View Profile
View Forum Posts
Private Message
View Blog Entries
View Articles
By Sonia Guinane
Rick has asked me to write a bio about this amazing man and his great love of all cichlids, especially those from Madagascar. Where do I begin as it was a great privilege for Dave and I to have known this unassuming, yet charismatic man since 1998? It was our interest in Madagascan cichlids that initiated our first meeting with Jean-Claude following his invitation for us to visit him and his wife Nicole at their beautiful home, near Toulon in southern France.
We went for the first time in May 1998 and saw his massive aquariums and outside ponds, some of which contained several thousand litres of water. At the entrance of this huge fish house was a large pond full of Guppies, bordered by numerous tropical plants and orchids, (all of which he had brought back from his many trips all over the world).
The huge fishes in his aquariums beyond his private "jungle", especially those from Central America were the largest specimens that Dave and I had ever seen.
In his numerous tanks containing Madagascan cichlids the fishes were spectacular and both Dave and I felt humbled at having seen personally just what this wonderful man had achieved. People were always made very welcome when they went to see his fishes and equally his generosity enabled many aquarists to obtain many specimens, especially Madagascans.
It was never a money making scenario with him as he just enjoyed his fishes and he was so pleased whenever people took an interest in his beloved cichlids
He and Patrick de Rham located many cichlid species in Madagascar and he also often travelled to Central America. There he found Amphilophus nourissati, Vieja argentea, Cryptoheros nanoluteus and Tomocichla asfraci. Probably the best known fish named in his honour is the gorgeous Paretroplus nourissati from Madagascar.
Jean-Claude came to the UK just once in 1999, when Patrick de Rham gave a talk on Madagascan cichlids to the BCA. While he was here he told us that he was delighted that we were so interested in Madagascans. Indeed the majority of the Madagascans we kept came from Jean-Claude. One day I received an e-mail from him asking if we could get him some ‘bidons’ which are plastic sweetie jars! He was off to Panama and these jars are ideal for transporting fishes. Eventually I found a supplier, but the minimum purchase number was 500, so we agreed to buy 250 each. (In fact Dave and I are still using some and they make great homemade filters!). We drove to Toulon with the back of the car crammed full of ‘les bidons’ and wondered how we would explain their presence if we were stopped by the French police.
Dave and I saw him on several occasions after that, either at his home or AFC Congresses. Although we were aware he had previously been extremely ill with bilharzia following one trip to Madagascar, it was a terrible shock to receive a call from Patrick telling us that Jean-Claude was gravely ill with cerebral malaria. He had just returned from another collecting trip to Madagascar and collapsed. Although he was rushed to hospital immediately, tragically he did not recover. His passing was a great loss to everyone who had known him personally and for others who were well aware of his great contribution to the cichlid hobby
Recent Forum Posts
