Contents
Page 1: A letter from the committee Page 2 - 4: Why is fishkeeping good for you? Page 5 - 6: Online Fish Show Page 7: Birmingham Aquatic Club AGM Page 8: Freshwater puzzle Page 9: With thanks A letter from the committee
A big welcome from your committee in these troubled times. It has not been easy for many of us but hopefully your fishkeeping has been a positive distraction. It has not been easy for the club as covid 19 restrictions have prevented us from organising a face to face meeting that we were really looking forward to. This would have been a great opportunity to meet you all and finally put some faces to names. However, please be assured that we will arrange a function as soon as this is allowed and safe to do so.
There has been positives for the club with both the numbers of members rising and an amazing 285 Facebook members at the time of writing. We extend a very warm welcome to each and every one of you. We are able to report that our online fish show was a great success and details are given below. It was felt that this was one of the few options currently open to us to reach out and engage with members. Hopefully, you will have found this fun. Well done to all the winners and a big thanks to the judges.
Please remember, that if you have any problems with your fishkeeping then you can always find someone willing to help out. You can either use the WhatsApp or Facebook group to contact club members. Remember that you are free to use either of these to show off your tanks or fish. You can always let everyone know of any successes or purchases that you are pleased with. In sort, any fishy chat is welcome. Most importantly we are thinking of you all and hoping that you and yours stay well and safe.
Very best wishes from your committee Why is fishkeeping good for you?
Would you believe me if I told you that keeping an aquarium in your home or office can improve the quality of your life? You may be surprised to hear how many health benefits there are from keeping fish. Believe it or not, it is actually something that has been well studied and proven to be true. Fishkeeping is actually really good for you. Fish tanks have been shown to reduce stress, anxiety and improve your mood all at the same time. Simply spending a few minutes watching fish lowers your heart rate and blood pressure. This article will talk about all the benefits and rewards of fishkeeping.
Firstly, let's talk about how fishkeeping can reduce stress levels. I am sure that many people who already keep fish will know that staring into a fish tank is very relaxing. Looking into an aquarium and being able to see all of the fish swim around in different directions with a wide array of different shapes and colours can be absolutely mesmerising. There is nothing better than coming in from a hard day at work and getting lost in your underwater world. The presence of nature and the sound of water in your surroundings can have a dramatic effect on stress levels. Did you know that humans naturally have an attraction to water? Our body is made up of it and it is hard wired within our DNA. Do not be afraid to make your aquarium the centrepiece of the room for this reason. Embrace it!
A study done by the experts from National Marine Aquarium, Plymouth University and the University of Exeter found that staring at swimming fish can lower your blood pressure. This is especially helpful for people who have problems with high blood pressure. The research also proved that staring at the fish not only decreases blood pressure but also helps to decrease a persons heart rate. Deborah Cracknell, from Plymouth University says "Fish tanks and displays are often associated with attempts at calming patients in doctors’ surgeries and dental waiting rooms." Due to these findings, I am not surprised why. I think every doctor surgery and dentist should have a fish tank in the waiting area! Aquariums are well known to help reduce anxiety and create a calming effect. This would especially come in handy if you were about to have your tooth pulled!
As well as all of the above, fishkeeping as a hobby gives people a sense of responsibility and the task of remaining focused. In order to look after our fish and keep our aquariums looking neat and presentable, we need to look after ourselves.I know from my own personal experiences how much fishkeeping can help someone suffering from autism or mental health problems. It gave me a sense of purpose and aquarium maintenance was always a pleasure and never a chore. Fishkeeping can keep you very busy especially if you have multiple fish tanks to look after. Being productive can be a really good thing and some people find it helpful for this reason! It is a truly rewarding hobby to have.
Lastly, let's talk about feng shui. Did you know that a properly placed and cared for aquarium can bring prosperity and good luck into your home? Feng shui is a chinese philosophy of harmony between people and their environment. Fish tanks are supposed to contain all five elements of fengshui. Bringing them all together, these elements symbolise the perfect balance of chi, or energy.According to feng shui principles, adding an aquarium to your home or office is an excellent way to attract auspicious chi into your space, especially for good luck, abundance and prosperity. Interestingly, according to feng shui guidelines, nine is often an auspicious number of fish to have in an aquarium. If feng shui is something of interest to you, I recommend that you do the proper research that is needed, as feng shui is something that needs to be done properly to create the right effect. Overall, if you are looking for a hobby to help relieve your stress and anxiety whether in your work place or at home, keeping a fish tank can definitely help. It is backed up by science.To put into perspectve, fish are much more easier to care for than a dog or cat. They don't take up much space. They don't create much noise and fish can be very rewarding pets. Don't be afraid to give fishkeeping a try. It is really good for you! Online fish show
On the 23rd November 2020, the club proudly hosted an independent online fish show. Entries closed on the 20th November at 12pm and the winners were announced on the 23rd November at 3pm via Facebook after all fish had been judged. The classes that were available to enter were live-bearers, fancy goldfish, betta, catfish, marine, predator and cichlid. We had a very positive response considering it was our first online show as a club. We sadly had to turn down quite a few international entries as it was a UK show only due to cost of postage for awards. Award cards, fish food, product guides and rosettes are awarded to all of those that placed 1st, 2nd and 3rd in each class. All those that were awarded a 1st place were then judged overall for best in show.
The most popular category was the live-bearer class with a huge 17 entries which was kindly judged by Stuart Hemming. The fancy goldfish class had 8 entries which was judged by Rebecca Wilson from River Ranchu Goldfish. Make sure to check out her Facebook page! The predator class was judged by Alan Hopkinson from the fantastic Wharf Aquatics and contained a number of 6 entries. The betta class had a number of 16 entries and was judged by Heather Walford. The catfish class had 4 entries and was judged by Lee Wright. The least popular categories were marine and cichlid with sadly no entries. Best in show was judged by Carl Dutton from Countryside Aquatics. Overall, the club received some fantastic entries with some superb quality fish! The winner of the live-bearer class was awarded to Heather Walford. The winner of the fancy goldfish class was awarded to Chris Whitehurst. Mo Smith placed 1st in the betta class. The predator class was won by Ben Lunn and lastly, the catfish class was won by Richard Le Coat. Best in show was awarded to Mo Smith with a beautiful betta fish. A snakehead entered into the predator class from Ben Lunn came a very close 2nd! The club would like to thank everyone who took the time to take part and offer a big congratulations to all of the winners. The club would also like to say a big thank you to all the judges who all took the time to support the club. It was much appreciated. The club will most definitely be doing another show in the future. Will you be entering? Birmingham Aquatic Club AGM
The club hosted an AGM meeting via zoom video conference on the 16th April 2020 as the original meeting that was planned could not go ahead due to covid 19. During the meeting, members discussed how they would like to see the club move forward and progress. There were various ideas brought forward such as the club having a Whatsapp group so members could discuss everything fish related and also to use as a selling platform for fish between members due to the new Facebook policy. Another idea of a fishkeeping library was also brought forward so members could borrow fishkeeping books and magazines to read and bring back to club events. Why spend so much money on a book when you can just share it between members that all share the same hobby? It all made a lot of sense. The list of books is available to view on the website. As well as updating membership forms and creating club merchandise, the committee were also aware that the website needed a members only section. This now contains a breeder directory, a list of recommended retailers, fishkeepers library, discount codes and lots of other things. The club website has also been regularly updated to contain a wide range of informative articles for the beginner and more advanced fishkeeper which have all been written by the committee. We have been very busy! As you all know, the club strives to progress and move forward with more members joining us each month. Due to covid 19, I am not sure when the next AGM will be happening in 2021 but we will still have the option of having another zoom video conference where all members are welcome to take part. Please make sure to attend and get your voice heard. The club really appreciates feedback and new ideas from members. If anyone has any ideas or feedback, please don't hesitate to get in touch with the club. If you haven't already, don't forget to check out the club website at birminghamaquaticclub.co.uk Freshwater puzzle With thanks