CatChat Volume 13, Issue 4. October 2012 CATCHAT THE JOURNAL OF THE CATFISH STUDY GROUP CSG 2012 Open Show Results CSG Summer Lecture Lephthoplosternum (Reiss 1997) What’s New? Preston AS Convention CatChat Volume 13, Issue 4. October 2012 Catfish Study Group Committee President – Ian Fuller Secretary – Vacant [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Editor - Mark Walters Vice-President – Dr. Peter Burgess [email protected] Chairman – Bill Hurst BAP Secretary – Brian Walsh [email protected] [email protected] Treasurer – Danny Blundell Show Secretary – Brian Walsh [email protected] [email protected] Membership Secretary – Bob Barnes Assistant Show Secretary – Ann Blundell [email protected] Website Manager – Allan James Auction Manager – David Barton [email protected] [email protected] Floor Members – Tony Pickett, Colin Eveson, Assistant Auction Manager – Roy Barton Adrian Taylor. [email protected] Diary Dates 2012/13 Date Meeting Details November 18th Autumn Auction Derwent Hall. Pre booking - David Barton 01942 248130 December 9th Christmas Meeting Highfield Hall 2013 January 20th Annual General Meeting Highfield Hall February 17th Spring Auction Derwent Hall March 15th/16th/17th Annual Convention Kilhey Court Hotel April 21st Meeting Highfield Hall May 19th Meeting Highfield Hall Monthly meetings are held at the Highfield Congregational Church Hall, Edmund Street, Darwen, Lancs, BB3 2DL on the third Sunday of each Month from 1pm. Auctions, Open Show and Spring and Summer Lectures will be held at the Derwent Hall, George Street, Darwen, BB3 0DQ. The Annual Convention is held at The Kilhey Court Hotel, Chorley Road, Standish, Wigan, WN1 2XN. CatChat Volume 13, Issue 4 October 2012 Contents Editorial .......................………………………………………….…….................... 2 In Memory of Alan Vaissiere - Ian Fuller......................................................... 3 Notices .............................................................................................................. 5 CSG Open Show 2012 – Allan James……………………….…………............. 6 Preston AS Convention 2012 – Danny Blundell………...………....……........13 Lephthoplosternum (Reiss 1997) – Steve Grant………………………...........17 CSG Summer Lecture 2012 – Mark Walters.................................................. 23 What’s New? – Mark Walters ………………..…………..……….…..……........ 26 Front cover –2012 CSG Open Show Best in Show – Roy Blackburn’s Microglanis iheringi Images and articles may not be reproduced without the direct permission of the author Views expressed within the Journal are those of individual members and not necessarily representative of the Catfish Study Group Publication of the Catfish Study Group Journal is proudly sponsored by Tetra 1 CatChat Volume 13, Issue 4. October 2012 Editorial Roy Blackburn enjoying his success Another year, another successful CSG show and tank which houses a pair of Ancistrus sp. ‘Rio Auction. Congratulations to Roy Blackburn for his Paraguay’. I’d only picked up the wild pair a few Best in Show exhibit at this years’ show, featured on months ago but was pleased to see lots of youngsters the front cover of the journal. A full report with results foraging on the tank bottom. I hadn’t even noticed and a gallery of images is included in this edition. I the male guarding the eggs, let alone spawning. was pleased to gain Best Loricariid and a few other Sometimes it’s best to leave them to get on with it awards. Thanks to all those who were involved in with minimum intervention. organizing, judging, exhibiting, auctioneering and all the other jobs which often go unnoticed. Danny Blundell has written his account of the Preston Aquarist Society Convention, which took place just after the CSG show. This is fast becoming an essential date in the diary with an impressive line- up of guest speakers and massive auction. I’ve also reported on the highly successful Summer lecture with Anton Immink from Stirling University. Ancistrus sp Rio Paraguay The lecture was supported by a table-top sale with some great fish at bargain prices. The format is proving successful and will be included at other regular club meetings. Steve Grant has compiled the most comprehensive account of the genus Lephthoplosternum, which includes the ‘dwarf hoplo’ L. pectorale, although as Steve’s article informs us, what we think we know as ‘pectorale’ might not be that fish! In addition to editing the journal this month, I’m also preparing to give a talk at the October CSG meeting on the challenges of breeding and raising catfish. I’ll try and Ancistrus sp Rio Paraguay approx. 3 week old include a summary of the talk in a future edition of Catchat. Mark Sometimes, the challenge of breeding is pretty straightforward, as I discovered when peering into a 2 CatChat Volume 13, Issue 4. October 2012 In Memory of Alan Vaissiere It is with a very heavy heart that I report the passing of Alan Vaissiere he will be sadly missed by a very large number of aquarist, not only for his like of a tipple or two and his ability to create many a lively debate about his beloved fishes. He will probably be remembered best for his ability to breed fishes, many of which were believed impossible to breed. Impossible to Alan only meant that it he hadn’t bred it yet. To me besides being a good friend, he was the finest fish breeder I have ever met, and with more than a thousand recorded species to his name I would rank him as one of, if not the finest fish breeders in the world. Alan would happily pass on his knowledge to others in the hope that they in turn would perpertuate the breeding of, in many cases very rare fishes. His passion for fishes was with him right to the very end as those who attended the Preston Convention will attest Alan, I will miss the discussions we have had over the odd pint or several and raise my glass to you. Rest in peace my friend Ian CSG President Alan Vaissiere receiving his liftime award from Hans-Georg Evers 3 CatChat Volume 13, Issue 4. October 2012 At the recent Preston Aquarist Societies annual convention Hans-Georg Evers presented Alan Vassiere with a Lifetime Achievements Award for his unequaled successes in fish breeding. The Award consisted of a carving by Brian Walsh of two Alan’s favorite pencil fish, and the assembled delegates were read a list of some of his greatest aquatic achievements. Alan kept fish for 60 plus years, and has bred a very large number of different species, and was often the first in the country to do so. When the Federation of Northern Aquarist Societies introduced their Breeders Award Scheme Alan was the first to complete it, and when the Scheme was extended to cover many more difficult species he went on to score maximum points. In recent years Alan had concentrated on Pencil Fishes, both keeping and breeding many species. Alan proudly showing his lifetime award www.catfishstudygroup.org 4 CatChat Volume 13, Issue 4. October 2012 Committee Positions There are a number of committee positions that are up for re-election at the AGM to be held on 20th January 2013. these positions are:- President - Position currently held by Ian Fuller who has given notice that he is willing to stand for another term. Chairman - This position is open and currently has one nominee, Mr Adrian Taylor, proposed Mark Walters, seconded Brian Walsh. Treasurer - Position currently held by Danny Blundell, who has given notice that he is willing to stand for another term. Secretary - This position is currently open and needs to be filled. Merchandise Officer - This position is open and needs to be filled. If you would like to nominate any candidates for any of the above positions, please contact the Chairman at [email protected] and submit your proposals. Notices Catfish Study Group Autumn Auction Sunday 18 November 2012 Derwent Hall, George Street, DARWEN Lancs BB3 0DQ Normal entry rules apply Any fish other than painted accepted Name & Tel No on electrical goods Suitable containers for livestock, etc. [ If unsure of the rules ask when booking in ] CSG Commission 15% Booking in: Auction Manager: Dave 01942 248130 Or from 11.00 on the day - Auction to start 13.00 5 CatChat Volume 13, Issue 4. October 2012 CSG Open Show 2012 Report by Allan James Our Open Show this year on Sunday 16th September was held for the first time in our new venue at the Derwent Hall, Darwen. This hall had plenty of natural light for the judging which again proved a difficult task with the quality of fish and also the upturn in entries which amounted to 145 which was well up from last year. Grabbing a few bargains Corydoras: panda, weitzmani, trilineatus, paleatus, gossei, aeneus, virginiae, arcuatus, delphax, undulates, concolor, loxozonus, rabauti, nattereri, cruziensis, sterbai, reynoldsi, carlae, aurofrenatus, orcesi, melini, eques, njsseni, longipinnis, hastatus, schwartzi, similis, habrosus, CW: 023, 021,08 C132; Judges hard at work and the auction in full flow Aspidoras: taurus, spilotus; A sp. C052, A sp. C125 A sp. C35; Scleromystax: barbatus, lacerdai; S. sp. The CSG Committee once again would like to thank C112.; Brochis splendens all exhibitors for turning up on the day to show their fish. Thanks must also go to Show Secretary Brian Loricariids: Sturisoma panamense, Ancistrus sp 3, Walsh, his assistant Ann Blundell and the Judges on Ancistrus sp.4, Hemiloricaria eigenmani, Panaque. the day for all their hard work, and the helpers in the Sp. L191, Dekeyseria sp. L052 canteen again did a sterling job keeping up the teas, Other Siluriformes: Synodontis nigriventris, coffees and the food flowing along. Microglanis iheringi, Megalechis thoracatum, Synodontis brichardi, Agamyxis pectinifrons Auction in full flow The auction also went well and of course thanks Plants and equipment were also on offer must go to the CSG members who helped on the day and also our resident auctioneer Steve Spence Special mention must be made of course to the for another excellent job.