The Greater Akron Aquarium Society Tank Topics October/November 2010

Inside this issue:

President’s Message 3 Bud White Editor’s Message 3 Dave Williamson BAP/HAP 4 Wayne Toven Exchange 5 Wayne Toven Bowl Show 6 Ken McGill Beach Hole Fairy 7 Orin McMonigle Chapalichtyhys 8 A Chapalichthys sp. Minzita taken by Wayne Toven. Check out Wayne’s article on page Wayne Toven 8 to find out more about this interesting genus of goodeid livebearers. Coming Events 10 2010 GAAS Board of Directors Meeting Notice 10 President...... Bud White...... (330) 848-3856/[email protected] Vice President...... Jeff Plazak...... (330) 854-5257/[email protected] Treasurer...... Rich Serva...... (330) 650-4613/[email protected] Secretary...... Ron Drungil ...... (330) 929-7889/[email protected] Editor...... Dave Williamson...... [email protected] Important Dates Special Activities...... Ken McGill...... (419) 677-3405/[email protected] for 2010 BAP/HAP...... Wayne Toven...... (330) 256-7836/[email protected] Membership ...... Bob Miller ...... (330) 928-6028/[email protected]

Raffle...... Phil & Tiffany Hypes ...... (330) 327-6316/[email protected] March 7 Librarian ...... Michael & Michael Berger ...... (330) 789-9834/[email protected] Spring auction Historian ...... David Girard...... (330) 945-4606/[email protected] FAAS Rep...... Bob Cisney...... (330) 569-3234 July 10 & 11 Refreshments...... Bill & Linda Koleszar...... (330) 626-5660 Publicity...... Amy Mullens...... [email protected] Ultra Aqua 2010 Program...... Dan McMonigle...... (440) 476-4663/[email protected] 50/50...... Christina Biederman...... [email protected] November 7 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 species 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 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. 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 ______2 for 1 digital special!

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 ______but sometime there is to much P ag e 3 President’s Message of a good thing, oh well, I will quit whining and get on with the message. Well folks it has been a rather not give one much time to do quiet time in fish land here, much else (need to thank my Youngstown had a show, one which is good because my wife Cathy for helping me out of only two all specie shows work schedule has been rather by doing water changes for in Ohio, ours was the other heavy, working 7 days does me), be able to work is great, one, and I am told they did Enjoy the weather well and they made some money as well have some fun, North East KEN’S FISH Congratulations to Youngs- HOME OF QUALITY TROPICAL town, hope you have many FISH FOOD AND SUPPLIES more. Ohio Discus

Featuring Stendker Discus I missed the last meeting due to flu, but was told the

Bonnie & speaker and program was great, I can say we have not Nate Larson been disappointed by any Hours by Appointment Only speak we have had yet and we KEN MENARD (508) 823-4043 plan to have more, so if you (330) 882-5158 32 4TH Ave. Taunton, MA 02780 www.kensfish.com have something in mind let us Bud White [email protected] know. [email protected]

Editor’s Message

to cut hours and even less finding multiple pages of list- rather than a “discount store”) funding (starting to look a ings in the local Yellow Pages into the building because the little scary here). End of Au- is past-tense in most areas. rent was cheap. Do I really gust: The plug was pulled! Something to keep in mind care anymore? No, not really, The official announcement of though: if the “mom & pop” since it won’t change a thing. going out of business was type of shopping experience And I really do have to admit made. Fast forward to the end is what you like, now is the that if I hadn’t taken the of September and the end of time to reward the remaining chance to be the Manager, I an era is here. Not counting ones with your business or would have kicked myself the the “Dottie’s” period (I don’t there won’t be any of them rest of my life always won- know how long that was, it left in the future. Not to worry dering what could have been. happened before I even knew about the crew though. Chris- where Akron was!) 38 years tina & I both had previous On to happier thoughts, at of business came to a slow, employers we were able to go least I can say that all those painful end. I was personally back to, basically a year-and- years working in the pet trade involved with the business for a-half job speed bump. The didn’t kill the hobbyist in me. 21 of those years. Pretty sad rest were high-school and I still have a fish room up and Like the song says “What a to see it end that way, but it college students and can eas- operating and actually still long strange trip it’s been!” wasn’t just us. I was letting ily move on to something enjoy it. Possibly keeping Well, that’s been my life suppliers know that we else, possibly even something mostly non commercially since the last issue. Here’s the wouldn’t be needing price better or at least relating to viable fish has helped, I never basic time line: End of July, lists any more and was told their studies. As far as the got caught up in the idea that plugging along working at that we were only one of nine owner was concerned, I could my fish room would make Wet Pets just like I had for the in the Northeastern Ohio area care less what happens to him money! last year and a half or so. Be- that met the same fate this after finding out that all along ginning of August, we’re in year. Seems as though the we were doomed due to the Last but not least remember the depth of the normal Sum- hay-day of the independent fact that his plan involved that our Fall Auction is com- mer slow season, but it (not part of a chain) pet store getting rid of the pet store and ing up soon on November 7th. seemed a little tougher than may be over. Granted, there moving another one of his We need lots of people there usual to get the funds to re- are some that will make it into junk stores (we always got in to help make it successful. stock. Middle of August: had the future but the days of trouble if we called it that I’ll see you at the Meeting! Page 4 Tank Topics

Species Common name Class Points BAP/HAP June 2010 BAP Phil & Tiffany Hypes Asolene spixi Spixi snails Aquatic animal 5 Report Cryptoheros nanoluteus Cichlid s.s. 5 Neolamprologus brevis Cichlid s.s. 15 Wayne Toven Callochromis stappersi Raspberry tail Cichlid m.b. 10 Dan McMonigle Here it is September already, before long I Aulonocara jacobfreibergi Cichlid m.b. 15 will be trying to find somewhere inside to Bud & Cathy White house all of the fish that are in the outdoor Hemichromis bimaculatus Jewel cichlid Cichlid s.s. 10 tubs. With the cooler temperatures lately that HAP will be sooner than I would like. This is a Phil & Tiffany Hypes recurring problem I have to cope with every Hygrophila difformis Water wisteria A - vegetative 5 fall, but somehow I manage. Being Septem- ber, that means there are only two months E – flowering 5 left in the BAP/HAP year. There is still two Elodea densa Anacharis A – vegetative 5 months to get those spawns and plant propa- Mentha cervina Water mint E – flowering 10 gations turned in before the Breeder of the Dan McMonigle Year Award and Horticulturist of the Year Eleocharis acicularis Hairgrass B – vegetative 10 Award are presented at the December meet- E – flowering 10 ing. Then we start all over for 2011. Glyceria maxima Sweet manna grass E – flowering 10 We had a third club member reach the ten Thalia dealbata Blue water canna E – flowering 10 spawn level, so a 16 ounce can of brine Nelumbo nucifera Pink European lotus E – flowering 10 shrimp eggs will be awarded to Wayne Nelumbo lutea Yellow American lotus E – flowering 10 Toven at the October meeting. We currently have 21 members participating in the Breeder Schoenoplectus zebrinus Zebra rush E – flowering 10 and Horticultural Award Programs, that’s Wayne Toven what we need to see in a club, not just a few Zephyranthes grandiflora Pink rain lily E – flowering 10 members doing it all, let’s keep up the good Ludwigia peploides Creeping water primrose E – flowering 10 work. We have had a lot more plant propaga- September 2010 BAP tions and flowerings in the past couple of Ken McGill months, but that is to be expected since it is prime pond season. Neocaridina denticulatus Cherry shrimp Aquatic animal 10 Procambarus clarkii Red crayfish Aquatic animal 10 2010 Spawn & Puntius ticto Odessa barb Barbs, etc. 10 Point Totals BAP Pts HAP Pts Wayne Toven Phil & Tiffany Hypes 15 150 24 235 Joe Reich 12 135 - - Barbus nigrofasciatus Black ruby barb Barbs, etc. 10 Wayne Toven 10 85 3 30 Dave Williamson Dave Williamson 9 85 1 15 Nandopsis hatiensis Cichlid s.s. 10 Dan McMonigle 6 60 8 80 Ron Drungil 5 45 - - HAP Bruce Fraley 5 45 - - Phil & Tiffany Hypes David Girard 3 40 - - Vallisneria sp. Currituck A – vegetative 5 Ken McGill 3 30 - - Acorus calamus Sweet flag A – vegetative 5 Bob Miller 3 30 - - Rich Serva 3 20 1 5 Vallisneria americana American val A – vegetative 5 Miranda Boerema 2 10 - - Canna generalis Red canna E – flowering 10 Orin McMonigle 2 20 - - Alisma plantago Water plantain G – vegetative 10 Frank Mueller 2 30 10 140 Alex Drungil 1 5 - - Zephyranthes candida White rain lily E – flowering 10 Russ Kirkendall 1 10 - - Echinodoras cordifolius E – flowering 15 Jeff Plazak 1 5 - - Aponogeton distachyos Water hawthorne E – flowering 10 Bill Schake 1 10 - - Bud & Cathy White 1 10 - - Mentha aquatica Water mint E – flowering 10 Denny Bechter - - 1 10 Wayne Toven Nick Rezac - - 1 15 Hibiscus acetosella African rose mallow G- vegetative 10 Tank Topics August/September 2010 Page 5

Hamilton & District Aquarium Ohio Cichlid Association, Exchange Society: Sep. 2010 Buckeye Bulletin: Aug 2010 Spawning the Savannah tetra, What Are You Prepared to Do? Report by Charles Drew (power failure), by Kyle May Wayne Toven Kitchener – Waterloo Aquarium Dissecting the Hobby, by Dan Woodland Society, Fins & Tales: Sep 2010 The articles mentioned below are origi- Ohio Cichlid Association, nal articles by members of other club’s DIY Thinking Outside of the (Glass) Buckeye Bulletin: Sep. 2010 in their publications. I you would like to Box, by Tianna Bertolo read one let me know and I will get a Dissecting the Hobby – How to Handle copy of it to you one way or another. Jayne’s Pond Journal: June- July, the Electric Bill, by Dan Woodland First of all a reprint of Wayne Toven’s by Jayne Glazier Pacific Coast Cichlid Association, article Keeping and Spawning Phalich- Cichlidae Communique: July/Aug thys amates amates was in the July/ Living With Livebearers, by Ed Koerner August issue of the Missouri Aquarium 2010 My First Tropheus, by Ed Koerner Society Inc. the Darter. Tropheus Anonymous, by Pam Chin

Circle City Aquarium Society, Michiana Aquarium Society, An Introduction to Cichlasoma, Fancy Fins: Aug. 2010 Michiana Tropical Times: July 2010 by Dave Locey

Shrimp Reproducing Strategies, Apistogramma pebas, by Matt Bielski St. Catharines & Area Aquarium by Mike Matthews Society, the Scat: Sep 2010 Some Tips on Multiple Tank DIY Brine Shrimp Hatcher & My Maintenance, by Jerry Ranson Jack Dempsey – Rocio octofasciata, Recipe, by Mike Matthews by Dave Furness Michiana Aquarium Society, Aphyosemion striatum, by Charlie Michiana Tropical Times: Aug 2010 Pterophyllum leopoldi, by Dave Unruh Grimes Nannacara taenia – the Striped Dwarf Missouri Aquarium Society Inc, Greater Cincinnati Aquarium Society, Cichlid, by Ben Slocum The Darter: July/Aug 2010 Fincinnati: Sep/Oct 2010 Greater Detroit Aquarium Society, Keeping and Breeding Lamprichthys Beyond Breeder Award Program Tropic Tank Talk: July 2010 tanganicus – the Tanganyikan Killifish, Conservations for the Aquarium by Kurt A. Zahringer Hobbyist, by Lenny Llambi Daphnia Culture Made Simple – part 1, by Doug Sweet A Different Type of Jewel – Ancistrus “Red and Black”, Hemichromis frempongi, by Jerry Riegel Greater Detroit Aquarium Society, by Patrick A. Tosie Sr. Tropic Tank Talk: Aug 2010 Breeding Corydoras adolfi, Back to Burkina Faso: Bringing Home by Steve Smith Daphnia Culture Made Simple – part 2, Jewels and Whales That Can Kill, by Greater Pittsburgh Aquarium Society by Doug Sweet Lawrence Kent Inc, Finformation: July 2010

Spawning Peckoltia sp. L134 Leopard Frog Plecostomus or Gold Banded Peckoltia, by Eric Bodrock

Breeding Livebearers, the Odyssey, by Stan Chechak

Greater Pittsburgh Aquarium Society Mon-Sat 11-8 Inc, Finformation: Aug. 2010 Sunday 11-6 Pseudomugil connieae, by Eric Bodrock 6629 Engle Rd. Artemia salina (Brine Shrimp), Unit 108 by Joe Doyle Middleburg Hts., OH (216) 433-1340 Page 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, We have quite a race going on maximum 12 points per class with only 24 pts between 1st Name: Total: Jeff Plazak 86 and 3rd place. But everybody 2010 Bowl else can play too. Bill Schake 69 Wayne Toven 62 Show Schedule Dave Williamson 36 August January: AO New World Cichlids Phil Hypes 13 Ron Drungil 10 Goldfish, Male Guppies, 1st - Wayne Toven Minnows Danios & Rasboras Michael Berger 4 Since 1981 2nd - Bill Schake 3rd - Bill Schake Miranda Boerema 2 February: Bill Koleszar 1 Suckermouth Catfish, Swordtails, Characins Amphibians 1st - Bill Schake March: 2nd - Dave Williamson 3rd - Bill Schake Barbs, Mollies, 745-3059 Corydoras Aspidoras & Large Selection of: Brochis Bog Plants TROPICAL FISH BIRDS 1st - Bill Schake SMALL ANIMALS April: REPTILES AMPHIBIANS Female Guppies, Platies, 2nd - Wayne Toven DOG & PET SUPPLIES 3rd - Wayne Toven Tues-Fri 12-7 Sat: 10-6 Aquatic Invertebrates 196 2nd St., NW September (Downtown Barberton) May: Anabantoids Goodeids, Rift Lake Cichlids, Aquatic Plants 1st - Dave Williamson THE FISH PLACE 2nd - Wayne Toven 141 Robinson St. June: 3rd - Wayne Toven Native Fish, Rainbowfish, North Tonawanda, NY 14120 (716) 693-4411 Male Bettas

Photography 1st - Wayne Toven “Largest Selection of Fish and July: Plants in Western New York” Synodontis Catfish, Killifish, 2nd - Dave Williamson 3rd - Wayne Toven Angelfish & Discus Store Hours: Mon.-Fri. 12-9 Sat. 10-6 Sharks & Loaches Sun. 11-5 Owner - Cory Fry August: 3945 Highland Drive AO New World Cichlids, 1st - Jeff Plazak Over 300 display tanks, Amphibians, 2nd - Bill Schake Richmond, IN 47374 Specializing in those “Hard to 765-914-2174 / 765-488-1178 Fax Bog Plants 3rd - Wayne Toven Find” species with the best [email protected] prices on the East Coast September: Gouramis & Anabantoids, Sharks & Loaches, Photography

October: Arts & Crafts, Marine Fish, All Other Old World Cichlids two turtles pet center November: highland square All Other Livebearers, 760 w.market All Other Egglayers, DAVE DANGEL Oregon Trails Plaza akron, ohio 44303 All Other Catfish ALL ODDBALL AQUATICS 4046 Fishcreek Road Stow, OH 44224 mon-fri 10-7 SALES@ALLODDBALL AQUATICS.COM (330) 686-2235 sat. 10-6 www.alloddballaquatics.com [email protected] sun 12-5 (330) 374-6765 Petjunction.net Tank Topics August/September 2010 Page 7 The Beach Hole Fairy

By Orin McMonigle

On vacation in June of 2010 we visit a much or draw blood. It's a handsome, local beach in Norfolk, Virginia. There light-colored land crab with a sandy, are a number of people fishing and a few dappled carapace and very tall eyes. It's joggers but it's very different from the about twice the size of a fiddler crab and sterilized, synthetic, public beach we appears to be a male from the narrow tail visited in Virginia Beach the previous (folded against the body). Many holes day. There are bunches of washed-up later I find a second crab, a little bigger. thicker, larger legs. His hole is close to seagrass dotting the beach along with the We put them in one of my 3.5-year-old twenty feet from the water but he makes occasional large clumps of dead twin nieces' play buckets with a little it to the surf. These crabs are crazy fast Gracilaria macroalgae. Sea lettuce (Ulva water and the youngsters temporarily and I know this one might do more than lactuca) is mixed in with the sea grass. take possession of the crabs. A third draw a few drops of blood. When ghost The beach is mostly sand but there's lar- male crab pinches me and leaves its claw crabs hit the water they only go about ger gravel where the water hits the shore hanging in my skin with a little blood so two feet in and stop, if they kept going that looks like freshwater aquarium I let it go to regrow it's arm. We head we'd have seen half as many crabs. The gravel. I find two large pebbles with an home for the pool and some relaxation. pinching claws are difficult to avoid in interesting green macroalgae attached, the water. I pin him with a child's sand Enteromorpha flexuosa. (When I get In the morning, with the promise of $2 a shovel and pick him up. When I am home I remember why I never keep Ulva crab, my daughters are the only ones about to put him in our bucket of crabs I or Enteromorpha as the blue-legged her- who will come back with me to the notice a few separated legs. A large male mits employed to keep down hair algae beach. I want to find a female. It doesn't with a 1.5" carapace has been a bit an- make quick work of these plants despite take long to find the first crab but a fe- gry. The smaller ones showed little ag- ignoring other macroalgae.) male is another story. The holes go off at gression but I should have anticipated all different directions (I thought they this. About fifteen feet from the shore I notice holes from 0.5" to 1.5" in diameter. I've Overall there was one female out of four- seen these before on beaches and dig up teen crabs. Her claws and build were the area and never find anything. That similar to the males but her tail was doesn't stop me from digging up a few twice as wide (crab tails fold up against holes. I tell my daughters and elder niece the carapace). We tried around sixty I'll give $2 if anyone can figure out holes and only got one out of four over- what's in these holes. For all I know it's a all but three of the last five as practice mouse, snake, or fairy. We're all work- made it easier. The beach was a few ing on our own holes for ten minutes miles long so if I had a few weeks I when I notice a little white figure shoot could dig up a few thousand to see if the out of the shallow pit my 9-year-old is high male to female ratio is consistent. digging and watch it head straight for the were going towards the beach till I tested My sister-in-law mentioned before we water (she tells me later she never even that theory) but never straight down. left that morning that the beach was in a saw it and was still busy digging). Two They're only about eighteen inches deep pretty bad area but the prostitutes and seconds and fifteen feet later I'm grab- but the problem is once you lose track of drug dealers really don't cross the street bing it from the crashing waves. It gives the hole you lose the crab. Dig all you to the beach side. Human traffic, beach me a pinch but this one doesn't hurt want and you won't find it. A shovel cleaners and vehicles have eradicated might make it easier but most likely ghost crabs in many areas. With the con- you'd end up chopping the crabs in half stant development of beach areas I won- or burying them in a pile they won't dig der if some bad neighborhoods will be up till after you leave. Of course large enough to keep this species thriving in shovels on a beach may also bring un- future centuries. necessary attention. Background (not really a beach hole We ended up finding eleven more crabs fairy) of which the second to last was a female and the last a monster male. He's the size Ocypode quadrata is easy to identify of a large moon crab but with much since it is the only ghost crab found Page 8 Tank Topics along the Atlantic coast of the United losses compared to fully aquatic species. the sand (with fresh water since salt States. A few dozen other species are Very little water was used since rancid doesn't evaporate) but may have let it found in the genus worldwide and are water from their own wastes would kill grow a little less wet. I threw the lifeless also called ghost crabs. Specimens have them quickly. Four years ago I tried crab in my reef tank to see if some water one large and one small claw, but not bringing back a number of blue crabs -- might help (I don't know how fresh wa- highly exaggerated like fiddler crabs. and a spider crab that lasted barely half a ter would affect the animals). I was 99% The specimens I found were left handed day-- and lost a third of them in transit, sure this wasn't going to do a thing. or right handed. The carapace of smaller likewise they were kept in little water or Twelve hours later the crab was back to specimens is dappled and looks like sand they would have all rapidly poisoned his regular self. whereas the largest four including the themselves (the voracious blue crabs female had a grayish carapace. This spe- lived many months but kept climbing out Conclusion cies feeds on washed up plants and in- of the aquarium to run around the house vertebrates and eats a variety of things in and I eventually stopped looking for The species makes a loud gurgling noise captivity from dog food to live crickets. them). Comparatively, none of the ghost when captured. It seems, at least in part, It is considered a terrestrial species since crabs died. to be relative to the amount of water in it has no paddles and has legs built for the gills. The noise discontinues when walking on land but it probably spends I gave most of them away a few days they are kept on damp sand. Also, unless some time in the surf. Larvae are plank- later and kept two of them. One had 3/4" placed in water for a while the noise is tonic and probably can't be reared in of water and one only damp sand. The not nearly as loud as in freshly captured captivity without substantial time and one in the water lasted only another ten individuals. days since it was kept in a small cage equipment investment. This is true of It was a lot of fun to 'discover' these without filtration. Although the seawater nearly all crabs including the commonly beach hole fairies I had never seen nor was changed every few days it wasn't kept moon crabs and fiddlers. heard of. I doubt ghosts crabs will ever enough. The one on the sand was fed be a popular pet but the experience Captivity crickets and roaches and constantly dug makes me want to try some of the vari- new tunnels. It kept very active then on ous crabs I see at the local fish store. Bringing the crabs home was without day 33 it looked dead. I had been wetting

Another Chapter in the Chapalichthys Saga Wayne Toven

In the Goodeid family the genus Cha- the dorsal fin is set well back on the cle. Also along this stripe is a series of palichthys was established by Meek in body, and males have a larger dorsal fin black markings, varying from spots to 1902 based upon Ch. encaustus de- and an andropodium. vertical bars, sometimes one or the other scribed by Jordan and Snyder in 1900. or both. The fins are basically transpar- There are currently 2 maybe 3 species in The range of Ch. encaustus is Lago Cha- ent, caudal fin however can have a yel- the genus, or are there? The 2 identified pala and Rio Grande de Santiago in the low margin, which has been noted to species are Ch. encaustus the barred state of Jalisco, and also Lago Cuitzeo fade away if the Ph drops below neutral. goodeid and Ch. pardalis the polka dot and Rio Tanhuato in the state of Mi- The water parameters should be medium or panther split-fin. The books I used for choacan. Both states are on the west to hard, moderately alkaline, with a tem- information agree that Ch. encuastus is a coast of central Mexico, Michoacan is perature range from 68-78 degrees F, but valid species. Then in 1963 Alvarez del west of Mexico City, angling slightly they prefer the cooler end. Villar described 2 species, Ch. pardalis southwest to the coast, and Jalisco is and Ch. peraticus in one paper so it is northwest of Michoacan. They are omnivorous so foods should unsure if they both belong to one specie vary, flake with a vegetable base, frozen or are 2 distinct species. Members of the The color of Ch. encuastus is olive-gray and freeze dried, and live when possi- genus are similar in size and shape to on the upper and otherwise silvery, there ble.Ch. encuastus females can grow to Ameca splendens, they are relatively is a faint dark stripe along the lateral line around 3 ¼ inches, while the males only deep bodied , have small pointed heads, from the gill plate to the caudal pedun- 2 ½ inches. One book says a large fe- Tank Topics August/September 2010 Page 9 male can drop up to 50 fry, while an- my 110 gallon tubs behind my garage, had bluish iridescent spangling on the other says around 10 fry is a normal with lots of plants and water lilies. I fed body, mostly above the lateral line, and brood size, fry are usually a good ½ inch them flake food once a day and left the the males had a faint yellow margin on when they are born. rest up to Mother Nature. I figured they the tail with a faint dark band to the in- were mature enough to spawn, over a side of the yellow, the tank they are in is The books say Ch. pardalis attain a simi- year old, but never saw any fry. None of pretty well scratched on the inside, the lar size, but has black spotting over the the books I used for my research said problem with used tanks, someone did a whole body, males tend to have the yel- anything about what age they reached lot of scrubbing, so I cannot get a very low margin on the caudal fin. The Ch. sexual maturity. Well the weather started good picture of the males. During the pardalis I kept in the past were the olive- cooling off around the end of September day the yellow margin is not present, but tan color, dark speckling on lower 2/3 of so it was time to bring the inside for the some males still have the faint dark band the body, both sexes had yellow margins winter; they took up residence in a 30 on the tail. Fry production seems to be on the dorsal, anal, and caudal fins. gallon long tank, one of my favorite size about the same as the other species, Their range is Presa de San Juanico and tanks. They had floating plants a sponge around 10 fry ½ inch long at birth. So is Lago de la Magdelena in Tocumbo in the filter and a sand substrate, probably this another species or just a marking state of Michoacan. According to two should mix in some dolomite to bring the variation? We’ll just have to wait until sources this range is fed by a spring but Ph up, more to their liking, but their the scientists decide to do some work is now almost entirely made into a con- tankmates are a few kuhli loaches, a and figure it out. crete swimming pool and its outflow. pleco, and a few corydoras. The largest Substrate was originally silt, mud, female is around 2 ¾ and the males Sources: gravel, rocks, and boulders. They like about 2 ¼ inches not counting the tail. clean clear water need good filtration Their coloration varies, when I caught Livebearing Fishes: a Guide to Their with little circulation, dark substrate, and them outside the upper third of the body Aquarium Care, Biology, and Classifica- plenty of plants. They also like cool tem- was olive-tan, rest of the body silvery tion: John Dawes peratures between 68-73 degrees F with with a white abdominal area. The fe- Aqualog of All Livebearers and Half a Ph of 7.2-8. Same kind of foods as Ch. males had black spotting, almost all be- Beaks: Michael Kemkes & Dipl. Biol. encaustus. Again few young, rarely more low the lateral line, the spots were small Frank Schafer than 12 are born and due to their large on the belly and got larger toward the size of ½ inch are not bothered by the tail and the lateral line, the males had no Freshwater Fishes of Mexico: Robert older fish. spotting or very few pale spots on the Rush Miller belly. Sometimes the males had a faint Ch. peraticus which is Greek for odd or dark stripe along the lateral line and Atlas of Livebearers of the World: Lo- unfamiliar are maybe a smaller species, sometimes nothing. They seemed to get thar Wischnath females only grow to 2 5/8 inches and a little more of the olive-tan color on the males to 2 inches. Their body color is a body than they had outside, might be due Baensch Aqaurium Atlas #2: Dr. Rutiger yellowish silver with a white abdominal to lack of bright sunlight. The spotting Riehl & Hans A.Baensch area, females have a mid body spot pat- stayed pretty much the same on both Baensch Aquarium Atlas #3: Hans A. tern along the lateral line, fins of both sexes. One night a couple hours after the Baensch & Dr. Rutiger Riehl sexes are a dull yellow. The caudal fin of room lights went off I was down feeding the male has the yellow margin with a the catfish, I happened to look at the Ch. My Experinces: Wayne Toven dark band also; other fins have a dark sp. Minzita with a flashlight. Both sexes edging. When viewed at the proper angle the males also have iridescent spangling on the upper half of their body, in colors varying from pink to blue to greenish- blue. They were originally found in San Juanico, Cotija, and Estado in Mi- choacan. Their care and breeding is the same as Ch. pardalis.

Now on to the whole point of this article, at a club auction in 2008 I obtained some Chapalichthys sp. Minzita, I have to assume that Minzita is a location (town) because it was not called a Rio, Aroyo, or Lago. They looked like your typical Goodied, silvery body, not much to look at. This past summer like a lot of other livebearers they went outside to one of The Greater Akron Aquarium Society P.O. Box 494 Akron, OH 44309-0494

Meeting Notice - Do Not Delay Meeting Notice

Thursday, October 7 Thursday, November 4 Program: Elections and a short program by Program: Monster Fish Rescue. Dan McMonigle about the Melbourne Aquar- ium, the Great Barrier Reef, mudskippers, and Bowl Show: , the Queensland Rain Forest. Arts & Crafts, Marine Fish, All Other Old World Cichlids Bowl Show: All Other Livebearers, All Other Egglayers, All Other Catfish

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October 24th, 2010 Erie Aquar- November 13, 2010 – Motor City ium Society FALL Auction Aquarium Society - Fall Auction Coming Events West Ridge Fire Hall; 3142 W 26th Madison Place, 876 Horace Brown (Rt 20) Erie, PA 16506 Dr., Madison Heights, Michigan. October 2, 2010 – Greater De- tion 10:00-1:00 (1 block east of Hoss’s restaurant} Registration 9:00 to 10:30, troit Aquarium Society - Fall More info: Call/Email: Teresa Registration starts at 10am. auction starts at 10:30. Auction Biggs 330-334-1447 Auction begins at 11:00am For more info: Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, [email protected], www.motorcityaquariumsociety.com 814 Campbell Road, Royal Oak, John Kaminski (330) 225-0709, Michigan. Registration starts at [email protected] November 7, 2010 – Greater 9:30 to 11:00, auction starts at Akron Aquarium Society – November 19-21 2010 11:00. For more information con- October 17, 2010 – Youngstown Fall Auction Ohio Cichlid Association’s tact Bob Muller at 248-398- 0195 Area Tropical Fish Society - Fall Tallmadge Community Center, 80 Extravaganza at the Strongsville Auction Community Rd., Tallmadge, Ohio Holiday Inn at Rt. 71 & 82 in October 9, 2010 – Medina J.V. Johnson Community Center, For more information: Bud White Strongsville. County Aquarium Society - Fall 800 Gillmer Rd - Leavittsburg, OH (330) 848-3856 www.ohiocichlid.com Auction 44430 Registration 11am to 1pm - ([email protected]),[email protected]), Wayne Contact Don Danko don- Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Auction begins at Noon Toven (330) 296-6322 [email protected] 440-526-0755 3355 Medina Rd. (Rt. 18), Medina, For more information: Tom mrua- ([email protected])[email protected]) or Rich or Marc DeWerth Ohio 44256 [email protected] 330-758-3043 or Serva (330) 650-4613 [email protected] Auction Starts at Noon, Registra- 330-770-3131 (day of auction only) ([email protected]) or visit www.ohiocichlid.com. Web site: www.yatfs.com