Turkey – Istanbul, 18-19 April 2009
For the first time Heiko Bleher has been invited to hold seminars in Turkey – on the Asian side of Istanbul in April, 2009. This unique and first-time-event to promote the aquarium hobby further in Turkey was sponsored by the Polish company TROPICAL and its distributor in Turkey, Mustafa Kahraman. They had printed a large poster (50×70), which was distributed in most of Turkey’s petshops and elsewhere around Istanbul. To find out more about this event go to the next page and You can also contact Mr. Mustafa Kahraman under www.neptun-fora.com or at info@neptun-fora.com, and consult also the TROPICAL’s website.
It was a real Turkish Delight to be invited by TROPICAL of Poland and Mustafa for this unique – first-time-event in Turkey. I am very greatful to Tadeusz Ogrodnik and to Mustafa Kahraman for this opportunity to show and tell Turkish Aquarists and petshop owners some of my life-time experience with aquarium fishes and plants. Below some photos of this event:
The venue took place in Elite Hotel of Istanbul’s Asian side
“Discus in nature – distribution, habitats, collecting and nutrition” was one of Heiko’s lectures
Biotope aquarium and how to do them correctly to nature was another one of the presentations
Mustafa (left) made the introduction and Güneyt Birol (right) was the kind translator
Over 200 people came from all over Turkey to listen to Heiko’s lectures and to ask questions for hours. Many of Bleher’s Discus, Volume I, Heiko had to sign, and over 200 Bleher’s Posters. Above the team of Mustafa Kahraman, Neptun-Fora Dis Tic. Ve Paz. A.S., TROPICAL’s Turkish distributor for 18 years already and Bekir (extreme left standing) of the TROPICAL company,
Poland. All the team was extremely helpful
The Turkish Discus Fan Club, and mainly by M. Celâlettin Askoy, the most famous Turkish Discus Breeder, presented Heiko with a fantastic traditional Turkish hand painted plate
On the last night in Istanbul Mustafa took Heiko to the most unique Dönerci Restaurant in the world: Ali Usta, an amazing place, where 100 employees work to serve the best Dönerci in the 4-floors high amazing building. Something to see and experience. That was the crown of the event.
Thank You Mustafa.
There has been a large poster printed (50×70), which has been distributed in most of Turkey’s petshops and elsewhere around Istanbul
Below the program of the seminars which took place
Saturday, April 18th, 2009:
1. Biotope aquariums and how to do them, correctly to nature
Heiko Bleher showed how fishes and plants live in nature, their mates and talked about their habitats and how to apply this in the best way to aquaria. He will explain how to decorate correctly the aquarium so the fishes feel “at home”, showed the present and future of this, the unique and the most beautiful hobby in the world so it can be appreciated even more serving its original educational purpose, often forgotten…
2. Aquatic plants in nature and in aquaria
In this seminar Bleher talked and showed in detail how aquarium plants grow in nature, their habitats and changes, which is an important factor about aquarium plants frequently overlooked. He showed what are real aquatic plants and what are not, and talked about the history and the evolution of aquarium plants and how to do it best in your home aquarium, as well as how it should be done in petshops, display aquariums and for educational purpose.
3. Discus in nature – distribution, habitats, collecting and nutrition
In this lecture Heiko Bleher showed the latest discoveries of the distribution of the genus Symphysodon, presented and explained the different habitats of the three known species throughout its distribution. He talked about the collecting in the past and present as well the amazing nutrition of discus in nature, which is quite different from anything known before his extensive research and publication, a result from over 320 Amazon expeditions.
Sunday, April 19th, 2009:
1. Biotope aquariums and how to do them, correctly to nature
Heiko Bleher showed how fishes and plants live in nature, their mates and talked about their habitats and how to apply this in the best way to aquaria. He explained how to decorate correctly the aquarium so the fishes feel “at home”, showed the present and future of this, the unique and the most beautiful hobby in the world so it can be appreciated even more serving its original educational purpose, often forgotten. And how to promote the nature biotope aquariums better.
2. Cichlids and discoveries in West and central Arica
In this seminar Heiko Bleher showed the amazing cichlids from West and Central Africa many of which he has discovered during the last four decades and introduced into the hobby worldwide (some bear his name). He showed an abstract of some of his 100plus Africa expeditions, the unique habitats of some species and in which environment they grow up, as well as how to apply this also to aquaria, including some of their nutrition in nature.
3. Expeditions to Central Asia with some similar aquatic habitats as in Turkey
Central Asia is a region larger than Australia (the 5th continent) and a geographic identity often misunderstood. Heiko Bleher has been doing research for fishes (including aquarium fish species) for the last 10 years in all of Central Asian countries, which most of them speak the Turkish-Language-family. There have been 500plus species recorded from that region but hardly ever a single one photographed or collected alive. The extreme expedition have all been made with his special built fish-collecting-vehicle.
Below are some comments to this event:
CAGDAS CEKI /BURSA :
Perfect ,incredible , extraordinary.What could be say more . He has spent almost 50 years for Discus and Amazonia and it was very good to lesson him .We have so many informations and need too much time to think and rewiew about these. Thanks to TROPICAL and NEPTUN-FORA for these organizations .
I am sharing some pictures with you:
http://img25.imageshack.us/gal.php?g=pict0783.jpg
Uygar SANAL, İSTANBUL:
One more thing , When Ali showed the pictures of wild Discus pairs which he has bought from Germany he didn’t wait Ali’s question and said “ Send me pictures I will give you some informations “ .Also he said “ Increase shadow and decrease pH to 4 and breeding capacity will be increased under MS 2002 . Could you tell me who can give these informations better than HEIKO ?
Erdal OZTURK / TRABZON:
This lexture was perfect form e and other discus lovers.We also met because of this organisation .We got very helpfull informations from HEIKO BLEHER . We are thankful to Tropical and Neptün-Fora.
Saadettin HATIPOGLU / ISTANBUL:
Thanks too much to Mr. Mustafa Kahraman who meet us with Heiko Bleher from me and all Turkish aquarists . This lexture was magnificent and fascinating. Real nature cutaways were perfect. Thanks again.
Cüneyt BUROL / ANKARA
First of all, it was a great honour for me to meet you in person and to assist you during your lectures in Istanbul. I am really grateful to Bora and Mustafa for giving me this opportunity.
All the information you had given were invaluable for me and I benefited very much on my behalf. I am looking forward to meet you again and listen you. Your lectures are a very hot topic on all the major Turkish aquarium/discus forums at the time being. I want to translate (again, translate! ) one of the opinions written about your lecture just to give you an idea:
«Perfect, unbelivable, extraordinary… What else can be said… It was an incredable experience. It was wonderful to listen to the Master who has dedicated more than his 50 years to discus and Amazonia. So much information has been loaded that it will take me some time to digest them. Thank you very much to Tropical and Neptun-Fora for this organization.»
Taken from the forum pages of www.discusfunclub.com.
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