The Greater Akron Aquarium Society Tank Topics April/May 2011

THIS IS YOUR LAST Inside this issue: WARNING!!!

President’s Message 3 The American Bud White Livebearer Association Editor’s Message 3 2011 Convention is Dave Williamson April 8, 9 & 10 BAP/HAP 4 at the Cleveland Airport Wayne Toven Sheraton. Exchange 5 Wayne Toven DON’T MISS OUT!!! Bowl Show 6 This has been a public Ken McGill service announcement Allotoca goslinei 7 brought to you by the Wayne Toven Surfer Guppy! Growth Program 8

Phalloptychus januarius 9 2011 GAAS Board of Directors Dave Williamson President...... Bud White...... (330) 848-3856/bud@gaas-.net Coming Events 10 Vice President...... Jeff Plazak...... (330) 854-5257/[email protected] Treasurer...... Rich Serva...... (330) 650-4613/[email protected] Meeting Notice 10 Secretary...... Ron Drungil ...... (330) 929-7889/[email protected] Editor...... Dave Williamson...... [email protected] Special Activities...... Ken McGill...... (419) 677-3405/[email protected] Important Dates BAP/HAP...... Wayne Toven...... (330) 256-7836/[email protected] Membership ...... Bob Miller ...... (330) 928-6028/[email protected] for 2011 Raffle...... Phil & Tiffany Hypes ...... (330) 327-6316/[email protected]

Librarian ...... Michael & Michael Berger ...... (330) 789-9834/[email protected] March 6 Historian ...... David Girard...... (330) 945-4606/[email protected] Spring auction FAAS Rep...... Bob Cisney...... (330) 569-3234 Refreshments...... Bill & Linda Koleszar...... (330) 626-5660 July 9 & 10 Publicity...... Bill Schake ...... [email protected] Program...... Dan McMonigle...... (440) 476-4663/[email protected] Ultra Aqua 2011 50/50...... Melissa Honaker ...... [email protected] Louanne Coulter ...... [email protected] November 6 Fall auction Check out our website: www.gaas-fish.net P ag e 2 Tank Topics

THE GREATER AKRON AQUARIUM SOCIETY

WHO ARE WE? We are a local group of aquatic enthusiasts. Formed in 1952, the Greater Akron Aquarium Society is a non- profit, non-commercial organization. Our membership ranges from the beginning hobbyist to the advanced aquarist with many years of experience. The goals of our club are to promote the care, study, breeding and exhibition of aquarium related aquatic life and to promote interest in the aquarium hobby. MEETINGS: Our meetings are held on the first Thursday of each month at 8:00 p.m. at the Mogadore Community/Senior Center, 3857 Mogadore Road, Mogadore, Ohio. It is located East of Route 532 across from McDonald’s in the former post office building. Visitors are always welcome, it costs absolutely nothing to attend a meeting and look us over. MEMBERSHIP: The cost is only $7.50 for adults, $10 for a couple or a family (includes children under 10 years of age) and $5.00 for a junior membership (10 to 17 years) Membership provides an opportunity to socialize with other that share your interests, a subscription to our bi-monthly magazine, library usage and more. AGENDA: Our meeting agenda is simple and informal. The meeting will begin at 8:00 p.m. with a short business meeting. Immediately following is the program for the evening which usually lasts about 45 minutes. Our programs consist of a speaker, slide program, movie or perhaps a panel discussion always on a particular subject related to the hobby or various of fish. Following the program is a short refreshment break. After which the winners of the Bowl Show are an- nounced, the Breeder’s Award Program fish are auctioned and tickets are drawn for the equipment and book raffles. THE BOWL SHOW: Each month members can bring in fish for specific classes to compete for first, second and third place awards. The charge for each entry is only $.25. Members also compete for annual awards by accumulating wins throughout the year. BREEDER’S AWARD and HORTICULTURE AWARD PROGRAMS: members can receive recognition for spawning species of fish or propagating aquatic . All that is required is to turn in a minimum of six fry from the that are between 30 and 90 days old. Members earn certificates for each species and can work towards plaques in different categories. LIBRARY: At the library table are a number of books and other publications covering all areas of the aquarium hobby. Mem- bers may borrow the books for a month at a time. Also each month several books are raffled off. EQUIPMENT RAFFLE: The raffle table has such items as tanks, fish food and aquarium accessories that are donated by national manufacturers, area dealers or purchased by the Society. Tickets may be purchased by anyone attending the meeting. Save your losing tickets for the Christmas Party raffle. ANNUAL SHOW: The Ultra-Aqua show is held during the summer at the Tallmadge community Center. This has become one of the largest all-species tropical fish shows in North America. It is an international gathering of hobbyists to display their fish in class competition, talk fish and to learn about the hobby from each other. TANK TOPICS: is published on a bi-monthly basis for the members of the Greater Akron Aquarium Society. Articles and comments for this publication are welcome and encouraged. Such articles are to be submitted no later than the board meeting prior to publication. All articles may be reprinted as long as the author(s) and GAAS are given proper credit and two copies of the publication containing the reprint are sent to GAAS. Please send any correspondence regarding this publication to: Editor/Tank Topics, P.O. Box 494, Akron, OH 44309-0494 or email to [email protected]

The Greater Akron Aquarium Society Membership Form

Name ______Age ______

Address ______New Renewal City ______State ______Zip ______Electronic Mail

Phone ______email ______Adult (18 years and older 1 year $7.50

2 years $12.00 How did you find out about GAAS? ______Family (includes children under 10) 1 year $10.00

Memberships are due one year from the date of joining. Completed mem- 2 years $15.00 bership forms can be turned in at a meeting or mailed to the membership Junior (10-17 years) 1 year $5.00 chairman at this address: 2 years $7.00

GAAS Membership Chairman, P.O. Box 494, Akron, OH 44309-0494 Dues Collected ______Date Received ______President’s Message P ag e 3

Wow what an auction we had! hotel April 8-10. Go to our livebearers. He covers a broad We started earlier, at 11 am website for all the informa- area so come with lots of See you at the instead of noon and the place tion http:// questions. meeting was packed with standing www.ala2011.com/ and plan room only and not much of to join us. It is something that Looks like the weather is on Bud White that left either. That puts us to does not come this way very the up swing and we will be at least 300 people, that's a often, it is a chance to meet going outside for other activi- lot. The prices were very people very involved with ties, just don't forget your good and we had some very Livebearers, many from other friends in the tanks when you nice items, seemed like every- countries and all are ready to do. They can't go out and still one was happy. talk about Livebearers. need you to keep the water changed. The next thing we have is We are also going to have at going to be the American our April meeting the ALA We are taking sponsorships Livebearer Association Con- Chairman, Allen Wood, for the ALA and Ultra Aqua vention we are hosting at the speak on designing a fish show classes. See me or Cleveland Airport Sheraton room and of course featuring Wayne Toven if you would like to sponsor a class. Editor’s Message

operators we are all volunteer just sayin’. Now on to a strictly personal help. But it is this help that topic. It just dawned on me allows this club to continue to In other upcoming news, this the other day when I was no- operate. Thanks again to all has been mentioned over the ticing that the next meeting is who were there. last few months, but now it’s April 2011 that I’ve just almost upon us; we (the reached a major milestone in Next up, I have to say that Greater Akron Aquarium So- this hobby. That meeting will this issue was a bit of a chal- ciety membership) are hosting be the start of my 30th year as lenge for me to complete the American Livebearer As- a member of this club. That’s within my deadlines for a sociation Convention April 8, right, my first meeting was couple of reasons. Thankfully 9 & 10 at the Cleveland Air- April of 1981! I was just out the next meeting is on the 7th port Sheraton. This is kind of of high school and looking to of the month so it gave me an a big deal, if you’re at all in- do something to keep my in- extra week to get it done, if terested in livebearing fish it terest in my hobby (which I’d not for that I would have been will be the place to be. You’ll already been at for 5 years at Here we are again in the in deep trouble. Here is where never see as many rare and that point). I never would midst of Spring Auction sea- I could use some help: we are interesting fish (most of have thought at that time how son again. With ours being completely out of articles to which you’ll have the chance much of an impact it would one of the first in the area at publish at this point, I actually to purchase if you so choose) make in my life. When I think the beginning of March you had to “whip” one up to fill and get as much up-to-date about it, where I live, who I still have plenty of choices of the pages. The other thing I information any where else. see and talk to on a daily basis others you can attend. From would really appreciate is Like most specialty clubs’ and even 21 years of my now until some time in May getting the things I need in a national conventions it travels working life were directly within a couple hour drive of more timely fashion, so I around to different parts of impacted by my joining this Akron you can go to a fish don’t have to cram it together the country, so when it’s this organization and the people auction nearly every week- at the last minute or having to close to home you don’t want I’ve met both directly and end. And since we’re on the try to track things down when to miss it. You may have no- indirectly through it. Hon- subject, I might as well thank I should be just assembling it. ticed that all the articles in estly, no other single act in all those who turned out to If we want to keep producing this issue deal with live- my adult life has made as big help make our auction the a truly local product, and I’d bearers, although it fits nicely of an impact. I realize that not success that it was. From the like to believe that we do, I with the convention theme, it everyone has this reaction, but auctioneers to the runners, need a little more input. Not was honestly just a coinci- remember I’ll see you at the kitchen help and computer whining, not complaining, dence. meeting! P ag e 4 Tank Topics

Species Common name Class Points BAP March 2011 BAP/HAP Phil & Tiffany Hypes Ancistrus sp. Pucallpa Bristlenose pleco 20 Ancistrus cf. cirrhosus Albino bristlenose pleco Catfish 20 Report Neocaridena denticulata Cherry shrimp Aquatic 10 Russ Kirkendall Wayne Toven Telmatochromis burgeoni Cichlid s.s. 15 Dan McMonigle Melanoides maculata Malaysian burrowing snail Aquatic animal 5 Here we are in the beginning of March and Bob Miller except for a few days here and there, I think Heterandria formosa Least livebearer Livebearer 5 Punxsutawney Phil was full of it this year. Characodon lateralis Rainbow goodeid Livebearer 10 Things are supposed to improve, but as I sit Frank Mueller typing this we are supposed to get 4 – 6 Labidochromis caerueleus Electric yellow Cichlid m.b. 15 inches of snow tonight and 3 – 5 inches more Joe Reich tomorrow. Where on earth is this early Nomorhamphus towoetii Halfbeak Livebearer 10 spring? All of my ponds and tubs were frozen Tanichthys albonubes White cloud Barbs, etc. 5 over until yesterday, but thanks to all the rain Hypsophrys nicaraguense Cichlid s.s. 5 and temperatures in the 40’s they are mostly Dave Williamson thawed and over flowing. Speaking of being Micropoecilia sp. 2 Livebearer 5 the first week of March we just had a very Phalloptychus januarius Livebearer 5 Ancistrus temminckii Bristlenose pleco Albino Catfish 20 successful spring auction on Sunday the 6th, HAP March 2011 the crowd turnout was great and there were Brad Johnson lots of quality items sold. I didn’t buy much Lindernia rotundifolia Variegated B – vegetative 10 as the prices on things I wanted were beyond Cabomba furcata Red cabomba B – vegetative 10 what I was willing to pay. On to the business Mayaca fluviatilis B – vegetative 10 at hand, in February we had 14 spawns and 4 BAP April 2011 propagations turned in at the meeting, Phil & Tiffany Hypes in March we had 7 spawns and 19 plant Julidochromis transcriptus Cichlid s.s. 15 propagations turned in between the meeting Telmatochromis temporalis Cichlid s.s. 15 and the auction. Good work to all who are Xiphophorus maculatus Milk & ink platy Livebearer 5 participating in the two programs, but we Dan McMonigle could benefit from some more people being Procambarus sp. Blue &purple crayfish Aquatic animal 10 active, last year we had a total of 14 contrib- Orin McMonigle uting members. Let’s keep this momentum Procambarus sp. Blue & purple crayfish Aquatic animal 10 rolling along!!! Xenia sp. White pom pom soft coral Marine invert 10 2011 Spawn & Point Totals HAP April 2011 BAP Points HAP Points Phil & Tiffany Hypes Echinodoras cordifolius Queen marble sword C – vegetative 15 Phil & Tiffany Hypes 7 100 5 60 Echinodoras sp. Kleiner bar sword C – vegetative 15 Dan McMonigle 3 20 - - Colocasia esculenta Variegated stem taro G – vegetative 10 Joe Reich 3 20 - - Colocasia antiquorum Imperial taro E – flowering 10 Wayne Toven 3 25 - - Colocasia antiquorum Imperial taro G – vegetative 10 Dave Williamson 3 30 1 15 Brad Johnson Orin McMonigle 2 20 4 40 Hygrophilla polysperma Green hygro A – vegetative 5 Bob Miller 2 15 - - Microsorium pteropus Trident Java fern D – vegetative 20 Russ Kirkendall 1 15 - - Bacopa caroliniana Bacopa B – vegetative 10 Brad Johnson - - 16 200 Ludwigia arcuata B – vegetative 10 Marsilea quadrifolia Four leaf clover C – vegetative 15 Marsilea minuta Dwarf four leaf clover C – vegetative 15 Blyxa japonica C – vegetative 15 Staurogyne sp. Bihar Bihar hygro A – vegetative 5 Bolbitis huedelotii African fern G – vegetative 10 Orin McMonigle Chaetomorpha linum Chaeto G – vegetative 10 Caulerpa sp. ‘evil’ Evil caulerpa G – vegetative 10 Caulerpa prolifera Prolifera G – vegetative 10 Caulerpa serrulata Razer caulerpa G – vegetative 10 Valonia sp. Green bubble G – vegetative 10 Tank Topics August/September 2010 P ag e 5

Greater Cincinnati Aquarium Long Island Aquarium Society, Exchange Society, Fincinnati: Mar/Apr 2011 Paradise Press: Dec 2010 Moscow Tiger Bronze Guppies, by Koi Angels, by Margaret Peterson Tony Anderson Report Royal Farlowellas or Sturisoma Long Island Aquarium Society, panamense, by Steve Smith Wayne Toven Paradise Press: Jan 2011 Pseudotropheus demasoni, by Jerry Easy Lyretails, by Jack Guida Riegel There was one reprint of Wayne Neolamprologus cylindricus, the Cylin- Michiana Aquarium Society, Michiana Toven’s article Keeping and Breeding der Cichlid, by Michael A. Risko Jr. Tropical Times: Feb 2011 Brachyrhaphis sp. Costa Rica in the The Marble Crayfish – Procambarus Missouri Aquarium Society Inc. Jan / Greater Pittsburgh Aquarium Society marmokrebs, by Ben Slocum Feb issue of The Darter. Inc. Finformation: Jan 2011 Medina County Aquarium Society, Spawning the Emerald Rasbora – All Wet Gazette: Mar 2011 If you would like to read any of the arti- Microrasbora erythromicron, by Leslie Synodontis petricola, by Tom Evers cles listed below, let me know and I will Keefer aneus (Albino), by Bill get a copy of it to you. Apistogramma bitaeniata, by Wally Cox Flowers Two for the Price of One, titteya Aquarium Club of Lancaster County, – Cherry Barb, Puntius oligolepis – Ohio Cichlid Association, Buckeye Tank Tales: Feb 2011 Checker Barb, by Stan Chechak Bulletin: Feb 2011 My Experience Breeding Jewel Cich- Raising and Breeding Amphilophus lids, by Scott McLaughlin Hamilton & District Aquarium flaveolus (part two), by Jonathan Building a Fall Through Breeder, by Society: Feb 2011 Dietrich Michael Steffen Preventing Fish Loss, by Charles Drew Safe & Effective Tips for Transporting Pseudotropheus sp. Cobalt Red Top, by Apistogramma barlowi, the Fish, by Dan Woodland Jay Stephan Mouthbrooding Apisto, by Jessica Keeping the Water in Your Aquariums: Bullock Tips for Aquarists to Maintain a Healthy Circle City Aquarium Club, Fancy & Harmonious Home, no author listed Fins: Feb 2011 Hamilton & District Aquarium Rainbow Gudgeon (Tateurndina ocelli- Society: Mar 2011 Pacific Coast Cichlid Association, cauda), by Charlie Grimes Spawning the Ancistrus sp. Pucallpa, by Cichlidae Communique: Jan / Feb 2011 Raising Rainbow Fry, by Mike Mat- Charles Drew Chitande Island Lake Malawi, by Pam thews Spawning the Chinese Algae – Eater, by Chin Pseudotropheus salosi, by Charlie William Berg Grimes Flowering Barclaya longifolia, by Sarnia Aquarium Society, Aqua Steatocranus casuarius – Blockhead or Charles Drew Antics: Feb 2011 Buffalohead Cichlid, by Michael Duna- Astatotilapia aeneocolor, by Jack gan Kitchener – Waterloo Aquarium VanderAa Spawning Betta albimarginata, by Mike Society, Fins & Tales: Jan 2011 Success With the Red Top, Ice Blue Matthews Just Add Salt, by Cameron Turner & Zebra, by Peter Melady Tanya Morose Building My Dream Stingray Pond, by Sarnia Aquarium Society, Aqua Durham Region Aquarium Society, Brandon Carlos Tank Talk: Jan 2011 Antics: Mar 2011 HAP penstance (an HAP article), by Pseudocrenalabrus nicholsi, by Dave Pristella maxillaries, by Jack VAnderAa Brent Lemanski Hansen Electric Yellows, by Peter Melady Living With Livebearers, by Ed Koerner Year of the Rainbowfish, Rainbowfish – Playing the Shell Game, by Ed Koerner An Introduction, by Derek P. S. Tustin St. Catharines & Area Aquarium The Names You Know, the People You Society, the Scat: Feb 2011 Don’t: Dr. Marinus Boeseman Kitchener – Waterloo Aquarium Gold Barbs (Puntius semifasciolatus), Society, Fins & Tales: Feb 2011 by Dave Unruh Done With Discus, by Cam Turner Durham Region Aquarium Society, Just Add Salt, by Cameron Turner & Tank Talk: Feb 2011 Tanya Morose St. Catharines & Area Aquarium Year of the Rainbowfish – Breeding Bristlenose Plecos, by Brent Society, the Scat: Mar 2011 Melanotaenia, by Derek P. S. Tustin Lemanski Red ClawMacro Shrimp The Names You Know, the People You Hydrogen Peroxide as Algaecide, by (Microbrachium dayanuro), by Dave Unruh Don’t: Dr. Herbert Axelrod Jayne Glazier & Cam Turner P ag e 6 Tank Topics

Ken McGill How the Point System works: Bowl Show & 1st - 4 points 2nd - 2 points Special Activities 3rd - 1 point 1 point per entry, First of all, Thanks Dave! for handling the bowl show for me in maximum 12 points per class March. I was under the weather and the weather was bad too! 2011 Bowl We had 10 entries in February and 15 in March. Not too bad. Dave held on to the lead he set in January. We have a new par- Show Schedule ticipant: Larissa Jackson. Welcome Larissa. The rest of you can January: give it a try too. There is plenty of time to catch Dave, Jeff, & Goldfish, Male Guppies, Wayne. Since 1981 Minnows Danios & Rasboras

February: February: Suckermouth Catfish (2 entries) Suckermouth Catfish, 1st - Wayne Toven Pleco sp. Swordtails, Characins

2nd - Wayne Toven Otocinclus affinis March: Swordtails (5 entries) Barbs, Mollies, 1st - Jeff Plazak Orange Swordtail 745-3059 Corydoras Aspidoras & Large Selection of: 2nd - Jeff Plazak Black Swordtail Brochis TROPICAL FISH BIRDS 3rd - Jeff Plazak Orange & White Swordtail SMALL April: REPTILES AMPHIBIANS Female Guppies, Platies, Characins (3 entries) DOG & PET SUPPLIES Tues-Fri 12-7 Sat: 10-6 Aquatic Invertebrates 1st - Dave Williamson Congo Tetra 196 2nd St., NW 2nd - Dave Williamson Blind Cave Tetra (Downtown Barberton) May: 3rd - Wayne Toven African Red Eye Tetra Goodeids, Rift Lake Cichlids, Aquatic Plants March:

Corydoras, Brochis and Aspidoras (7 entries) June: Native Fish, Rainbowfish, 1st - Dave Williamson Corydoras nanus 2nd - Wayne Toven Brochis splendens Male Betta splendens

3rd - Dave Williamson Corydoras habrosus July: Synodontis Catfish, Killifish, Mollies (6 entries): 1st - Jeff Plazak Green Molly Angelfish & Discus

2nd - Jeff Plazak Green Molly August: 3rd - Larissa Jackson Gold Sailfin Male Owner - Cory Fry 3945 Highland Drive AO New World Cichlids, Amphibians, Barbs (2 entries): Richmond, IN 47374 765-914-2174 / 765-488-1178 Fax Bog Plants 1st - Dave Williamson Cherry Barb [email protected] 2nd - Wayne Toven Black Ruby Barb September: Gouramis & Anabantoids, Sharks & Loaches, 2011 Points Totals: Photography North East October: Name: Total Ohio Discus Arts & Crafts, Marine Fish, All Other Old World Cichlids Featuring Stendker Discus Dave Williamson 37 two turtles pet center November: Bonnie & highland square All Other Livebearers, Jeff Plazak 34 760 w.market All Other Egglayers, Nate Larson akron, ohio 44303 All Other Catfish Hours by Appointment Only Wayne Toven 24 mon-fri 10-7

(330) 882-5158 sat. 10-6 Larissa Jackson 3 [email protected] sun 12-5 (330) 374-6765 Tank Topics August/September 2010 P ag e 7

on their sides. This tends to make me think that the banding is a fright or stress Toeing the Line with Allotoca marking. The body coloration is much the same for both sexes; the upper half is goslinei brown to golden-brown with some dark mottling, the lower half to the belly is By Wayne Toven pale tan. The gill plates are somewhat translucent as they appear to be a rosy Yes it’s that time again, for another one A. goslinei has the stocky elongated red color, due to the gills beneath them; of those articles about an obscure body shape typical of most goodeids, there is also an iridescent patch on the goodeid livebearer, Allotoca goslinei. As females can grow to 6 cm just shy of 2 ½ upper front of the gill plate. Along the it is with a lot of other livebearers from inches, while males stay slightly smaller. midline of the body from just behind the Mexico, A. goslinei is critically endan- The head is pointed with an upturned eye to the caudal peduncle, there are a gered in the wild. Originally the species mouth, for feeding at the surface. The few larger dark spots; over these spots is comes from the Pacific slope in the Rio leading edge of the dorsal fin starts well some bluish iridescence which varies Potrero Grande, Rio Ameca, and the back on the body, about even with the from just a sprinkling to almost a solid upper part of the Rio Ameca basin anal fin; the dorsal fin of the male is band. On to the fins, the anal fin is an around Jalisco Mexico. They were first larger and well developed, and the male opaque white color, while the dorsal and described in 1987 by Smith and Miller also has an andropodium. In case any of caudal fins are not quite as opaque with a and were named in honor of Dr. William you has forgotten the andropodium is the yellow tint.

A. Gosline. The natural habitat is shal- modified anal fin the males use to pass I first had the opportunity to obtain some low waters up to or depending on how sperm packets to the females. Female A. goslinei at the American Livebearer you look at it down to a depth of 4 feet, goodeids cannot store sperm like the Association convention in 2009; there with a slow current to none during the poeciliids can; they must mate for each were some in the auction but they went dry season. Substrates consisted of spawning. Speaking of spawning the for way more than I was willing to pay. gravel, rocks, sand, and mud, with vege- gestation period is around 60 days, and a Oh well, I will just have to keep looking tation of filamentous algae and patches brood can consist of up to 20 fry 1 cm in and hoping. Well in the fall of 2009 I of floating plants. size. The books also recommend that went to the Erie Aquarium Society’s they be spawned in pairs. The fry are auction in Erie, Pa. and to my surprise This is a peaceful, timid species and it is sexually mature at 3 months of age. there were four bags, each containing a recommended that it be kept in a species young pair, scattered on the tables. The tank. Water parameters should be: Ph of Their common name is the banded first one came up and someone bid $3 so 7 – 7.6 with a hardness of 5 – 20 dGH, at goodeid; according to the book they I went $4, and that was all the bids, so I temperatures ranging from 68 – 74 de- have a series of up to 15 vertical bands got at least a pair, but since the seemed grees F, drops in temperature and on the side of the body. I never noticed to be very little interest there was hope marked fluctuations in water quality are any bands on the males or females I for getting more. After most of the auc- not tolerated. have, and only when I have caught them tion I wound up getting all four pairs for for photos have I seen a few faint bands P ag e 8 Tank Topics a grand total of $14, needless to say I the temperature got too low they were was quite pleased. The only way to get netted out of the tub, all 8 of the adults, 2011 Growth some of the more unusual and rare spe- at least I didn’t lose any of them, and to cies is to make a road trip to out of state my surprise 6 fry of three different sizes, auctions, or national conventions, so that must have been three different spawns, Program! is what I do. I came home with my prize or at least two spawns. Back inside the and separated them by sex, to grow them house they reside in a 55 gallon tank in Be at the April meeting to pick up some up to adult size and condition them for my laundry room just off of the floor baby albino bristle-nose catfish spawning. The 4 males and 4 females since they like cooler water temps. There each got a 10 gallon tank with sand sub- is a mix of sand and gravel substrate, strate, floating plastic plants, and a rocks for hiding, floating plants, and sponge filter. Being they sponge filters. I know the book said to were fed flake, frozen blood worms, and put them in a species tank but I have too very small floating pellets, they grew many fish, they just had to put up with well and looked good. some other tank mates, there are cherry barbs, some small danios, and some By early summer I decided to put them Scleromastyx barbatus. They seem to be outside in one of my 110 gallon tubs all getting along, the A. goslinei don’t behind my garage, with hornwort, water seem to be timid they are always out lilies, and various marginal plants, I fed swimming around. I just keep on watch- them flake food about every other day, ing for a female to start getting a little and let Mother Nature take care of the and bring them back to the December chunky, they don’t blimp out like some Christmas party for judging. There will rest. I couldn’t see putting just 1 pair in a of the other goodeids do, as soon as I see 110 gallon tub so all 4 pairs went in. I be separate awards for the largest male one she will go into a 10 gallon breeder and female. The only other requirements noticed when I fed them that there trap tank, to see if I can get some more seemed to be only the adults, I never saw are that you are a member and if your fry successfully that way. The waiting is fish wins be willing to write an article on any fry, well maybe they just hide real the hardest part well, I can only hope. In mid fall before what methods you used to grow it.

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Mon-Sat 11-8 Sunday 11-6

6629 Engle Rd. Unit 108 Middleburg Hts., OH (216) 433-1340 Tank Topics August/September 2010 P ag e 9 The Ultimate “Little Gray Ditch Fish” Phalloptychus januarius By Dave Williamson

There has been a joke amongst live- had some empty tank space and I’m al- Then as luck would have it, I talked to bearer keepers for years that so many of ways up for trying something new. some of the other aquarists that this the rare and sought-after species are not (Yeah, I know I’m a BAP slut!) group of fish had been distributed to and really all that appealing to look at com- found out that most everyone else had pared to what most people think of when So, armed with the information they’re similar results to mine with the adult fish dealing with tropical fish, hence the de- rare, delicate and they like some salt in dropping off. Only time will tell if that scription you see above in the title. OK, their water, I was given a bag of roughly was caused by this species not being so maybe this one is silver rather than a dozen little silver fish of various sizes long lived or if is one of those fish that gray, but you still get the point. What it and ages and told “go for it” and to bring doesn’t take well to being moved to does have going for it is rarity. You can back what I had to the convention next different conditions. be the first on your block to have a April. Well almost immediately the chance at killing off a really rare fish adults started to drop one or two a week When all is said and done, I feel I’ve (yeah, they’re kind of delicate too). It’s and I began to think “here we go, I’m done my part. I’ll be bringing more everything that the true “fish geek” going to kill off the rarest fish in the individuals to the convention than I wants! world and everyone will think my fish- started with, and on top of that by writ- room has turned into a black hole of ing this article I even get my BAP points Seriously, these little guys (and I mean doom!” Thankfully, a few weeks into it I for a fish that I don’t really “own”. I little, maximum size for males is about noticed a few fry darting around the couldn’t ask for anything better! an inch, females about a half inch larger) leaves of a floating piece of Anubius so I hail from the vicinity of Rio de Janero in just kept up maintenance I had been do- References: Brazil and adjacent parts of Bolivia & ing which consisted of small feedings of Livebearing : a Guide to Their Paraguay making them some of the most crushed flake food, frozen adult brine Aquarium Care, Biology, and Southerly poeciliid livebearers. This is shrimp and live baby brine shrimp alter- Classification: John Dawes also where they get their species name as nated once or twice a day, that combined Rio de Janero translates from Portugese with a 30% weekly water change and the Aqualog of All Livebearers and Half as “January River.” The name addition of a tablespoon of Instant Ocean Beaks: Michael Kemkes & Dipl. Biol. refers to the bent gonopodiums of the salt to a ten gallon tank. By New Years Frank Schafer males and this trait is the main thing that all of the original adults were gone but separates this genus from close relatives the juveniles had grown up and were Atlas of Livebearers of the World: Cnestrodon and Phalloceros. producing fry regularly. You never saw a Lothar Wischnath lot at a time, 2 to 4 You might at this point wonder how and new little guys would why did I end up with this fish? Well it turn up every couple all boils down to the fact that the Ameri- KEN’S FISH of weeks, but they HOME OF QUALITY TROPICAL can Livebearer Convention will be were steadily increas- FISH FOOD AND SUPPLIES hosted by The Greater Akron Aquarium ing in numbers. I can Society this Spring. Every year some see where they got rare fish are either donated by or pur- the common name of chased from labs that are studying them. “Barred Millionsfish” And that is where these guys came from. because like guppies, The good or bad news, depending on they are prolific how you look at it was they were when there is a col- ALL ODDBALL AQUATICS shipped well in advance (like about 8 KEN MENARD (508) 823-4043 ony of them and they SALES@ALLODDBALL AQUATICS.COM 32 4TH Ave. Taunton, MA 02780 months!) of the event and needed to be are definitely into housed somewhere. Just so happened I www.alloddballaquatics.com www.kensfish.com togetherness. [email protected] The Greater Akron Aquarium Society P.O. Box 494 Akron, OH 44309-0494

Meeting Notice - Do Not Delay Meeting Notice

Thursday, April 7 Thursday, May 5

Program: Allen Wood: Designing a Fish Room Program: Eric Graham: Why a Water Garden? Allen Wood, Chairman of the American Livebearer Eric Graham, manager of Landscapes and Water Association 2010-2011 will speak on designing a Gardens for AQUA DOC will give a talk titled fish room of course featuring livebearers! "Why a Water Garden?".

Bowl Show: Female Guppies, Platies, Bowl Show: Goodeids, Aquarium Plants, Freshwater or Marine Invertebrates Rift Lake Cichlids

All general meetings begin at 8:00 p.m. at the Mogadore Community/Senior Center

Coming Events

April 8, 9 & 10, 2011 – April 9 – Great Lakes Cich- April 17 2011– Greater May 7, 2011 - Columbus American Livebearer lid Society - Spring Auction Pittsburgh Aquarium Soci- Area Fish Enthusiasts Association Convention Euclid Sq Mall. 100 Euclid ety Inc. - Spring Auction (CAFÉ) Spring Auction Sheraton Inn & Conference Sq Mall Euclid, OH 44132 in North Hampton VFD, 5149 Hamilton Township Commu- Center Hopkins Airport, 5300 the Euclidean Room (North North Pioneer Road, Gibso- nity Center, 6400 Lockbourne Riverside Drive, Cleveland, West Entrance). nia, PA 15044 Rd., Lockbourne, Ohio 43134 OH, 44135 Contact Dean at Merspaint- PA Turnpike, Exit 4, For more information: colum- For more information: Con- [email protected], 330-656- For more information: Con- [email protected] tact: [email protected], 0079, Marty at 330-650-0237, tacts: Don Tuttle 724-327- Website: Bill at 216-692-9296 or Ron 5163 and Bill Sensor 724- www.ALA2011.com at 440-944-3245. web site: 845-7171 http://www.greatlakes cichlid- society.net