating;
– Mexico report – Yucatan and elsewhere (specially also in the northern part)
desiccating.
Africa:
– West Africa report – due to endless deforestation and giant palm-oil plantations
most countries now desiccating – updatred 2007;
– Algeria report – the Sahara advances 50 km per year south;
– Senegal report – the Senegal river with very little water left – desiccating;
– Gambia report – the Gambia drying up;
– Guinea report – massive deforestation non-stop, giant desiccating taking place;
– Sierra Leone and Liberia report – endless deforestation day and night;
– Ivory Coast report – national parks almost tree-less by now and giant desiccation
in the north;
– Ghana report – desiccation in northern Ghana, the 3 Voltas (rivers) dried up;
– Cameroon report – deforestation in the south and east non-stop, all the protected
wildlife eaten by the natives;
– Mali report – largest west African freshwater lake already dry (disappeared) since
the 1980s;
– Democratic Republic of Congo report – nonstop deforestation (and killing wildlife
for food);
– Republic of Congo report – also deforestation without an end in sight and killing of
ll wildlife (for food);
– Angola report – most of its large rivers are dry;
– Mozambique report – Limpobo river almost dry and many other river beds – most
people have no access to water;
– South Africa report – southern rivers dry and partly destroyed and contaminated;
– Ethiopia and Sudan report – desiccation advances fast;
– Burkina Faso report – the Sahara has reached this country already.
Middle East:
– Iran and the Strait of Homouz drying up completely, almost not to believe;
– UAE and its disappearing wadis.
Asia (except Central Asia):
– India report – giant desiccation in the south and of 37 rivers and lakes 35 aquatic
habitats were contaminated – updated 2007;
– Myanmar report – giant desiccation and the Irrawaddy drying up;
– Thailand report – a tree-less country by now, giant desiccation;
– Laos report – giant desiccation due to Thailand now tree-less – updated 2007;
– Malaysia peninsula report – almost the entire peninsula planted with
palm-oil-trees and Hevea brasiliensis (rubber trees) – updated 2007;
– Borneo report – non-stop deforestation to supply wooden furniture for the
tree-less Australia’s (and other countries demand) – updated 2007;
– Western Kalimantan report – new roads built for logging companies and endless
deforestation of the remaining primary rainforest, also for palm-oil plantation and
rubber trees – updated 2007;
– Indonesia report – updated 2007 for: Kai Islands, Aru islands, Misool island,
Waigeo island, Sulawesi island, Irian Jaya – all regions, Java, Sumatera; giant
deforestation for palm-oil plantations everywhere and shrimp farming, as well as
aquaculture and endless introductions of exotic species;
– China report – contamination in every single river and lake, probably together with
India the most polluted environment on planet Earth (followed by Indonesia)
and updated 2006;
– South Korea report – desiccation throughout the northern part.
Central Asia:
– Tajikistan report – un-proceeded desiccation – updated in 2007;
– Kyrgyzstan report – introduction of exotic species everywhere – updated 2006;
– Uzbekistan report – desiccation endless due to the Aral Sea disaster –
updated 2006;
– Kazakhstan report – un-believeable desiccation due to the Aral Sea disaster and
continuous oil-spill in the northern Caspian Sea – updated 2006;
– Turkmenistan report – desiccation due to the Aral Sea and contamination of
he entire southern Caspian Sea due to continuous oil-spill;
– Azerbaijan report and Caspian Sea disaster – endless oil-spill, everywhere
along the Caspian Sea and inland;
– The dead Aral Sea report updated 2007.
Australia:
– Northern territories report – desiccation and cane toads everywhere –
updated 2007;
– Queensland report – desiccation and cane toads everywhere;
– South Australia report – desiccation without hold;
– Central Australia report – almost no water anywhere left, from about 900 springs,
only 3 carry water – updated 2007.
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