Tank Topics March/April 2014

The Greater Akron Aquarium Society Tank Topics March/April 2014

Inside this issue:

President’s Message 3 Bud White GAAS Spring Editor’s Message 3 Dave Williamson Auction BAP/HAP 4 Wayne Toven March 2, 2014

Bowl Show 5 Don Youngkin

Exchange Review 6 Wayne Toven

Ancistrus temnickii 7 Joe Reich

Cryptocorynes 9 Wayne Toven

Meeting Notice 10

Coming Events 10 2014 GAAS Board of Directors President ...... Bud White ...... (330) 848-3856/bud@gaas-fish.net Vice President ...... Jeff Plazak ...... (330) 854-5257/[email protected] Treasurer ...... Rich Serva ...... (330) 650-4613/[email protected] Secretary...... Dave Girard ...... [email protected] Important Dates Editor ...... Dave Williamson ...... [email protected] for 2014 Special Activities ...... Don Youngkin ...... [email protected] BAP/HAP ...... Wayne Toven ...... (330) 256-7836/[email protected] March 2 Membership ...... Bill Schake ...... [email protected] Spring auction Raffle ...... Phil & Tiffany Hypes ...... (330) 327-6316/[email protected] Historian ...... Russ Kirkendall ...... [email protected] June 21 & 22 FAAS Rep...... Ken McGill ...... (419) 677-3405/[email protected] Ultra Aqua 2014 Refreshments ...... Bill & Linda Koleszar ...... (330) 626-5660 Publicity ...... Bob Miller ...... (330) 928-6028/[email protected]

November 2 Program ...... Dan McMonigle ...... (440) 476-4663/[email protected] Fall auction Check out our website: www.gaas-fish.net P a g 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 $10 for adults, 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 others that share your interests, a subscription to our bi -monthly magazine and more. AGEND A: 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 species of fish. Following the program is a short refreshment break. After which the winners of the Bowl Show are announced, the Breeder’s Award Program fish are auctioned and tickets are drawn for the raffle. 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 plants. All that is required is to turn in a minimum of six fry from the spawn that are between 30 and 90 days old. Members earn certificates for each species and can work towards plaques in different categories. 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 ______Dues are for 1 year or 2 years if

Address ______email publications are chosen New Renewal City ______State ______Zip ______

Phone ______email ______Electronic Mail

How did you find out about GAAS? ______Adult (18 years and older) & Family (includes children under 10) $10.00 Memberships are due one year from the date of joining. Completed membership forms can be turned in at a meeting or mailed to the membership Junior (10-17 years) $5.00 chairman at this address:

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

Well hello folks, I missed the meeting but BE SETTING UP SATURDAY MARCH I was in the middle of moving from my old 1ST AT 7 PM. WE NEED HELP BOTH house to my new house. Still am doing DAYS, SO PLEASE MAKE PLANS TO See ya soon that as I type this short message. BE THERE, PREFERABLY BOTH DAYS. Bud White NEED TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT Also bring something to auction off it THE SPRING AUCTION IS COMING UP helps the club plus you get something for SUNDAY MARCH 2ND AND WE WILL your time there!

Editor’s Message Dave Williamson

Well here we are again, Spring Auc- reminder inside this issue. Due to tion season again. Ours is coming up some record keeping issues, there is very soon (March 2nd) which will fall the possibility that someone may before the meeting so hopefully you have renewed and it wasn’t recorded. receive this in time. As usual, we If you feel that was the case let me or have the ability to get into the hall the our membership chairman, Bill know night before to set up tables, chairs and we’ll get everything situated and so on to make the morning a properly. It’s always easier to keep little less hectic. So if you’re able things from getting mixed up than to drop by the Tallmadge Community fix them later, but what ya gonna do? Center around 7 pm on March 1st It’s still better to fix them than not. and we’ll get it done in record time. Another thing we’re going to do is to Then the next day come back to un- contact all the life members and dou- load those fish you’ve bred over the ble check with them that they are still winter and pick up some new stuff to interested in seeing what’s going on work with. That’s how us BAP sluts in the hobby even though they may roll! Oh, and don’t forget that just not be active in it anymore. because our auction will be over there is nothing to do in the fish hob- Well I have to say I got some results by, there will be plenty of others you to my asking for articles in the last can attend with a short drive. Check- issue. It’s pretty obvious or I wouldn’t ing out other club’s auctions is also a have had anything to put in this one! great way to pick up fish and plant That doesn’t get you off the hook species that may be new to your ar- though, you’ll notice that there are ea. It’s surprising the different stuff two articles here. Guess how many I you’ll find with just a couple hour trip. got? Yep, two. So in other words that means we still need interesting and Now the big news: I had mentioned informative content for the next issue. in the last issue that we were going I know you can do it, I have to do some work on our mailing list faith! Just like I know this as well as our membership dues. blasted winter will be over Well, you’ll notice we’ve made a and it will get warm again change in the cost as well as offering and I won’t be braving below double the length of time if you are zero wind chills to walk the willing to receive your publications dogs! Seriously, we’d love to via email. This doesn’t only benefit hear all about what your fish the club by saving postage costs but are doing! you get color pictures and don’t have to wait for the post office to deliver it On a personal note the April (and not mangle it in the process!) meeting will mark 33 years So there you have it, see it’s not that I’ve been a member of painful after all (better than that root GAAS (if that doesn’t make canal!) As part of that same subject, me feel old. . .) but I’m plan- You’ll notice (if your membership ning to see you at the meet- was expired that is) that there was a ing! (and the Spring Auc- tion!) P a g e 4 Tank Topics

either or both of the Breeder Award Program or the Horticultural Award Pro- gram. If you need a copy of the rules and forms for either, you can down- BAP/HAP load them off of the club’s web site, or get copies from me at a meeting. Don’t forget our auction (usually one of, if not the largest, in northeast Ohio) coming before you know it on Sunday March 2nd, registration starts at 10 Report am and the auction starts at 11 am until we are finished. So bring your mon- ey and get some great deals on anything hobby related. Wayne Toven January 2014 All right it’s a new year, hope everyone had BAP a safe New Years party or whatever you did. It’s cold outside, so I have done lots of Species Common name Class Points looking out the window and thinking “glad I don’t have to go anywhere.” That stupid Wayne Toven little rodent Punxsutawney Phil said we are in for 6 more weeks of winter, I’m sure hop- Limia zonata Striped Limia Livebearer 5 ing he’s wrong. The BAP/HAP slate got Dave Williamson wiped clean for December, but no surprise nothing got turned in, in January we started Corydoras aeneus Albino aeneus Catfish 20 of even up, 2 spawns and two plant flower- ings submitted. However one of the HAP spawns ( Corydoras aeneus) resulted in a Master Breeder Catfish plaque to be pre- Wayne Toven sented to Dave Williamson, congratulations Dave another plaque to add to the wall of Tulbaghia violacea Society garlic E – flowering 10 fame. After the bad news from Phil, we had the February meeting, where we had 4 Colocasia esculenta Mojito Taro E – flowering 10 spawns turned in and one of those February 2014 (Ancistrus temminckii) resulted in a Master Breeder Catfish plaque that will be award- BAP ed to Joe Reich, congratulations Joe!! Wow two months in a row of members Joe Reich earning a Breeder Award plaque, see you do get recognition for spawning fish. We Ancistrus temminckii Bristlenose pleco Catfish 20 should have more coming soon; with all the cold weather extra time should be spent in Cryptoheros panamensis Panama cichlid Cichlid Substrate 5 what is usually the warmest room in the house, the fish room. Now with the spring Wayne Toven auctions starting there will be lots of oppor- Heterandria formosa Least killifish Livebearer 5 tunities to get some new young fish or adult breeders, to work with, or more tanks Dave Williamson and equipment to set up so you can get more fish, this sounds like the beginning of Oryzias woworae Neon blue rice fish All other species 5 a vicious cycle. Back to business, all current members are eligible to participate in 2014 Totals BAP Points HAP Points

KEN’S FISH Joe Reich 2 25 - - HOME OF QUALITY TROPICAL FISH FOOD AND SUPPLIES Wayne Toven 2 10 2 20

Dave Williamson 1 20 - -

KEN MENARD (508) 823-4043 32 4TH Ave. Taunton, MA 02780 www.kensfish.com [email protected] Tank Topics P a g e 5

Bowl Show & Special Activities Don Youngkin

With the new year, the bowl show competition has begun again. So 2014 Bowl far this year, we have had only 2 individuals competing. All are welcome to join the fun and bring in entries. Show Schedule

January January: Goldfish Male Guppies st Goldfish 1 – Dave Williamson - Shubunkin Minnows, Danios & 2nd – Dave Williamson - Ranchu Rasboras February: Male Guppies Swordtails, 1st – Jeff Plazak - Guppy Male Betta splendens, nd Characins (Tetras & relatives) 2 – Jeff Plazak - Guppy March: Minnows, Danios, & Rasboras Mollies 1st – Dave Williamson - Brilliant Rasbora Suckermouth Catfish nd Barbs 2 – Dave Williamson - Purple Passion rd How the Point System works: April: 3 – Jeff Plazak - Danio 1st - 4 points Female Guppies February 2nd - 2 points Corydoras, Aspidoras & 3rd - 1 point Brochis Male Betta splendens Photography 1 point per entry, 1st – Jeff Plazak - Betta maximum 12 points per class May: Swordtails Rift Lake Cichlids st Sharks & Loaches 1 – Jeff Plazak - Lyretail Aquatic Invertebrates

2nd – Jeff Plazak - Swordtail June: no bowl show

3rd – Dave Williamson - Gold male July Annual Point Totals Native Fish Characins (Tetras & Relatives) Jeff Plazak 28 Angelfish & Discus 1st – Dave Williamson - Silvertip Tetra Aquatic Plants Dave Williamson 27 2nd – Dave Williamson - Black Neon August:

rd Platies 3 – Jeff Plazak - Pristella Tetra Rainbowfish Amphibians

September: Goodeids Since 1981 AO New World Cichlids Bog Plants

October: Gouramis &Anabantoids AO Old World Cichlids Arts & Crafts

two turtles pet center November: 745-3059 Mon-Sat 11-8 highland square AO Livebearers Large Selection of: Sunday 11-6 AO Egglayers TROPICAL FISH BIRDS 760 w.market SMALL ANIMALS AO Catfish 6629 Engle Rd. akron, ohio 44303 REPTILES AMPHIBIANS December: no bowl show DOG & PET SUPPLIES Unit 108 Tues-Fri 12-7 Sat: 10-6 Middleburg Hts., OH mon-fri 10-7 196 2nd St., NW (Downtown Barberton) (216) 433-1340 sat. 10-6 sun 12-5 (330) 374-6765 P a g e 6 Tank Topics

Joe Driskill Exchange Breeding Skiffia multipunctata, by Bobby Sutton Wayne Toven Report Breeding the Beckford Pencilfish, by Bill Flowers

First of all there was a recent reprint Diving into the Killifish Pond – Greater Pittsburgh Aquarium Soci- in the Ohio Cichlid Association’s ‘Caution Shallow Waters’, by Karen ety Inc. Finformation: Jan. 2014 January 2014 issue of their Buckeye Murray Bulletin of Wayne Toven’s article Spawning Badis badis, by Leslie Keeping & Spawning Cyprichromis Living With Livebearers – Ilyodons, Ernst leptosoma. by Ed Koerner The Bumblebee Goby, Brachygobius Second, all the articles mentioned Saltwater Tank Adventure Journal – xanthozona, Care and Breeding, by below are original articles by other Part 1: DIY Tank Stand, by Michael Scott Garner club’s members that I have reviewed, Reiter I do not mention reprinted article be- Corydoras melini, by Charlie Mueller cause I have probably reviewed Myths, Mistakes, & Misconceptions at Your Local Fish Store, by Ed Sarnia Aquarium Society, Aqua them in the past. If anyone would like Antics: Jan. / Feb. 2014 to read one of these articles let me Koerner know and I will email you a copy of it Breeding the Beautiful Jewel Cichlid or get a hard copy to you at a meet- Hamilton & District Aquarium So- ciety: Jan. 2014 – Hemichromis cristatus, by Wayne ing. Cole Eastern Iowa Aquarium Society, Spawning Ancistrus aguaboensis, by Charles Drew Breeding the Tanganyikan Cichlid Fin Flap: Jan. 2014 Neolamprologus falcicula, by Wayne Apistogramma ataihualpa – the Cole Lighting Revisions are Positive Sweet Apisto, by Jessica Bullock Steps, by Gerry Kuhl Guianacara sphenozona: an Attrac- tive South American Cichlid, by Greater Cincinnati Aquarium Soci- Pacific Coast Cichlid Association, Cichlid Blues: Jan. 2014 Wayne Cole ety, Fincinnati: Jan. / Feb. 2014 Ich, by Jessie Sanders Kitchener – Waterloo Aquarium Breeding Nanochromis transvestitus, Society, Fins & Tales: Feb. 2014 by Steve Smith Aquarium Club of Lancaster Coun- ty, Tank Tales: Jan. 2014 Saltwater Tank Adventure Journal Altolamprologus compressiceps Part 2: DIY Water Storage, by Mi- “Red Fin”, by Jerry Riegel Breeding Pelvicachromis taeniatus, chael Reiter by Gary Haas Kitchener – Waterloo Aquarium A Mouthful of Controversy, by Al Rid- Society, Fins & Tales: Jan. 2014 Circle City Aquarium Club, Fancy ley Fins: Jan. 2014 Out of Africa – Pelvicachromis, by Ed Out of Africa – Chromidotilapia guen- Koerner The Planted Aquarium (DIY Co2), by theri guentheri, by Ed Koerner

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6x18 $5.00 $9.00

8x20 $6.00 $11.00

10x24 $7.50 $14.00

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AQUARIUM GALLERY Rubber Bands $1.00

aquaticsuperstore.com Wayne Toven ALL ODDBALL AQUATICS 330.866.0559 (330) 256-7836 or SALES@ALLODDBALL AQUATICS.COM 6653 GRAFTON ROAD, www.alloddballaquatics.com VALLEY CITY, OHIO 44280 [email protected] Tank Topics P a g e 7

outside the cave, on the tank walls and airline tubing! One BAP coming Ancistris temminckii up! The cichlids didn't even try to eat them! I fished all the fry out and into Joe Reich a 10 gallon for raising, after waiting this long for an "easy" BAP I didn't want to take any chances on losing them.

I have this species in a number of my tanks, and it wasn't long after the first spawn in the 29 gallon, that the male in my 180 gallon started flapping his ventrals also. The 180 tank has one male and two females. Since this tank is located in my kitchen, I pass by it often and get to watch a lot of the aquatic entertainment that this community tank provides. This time the cave the male was flapping next to had the opening facing the front of the tank. I was able to watch the de- velopement of the eggs and fry by shining a flashlight inside. I didn't do it too often though, it looked like the male was taking offense to the bright light. I get the impression that this species is somewhat territorial. They seemed to have their "areas" where they would prefer to hang out. When- ever one ventured into the close proximity of another it was chased away. One day while I was passing it was going to work out because the I know, I know, Bristlenose catfish are by I noticed a female approaching female would chase the male away supposed to be easy to breed! I've the cave and I had already seen the from anywhere that she wanted to been told this a number of times over male go inside. I have occasionally go. Inside the tank was a cave made the years, but for some reason or an- seen a female go into it before, so for Altolamprologus species, I had a other, mine never spawned success- this was nothing new. I thought I species of cichlid spawn in it earlier fully for me...until recently. So most of would watch to see what would hap- in the year. I noticed that the male you hobbyists will probably be bored pen. She then entered the cave and Bristlenose was hanging out close to with this article, but our editor has re- the male came out. I thought maybe the cave and I assumed he was just quested some reading material, and she chased him out, but he went staying close to get away from the this is about the only thing I have to back inside and they stayed in the female. After all, it didn't look like she write about at this time. So here it cave together. I got out the flashlight would be able to fit inside. One day goes... and peaked inside thinking that may- the male was "flapping" his ventral be they were fighting and I just was- fins from the inside of the cave, I had I've been keeping this species for n't seeing it, but all was tranquil. Af- no idea what this was about, but I about the last 6 years or so. I've had ter about a half hour, I shined the assumed it was an indication of bad them spawn for me in the past, but it flashlight inside again, and low and water quality because of feeding the was always in the uplift tube of my behold, there were eggs attached to cichlid fry in the tank finely powdered sponge filter. Needless to say, the the roof of the cave. Cool! What hap- flake food. So I immediately did a eggs never got fertilized due to the up pened next also surprised me. The partial water change. The next few current of water inside the tube and second female approached the cave days the male stayed inside his they would always fungus. Then last and went inside. Again I expected cave, only poking out once in a while summer after a fish auction, I ended some fighting and a quick eviction, at feeding time. I didn't think anything up having to move fish to various but none came. I can't say for abso- of this behavior other than he was tanks to make room for my new acqui- lute certainty that both females hiding from the female. Was I ever sitions. As it happened I ended up spawned because I had to leave for wrong! One day during feeding time I putting an older (one of the first ones work. But when I got home there noticed a tiny pleco near the surface that I bought), much bigger female were eggs laid in two separate spots of the tank. I was totally taken away into a tank with a younger and much with one clutch bigger than the other. by the sight of all those tiny pleco's smaller male. At first it didn't look like So it's possible these fish may be P a g e 8 Tank Topics harem spawners. from the opening. It wasn't until my Ancistris are telling me that this about the fourth day that I noticed food is delicious! I also occasionally Every day I would shine my flashlight that the fry were becoming less and give them french cut green beans, into the cave and watch the develop- less in numbers. I resolved that when straight from the can. As well as ment. The eggs were pretty large, I got home from work that I would canned spinach. Any left over food bigger than some of the mouth fish out the rest. Unfortunately, all I that makes it to the bottom of the brooding cichlids that have spawned got was six fry from that batch. Oh tank is cleaned up by the pleco's too, for me. They were light amber col- well, lesson learned! I put that lesson no surprise there. All in all, an easy ored and seemed to get just slightly to good use when they spawned fish to keep, and now at least I can darker as they developed. From again two weeks later. There were say that I turned in that BAP too. spawning day to hatching day, it took less eggs in that spawn, but I sure five days. After they hatched, they got more fry than remained attached to the top of the I need!! cave where they were laid and they looked like little eggs with a tiny, tiny There is one tail wiggling back and forth. They pleco food that stayed in this stage for another five I've been feeding days, but each day the yolk sac them on a sup- would get smaller and the tail would plemental basis. get bigger. Their color stayed a light They seem to go amber color. At day four I noticed after it with much that they were starting to move gusto. It's made around inside the cave and it looked by sera and like they were attaching themselves called Catfish with their suckermouths. Once they Chips. I'm not looked like miniature adults bodily, one to jump on they took on the adults coloration the popularity/ too. The male continued to guard fad bandwagon, any fry that remained in the cave, he but I'll try new seemed to even herd them away products, and

Cryptocoryne cordata Tank Topics P a g e 9

can be picked up by the fly to take to Basic Tales of the Crypts pollinate another flower. Crypts are rosette plants, the leaves Wayne Toven branch out from a central point, they vary widely in the looks of the leaf I haven’t done a plant article for quite their roots. Speaking of roots, in the blades, the shape can be cordate, a while, so here goes nothing. This aquarium most crypts propagate by elliptical, lanceolate, or ribbon like; will hopefully be an informative ac- runners among the roots, a short the margins can be dentate count of the plants in the genus upright rhizome on the runner forms (serrated), entire (smooth), or undu- Cryptocoryne. These are interesting a new plant at 1 – 10 cm (1/2 – 4 late (wavy); and the surface can be plants that are known as crypts for inch) intervals. crispate (smooth), undulate (wavy), us lazy people, they are a group of or appear to be blistered. The colora- aquatic or amphibious plants that Crypts can be grown submersed in tion of the top surface of the leaves come in quite a variety of sizes, col- the aquarium, or can be grown can vary from shades of green to ors, and leaf types. They can be emersed in a small aquarium with a olive to brownish green; the under- grown in either the sumbmersed tight fitting cover to keep the humidity sides also vary from green, olive (underwater) or emersed (above wa- high. When grown emersed crypts brown, light to dark red, or a deep ter) forms, as long as their roots are tend to flower much more readily purple. Red leaf colors intensify kept very moist. They were first im- than they would when they are when the plants are grown in deep ported to Europe in 1906, but were grown submersed, many of the spe- shade, but green is more predomi- not regularly imported until the cies of crypts can only be positively nant when grown in plenty of light. 1930’s. In nature they grow in deeply identified through the process of The plant also tends to not grow as shaded areas with other low vegeta- flowering, due to their resemblance tall if the light is more intense, so the tion in the tropical jungles and rain- of other crypt species. The flower or intensity of the light can affect the forests of Southeast Asia, India, inflorescence is not your typical flow- height of the plant. Most crypts can Southwestern China, Malaysia, and er, it is a tube shaped structure be used as middle of the tank plant the Asiatic islands of Ceylon, the which varies in size, color, shape, due to their size but some can grow Philippines, Indonesia, and New and surface texture, at the top of the tall, and a few can stay relatively Guinea. They have adapted to condi- tube the opening is called the throat, small. tions of slow moving water in marshy around the throat is a pointy some- One drawback of crypts is their ten- areas and shallow brooks to fast times curled tip called a limb, at the dency to not take too well to being moving waters in streams where the base of the tube is an oval shaped transplanted, they go into a condition water is soft with a neutral Ph. structure that contains the actual male (stamens) and female (pistils) called crypt rot or crypt melt, the There are currently around 60 de- naughty bits (sex organs). In the wild leaves of the plant seem to rot away scribed species of Cryptocorynes, crypts propagate by runners but can when they are moved from one tank but of these only about 15 species also propagate through a process to another, when the temperature are regularly available in the aquari- called anthesis, this occurs during change is too great, or even when a um hobby. Coming from the tropics the dry season when the crypts are change in water quality is too drastic. most crypts like warmer tempera- growing emersed. During the dry Don’t panic, the roots are usually just tures in a range from 77° - 82° F, but season the plants change physically fine, let the plant alone and it will can live in temperatures down also, they become more like terrestri- usually start growing again after a around 72° F on the low limit up to al plants, their petioles (stems) be- while when everything stabilizes. The around 86° F on the high limit. Need- come sturdier, and the leaves tough- main thing to remember is they like less to say they live but do not thrive en up to withstand growing out of the warm temperatures, soft neutral Ph in my fish room, as most of my tanks water since the water is not there to water, and not too much light, keep are unheated, and even the ones support the plant, but their roots re- these three items with in reason and that are heated are still below the main moist. The entire process of you should have good luck with optimum temperature range for anthesis consists of the flowering, crypts. growing crypts. If you are keeping pollination, and maturation of the fruit Resources: crypts they can be grown in flower- (seeds), this process can take from 6 – 9 months. The flower lures small pots or planted directly in the sub- Encyclopedia of Water Plants, by Dr. insects into the tube with a sweet strate of an aquarium, the substrate Jiri Stodola should be a mixture of coarse sand, odor of carrion, and the limb can loam, fine gravel, and some peat close off the top of the inflorescence Aquarium Plants – Their Identifica- moss, to approximate what they for up to 3 days to keep the insect tion, Cultivation, and Ecology, by Dr. grow in naturally. The substrate trapped to make sure it deposits pol- Karel Rataj & Thomas J. Horeman should be 3 – 4 inches deep, about len that it picked up from a previous the depth that a flower pot would be; flower visit onto the receptive pistils Aquarium Plants, by Christel Kassel- it is a good idea to use a liquid ferti- (which mature first), then in a day or mann lizer as they absorb nutrients through two the stamens mature so pollen The Greater Akron Aquarium Society P.O. Box 494 Akron, OH 44309-0494

Meeting Notice - Do Not Delay Meeting Notice

Thursday, March 6 Thursday, April 3 Program: Steve Weeks Program: Gary Mendez (University of Akron)- Temporary Pools His Fishroom and Breeding Techniques and Their Inhabitants.

Bowl Show: Mollies, Bowl Show: Female Guppies, Suckermouth Catfish, Corydoras, Aspidoras & Brochis Catfish, Barbs Photography

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

Coming Events

March 1, 2014 - Motor March 15 — NEO-Fish.com May 4, 2014 - Greater May 15 – 18, 2014 – City Aquarium Society - Spring Auction Pittsburgh Aquarium So- American Livebearer As- Pipefitters Union hall, near the ciety Inc. Spring Auction sociation Convention Spring Auction I - 480 and I-77 interchange. North Hampton VFD, Gib- The Crowne Plaza St. Lou- Madison Place, 876 Hor- sonia, PA 15044 Registra- is Airport, St. Louis, MO, ace Brown Dr., Madison tion will open at 9:30 AM Hosted by the Missouri Heights, Michigan. March 28-30, 2014 – Colum- and close at 1 PM. Auction bus Area Fish Enthusiasts – will start promptly at 11 Aquarium Society (MASI) Registration 9:00 to 10:30, All Tropical Fish Convention AM. WWW.GPASI.ORG For more information: http:// auction starts at 10:30. Courtyard Columbus West, Wally Cox 412-420-7985 [email protected] OR missouriaquariumsocie- For more information: 2350 Westbelt Dr., Columbus, Ohio Joe Doyle 724-602-7564 ty.com/ www.motorcityaquarimsociety.com FishHeads_Forum/ For more information: [email protected] www.columbusfishclub.org viewforum.php?f=28