NOVEMBER 2014 Newsletter

Raleigh Aquarium Society (RAS) Volume 33, Issue 11 November 2014

The Raleigh Aquarium Society (RAS) meets on the first Thursday of every month at 7:30 pm. All meetings are held in the South Theater of the NCSU CVM campus library (North Carolina State University - College of Veterinary Medicine) located at 4700 Hillsborough Street in Raleigh, North Carolina 27607 (USA). Agendas begin with introductions, followed by a discussion of assorted business topics, then by a program of interest to the membership, and conclude with a ticket raffle and silent auction of fish, plants, and equipment/supplies. Complimentary light refreshments are provided and guests are always welcome. For more information, visit us at http://www.raleighaquariumsociety.org/ or e-mail [email protected]. You can also find us on YAHOO (www.groups.yahoo.com/raleighaquariumsociety), MEETUP (www.meetup.com/raleigh-aquarium- society), and FACEBOOK (www.facebook.com/raleighaquariumsociety). RAS is a member in good standing of FAAS (the Federation of American Aquarium Societies) with a mission to increase the knowledge, enjoyment, and conservation of home ponds & aquariums for aquarist hobbyists/professionals at all levels of experience.

NOTE: RAS club meetings are held in the South Theater of the NCSU Veterinary School Library, downstairs level. Park across the street and enter via the main library lobby no later than 8:00 pm.

Table of Contents: ...... 2 November 2014 Program (11/6/14 @ 7:30pm) – “Aquarium Dwarf Shrimps”: ...... 2 RAS Club Officers and Committee Chairs: ...... 3 From the Fishing Desk: ...... 3 RAS 2014 Calendar of Events: ...... 4 Fishy Business: ...... 5 Proposal Status ...... 5 Fish & Trips: ...... 6 November Roadie – Cleanup of Leadmine Creek ...... 6 Fish Action: ...... 6 Fish Action: ...... 7 October 2014 Silent Auction (SA) Report ...... 7 October 2014 Breeder’s Award Program (BAP) Report ...... 7 Fish Hobby Happenings: ...... 8 Fish Market: ...... 9 Fish Nets: ...... 10 Fish Posts: ...... 11 Caviar Country in North Carolina ...... 11 Reef Shack Opens in Lillington, NC ...... 12 Nano-Tanks Book ...... 13 Drinking Water Basics ...... 13 Fish References: ...... 14 Fish School: ...... 15 Fish Tales: ...... 18 Killifish ...... 18 Understanding the Scientific Names of Killifish ...... 19 ”SoMeThInG’s PhIsHy”: ...... 21 Go Fish!: ...... 22 RAS Sponsors: ...... 23 RAS Membership Application: ...... 24

November 2014 Program (11/6/14 @ 7:30pm) – “Aquarium Dwarf Shrimps”:

In November, new RAS member Paul Pham will enlighten us about the many aspects of raising and breeding various species of dwarf shrimp currently on the market which are suitable for home aquariums. In 1980, Paul moved from Vietnam to California. While there, he attended his first Shrimp Show and witnessed his first “exotic” shrimp, selling for as much as $800! He later kept and bred the popular Cherry Shrimp and many other varieties. He moved to Cary, NC in 2005 where he setup his “shrimp room” again and has become a major online supplier of the “newest shrimps on the block.” During the November RAS program, he’ll discuss his unique strategies for keeping and breeding freshwater ornamental shrimps. Paul’s ideas about nutrition, tank substrates, filtration, lighting, etc. are very different from other speakers we’ve heard in the past. Paul even has shots of collecting Bee shrimp in the wild! Come and learn Paul’s particular and extremely successful ways to accommodate this exciting facet of the hobby. We hope to see you there!

Keep those raffle/silent auction items coming in! You can get up to 3 free tickets when you donate up to 3 items for the monthly raffle. Visit our raffle chairman before each meeting to drop off donations. Also, if you have non-raffle fish/plants for the silent auction, see our silent auction chairpersons (you’ll get a portion of the proceeds as per our auction policy). We’re always looking for great programs to educate our membership on ordinary and not-so-ordinary aquatic-related topics. If you’d like to be a speaker at any of our meetings, contact Todd Wenzel so you can get scheduled.

President: Frank Montillo [fmontillo @ aol.com] Vice-President and Vendor Coordinator: Jon Haddad [jhaddad88 @ comcast.net] Secretary and Newsletter Editor: Michael Maieli [michaelmaieli @ aol.com] Treasurer and BAP Chairman: Larry Jinks [bapman13 @ hotmail.com] Past President and Program Chairman: Todd Wenzel [wenzelt @ netzero.net]

Workshop/Auction Chairman: Chris Smith [ctyank @ frontier.com] Monthly Raffle Chairman: Robert Sanderford [onearmr @ gmail.com] Monthly Silent Auction Chairpersons: Richard Poole and Maggie Poole Field Trip Coordinator: Jeremy Maciejewski [jjmaciej @ yahoo.com] Utility Chairpersons: Jeff Jenkins and Emily Hirtle Yahoo Groups/Forum Administrator: Gerald Pottern [gbpottern @ yahoo.com] Webmaster: Walter Wu [chunker.geo @ yahoo.com]

From the Fishing Desk:

In November, we’re planning on doing our second cleanup of Leadmine Creek, RAS’s adopted stream in Raleigh. This cleanup shouldn’t take too long as we got a lot of trash out of the water and onto the banks during July, so now we just need to go back and haul it up to the roadway for the city sanitation crews to pick it up. More details are contained later in this newsletter.

We got some great television coverage for the club in October from WUNC-TV’s weeknight program “North Carolina Now” highlighting our Fall auction at the NC State Fairgrounds. In case you missed it, you can view the web version at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCs9bobEPVM . This marks the second time this year we’ve had some very public local community awareness of our organization.

Membership dues are $20.00 per calendar year, starting each January. This is a per-family price. Pro- rated fees for joining at other times are listed on our application form (last page of every newsletter). Kindly remit your dues in person to the Club Treasurer or by mail to POB 31564, Raleigh, NC 27612.

Contributions to this newsletter are always welcome. This includes business/technical articles, items to buy/sell/trade/donate, activity updates, forum posts, trip reports, classes, job openings, etc. Submit news softcopy via e-mail or hardcopy via our P.O.B. When communication to us in any form, please include your full name, phone number, and e-mail address. Monthly newsletters are published about a week prior to each regular club meeting and sent blindcopy to your e-mail address on file. If you have any updates to your contact information (including a subscription removal), or any questions/comments/concerns about our newsletter, forum, web page, MEETUP page (join us on MEETUP!), or FACEBOOK page (like us on FACEBOOK!), please contact the club secretary. FYI, last month’s find the hidden RAS logo was contained in the “Fish Market” section. A final note should be made about the locations we use at the NCSU Vet School for any of our meetings - please keep in mind that we are guests of this excellent and generous facility and must treat the room, its furniture, and all equipment in a responsible manner. Direct any questions/problems that you may have to the club secretary for resolution. Thank you for your responsible actions. Happy Thanksgiving!

Club Meetings Board Mtgs. W.S./Auctions Fish Food Field Trips Other January 9th 31st 18th (AJ) February 6th 13th 14th-16th March 6th 13th 1st - 2nd (AM) 29th April 3rd 17th 19th (FT) May 1st 15th 17th (NCA@M) June 5th 19th 5th – 9th (NANFA) July 3rd 17th 19th 11th – 13th (ACA) 19th August 7th 14th 16th (FT) September 4th 18th 14th October 2nd 16th 18th (AJ) November 6th 13th 29th December 4th 18th 4th

Proposal Status By Michael V. Maieli

The latest RAS board meeting was held at 7:30pm on 10/16/14 at the NCSU CVM library in Raleigh. Any club member can attend any meeting at any time to provide any input on any item of business. Board meetings normally occur on the 3rd Thursday of each month (same time/location as club meetings), but check with the club secretary for exact schedule details of upcoming meetings.

Proposals/actions discussed but not yet decided upon or FYI items include:  Next Adopt-A-Stream cleanup planned for 11/29/14 (contact = M. Maieli).  January 2015 program (1/8/15) on Aquariums in China (contact = M. Maieli).  RAS membership reports (contact = M. Maieli & C. Smith).  Schedule 2015 Fall auction for November [11/8/15] (contact = C. Smith).  RAS to purchase PAR [Photosynthetically active radiation] meters, own or rent?, survey needed? (contact = C. Smith).  New webmaster needed in 2015 (contact = W. Wu).  New bylaws position for club apparel interface (contact = H. Greensword).  Bylaw changes for regular meeting attendance [non-member charge, lobby table, signup sheets, door prizes, Sergeant @ Arms, etc.] (contact = RAS board).  Catfish convention publicity for RAS (contact = L. Jinks).  Ken’s and Gemco are 2 separate orders (contact = L. Jinks).  Sponsor issue with Fish ‘n Fangs resolved (contact = M. Maieli).

Proposals/actions passed include:  Treasurer’s report [loan payoff, 2014 speaker expenses, etc] (contact = L. Jinks).  RAS logistics for Winter Workshop on 2/13/15 through 2/14/15 [finalizing speaker bio’s for flyer, shirt sizes/colors, projector rental or purchase, 6 computers needed for auction, seller’s names to be required on auction bag labels, etc.] (contact = C. Smith and G. Pottern).  Durham donation pickup (contact = R. Sanderford).  RAS logistics for winter holiday party on 12/4/14 [$10.00 for non-members] (contact = F. Montillo).  Members to decide upon mail from Queensboro apparel (contact = H. Greensword).

Proposals/actions denied include:  Queensboro apparel to receive RAS membership list (contact = H. Greensword). 

November Roadie – Cleanup of Leadmine Creek By Jeremy Maciejewski

In November, we’re planning another cleanup of our adopted stream in northwest Raleigh, Leadmine Creek. We have committed to the city to clean this waterway twice annually, and in return we get great publicity for the club on both the city’s website and on roadway signs. The city supplies all the cleanup equipment we need; we just supply the labor. Our first cleanup was in July after the summer picnic and was attended by over a dozen members. We also used that opportunity to collect several native fishes/inverts, and the activity took about 4 hours. We’ll skip the collecting part this round so the cleanup should take only about half that time. We’d like to do this on Saturday, November 29, at noon. We’ll meet at the same location as in July (on the southeast side of the street outside residence 1813 Longwood Drive in Raleigh), so let us know if you are interested in helping us by sending a note to the club’s email address. Thank you.

We’re always looking for fun places to go (aquariums, pet shops, fish conferences), neat things to do (collecting trips, ark projects, community volunteering), or interesting people to meet (parties, socials, meetups). If you have suggestions, contact Jeremy at (919)740-4067 or [email protected].

N W + E S

Leadmine Creek

Parking Area on Longwood Drive

October 2014 Silent Auction (SA) Report By Larry Jinks

The October meeting featured a silent auction of 22 lots of fish, plants and dry goods bid on my ten different members. The highest bid went to a bag of Lake Tanganyikan shell-dweller fry (Neolamprologus multifasciatus). We thank all of the members for their generous donations to help build our treasury so we can continue to run quality events and meetings.

Through the monthly silent auction, quality livestock and plants are provided to the membership at reasonable prices which enables members to work with new species of fish and plants they won’t see at local shops. If you have any extra fish, plants, or aquatic items, please consider a donation to the silent auction to help build our treasury. The silent auction is posted on the website allowing members to save time by downloading the forms prior to the meetings. See Rich and Maggie Poole to enter items in the silent auction and be sure to check the back tables for more aquatic treasures.

October 2014 Breeder’s Award Program (BAP) Report By Larry Jinks

Our November meeting had 4 different members turn in entries for the Breeder Award Program. Our members continued to show their breeding versatility with a new world cichlid, an old world cichlid, a killifish and a livebearer. Vice president Jon Haddad turned in his first entry with a mop-spawning African killifish (Fundulopanchax gardneri nigerianus innidere). We hope this is the first of many entries from Jon. President Frank Montillo maintained his lead in the “Breeder of the Year” race with the cave-spawning Central American rainbow cichlid (Herotilapia multispinosa). Dan Koenig branched out from livebearers to spawn the West African kribensis (Pelvicachromis pulcher), while BAP chairman Larry Jinks entered a South American molly (Poecilia caucana) to try to keep pace with Frank Montillo. Remember that the November meeting is the date for final entries for the 2014 BAP year as plaques will be awarded at the December holiday meeting. Entries at the December meeting will count toward the 2015 standings.

Through the BAP, RAS offers quality livestock to our members at reasonable prices. Anyone wanting to join should contact chairman Larry Jinks at meetings or e-mail him at [email protected]. BAP standings are posted here and on the website along with rules and entry forms. Participants don’t need to have anyone come to their house; just bring in 6 fry at least 60 days old to a meeting with a completed form for credit. You can also get credit by entering the fish in the monthly silent auction or semi-annual auction, donate them to the raffle, write a newsletter article on the fish spawning, or present a meeting program on your experiences.

Annual BAP Standings (as of 11/1/14) Cumulative BAP Standings (as of 11/1/14) 1. Frank Montillo = 225 1. Larry Jinks = 1330 2. Larry Jinks = 220 2. Todd Wenzel = 685 3. Elvin Eaton = 65 3. Frank Montillo = 650 Dan Koenig = 65 4. Neil Frank = 300 5. Ben Guardiola = 30 5. Eric Hanneman = 250 Lauren Layton = 30 6. Gerald Pottern = 230 7. Todd Wenzel = 10 7. Dave Herlong = 120 Justin Ho = 10 8. Dan Koenig = 85 Sam Jenkins = 10 9. Elvin Eaton = 65 Jon Haddad = 10 10. Ben Guardiola = 55 11. 11. Phil Lamonds = 30 12. Lauren Layton = 30 13. 13. Allan O’Briant = 10 14. Justin Ho = 10 15. Sam Jenkins = 10 Jon Haddad = 10

In June 2013 I did a fishroom inventory and reported it in this column. Since I have recently attended the Raleigh and Atlanta auctions and cleaned out some tanks (while trying not to acquire new species, unsuccessfully), I thought I would take an inventory and see where I’m at. I often say I want to get away from African cichlids and do more Corys, cyprinids, and characins. Below is my updated inventory. Let’s see how I’ve done with this transition.

June 15,2013 Sept. 25, 2014 African cichlids 31 11 catfish 17 19 livebearers 15 17 New World 12 26 cichlids killifish 8 5 rainbows 6 2 cyprinids 6 7 characins 3 3 anabantoids 2 2 godgeons 2 1 rice fish 0 2 102 95

From the table we can see that I have significantly reduced the number of African cichlids. Not many Malawi cichlids, but mostly Tanganyikan cave and shell spawners and some West African substrate spawners. I did, however, have a significant increase in New World cichlids. Blame this on the North Jersey Aquarium Society. I still have a love for the behavior of the cichlids. I was introduced to cichlids by the late Mike Sheridan, Kevin Carr, Frank Nell and Jack Borgese. That’s probably why I’m growing out bags of fry of umbriferum, maculicauda and synspilus. I’ll probably have to spawn them at a small size and get rid of them as I don’t have the room for too many tank busters. To compound the problem, I’ve found some trading partners in the Atlanta club who also like New World cichlids.

I also have quite a few species of catfish that I acquired young and am waiting for them to mature. Most are armored catfish such as Corys and hoplos. Livebearers will always have a place in my fishroom and I can always fit in some killies. I guess I’ll have to wait for some empty tanks to work with cyprinids and tetras. Sorry, Rosario!

I’m looking forward to the Catfish Convention in October (I’ve attended them all) and to speaking engagements in Atlanta and Fort Lauderdale in November. I have to get back to finishing water changes and moving some fish around to grow out and set up for spawning. I’ll keep you posted.

 FOR SALE: RAS-logo’ed items; various types of shirts, hats, jackets, towels, soft briefcases, etc. Contact Queensboro Apparel Company [http://raleighaquariumsociety.qbstores.com/]. {never expires}

 FOR SALE: Blackworms; @ $15.00/pound or $8.00/half pound. Delivery mechanism varies (call or send e-mail). Contact Gerald Pottern [(919)556-8845 or [email protected]]. {never expires}

 FREE: RAS bumper stickers; 6” oval, black print on white background, can be removed and reapplied. Contact Michael Maieli [(919)848-3053 or [email protected]]. {never expires}

 WANTED: Back issues of assorted tropical fish, plant, pond, or aquarium hobbyist magazines and literature. Contact Todd Wenzel [(919)791-7352 or [email protected]]. {never expires}

 WANTED: Unwanted aquarium fish; don’t flush, rehome them! Contact NC Fish Rescue in Winston Salem. [http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fish-Rescue-Of-NC/261786897257532]. {never expires}

 FOR SALE: Complete 150 gallon tank setup; has fish, stand, filter, pump, media. Price negotiable. Contact Mike Desmond [(828)244-8789 or [email protected]]. {expires 11/30/14}

 FOR SALE: Exotic Fish; raised in my fishroom including rams, neolamps, moliwes, peacocks, bettas. Prices negotiable. Contact Jon Hamm [(919)414-6894 or [email protected]] {expires 11/30/14}

 FOR SALE: Complete 180 gallon tank setup; has fish, stand, filter, pump, chemicals, etc. $1350.00 Contact Kelly Wade [(919)218-3202 or [email protected]]. {expires 11/30/14}

 FOR TRADE: Fancy guppies (any color scheme); trade for black, white (peach), or gray Convicts. Contact Michael Maieli [(919)848-3053 or [email protected]]. {expires 12/31/14}

 FREE: Plecostomus; 7”, he’s gotten too big so I’m looking for a good home for him. Contact Skip Climer [(919)306-5981 or [email protected]]. {expires 12/31/14}

 FOR SALE: Neolampprologus Similis; Lake Tanganyika shell dweller, 5 fish over 1”, price negotiable. Contact Art Chucales [(336)812-3034 or [email protected]]. {expires 12/31/14}

 FREE: Miscellaneous tanks & equipment. I’m shutting down my fishroom and giving away most of my stuff. Contact Bob Goldstein [(919)870-8159 or [email protected]]. {expires 1/31/15}

 FOR SALE: Discus & Angelfish; best quality at the best price. Contact Guy Henriette [(514)967-2680 or [email protected]]. {expires 1/31/15}



Fish Nets:

 US Directory (for all national clubs and societies) = http://www.ifocas.org/usstates/unitedstates.htm or http://www.fishchannel.com/fish-community/fish-clubs-and-societies.aspx

 Aquarium Enthusiasts of the Triad (located in Winston Salem, NC) = webpage in progress {only FACEBOOK page available}

 Aquatic Ponds (located in Warrington, PA) = www.aquaticponds.com

 Atlanta Area Aquarium Association (located in Atlanta, GA) = www.atlantaaquarium.com

 Brooklyn Aquarium Society (located in Brooklyn, NY) = www.brooklynaquariumsociety.org

 Capital Cichlid Association (located in Silver Spring, MD) = www.capitalcichlids.org

 Carolina Fishtalk forum (located in Durham, NC) = www.carolinafishtalk.com/forum

 Charlotte Area Aquarists Society (located in Charlotte, NC) = www.aquacharlotte.org

 Columbia Marine Aquarium Club (located in Columbia, SC) = www.columbiamac.org

 Duke University Marine Laboratory (located in Beaufort, NC) = www.nicholas.duke.edu/marinelab

 Durham Regional Aquarium Society (located in Durham, Ontario, Canada [not in North Carolina!]) = www.dras.ca

 East Tennessee Reef Club (located in Knoxville, TN) = www.easttnreefclub.com

 Gold Coast Aquarium Society (located in Fort Lauderdale, FL) = www.gcaquarium.org

 Greater Pittsburgh Area Aquarium Society (located in Pittsburgh, PA) = www.gpasi.org

 Greater Washington Area Aquatic Plant Association (located in Washington, DC) = www.gwapa.org

 Heartland of America Aquarium Society (located in Kansas City, MO) = www.kcfishclub.org

 Iowa Aquaria Association (located in Waterloo, IA) = http://www.iowa-aquaria.com

 James River Aquarium Society (located in Richmond, VA) = www.jamesriveraquariumsociety.org

 Jersey Shore Aquarium Society (located in Freehold, NJ) = www.jerseyshoreas.org

 Kingfish Services (located in Boston, NY) = www.kingfishservices.net

 Marine Aquarium Society of the Carolinas (located in Raleigh, NC) = www.reefkeeping.com

 North Carolina Aquarium Society (located in Roanoke Island, Pine Knoll Shores, & Fort Fisher, NC) = www.ncaquariums.com

 North Carolina Koi & Watergarden Society (located in Raleigh, NC) = www.nckws.net

 NC State University College of Veterinary Medicine (located in Raleigh, NC; (919) 513 - 6218) = www.cvm.ncsu.edu

 North Jersey Aquarium Society (located in Lynhurst, NJ) = www.njas.net

 Potomac Valley Aquarium Society (located in Fairfax, VA) = www.pvas.com

 South Carolina Aquarium Society (Greenville, SC) = www.scaquariasociety.com

 South Jersey Guppy Group (located in Griggstown, NJ) = www.guppysa2z.com

 UNC Wilmington Marine Biology Laboratory (located in Wilmington, NC) = www.uncw.edu/career/marinebiology

 Western North Carolina Aquarium Society (located in Hickory, NC) = webpage in progress {only FACEBOOK page available}

Fish Posts:

Caviar Country in North Carolina By Kathleen Purvis, Raleigh N&O Reporter

Reef Shack Opens in Lillington, NC Sent by Linda Twaddle

Nano-Tanks Book Posted by Mark Denaro

… Hey Gang! I'm very excited to let you all know that the book Rachel O'Leary and I wrote has finally been shipped. We cover the basics of how to set up and aquascape a nano tank along with species profiles of fish, plants and invertebrates that are appropriate for inclusion in nano tanks. And btw, it covers a whole lot more than 101 species. If I remember correctly, the final count was 171. Rachel and I will be selling signed copies once we physically have the book. If you don't want to wait to order a signed copy, it is currently available on a pre-order basis through Amazon. Here's the link for Amazon, which will give you more info about the book… The 101 Best Freshwater Nano Species: How to Choose & Keep Hardy, Brilliant, Fascinating Nano Fishes, Plants & Invertebrates (Adventurous Aquarist Guide)

The 101 Best Freshwater Nano Species: How to Choose & Keep Hardy, Brilliant, Fascinating Nano Fishes, Plants & Invertebrates (Adventurous Aquarist Guide) [Mark Denaro & Rachel O’Leary

View on www.amazon.com Preview by Yahoo

Drinking Water Basics Mailed by the City of Raleigh, Water Treatment Facility Department

Fish References:

[COLOR KEY TO REFERENCES: BOOKS - CATALOGS - CORPORATIONS - MAGAZINES - NEWSPAPERS - WEB SITES]

1. About Fish Online website = http://www.aboutfishonline.com/

2. Age Of Aquariums website = http://www.aquahobby.com/age_of_aquariums.php

3. Aqueon Corporation = http://www.aqueonproducts.com/products/aquariums/

4. Aquaarticles website = http://aquarticles.com/articles/index.html

5. Aquatic Community website = http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/

6. Bailey Brothers Aquarium Fish website = http://www.aquariumfish.net/

7. Daily Tarheel newspaper = http://www.dailytarheel.com/

8. Dennis Bangerter’s “Know Your Stuff: Cichlids” = http://freepdfbooks.tripod.com/downloads/cichlids.pdf

9. Doctors Foster & Smith Aquarium Supply catalog = http://www.drsfostersmith.com/fish-supplies/pr/c/3578

10. Durham Herald Sun newspaper = http://www.heraldsun.com/news/localnews

11. Fish website = http://www.fish.com/

12. Fish Channel’s website = http://www.fishchannel.com/

13. Fishlore’s website = http://www.fishlore.com/

14. Hagen Corporation = http://usa.hagen.com/

15. New Aquarium Information website = http://www.newaquariuminformation.com/index.html

16. Pet Solutions Sales catalog = http://www.petsolutions.com/

17. Raleigh News & Observer newspaper = http://www.newsobserver.com/news/

18. Tetra Corporation = http://www.tetra-fish.com/Splash.aspx

19. Tim’s Tropical Fish & Aquariums website = http://www.tropicalfishandaquariums.com/

20. Tropical Fish Data’s website = http://www.tropicalfishdata.com/

21. Tropical Fish Hobbyist magazine = http://www.tfhmagazine.com/

22. Tropical Tank’s website = http://www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/Fishindx/fishindx.htm

23. Wardley’s Corporation (a Hartz Company) = http://wardley.com/

24. Wildlife In North Carolina magazine = http://www.ncwildlife.org/Learning/MultimediaCenter/WildlifeinNorthCarolina.aspx

25. William Berg’s “Tropical Fish Beginner’s guide” = http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/Tropical_Fish-A_Beginners_Guide.pdf

Killifish By Wikipedia Contributors, www.wikipedia.com

A killifish is any of various oviparous (egg-laying) cyprinodontiform fish (including families Aplocheilidae, Cyprinodontidae, Fundulidae, Nothobranchiidae, Profundulidae, Rivulidae and Valenciidae). Altogether, there are some 1270 different species of killifish, the biggest family being Rivulidae, containing more than 320 species. Although killifish are sometimes used as an English equivalent to Cyprinodontidae, some species belonging to that family have their own common names, such as the pupfish and the mummichog. The name killifish is derived from the Dutch word "kilde", meaning small creek, puddle. Because of living in ephemeral waters, the eggs of most killifish can survive periods of partial dehydration. Many of the species rely on such a diapause, since the eggs would not survive more than a few weeks if entirely submerged in water. Like seeds, the eggs can be sent by mail without water. The adults of some species, such as Kryptolebias marmoratus, can additionally survive out of the water for several weeks.

Most killies are small fish, from one to two inches (2.5 to 5 cm), with the largest species growing to just under six inches (15 cm). Killifish are found mainly in fresh or brackish waters in the Americas, as far south as Argentina and as far north as southern Ontario. There are also species in southern Europe, in much of Africa as far south as KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, in the Middle East and Asia (as far east as Vietnam), and on several Indian Ocean islands. Killifish are not found in Australia, Antarctica, or northern Europe. The majority of killifish are found in permanent streams, rivers, and lakes, and live between two and three years. Such killifish are common in the Americas (Cyprinodon, Fundulus and Rivulus) as well as in Africa and Asia (including Aphyosemion, Aplocheilus, Epiplatys, Fundulopanchax and Lacustricola) and southern Europe (Aphanius). Some of these habitats can be rather extreme; the only natural habitat of the Devils Hole pupfish (Cyprinodon diabolis) is Devils Hole: a cavern at least 300 feet (91 m) deep, branching out from a small opening at the surface, approximately 6 feet (1.8 m) by 18 feet (5.5 m) wide. Some specialized forms live in temporary ponds and flood plains, and typically have a much shorter lifespan. Such species, known as "annuals", live no longer than nine months, and are used as models for studies on aging. Examples include the African genus Nothobranchius and South American genera ranging from the cold water Austrolebias of Argentina and Uruguay to the more tropical Gnatholebias, Pterolebias, Simpsonichthys and Terranatos. A small number of species will shoal while most are territorial to varying degrees. Populations can be dense and territories can shift quickly, especially for species of the extreme shallows (a few centimetres of water). Many species exist as passive tribes in small streams where dominant males will defend a territory while allowing females and immature males to pass through the area. In the aquarium, territorial behavior is different for every grouping, and will even vary by individuals. In a large enough aquarium, most species can live in groups as long as there are more than three males.

Killifish feed primarily on aquatic arthropods such as insect (mosquito) larvae, aquatic crustaceans and worms. It is reported by the killifish collector Rudolf Koubek that areas in Gabon where the streams lack killifish (due to pollution or other causes) are rife with malaria, which is spread by a mosquito. Some species of Orestias from Lake Titicaca are planktonic filter feeders. Others, such as Cynolebias and Megalebias species and Nothobranchius ocellatus are predatory and feed mainly on other fish. The American Flagfish (Jordanella floridae) feeds heavily on algae and other plant matter as well as aquatic invertebrates. Some strains have a lifespan as short as several months and can thus serve as a model for biogerontological studies. Nothobranchius furzeri is the shortest-living vertebrate that can be bred in captivity, having a lifespan of between three to nine months. Nothobranchius furzeri shows no signs of telomere shortening, reduced telomerase activity, or replicative senescence with age, despite its short lifespan. Transgenic strains have been made. Nothobranchius furzeri needs much food because it grows quickly, so when food supplied is inadequate, bigger fish will eat the smaller fish.

Many killifish are lavishly coloured; and most species are easy to keep and breed in an aquarium. Specimens can be obtained from specialist societies and associations. Striped panchax (aka. Golden Wonder) are commonly found in pet shops, but caution must be exercised when considering tank mates, since the mouth of the Striped panchax is as wide as the head, and much smaller fish will be eaten. Flagfish, native to south Florida, is another species of killifish commonly found in pet stores. They are useful in aquariums for algae control.

Bluefin Notho Killifish (East Africa) Devils Hole Pupfish (Death Valley National Park)

Fundulus Auroguttatus (North America) Blue Lyretail (West Africa)

Understanding the Scientific Names of Killifish By Aquatic Community staff writers, www.aquaticcommunity.com

The scientific names of fish and other animals may seem long and hard to pronounce, but there are actually several good reasons to use them. When you know the full scientific name of a Killifish species, obtaining more information about the species is really easy. A lot of facts are hidden inside the name itself and you can read more about this further down in this article. By using the scientific name, you can also search for information world wide without having to worry about out what the common name for the fish is in each region. Don’t forget that common names can vary a lot, even within the same language. It is not uncommon for popular Killifish species have at least two or three common names in English alone.

Avoiding confusion - Many Killifish species go under a multitude of different names, and other aquarists may therefore be unable to understand which fish you are talking about when you use the common name that is normal in your country or in your circle or aquarist friends. Trying to sell, purchase or obtain advice regarding a Killifish that only a fraction of the Killifish enthusiasts in the world can identity is naturally far from optimal. By using the scientific name, you can reach a much broader audience. Another problem that makes common names even trickier to use is that fact that popular common names can be shared by several different fish species. The name “YYY Killifish” can therefore be used for species A, species B and species C simultaneously. This can naturally create a lot of confusion and lead to serious misunderstandings. By using the scientific name, it will always be clear which species you are referring to.

Understanding relationships - A scientific name will provide you with a wealth of information if you understand how to interpret it. Scientific names always consist of two parts. The first part will tell you which genus the

© 2014 RAS (All Rights Reserved) www.raleighaquariumsociety.org Page 19 of 24 Raleigh Aquarium Society (RAS) Volume 33, Issue 11 November 2014 species belong to, while the second part serves to identify each member of that genus. Let’s take a look at the Cinnamon Killifish, a charming African species kept by many Killifish aficionados. The scientific name for this species is Aphyosemion cinnamomeum. The first part of then name, Aphyosemion, tells us that this fish belongs to the genus Aphyosemion. The second part of the name, cinnamomeum, makes it possible for us to distinguish this species from all the other members of the genus Aphyosemion, such as Aphyosemion australe (Lyretail killifish) and Aphyosemion filamentosum (Plumed lyretail). Killifish species belonging to the same genus are all closely related. This is important knowledge for aquarists, because closely related species are usually quite similar in anatomy as well as regarding requirements and behavior. (There are naturally significant differences as well; otherwise they would not be classified as different species.) If you for instance obtain a killifish that nobody knows how to spawn in captivity, you can for look for information about spawning members of the same genus in captivity, and base your spawning experiments on these facts. You may not get it right every time, but you will increase your chances dramatically.

When you know the scientific name of a killifish, you can se how it is related to all other living things in the world. For Aphyosemion cinnamomeum, the structure is as follows:

Kingdom: Animalia (animals) Phylum Chordata (chordates) Subphylum: Vertebrata (vertebrates) Superclass: Gnathostomata (jawed vertebrates) Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) Order: Cyprinodontiformes (killifishes) Suborder: Cyprinodontoidei Family: Cyprinodontidae (killifishes, pupfishes, toothcarps) Genus: Aphyosemion (African lyretails)

Killifish names - In addition to its two-part name, many killifish species have been assigned one or a few words more, and a number. This is why killifish names can appear very long and complicated, especially compared to other scientific fish names. When looking at killifish auction sites, you can for instance stumble over names such as “Nothobranchius rachovii Beira 98”. We already know what Nothobranchius rachovii means (this fish belongs to the genus Nothobranchius and its species name is rachovii), but what about “Beira 98”? Beira 98 may seem cryptic, but it is actually a very straightforward collection code. If you purchase a Nothobranchius rachovii Beira 98, you purchase a Nothobranchius rachovii that was collected near the African village named Beira in the year 1998, or a descendant of such fish. When the ancestry of a fish is Killifish is unknown, it is simply called “Aquarium Strain”. Nothobranchius rachovii (Aquarium Strain) is therefore a fish that could have been collected anywhere. If you breed your Nothobranchius rachovii Beira 98 with any fish that is not a Nothobranchius rachovii Beira 98, the result will also be a Nothobranchius rachovii (Aquarium Strain).

Wow, is it always this easy? - The answer to this question is unfortunately no. Sometimes a fish species will for instance be known under several different scientific names. Let’s say Explorer Anderson traveled to an African puddle in 1915, saw a killifish, described it and gave it the scientific name Nothobranchius andersonius. In 1920, another explorer travels to the same puddle, finds the same species, describes it, and decides to call it Nothobranchius victorii, in honor of his wife Victoria. As you can see, the same fish will now be known by two different names, until someone realizes that these two species is actually the same species and advocates a change. Another problem with scientific names is that the taxonomy (the system in which all species are placed) is continuously being changed as we understand more and more about the world. DNA-testing may for instance show that a fish that we believed to be a Nothobranchius is actually more closely related to Killifish from some other African genus. The fish will then be moved to the proper genera and its scientific name will be changed, but the old name can still live on among aquarists for years and years unless someone launches a massive champagne to inform everyone about the taxonomic chance.

Due to reasons explained above, it is common to state not only common name and current scientific name in articles about Killifish, but include synonyms as well. It can for instance look like this. Scientific name: Nothobranchius victorii Synonyms: Adiniops rachovii Common name: Bluefin notho

… “As the evening sky faded from a salmon color to a sort of flint gray, I thought back to the salmon I caught that morning, and how gray he was, and how I named him Flint”.- Jack Handey

Animal Jungle (20% discount on dry goods) 4318 Holland Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23452; (757) 463-4065; www.animaljungle.com

Down Under Saltwater Fish & Coral (15% discount on dry goods, 20% discount on livestock) 1543 US Highway 70 West, Garner, NC 27529; (919) 662-8820; www.downundersaltwater.com

Fins, Furs, & Feathers Pet Center (10% discount on everything except tanks) 303 South Horner Boulevard, Sanford, NC 27330; (919) 718-0850;

Fins ‘N Fangs (10% discount on fish) 1490 Garner Station Boulevard, Raleigh, NC 27603; (919) 615-0130;

Fintastic (10% discount on dry goods) 2135-C Ayrsley Town Boulevard, Charlotte, NC 28273; (704) 525-0049; www.fintastic.us

Pet Mania (10% discount on everything) 7901-125 Falls Of Neuse Road, Raleigh, 27615; (919) 676-3225; www.petmanianc.com 5289 Sunset Lake Road, Holly Springs, NC, 27540; (919) 362-8711; www.petmanianc.com 924 Gateway Commons Circle, Wake Forest, NC, 27587; (919) 554-8898; www.petmanianc.com

Pet Market (50% discount on saltwater fish/coral purchases over $100.00) 5711-E West Market Street, Greensboro, NC 27409; (336) 253-1294; www.petmarket.co

Reef Keepers Aquarium (10% discount on everything) 1673 Old US Highway 70 West, Clayton, NC 27520; (919) 359-2424; www.reefkeepersaquarium.com

The Pet Pad (10% discount on everything) 1239 Maynard Road, Cary, NC 27511; (919) 481-6614; www.petpadpets.com

Membership in the Raleigh Aquarium Society entitles you to many privileges including:  Discounts at all club functions.  Voting rights on all club business issues.  Auction benefits (larger commission split, free priority stickers).  Membership discount card for purchases at all participating club sponsors.  Ability to post items for sale in the club newsletter and YAHOO internet forum.  Ability to participate in group orders of fish and supplies from various mail-order companies.

Annual RAS membership dues for individuals or families are $20.00 per year and are in effect from January 1st to December 31st of the current calendar year. Payment is due by January 31st. When joining at any other time of the year, dues will be assessed at $5.00 plus $5.00 per quarter for each quarter (whole or partial) remaining in the calendar year.

PLEASE PRINT LEGIBLY FOR ACCURACY!

Full Name: ______(print & sign)

Street Address: ______

City, State, Zip: ______

Telephone(s): ______(day & night)

E-mail Address: ______

Favorite Fish: ______

Payment Info: date = _____/_____/_____; amount = $ ______; type = CASH or CHECK renewal? = YES or NO Please mail (or email) this completed form to:

Club Secretary The Raleigh Aquarium Society Post Office Box 31564 Raleigh, NC 27612 (USA)

or give to the club secretary at any meeting. Thank you for your interest, support, and participation!