Go Jump in a Lake! Freshwater Fish!

[Halichoeres]

really realy nice models! I think the Japanese fish figurines are te best. Takara just has released a new set of fish, I am sure you willl heve seen. :-)

Actually, I don't think I am familiar with it! I'd be interested in learning more.

this Takara set (all marine) looks like a re-release, but Sean will know for sure:

http://toypara.com/catalog.cgi?products/gasya/zukan/kaisui2008.html

Oh, I have seen that set, I just didn't know it was Takara. Thanks for the info! I only collect the medium-sized clade I study, and none of the living species is marine.

[Halichoeres]

The least interesting part of this set, for me, is the leucistic neon tetra (Paracheirodon innesi). It's one of several captive strains of neon that you can get in the pet trade.



The pigmented eye tells me it's leucistic, although breeders also offer albino neons. Bandai's paint job does a pretty decent job of capturing the pearly sheen of a leucistic individual.



At least the aquarium-gravel base makes more sense for these. This is not a variety found in nature.

[sbell]

really realy nice models! I think the Japanese fish figurines are te best. Takara just has released a new set of fish, I am sure you willl heve seen. :-)

Actually, I don't think I am familiar with it! I'd be interested in learning more.

this Takara set (all marine) looks like a re-release, but Sean will know for sure:

http://toypara.com/catalog.cgi?products/gasya/zukan/kaisui2008.html

Oh, I have seen that set, I just didn't know it was Takara. Thanks for the info! I only collect the medium-sized clade I study, and none of the living species is marine.

I do know about that series! I only have the cutlassfish...Not sure if they are re-releasing it using the same bases and peg-system (instead of holes, the fish I have is held by a clear 'claw' around the body).

For the most part, I collect freshwater fish, and generally more unusual/primitive ones--but the cutlassfish is unusual enough! I am glad that this one is back out, but I would prefer a new series of new species myself!

[Halichoeres]

Another characin paint scheme from the Bandai series, the green neon tetra Paracheirodon simulans:



The two P. innesi figures come on gravel bases, but the other three come on a base of some indistinct aquatic greenery, maybe a mat of algae.



The green neon looks blue from some angles and green from others, but the figure just looks straight blue. Perhaps to make it easier to distinguish it from the other Paracheirodon species in the set, they've left the red out almost entirely.



Not too shabby a figure. The only version of this species that I'm aware of.

[Halichoeres]

The last characin paint job from the Bandai set is the cardinal tetra Paracheirodon axelrodi. The cardinal tetra has a huge broad stripe of red below the lateral line, hence its common name.



Another one on a grassy base. This is one of the better looking paint jobs because the red of the cardinal tetra isn't iridescent and doesn't get diminished when rendered in plastic. The blue on the figure doesn't have any iridescence but it's not as noticeable with all that red.



The cardinal tetra is roughly life size. If you put these in a tank you might be able to fool someone.



I'm pretty happy with this set overall, despite the lack of adipose fins. The Characoidei is one of those incredibly diverse--by vertebrate standards--groups where only a smidgen have been made into figures. Unlike the Cypriniformes, which live in toy-making regions like the US, Japan, and Europe, the characins are almost exclusively tropical, which no doubt contributes to their scarcity as figures (not a lot of big toy companies in Brazil or the DRC, so far as I know). It's a pity, moreover, that the few that have been made are common aquarium fish, where the actual live animal is only a few dollars more expensive than the figure. Maybe someday some company will really explore all the weirdness of tropical ostariophysans (I know, I know, Toy Fish Factory, but honestly I haven't been impressed by those so far).

[sbell]

I've honestly never pursued much of this set, but your photos and descriptions make it seem more worthwhile (I have one of the cory cats, that's it). If I can find a really good price when the budget allows (currently awaiting the two new Favorite Ancient fish, so saving for that!)

It is a strange thing that despite their familiarity tetras, etc aren't made often as toys--other than this Bandai set there is the Marmit set with a few, and I think a couple of Kaiyodo ones or Takara ones or something.

Also, piranhas excluded as well! Although, honestly, even then it feels like there should be more piranha figures...

[Halichoeres]

I've honestly never pursued much of this set, but your photos and descriptions make it seem more worthwhile (I have one of the cory cats, that's it). If I can find a really good price when the budget allows (currently awaiting the two new Favorite Ancient fish, so saving for that!)

It is a strange thing that despite their familiarity tetras, etc aren't made often as toys--other than this Bandai set there is the Marmit set with a few, and I think a couple of Kaiyodo ones or Takara ones or something.

Also, piranhas excluded as well! Although, honestly, even then it feels like there should be more piranha figures...

Yeah, I think they're worth hunting down if for no other reason than the Tucano. Most of the rest are duplicated in the Marmit set, with adipose fins.

And like any other clade, the big carnivorous members are more likely to be toys. The piranha family is definitely the best-represented characoid family, but until there's a good pacu and a good silver dollar I'll still consider it deficient!

If I were dreaming up a characin series, it would require a lot more molds, to show their morphological variation: a Tarumania, an alestid or two, a dogtooth, a serrasalmid, a bryconid, a Charax or Roeboides, a pencilfish, a freshwater hatchetfish. Not so cost-effective as the Bandai set.

[Takama]

Devils hole Pupfish

[Badger]

I only found out about the existence of this figure earlier on the day you posted this 

Looks nice, one of the few Yowies I actually like (although I do think the USA line in general is higher quality than the Australia and UK lines).

[sbell]

This is the only one that I have on purpose (the fennec fox was sent along as well, just because). It's a great figure, it's too bad that they keep leaving fish out of their release lines.

[bmathison1972]

This is the only one that I have on purpose (the fennec fox was sent along as well, just because). It's a great figure, it's too bad that they keep leaving fish out of their release lines.

at least you got something this time ;-). None of the US line has any arthropods. Not surprising since they seem to be focusing on endangered species.

[AnimalToyForum]

I updated the topic title. 

[sbell]

I updated the topic title. 

Thanks--but I should have updated here anyway, since I eventually figured out exactly where it came from!

http://www.marsheducation.org/?page_id=75

I personally have the full set of 6, but they're not easy to get now otherwise. They are properly the Marsh Education line, produced as an exclusive series for them by Safari Ltd.

[bmathison1972]

I updated the topic title. 

Thanks--but I should have updated here anyway, since I eventually figured out exactly where it came from!

http://www.marsheducation.org/?page_id=75

I personally have the full set of 6, but they're not easy to get now otherwise. They are properly the Marsh Education line, produced as an exclusive series for them by Safari Ltd.

you still owe us a comprehensive review or more walkarounds 

[stargatedalek]

In our collecting many of us, especially those whose focus lies outside the usual "African Safari" cast members, will find ourselves drawn to novelties, children's toys, or other animal related products from a species completionist perspective. While that wasn't the case here, it is where most of the collector interest in things like fishing lures would lie.

I'm going to be reviewing a number of fishing products from a collecting perspective over the coming days, and most of them will be less than glowing, so I thought I should start with a stand out gem. The Lunkerhunt Bento is by all accounts an incredible surprise, and shining example of what unconventional figures can bring to the table.



The package backing reads;
"Designed to perfection, the Lunkerhunt Bento is one of the most realistic baitfish imitators on the market. The Bento features a lively tapered split tail, holographic core, and biologically correct detailing. All of these elements are incorporated into a soft yet durable body construction that enables the Bento to come to life with the slightest movement."

It's not marketed at a species level, but I think the best ID is a juvenile feeder goldfish (presumably a common goldfish or comet goldfish), as opposed to a gold white cloud minnow, golden shiner, or fathead minnow. The mold is fairly stylized and was used for a number of colour variations, so unfortunately an ID is likely trivial in this example.




I purchased this set along several other brands to compare and hopefully find some that would be appropriate for us as "props" in dioramas. I thought something that looked like feeder goldfish would be perfect for the role.

The package wasn't wrong when it described these as durable, many rubber fishing lures are surprisingly fragile because of reflective foil reaching the surface of the plastic, the eyes are often poorly glued on top, and paint is an afterthought. Lunkerhunt has avoided all of these problems by placing the entire assembly deep within the rubber body of the lure, nothing is touching the surface, even the eyes are embedded inside. The downside is that there are small air bubbles within, but that is far from the only part of these that looks off on close inspection.

Despite lacking all fins but the tail, they are decently convincing even up close (convincing as dead fish that is), and when partially obscured in the jaws of an appropriately sized predator I imagine they will make for some great photographs.

I highly recommend these to anyone seeking feeder fish stand-ins for photography or for making your own play sets to go with a hungry plastic pet.





Some fishing lures are sold already with hooks in them, and are not appropriate for children unless these are first removed. Use your own discretion but be careful. Pets may also attempt to eat them.

[stargatedalek]

Unlike those Lunkerhunt I reviewed last night, LIVETARGET products are anything but generic. They have a large range of baitfish, small sportfish, and frogs, most of them recognizable and many of them marketed to a species level. The threadfin shad is available in 3 1/2" (pictured) and 4 1/2", but many of the larger fish range above 6 inches.



Threadfin shad are small plankton feeding freshwater fish found on the East coast of the United States, and introduced throughout much of the United States. Their range has also expanded due to warming temperatures. It would be a stretch to call them invasive however given they don't compete with any other fish species in these habitats and provide an easily accessible food source for larger fish.

The LIVETARGET threadfin shad unfortunately comes pre-rigged, meaning it's going to require an operation to remove that massive hook. It also has a "mechanical" plastic form on its tail to give it a swimming motion in water. It's one solid piece of rubber, painted, and the eyes are glued on top, that being said the paint hasn't given me any issues yet and the eyes seem to have a coating of some additional sealant on top of them keeping them secure.





The tail is an easy tweak, any pair of small scissors or cutters will do. Assuming you have a good pair of metal cutters or a very good pair of wire cutters, the hook shouldn't give you much trouble either. You just slide the fish back along the hook starting from the exposed end by about a half an inch and then snip, this ensures the sharp end where you cut it is out of reach and won't pose any hazard for handling it.

Where I goofed was in trying to remove the loop from the fishes belly. I ended up with a very sharp piece of thick metal sticking out of the fish, and in order to actually get in deep enough to cut it off I did considerable damage to the fish. I recommend just putting up with those little loops. I filled the whole using super glue mixed with white paint, then coated the spot again in glue to seal it, rather than using normal paint sealant. It doesn't look very pleasant, but it's good enough.





I recommend these both for species completionists (it is a very interesting little fish after all), or for use as a generic "food fish" to be used alongside large animal figures.

Keep these out of reach of children unless it's been altered, and as always out of the reach of real pets.

[sbell]

We have a couple burbots by Livetarget, and I agree, they make excellent models (if a little sticky!)

With the big models like the burbot, pike and eels, the hook assembly is actually not embedded in the fish due to the variety in how they can be used--meaning the fish are ready to go! Although I probably should trim the tail...

[Advicot]

What a nice figure and is on my Yowies wish list. 

[Advicot]

It's a nice figure but I'd prefer the model without the stand. 

[stargatedalek]

It's a nice figure but I'd prefer the model without the stand. 

All of the Yujin fish are removable from their bases and I believe all of them also stand up without them, at least the few I have all do.