 
Neon Tetra, Discus Fish, Angelfish, Bleeding Heart Tetra, these names, very familiar to aquarists all over the world, are just a few of the 500 or more varieties that have made Iquitos an internationally important centre for the export of tropical fish, second only to Manaus in the whole of South America in terms of volume and foriegn earnings. The tropical ornamental fish industry has played an important role in both the recent development of Iquitos and in the preservation of the forest. 
 
Whilst you are in Iquitos why not take the opportunity to visit one of
the
exporters and see the incredible variety of fish and crustaceans living
in
the waters around Iquitos.
OAFA - Ornamental Amazon Fish Aquarium on the road to Santa Clara
(Avenida del las Flores) near the junction with Ave Quiñones welcomes tourists
and is only about 15 minutes by mototaxi from the town centre.
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By creating important
revenue, giving a regular income to people working on the rivers and deep in the
forest, thereby helping to stem the tide of people moving into the city
from the forest, providing an important reason for many to believe in the
future of life in the forest, keeping the forest alive and at the same time
providing jobs for people in Iquitos. There are around 30 export businesses
in Iquitos employing hundreds of people directly and supporting many thousands of fishermen and their
families. Fish arrive in Iquitos by boat from as far afield as the
upper
Tigre River to the South, the Yavari River to the East and the Napo
River to
the North. They also arrive by air from Tarapoto, Pulcalpa, Tingo Maria
and
Estrecho on the Putmayo River plus a host of smaller towns spread
accross
the Peruvian Amazon.
