Modern Aquarium by Dan Radebaugh

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AQUARIUM

Series III

Vol. VI, No. 8

October, 1999

FEATURES | *ig.ht || | | | • | Neon :: : : -Rambaw fish | ^ ecGx

Editor's Babblenest . . . . . . . .

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The Rainbowfish of Irian Jaya

Our Scheduled Speaker: Basil Holubis

Trinidad: Land of the Guppy

The State of The National Health

' . . photos; by ; GREATER

Treasurer i /^orms^S Recordsng Secretary ;::./;,

Report of the 1998-99 : : vVarren;

Claudia Dickinson

;Bre.eder.'-Award;;.

. .

Breeders Award Season

The Antiquarium

Aquarist's Sketchpad

78th

Turnabout is Fair Play

Edit 0r m Ghret>: ^,: ; •^;;;^i;exandier,; A, Priest:; ^

G.C.A.S. Happenings

Photo, Layout : Editor. : :::.:-.:,:V:;vJ:as:on::::K;6rnef ;. Production Bi Advertrs t ng; :

Fin Fun (Puzzle Page)

F'rinting By Postal Press

Articles submitted for consideration in MODERN AQUARIUM must be received no later than the 10th day of the month, three months prior to the month of publication. Copyright 1999 by the Greater City Aquarium Society Inc., a not-for-profit New York State corporation. All rights reserved. Not-for-profit aquarium societies are hereby granted permission to reproduce articles and illustrations from this publication, unless the article indicates that the copyrights have been retained by the author, and provided reprints indicate source and two copies of the publication are sent to the Exchange Editor of this magazine. Any other reproduction or commercial use of the material in this publication is prohibited without express written prior permission. The Greater City Aquarium Society meets every month, except during July and August. Meetings are the first Wednesday of the month and begin at 8:00 P.M. Meetings are held at the Queens Botanical Gardens. For more information, contact Vincent Sileo (718) 846-6984. You can also leave us a message at our Internet Home Page at: http: //ourworld. CompuServe. com/homepages/greatercity

THEE by JOSEPH FERDENZI

magine a land of deep green forests, sparkling streams, and cloud-shrouded mountains, all lit by a tropical sun. Imagine a place where aboriginals live much as they have for centuries, using tools made from the natural world around them. Imagine further that this landscape is the home of some of the most beautiful and exotic freshwater fish ever to be collected for the home aquarium. This imagined land is not a fantasy; it is the nation of Irian Jaya. This article is about some of the fish that inhabit its realm.

commensurate to their striking beauty. Therefore, hobbyists who come to possess these beauties would do well to learn to breed them, unless, of course, they just have money to burn. The first of the two species I will discuss is Boesman's Rainbowfish, Melanotaenia boesmani. This fish has a very distinctive color pattern, which is very dimly perceived in the females, but is especially pronounced in the males. Essentially, the rear half of the fish is bright yellow, while the front half is composed of shades of blue and purple

Irian Jaya

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Irian Jaya is the northern half of the island of New Guinea, which sits off the north -east coast of Australia. As such, it is situated in the tropics. Its native inhabitants, in accommodation of the warm weather, wear very little in the way of clothing. What they wear is made by them; they do not buy clothes made in foreign factories. Relative to others, they have had very little interaction with other civilizations. Hence, it is not surprising that the fish of Irian Jaya have impacted the aquarium scene only as of the 1980s. Most of these aquarium fish come from the freshwater streams and lakes of Irian Jaya, and are included in the group of fishes which we have come to label as Rainbowfish. This is not an inappropriate name as, in fact, the colors of these fish are as bright and varied as the rainbow. I have had some experience in keeping and propagating two species of Irian Jaya Rainbowfish. They are probably two of the most colorful in that group of fishes, and, despite the fact that they are not uncommon in well-stocked pet shops, they command prices which are Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S. (NY)

(much depending on the quality and angle of light striking this rear portion). This color composition renders it almost impossible to confuse this fish with any other. Its striking colors are enhanced by its relatively large size — males and females easily attain four inches in length, and males are deep bodied, which serves to enlarge their colorful display. The second species I will describe is Melanotaeniapraecox, which has become known as the Neon Rainbowfish. As the English name amply suggests, this is a fish awash in color. Males and females, unlike with Boesman's Rainbowfish, are colored with the same intensity. The whole body of the fish is a metallic sky-blue, and all of the unpaired fins are a vivid red. Like Boesman's Rainbowfish, the males are deeper bodied, thus flashing more of their radiant blue color. The Neon Rainbowfish attains a length of about three inches, thus making it slightly easier to accommodate in the home aquarium than Boesman's Rainbowfish.

September 1999

Fhe Fishing Natives of Irian 7aya - Three Methods For Catching Freshwater Fish Natives building a wall to dam the river...

Then, using hollowed-out tree bark to scoop water- lowered water levels make fish easier to catch by hand.

Weaving a fish trap basket, made with plant stems.

Beating the sap from tree bark, which tranquilizes the fish. 4

September 1999

Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S. (NY)

Color and size differences aside, both of these species are very similar. As far as temperament, they are both candidates for the community aquarium of non-aggressive or non-territorial fish. They coexist peacefully with others and with themselves. I definitely recommend keeping them in groups of five or more as this will enhance the presentation of their beauty and behavior. Their dietary requirements are easily met. They are aggressive eaters and decidedly not fussy — all the standard aquarium foods are eagerly devoured. They are also not fussy about water parameters. Temperatures in the range of 70°F to 80°F are easily tolerated, with the midpoint (75°F) being just about ideal. A pH of 7.0 (neutral) or close to it, is fine, although a tendency to the alkaline is preferable to acidic conditions. Lastly, breeding them is relatively easy. My observations and recommendations on that topic follow. Both of these Rainbowfish lay small, adhesive eggs. The best way to collect these eggs is to provide the breeders with a fine leafed plant (and I can think of none better suited than Java Moss) or an artificial substitute such as a yarn "mop." The spawning medium can be kept in the main aquarium (if there are no other species of fish kept with the Rainbows) for about two weeks, and then transferred to a rearing aquarium (I recommend that it be of at least ten gallons), or a group of adults (two to four, at least two of which are females) can be transferred to the rearing aquarium with the spawning medium, whereupon the adults are removed after two weeks or so. The key thing to remember is that if you do not separate the adults from the eggs they have laid, you will not see fry. They will be eaten by the adult fish before you ever see them. I have used both of the methods outlined above to produce baby fish. For example, I have had a school of Boesman's Rainbowfish in a 55 gallon tank that is filled with a whole lot of Java Moss (one forty watt florescent bulb lights the aquarium — Java Moss is easy to grow). From time to time, I remove a clump of moss (it is literally like pulling hair out of someone's head), and place it in a ten gallon aquarium. Within a day or two, you begin seeing baby fish. By the end of a week or two a couple of handfuls of Java Moss have generated a swarm of fry. I have also taken pairs or trios of adult fish, and placed them in a ten gallon tank with one or two sinking spawning mops (these are mops with no floatation device attached). After removing the adults, the fry start to appear. Note that I do not recommend "picking" the eggs from the mops. Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S. (NY)

Those of you who, like I, are familiar with breeding Killifish have successfully picked many Killifish eggs from mops. Acting on that experience, I tried initially to pick Rainbowfish eggs from mops (picking eggs has the advantage of enabling you to place the eggs in a very controlled hatching environment where you can count the eggs and monitor the progress of each one). However, I discovered that these Rainbowfish eggs are generally much smaller and stickier than the average Killifish egg, and, therefore, much harder to handle. Experience has now convinced me that it is much easier to leave the eggs on the material to which they are attached, and that you will still get good hatch rates. The real challenge of Rainbowfish breeding comes after the eggs hatch. I find that the fry are very small relative to the fry of most other fish I have bred. Therefore, it is imperative that you start them off with a foodstuff that is geared for fry with very tiny mouths. I, for example, use a commercially made powdered food (Sera Micron®). I am sure there are comparable fry foods made by other manufacturers. In any event, it will take several weeks before the fry are able to ingest that staple of the breeder's fry-raising arsenal, newly-hatched brine shrimp. Of course, by the time they can consume baby brine shrimp, they are large enough to eat finely crushed flake food (which they prefer to eat as it floats at the surface). Water quality is also significant for success in rearing fry. That is part of the reason I recommend tanks of at least ten gallons (the smaller the tank, the easier it is to pollute). Frequent partial water changes are recommended (20% every week). I also keep a filter in the tank — a sponge filter or a box filter crammed with polyester floss works well — as long as the filter does not have openings that can "suck" up the fry, or is so powerful that it creates a debilitating current in which the fry are constantly buffeted. I also like to keep inoffensive scavengers such as Pond Snails or Rams Horn Snails in the fry aquarium — they are of great assistance in cleaning up uneaten food and pose no threat to the baby fish. The Rainbowfish of Irian Jaya are some of the most beautiful fish you will ever see in the home aquarium. They are also easy to care for and breed. Thanks to the tropical fish hobby, I don't have to imagine all of Irian Jaya — some of it is swimming right before my eyes.

September 1999

Our Scheduled Speaker This Month

THE G.C.A.S. PROUDLY WELCOMES

SPEAKING ON:

"BLACKOUTS & YOUR FISHROOM" by CLAUDIA DICKINSON

It was a crisp December morning as the man piled his seven-year old son into the already crowded car. The auto was brimming with a litter of squirming, spirited puppies that were quick to clamber on young Basil with exuberant glee! Little did the boy know that his destiny was about to unfold. Once at the pet shop, the boy's father went off with the shopkeeper to make arrangements to sell the puppies. Basil wandered off, soon finding himself immersed amongst the bubbling rows of fish tanks. He became so mesmerized by the beauty and grace of the brilliantly colored fish that he barely noticed his father standing quietly by his side. Basil's dad laid a hand on his son's shoulder and they conferred as to which was his favorite fish. The shared enthusiasm was electric between father and son. Christmas Day came and a most marvelous surprise awaited under the tree for Basil. There sat a ten-gallon Metaframe starter kit with an incandescent light strip and Dyna-flo filter, complete with charcoal and angel hair filter floss. Barely had the New Year been rung in and Basil had the tank set up and running with lovely prolific guppies. He was ready to add on more tanks! With his father's full backing, Basil soon took over the basement and filled it with tanks and fish. At $2.00 per hour, lawn mowing was to support his thriving hobby. By 1970, Basil excelled in his fish keeping skills and became one of the first to begin keeping the colorful and pricey African cichlids that were just entering the hobby. It took many lawns to pay $40 a pair for the exciting new import, Pseudotropheus zebral While other hobbyists were making unsuccessful attempts at breeding yellow and black Pseudotropheus auratus (now Melanochromis), it was Basil who achieved success. He was quick to discover that his friends had tanks filled with females ~ the males were actually blue and black! In 1972, Peacock cichlids arrived on the scene and Basil pulled out his last dime to scrape together $150 for a pair of Trematocranus jacobfreibergi. All was paying off as his fish room filled with fry. This was a result of his diligence, energies, and inherent intuition about nature and fish keeping. Basil turned 16 and the fish went on a short hiatus. As he puts it ... "I discovered women and cars." His interests were to branch out and he became an exceptional electrician and an avid bee keeper, which he does to this day. Basil met a lovely woman who shared his love of animals through her career as a veterinarian. The couple were married 20 years ago and settled into their North Salem, Connecticut home where the basement once again bubbles away with 50-60 tanks, housing 2,000 gallons of fish. Basil's main interest at this time lies in Rainbowfish and he is very involved in a species maintenance program. He strongly believes in distributing fish amongst fellow hobbyists who share a common interest and will dedicate space and time to continue to breed them. He is also working with wild discus and killifish and still keeps guppies. As President of The Norwalk Aquarium Society and a leader at major conventions and events, Basil is a most dedicated, energetic, and involved hobbyist. His preeminence shines with invariable cheerfulness and enthusiasm. We are fortunate and honored to have Basil as our guest tonight. 6

October 1999

Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S. (NY)

TRINIDAD: LAND OF THE GUPPY by LEONARD RAMROOP INTRODUCTION As the millennium approaches, it is fitting to write about a fish that has had an impact on fishkeepers/hobbyist worldwide. The fish in question is the guppy, and its homeland is Trinidad. Trinidad is a unique country in the sense that it has contributed two things that are a part of the twentieth century. Firstly, it gave the world one of the few musical instruments invented in this century, namely the steel pan. This music, which is now all over the Caribbean, was invented in Trinidad more than 60 years ago. Discarded steel oil drums from American and British military bases were converted into a musical instrument, i.e., the steel pan. The second thing that Trinidad gave to the world (this is important to fish keepers) is the guppy. The guppy was introduced to Europe in the mid-eighteen hundreds with fish collected in Trinidad. In the nineteen hundreds, the guppy was widely kept, and was a popular aquarium fish. This fish can now be found world-wide, but it traces back to an island in the Caribbean named Trinidad. BRIEF HISTORY Trinidad is an island in the Caribbean that is located seven miles east of Venezuela. It is part of the twin republic of Trinidad and Tobago. It is the southernmost island in the English-speaking Caribbean. It has a diverse population comprised of many races and ethnic backgrounds. The original inhabitants of the islands were "Amerindians." Two main groups, Caribs and the Arawacks, occupied the island. Columbus discovered the islands in 1492 and claimed them for Spain. (Trinidad is Spanish for trinity.) Columbus named the island after seeing three mountain tops when he landed on the island. After the Spanish came the French, and then finally the British. Trinidad remained a Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S. (NY)

colony in the British Empire until 1962, and became a republic in 1976. Its geography, climate, fauna, and flora are very similar to that of South America, making Trinidad unique in the Caribbean. HISTORY OF THE GUPPY The first people to discover the "guppy" were the native Amerindians. They were probably a food source rather than a pet. Several hundred years later, in 1866, an Englishman named Robert John Lechmere Guppy brought some of the fish back to England and gave them to the British Museum for identification. The fish was given the name of Giraridinus guppyi by museum head Albert Gunther. In 1909, the fish was remained Lebistes reticulatus. Later on, the modern name of Eastern Poecilia reticulata was Caribbean adopted. The common name for the fish (guppy) has remained unchanged to this day. THE FISH The guppy is primarily found in Trinidad, Venezuela and the Guianas. There are other areas in the western hemisphere where this fish is found, however it not clear whether these fish occurred naturally or were introduced. The guppy ranks as one of the most popular fish in the world among fish keepers. It can be found in many countries around the world, probably introduced as a mosquito controller. In its native habitat in Trinidad, guppies are found in shallow, slow moving rivers and streams. The local names for this fish are "seven-colors" or "millions." If you were to ask a local Trinidadian about a guppy, he or she would probably think of the fancy variety, rather than the common fish found on the island. This fish can literally be found in most freshwater ponds, streams, and even in the drainage systems of the islands. The color patterns of the male vary, based on the geographic conditions where the fish is collected. A fish from a northern mountain river would be completely different (in terms of

October 1999

THE STATE OF THE pATiOflAL HEALTH by VINCENT SILEO ay first, Nineteen Ninety Nine will be a date long remembered by those in the ocean shipping industry. That was the date in which foreign ocean shipping was "deregulated" in the United States. The theory being that the free market system of supply and demand would be less restrictive for all parties involved. Less cost for government watchdogs and more free trade for everyone else. It is not yet certain whether this objective will be met or not. What is certain is that rates for ocean shipments have dropped. In some case they have plunged to half of what they were a year ago. Many shippers see this and assume that the steamship lines must have been getting rich all these years. But a look at their financial statements indicates that while they may have had a healthy profit margin, they were far from getting rich. The truth of the matter is that the service these steamship lines provided before, the service shippers depended upon, and the service which these steamship lines staked their reputation upon is history. Why is that? Prior to deregulation international steamship lines had convinced Congress that their industry was unique due to its international nature and should not be bound by anti-trust laws. This allowed the steamship lines to establish conferences in certain trade lanes and these conferences would fix prices. As in every industry, there was always someone who would sell cheaper. These were the "Independents." Steamship lines which pledged no allegiance to the conference governing that trade lane. Shippers could count on independents for a cheaper price and slightly less reliable service. Independents were more likely to run out of equipment, run out of space, have mechanical failures and work with less qualified or experienced crews. Over all, the independents were quite capable and reliable, but for those shippers whose freight had to move according to schedule and on a regular basis, the conference was the way to go. Premium price for a premium service. Shippers who primarily used conference lines depended upon the independents to force the conferences to keep their "fixed" prices reasonable. Deregulation has indirectly pulled the rug out from under the conferences and it has become a dog eat dog world. With the demise of the conferences, many shippers believe that the previous conference lines should come down to the independent's rate levels. All of the lines are competing by offering the lowest prices they can.

Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S. (NY)

Service has not deteriorated yet, but it is only a matter of time before all steamship lines will be offering the same lousy service at the same lousy rates. OK, OK, I know you're thinking, "What does all of this have to do with aquariums?" We hobbyists are the "shippers". Our local pet stores and aquariums are the "conference lines." Superstores and mail order companies are the "independents." CONFERENCE STORES ? Now there have never been any "Conferences" in the aquarium industry, but there have been reputable retailers who made a decent living in the aquarium trade. These are your local pet shops and aquariums. Most of them are managed by their owners who are primarily sole proprietors. They have a direct and often vital interest in their business since it is most often their main or only source of income. They are knowledgeable about the hobby and recent technological advances. And they are willing to share that knowledge with anyone who walks through their door, regardless of whether they are a paying customer or just "window shopping." These veterans of the aquarium trade know that it is only good business to encourage new hobbyists by sharing their knowledge and helping the novice to be successful. You may just be shopping for information today, but hopefully you will remember to come back once you've decided upon your plan of action. Many retail stores are showcases for the aquarium trade. They maintain a wide variety of livestock and dry goods, skillfully displayed so that the hobbyist can easily see what options are available to them. Very often, items and livestock offered for sale represent what the store's management and their years of experience know are the most successful products, and their livestock is hand picked for health and vigor. These conference stores, the Mom and Pop local pet shops and aquariums have offered a premium service at a premium price. INDEPENDENT STORES ? Independents started emerging in the form of chain stores, mail order catalogs, superstores, and finally virtual stores on the worldwide web. While many of these newer businesses may be part of a chain or franchise, they are independent in their new attitude towards the aquarium trade. These new "independents" changed many hobbyists' attitudes toward shopping for their aquarium needs.

October 1999

Many of us have taken advantage of the lower prices offered by the "independents," and why not? A penny saved is a penny earned, isn't it? That depends upon what you are buying. If you are strictly interested in purchasing a specific product and can wait until it becomes available at the price you are willing to pay, then yes, you can save yourself some money by purchasing through one of the independents. Once you have purchased that product and have paid a lower price than that offered through traditional, "conference" stores, you feel good. "Wow, look at how smart I was! Look at how much money I saved!" "How do they do it?" Just like the shipper using a less expensive independent steamship line for the first time, the hobbyist believes that the traditional supplier must have been making a terrific profit — possibly taking advantage of the hobbyist's inexperience. But the truth is that you are comparing apples with a fruit salad. When you pay a slightly higher price at the traditional aquarium or pet shop, you're paying for a lot more than just the item you've purchased. Here is a list of some of the "extras" you've just paid for:

•

Convenience: The convenience of having the item when you need it. Not having to wait for it to be delivered and not having to pay extra for "rush delivery." Possibly more important: being able return an item more easily if necessary.

•

Knowledge: There are two types of knowledge to be gained here. First, the traditional aquarium or pet shop will usually know a great deal more about the item being purchased. Second, the traditional pet shop is always willing to spend as much time as you want discussing the hobby, products, and even local aquarium society events. Most traditional aquariums and pet shops typically only have a few key employees and a low turn-over rate. These employees are of major importance to the owner(s) — they are the company. Their knowledge and behavior say everything about the company. Therefore, most traditional shops will take extra care to ensure that their employees are knowledgeable and kept abreast of new items or trends. You'll speak to the same knowledgeable employee or owner more often than at a chain store or mail order service where the turn over rate of employees is much greater.

•

Pre-Purchase Access to Merchandise: Of course this applies to any business which offers a physical store where you can browse through and actually handle merchandise. Brand names and uniform product lines make buying over the phone or internet very easy, but seeing is believing for many people. Most of us would rather see what we are going to buy before we pay for it, especially when it comes to livestock.

•

Window Shopping: Most people overlook this luxury, but we've all done it. We've walked through the local aquarium shop, checking out anything that interested us, and not paid a penny. The displays were very nice to look at, perhaps giving you ideas for your next set up or renovation. Window shopping is very important for those big purchases such as new filtration system or rare species. The local shop allows you to come in as often as you like, look over the items you're interested in and ask as many questions as you can come up with, all the while gawking over the object of your affection. Opportunity: The opportunity to meet fellow aquarists face to face, share stories and knowledge. Not everyone can make it to aquarium society meetings and there are still many people who, believe it or not, have not jumped on the world wide web. I believe that internet chat rooms will never replace face to face meetings. Meeting someone with the same interests as yours can be a very rewarding experience. Again, this can be accomplished at any business which has a physical store.

Now I have to admit that I do not shop strictly at the traditional pet shops and aquariums. I have purchased pet supplies from chain stores and mail order catalogs, but the internet has not enticed me as of yet. What I am suggesting and what I try to practice is to stop and really think. Before you run out to the chain store or hop on the internet ask yourself: "What am I really buying and what do I really want?" Do I want to save a few bucks now, even though it will probably mean that I will lose the choice and benefits of shopping at the local pet shop or aquarium? I think that you'll agree that the extra money spent will be well worth the price of all that you receive.

October 1999

Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S. (NY)

In the year 2000, you'll see many "Y2K Millenium Ultimate (etc., etc.)" fish shows announced. Only one will be held by Greater City, one of the oldest (78 years young by show time) & most respected aquarium societies in the nation!

Queens, New York City - NY proudly announces its

y 6 At the Queens Farm Museum: 73-50 Little Neck Parkway Between the Grand Central Parkway and Union Turnpike HERE'S V/M-ATTO EXPECT <AT A. WORLO CLASS SHOW L I K E OURS:

Fish & aquatic plant competition - trophies awarded Auction of home-bred and raised fish and plants Auction of aquarium supplies/drygoods Top name speakers/workshops HERE'S WHAT YOU'LL FINII> ONLY AT OREATER CITY'S SHOW:

Show held at a "working" farm museum with tours available for a real family fun day! Treasure hunt competition - compete for fun and prizes!

AND EVERT MORE TO COME! Visit the Greater CityJ website/ jbr updated information at: v< *Qu*^ http://ourworld.compuser^exom/hpmepages/greaterciry E-Mail us at: north228@ai|l.cam^oiV serpae@aol.com Or contact Show Chairpersoti^P^^^nd Roberta D'Orio: 89-32 118th Street - Richmid^ral, NY 11418 (718)847-2030 Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S. (NY)

October 1999

Report of the 1998-99 Breeders Award Season by GREG WUEST his is a report of the Greater City Aquarium Society's Breeders Award Program (BAP) for the September 1998 to June 1999 season. I'm happy to report that the BAP had another successful season for the 1998-1999 year. There were 85 certificates given out, representing 1,070 points issued that year to 17 different people. Far and away the most successful breeder was Tom Miglio. He managed to breed 33 different fish! I will have to check further, but this may be a record for the greatest number of fish spawned in any given season. There were 17 species of fish that were spawned in this year that had never been spawned in our club. You might be tempted to say that most of these fish were probably African Cichlids â&#x20AC;&#x201D; they always seem to be finding new ones over there. However, you would be wrong. There were 8 new club spawnings that belonged to the killifish group, 3 for Old World Cichilds, 2 were for characins (tetras), 2 livebearers, 1 for New World Cichlids, and 1 for a rainbowfish. What was most frequently spawned? There were 10 species that recorded multiple spawnings. However, only one fish had as many as three different people spawn it last year. Surprisingly, that fish was Poecilia sp. Endlers. Most of the other fish that had two recorded spawns are no real surprise, as they are frequently kept in the hobby. The other multiple spawnings were: Labidochromis caeruleus, Lamprologus brichardi, Macropodus opercularis (Paradise Fish), Pelvicachromis pulcher (Kribensis), Poecilia picta, Poecilia reticulata (Guppy), Corydoras aeneus, Geophagus steindachneri, Poecilia sphenops (Black Molly), Pterophyllum scalare (Angelfish), and Xiphophorus maculatus (Platy).

CURTIN CURTIN CURTIN DE JAGER DE JAGER DE JAGER DE JAGER DE JAGER DICKINSON DICKINSON

DONALD DOUGLAS DOUGLAS CARLOTTI CARLOTTI CARLOTTI CARLOTTI CARLOTTI CLAUDIA CLAUDIA

So when were all these certificates issued? A month by month break down is as follows: September 22 certificates October 6 certificates November 9 certificates December 22 certificates January no certificates February 5 certificates March 6 certificates April no certificates May 11 certificates June 3 certificates OK, the heck with all that other stuff. I know you just want me to tell you how many fish were spawned in each major group. Well, we had: 5 certificates for Anabantoids 4 certificates for Catfish 7 certificates for Characins 22 certificates for Old World Cichlids 8 certificates for New World Cichlids 3 certificates for Cyprinids 4 certificates for Rainbowish 10 certificates for Killifish 21 certificates for Livebearers Now you know just about all there is to know about last year's spawnings. I hope that you will participate in the Breeders Award Program and get the recognition you deserve for your spawns. It is easy; so if you have any questions, just see Carlotti DeJager or myself. We will be happy to help you get your spawns recognised.

POECILIA SPHENOPS POECILIA SP ENDLERS XIPHOPHORUS MACULATUS ANOMALOCHROMIS THOMASI CHROMIDOTILAPIA GUENTHERI POECILIA PICTA PSEUDOTROPHEUS TROPHEOPS TRICHOGASTER LEERI NEOLAMPROLOGUS MULTIFASCIATUS PSEUDOTROPHEUS DEMASONI September 1999

Livebearers Livebearers Livebearers

Cichlids

Old World

Cichlids Livebearers Cichlids Anabantoids Cichlids Cichlids

Old World Old World Old World Old World

Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S. (NY)

D'ORIO D'ORIO D'ORIO FERDENZI FEUER FEUER GANNON GANNON GANNON GANNON GANNON GEORGE GEORGE GEORGE GEORGE GEORGE GEORGE GEORGE MIGLIO MIGLIO MIGLIO MIGLIO MIGLIO MIGLIO MIGLIO MIGLIO MIGLIO MIGLIO MIGLIO MIGLIO MIGLIO MIGLIO MIGLIO MIGLIO MIGLIO MIGLIO MIGLIO MIGLIO MIGLIO MIGLIO MIGLIO MIGLIO MIGLIO MIGLIO MIGLIO MIGLIO MIGLIO MIGLIO MIGLIO MIGLIO MIGLIO PICCIONE PICCIONE RAMROOP RAMROOP RAMROOP

PETE PETE PETE JOSEPH WARREN WARREN FRANK FRANK FRANK FRANK FRANK JEFF JEFF JEFF JEFF JEFF JEFF JEFF TOM TOM TOM TOM TOM TOM TOM TOM TOM TOM TOM TOM TOM TOM TOM TOM TOM TOM TOM TOM TOM TOM TOM TOM TOM TOM TOM TOM TOM TOM TOM TOM TOM PAT PAT LEONARD LEONARD LEONARD

CORYDORAS AENEUS GEOPHAGUS STEINDACHNERI PELVICACHROMIS PULCHER APISTOGRAMMA NIJSSENI NEOLAMPROLOGUS MELEAGRIS POECILIA RETICULATA GAMBUSIA AFFINIS HETERANDRIA FORMOSA POECILIOPSIS INFANS XIPHOPHORUS COUCHIANUS XIPHOPHORUS MILLERI BRACHYRHAPHIS RHABDOPHORA GEOPHAGUS STEINBACHNERI GIRARDINUS METALLICUS HAPLOCHROMIS OBLIQUIDENS HAPLOCHROMIS SP BLUE BAR LABEOTROPHEUS TREWAVASAE POECILIA CHICA APHYOSEMION AFFINIS PRIMIGENIUM APHYOSEMION AHLI FUNDULOPANCHAX SJOESTEDTI APHYOSEMION ROLOFFI APLOCHEILUS LINEATUS BARBUS TITTEYA BEDOTIA GAEYI BELONESEX BELIZANNUS BETTA SIMPLEX CARLCHUBBSIA STUARTI CICHLASOMA NANOLUTEUS CORYDORAS PALEATUS CYNOLEBIAS NIGRIPINNIS EPIPLATYS ANNULATUS GLOSSOLEPIS INCISUS GYMNOCORYMBUS TERNETZI HYPHESSOBRYCON CALLISTUS HYPHESSOBRYCON HERBERTAXELRODI HYPHESSOBRYCON PULCHRIPINNIS IRIATHERINA WERNERI LABEOTROPHEUS FUELLEBORNI MACROPODUS OPERCULARIS MEGALAMPHODUS MEGALOPTERUS MELANOTAENIA PREACOX MELANOTAENIA SPLENDIDA MOLLIENESIA SPHENOPS NEMATOBRYCON PALMERI NOTHOBRANCHIUS GUENTHERI PHENACOGRAMMUS INTERRUPTUS PTEROPHYLLUM SCALARE PUNTIUS CONCHONIUS RASBORA HETERAMORPHA TRICHOGASTER TRICHOPTERUS LAMPROLOGUS BRICHARDI NANNACARA ANOMALA CORYDORAS AENEUS PELVICACHROMIS PULCHER POECILIA PICTA

Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S. (NY)

September 1999

Catfish Cichlids Cichlids Cichlids Cichlids Livebearers Livebearers Livebearers Livebearers Livebearers Livebearers Livebearers Cichlids Livebearers Cichlids Cichlids Cichlids Livebearers Killifish Killifish Killifish Killifish Killifish Cyprinids Rainbow Livebearers Anabantoids Livebearers Cichlids catfish Killifish Killifish Rainbowfish Characins Characins Characins Characins Cyprinids Cichlids Anabantoids Characins Rainbow Cyprinids Livebearers Characins Killifish Characins Cichlids Cyprinids Cyprinids Anabantoids Cichlids Cichlids Catfish Cichlids Livebearers

New World Old World New World Old World

New World Old World Old World Old World

New World

Rainbow Old World

Rainbow

New World

Old World New World Old World

RAMROOP RAMROOP RAMROOP RAMROOP SOBERMAN SOBERMAN WEILER WEILER WEILER WRANOVICS WRANOVICS WRANOVICS WRANOVICS WUEST WUEST WUEST WUEST WUEST

LEONARD LEONARD LEONARD LEONARD MARK MARK BRUCE BRUCE BRUCE BOB BOB BOB BOB GREGORY GREGORY GREGORY GREGORY GREGORY

Livebearers Livebearers Livebearers Livebearers Cichlids Killifish Cichlids Cichlids Cichlids Cichlids Cichlids Cichlids Cichlids Catfish Cichlids Cichlids Cichlids Anabantoids

POECILIA RETICULATA POECILIA SP ENDLERS POECILIA SPHENOPS XIPHOPHORUS MACULATUS GYMNOGEOPHAGUS RHABADOTUS PACHYPANCHAX OMALONOTUS COMPADICHROMIS MLOTO LABIDOCHROMIS CAERULEUS LEMON LAMPROLOGUS LELEUPI CYPHOTILAPIA FRONTOSA LABIDOCHROMIS CAERULEUS LEMON LAMPROLOGUS BRICHARDI PTEROPHYLLUM SCALARE CORYDORAS MELANISTIUS HEMICHROMIS LIFALLI JULIDOCHROMIS TRANSCRIPTUS LAMPOLOGUS BUESCHERI MACROPODUS OPERCULARIS

New World Old World Old World Old World Old World Old World Old World New World Old World Old World Old World

THE ANTIQUARIOf An advertisement from Aquatic Lire

Magazine.

JUecemoer li/JJ

Next Best to Live Food-

25c Postpaid

NOT AS GOOD AS LIVE FOOD—BUT A REAL GOOD SUBSTITUE. WestLo comes in the attractive Black and Orange shaker top can. It is a correctly compounded Tropical and Gold Fish food, containinp the right proportion of Animal, Vegetable, and Mineral ingredients to promote Growth, Color and Health in your fish. WestLo will not cloud the water if fed properly. Try a can and watch the improvement in your fish. If your dealer can't supply you, send us 25 cents and we will mail you a can (medium or fine)

But Remember: Heat is as important as good food, and tanks >ret pretty cold these winter nights when the fires are banked and the wind and snow blow around the windows. Make sure your tanks hold an even temperature by equipping them with RIVERSIDE Chrome Plated Adjustable Automatic Heaters, adjustable from 65 to 90 degrees F. and suitable for tanks of 2 to 25 gallons, made of approved materials and guaranteed against burnout for one year. $1.75 PostPaid in U* S- AThis same dependable "U" shaped heater, furnished without thermostat, in any wattage up to 75 watts — <jj j 25 Postpaid in U. S. A.

Why Guess? At your tank temperatures when you can get an accurate tested RIVERSIDE Thermometer for only <C ? 5 Postpaid in U. S. A.

Dealers Write for Prices

XMAS SPECIAL - S2.1O postpaid in U. S. A. 1 RIVERSIDE AUTOMATIC HEATER 1 RIVERSIDE TESTED THERMOMETER 1 CAN WestLo FOOD (Medium or Fine)

RIVERSIDE AQUARIUM SUPPLY CO. - 12 Short Beach - CONN.

September 1999

Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S. (NY)

Brooklyn Aquarium Society GIANT FISH AUCTION ADMISSION FREE PARKING • FREE REFRESHMENTS FISH FOOD SAMPLES

• Exotic Goldfish • Anselfish • Kidifish • Discus • Show Betfas • Marine Fish African Cichlids • Livebearers • Catfish • Fancy Guppies Hard & Soft Corals • Live Plants Manv Hard to Find & Rare Fish & Dry Goods! VIEWING OF FISH STARTS AT 8:00 PM AUCTION STARTS AT 8:30 PM At the New York Aquarium, Education Hall Surf Avenue & West 8th Street, Brooklyn, NY

FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL The BAS Calendar of Events 24-Hour Information Hotline

(716) 637-4455 Car directions: Take Belt Parkway to Ocean Parkway South (Exit ZS). Take Ocean Parkway approx. 1 /2 mile. The NY Aquarium will be on your left. Subway diroctions: Take either the D or the F trains to West 8th St, NY Aquarium Station. Follow signs to Aquarium.

October 1999

Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S. (NY)

CAMEO PET TROPICAL FISH AQUARIUM Specializing in Tropical Fish and Aquarium Supplies Large Selection of Aquatic Plants Knowledgeable Staff Same Location Since 1947. (718) 849-6678

115-23 Jamaica Avenue Richmond Hill, NY 11418

•

TROPICAL FISH \T I• #1 FOR OVER 40 YEARS

MARINEFlSHtf INVERTEBRATES.

• AFRICAN CICHLJDS FROM LAKE MALAWI & TANGANYIKA.

HUGE SELECTION ALL THOSE HARD TO FIND FISH NEWSHEPMENTS, WEEKIXFROM AROUNDTHE WORLD THE STORE WHERE YOU SERVE YOURSELF AND SAVE!

TROPICAL FISH SUPERMARKET

IMPORTED QOLDFISHtf KDI.

•

POND CARE SPECIALISTS.

• AQUATIC PLANT EXPERTS. • PROFESSIONAL AQUARIUM MAINTENANCE.

Visit "LUCILLE",

Our Pond& Falls In Our Backyard! You Can Build A Pond Too.

2890 Nostrand Avenue Bet Kings Hwy & Avenue P Brooklyn, NY 11229

ASK US HOW!

(718)338-5069

October 1999

Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S. (NY)

TH| NOF

! JERSyfY AQUARIUM Sff IETY PRESENTS

OA/IfF ThL LAS1JGREXTAQUMIUMMOBBYEVENTS OF THE 20th CENTURY...^

PICAt An Aquarium imposition Open to the Public, Bringing Together Hobbyists from Ml Over North America! 16+ V

The Hilt

Hilton;

Routes Airport (shuttle available), 27 m

5 & PRESENTATIONS FEATURING^

liHf

Wayne Leibel- Geophagus Cichlids Lee Finleîeatfish ChaWi i Ted Coletti- Biotope Aquariums ^^^tti Wiitzman- Tetras '^îtÂ Frank- Aquarium Plants Tom Neai- Marine Tanks Sallie S. Boggs-Anabantoids Rosario La(;Qrte-.The Living Legend Mark JB|^fdmeyer-- Hobby pglifhe IVIaff Kaufman- Killifish Steve jyunWad^M Anne Broaihieyer- Showing Fish Michelle Romeo- Synodontis Mike Shendan~ Neotropical CichJids .M||l;: The'-W^Wôf:.t^^Wleyfs and Wayne jêibel's "A History of Fishkeeping:^^ây::m\^^xj^\: Meet

COMPETITIVE 25-CLASf PlSffimijm"" MANUFACTyIR|Rl|I|p^S| s|lpL|S! ALL-DAY GlJiTFI^ ACTION!

4WA|DS BANQUET Wp ¥ENp|ftSs BOQKJ SUlltCSlANT olW GOODS ACTION!

BRING THE FAIVIILY! There will be games, raffles, great local attractions and shopping, and nearby driving range! Free local shuttle! HILTON GUESTS enjoy a special $74 NJAS room rate that includes Indoor Pool, Jacuzzi, Fitness Center, asketball, Tennis, Jogging rail, Bikes, & 4 Restaurants!

jll I! I I ill :••.—•/; .I. Hi I i 11 • : II1111 i||i :j&i ijjjjjji /./' j| ! I • . • : i I . ':• \ i ! |;| I I . I II \ fr I WHL ;

\1 V \*y\

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• '"' i " 1;^ }v^?4*» j

£ w * '=r ex co (u -5' <»> •^ ft o Z °

Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S. (NY)

October 1999

lil

1 o I I

G.C.A.S. HAPPENINGS Last Month's Bowl Show winners: 1) Tom Miglio - Fundulopanchax gardneri 2) Tom Miglio - Poecilia reticulata - Red Half Black Guppy 3) Carlotti DeJager - Inpaichthys kerri (Blue Emperor) The standings to date are: Sept '99 — June '2000 Bowl Show: 1) Tom Miglio - 8 points ::::; : m^^,,,,...,. 2) Carlotti DeJager - 1 ;:|>0mt "'":':':%%,, Let's welcome th£ fbllowing^rand i|ew GCAS members: William Adams%, ^ Kasmari And^tne following former members who have rejoined: ; ;x;; CK&r|| Auerbach J /' Jpjarley Sabatino sj$$K • Here &r£ tiieeting times and locations^ aquarium socillies ipthe Metropolitan New AQU ARI||j S§f ipy N|X|;Meeting: November 3 Speaker: Tom Cassidy Tg|||g;" West African

X:||y;:::'X:::::i:i::",::|:'

ii|i|klyn Aquarium Society

Ili •

,|3th details) Hall, N.Y. St., Brooklyn, NY Hotline : f^Jll;837-4455

. com

East Coast il|jippy Association ir|nth

Big Apple

. - 1l|::Jhursday of each Bot^ni^al Garden

8:00

Long Island Aquarium Society

! Nassal Cgiij||y AquarJMifTi Society

Meets: 8:00 ::::- 3rd month at Holts vll|||^:::ind Zoo, 249 Buckley Rd. Holtsvill^ Contact: Mr. Vinny Kreyling Telephone: (516) 938-4066

MilPi'Jt)Q''''P.M. - 2n||fuesday of each month at the Willi;|m|p; Grouse Post 3211 ^to Smith Telephone: (516) 589-0913

North Jersey Aquarium Society

Norwalk Aquarium Society

Meets: 8PM - 3rd Thursday of the month at the American Legion Hall, Nutley, NJ (exit 151 Garden State Pkwy., near Rt. 3) Contact: NJAS Hotline at (201) 332-4415 or e-mail: tcoletti@obius.jnj.com

Meets: 8:00 P.M. - 3rd Thursday of each month at the Nature Center for Environmental Activities, Westport, CT Contact: Mrs. Anne Stone Broadmeyer Telephone: (203) 834-2253

[odern Aquarium - Greater City A.S. (NY)

October 1999

Fin Fun Who Eats Better—You, or Your Fish? A comparison between the prices of people food (P) at a grocery store, and fish food (F) at a pet store, have revealed some interesting results. In the space provided, indicate which items on this shopping list you think cost the most per pound. (Extra credit for guessing the price per pound!) P/F

FOOD ITEM

Spinach

Spirulina

Corn Flakes

Color Flakes

Shell Steak

Sinking Carnivore Pellets

Jar of Baby Food

Fry Bites

Large Shrimp

Freeze Dried Brine Shrimp

Catfish Filet

Algae Wafers

Mallomars

Aquari-yums

Spaghetti

Tubifex Worms

Yogurt

Livebearer Food

Tortilla Chips

Guppy-Min

Solution to Last Month's Puzzle

•Jin

Which costs more: P or F

CASY B€fiG QRCCfl

Poecilia velifera

Green Sailfm Molly

Barbus semifasciolatus

Green Barb

Symphysodon aequifasciatus aequifasciatus

Green Discus

Aplocheilus bloc kit

Green Panchax

Tetraodon fluviatilis

Green Pufferfish

Rivulus cylindraceus

Green Rivulus

Lepomis cyanellus

Green Sunfish

Xenoophorus captivus

Green Goodeid

Aphyosemion viridis

Green Killie

Aequidens rivulatus

Green Terror October 1999

Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S. (NY)