AUGUST 2015 Newsletter the Raleigh Aquarium Society (RAS) Meets on the First Thursday of Every Month at 7:30 Pm

Raleigh Aquarium Society (RAS) Volume 34, Issue 8 August 2015

AUGUST 2015 Newsletter 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 email [email protected]. You can also find us on YAHOO (www.groups.yahoo.com/raleighaquariumsociety), MEETUP (www.meetup.com/raleighaquarium 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 August 2015 Program (8/8/15 @ 1:00pm) – “Aquatic Creatures for Your Aquarium”: 2 RAS Club Officers and Committee Chairs: 3 From the Fishing Desk: 3 RAS 2015 Calendar of Events: 4 Fishy Business: 5 Proposal Status 5 Fish & Trips: 5 August Trip – NC Aquarium @ Fort Fisher or Field Collecting 5 Fish Action: 6 July 2015 Silent Auction (SA) Report 6 July 2015 Breeder’s Award Program (BAP) Report 6 Fish Market: 7 Fish Nets: 8 Fish Posts: 9 Great White Shark Headed Up East Coast (And Making A Splash) 9 Several Recent Shark Attacks in the Carolinas 10 Pro Surfer Mick Fanning Attacked By Shark During Competition 13 MegaShark Extinction Linked to Whales' Current Size 14 Scientists Find Endangered Shark Capable of Virgin Births 15 Fish References: 16 Fish School: 17 Fish Tales: 24 Shark Facts 24 How To Avoid A Shark Attack 25 Bala Sharks For Your Aquarium 27 SoMeThInG’s PhIsHy”: 28 Go Fish!: 30 RAS Sponsors: 31 RAS Membership Application: 32

August 2015 Program (8/8/15 @ 1:00pm) – “Aquatic Creatures for Your Aquarium”:

In August, longtime RAS vendor and friend Josh Wiegert will drive from Maryland to give us an informative presentation on the various aquatic creatures that we can keep in our tanks other than fish. Things like turtles, frogs, salamanders, snails, crayfish, clams, etc., are all fair game, so to speak. In addition, after the regular meeting, we will enjoy popcorn and pop during a special showing of the 1 hour National Geographic TV Special “Tiger Sharks”, followed by Steven Spielberg’s 1975 film “Jaws” (this is the 40th anniversary year of this classic summer blockbuster). We hope you can join us! Please note that this is an afternoon Saturday meeting, but it is still being held at our normal meeting place in the South Theater of the NCSU Vet School.

Keep those raffle and silent auction items coming in! Visit our raffle chairperson and/or our silent auction chairperson before each meeting to drop off your donations or sellable items. If you have nonraffle items for the silent auction, you’ll get a portion of the proceeds, as per our normal auction split policy. And, we’re always looking for great programs to educate our membership on any aquaticrelated topic. If you’d like to be a speaker at any of our future meetings, contact our Program Chairman.

President: Frank Montillo [fmontillo @ aol.com] VicePresident and Vendor Coordinator: Maggie Poole [dalqueen123 @ yahoo.com] 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 [dalking123 @ yahoo.com] 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: Matt DeGroodt [degmat @ gmail.com]

From the Fishing Desk:

It’s August. Despite the fact that the Discovery Channel moved Shark Week into July this year (for marketing reasons they were angry at SyFy and NatGeo for running shark programs during Discovery’s traditional 28 year turf just to confuse viewers), it’s still shark month at RAS. Although we’ve seen some recent unfortunate events of vacationing beachgoers at various Carolina beaches so far this summer, worldwide shark population is on the decline and sharks continue to be vilified in many media outlets. Several theories abound and steps have been taken by local municipalities to improve the public’s safety, but short of shark extinction or bather quarantine, ocean animals who share our planet will always pose some degree of risk to humans who choose to venture and explore. And if we did dispose of every shark in our waters, where would it stop? If sharks are eradicated, do we choose to remove jellyfish, barracuda, lionfish, and sea urchins? Everything in our natural world is connected in some way, and as we’ve seen many times in the past, disturbing this delicate balance can have dire consequences somewhere else later on. To be sure, common sense and a better understanding will go far to alleviate the risks. We hope that you and your family enjoy the wonderful nationwide attraction that are our state’s coastal areas this summer and that you do it safely.

Membership dues are $20.00 per calendar year, starting each January. This is a perhousehold price. Prorated fees for joining at other times of the year are listed on our application form (the last page of every newsletter). Kindly remit your dues in person to the club treasurer or by mail to our P. O. Box. 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 email or hardcopy via our P.O.Box. When communication to us in any form, please include your full name, phone number, and email address. Monthly newsletters are published about a week prior to each regular club meeting and sent blindcopy to your email address on file. If you have any updates to your contact information (including subscription removal), or any questions about our newsletter, web page, forum, 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 & Trips” section. A final note should be made about the locations we use for any of our meetings, events, or outings please keep in mind that we are guests of these facilities and must treat all property and equipment in a responsible manner. Direct any concerns to the club secretary. Thank you for your responsible actions.

Club Meetings Board Mtgs. W.S./Auctions Fish Food Field Other Trips January 8th 22nd 24th February 5th 19th 13th15th March 5th 19th 28th April 2nd 16h 30th May 7th 21st 16th 30th June 4th 18th 27th 27th July 2nd 16th 4th August 8th (Saturday @ 1pm) 20th 8th 9th 9th September 3rd 17th October 1st 15th November 14th (Saturday @ 1pm) 19th 15th December 3rd 17th 3rd 26th

RAS 2015 Monthly Meeting Programs (topics and speakers are subject to change) January = “ Aquariums In China ” February = “ The Amazing Mangrove Killifish ” March = “ All About Characins “ April = “ Nano Fish & Nano Aquariums In The U.S. Marketplace “ May = “ Fish Nutrition “ June = “ Breeding Koi in the Backyard “ July = “ The Flora and Fauna of Peru “ August = “ Aquatic Creatures “ September = “ Wild Bettas – IBC Program “ (BM) October = “ Plants “ (CS) November = “ NC Aquarium Operations “ (FG) December = “ Holiday Party & BAP Awards ”;

Proposal Status By Michael V. Maieli

The latest RAS board meeting was held at 7:30pm on 7/16/15 at the NCSU CVM library. Any club member can attend any board 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 as these meetings do change.

Proposals/actions discussed or general FYI items include: x Postmortem for RAS picnic on 6/27/15 (contact = M. Maieli). x RAS August meeting on Saturday 8/8/15 @ 1pm in South Theater of NCSU CVM featuring Josh Wiegert and to show educational shark videos after meeting (contacts = F. Montillo & M. Maieli). x RAS August board meeting to be held on 2nd Thursday of month on 8/13/15 (contact = L. Jinks). x RAS November meeting to have NC Aquarium Director as speaker (contact = M. Maieli). x 2016 RAS meeting programs (contact = T. Wenzel).

Proposals/actions passed include: x Treasurer’s report and analysis (contact = L. Jinks). x 2016 RAS workshop items [speaker lineup, Ramada Hotel room and food facilities, new bidder card format, information card, marketing card, lanyards, member vs. nonmember pricing, early registration, volunteer benefit, etc.] (contacts = C. Smith, M. Poole, R. Poole, F. Montillo, L. Jinks).

Proposals/actions denied include: x none.

Proposals/actions pending include: x RAS Website updates (contact = M. DeGroodt). x RAS online survey updates (contact = M. Poole).

Fish & Trips:

August Trip – NC Aquarium @ Fort Fisher or Field Collecting By Jeremy Maciejewski

Let’s go see some real sharks on the day after our August meeting! We’re doing an excursion just 2½ hours down I40 to Wilmington to visit the Fort Fisher aquarium on Sunday August 9. Your RAS membership card gets you in free! We’ll meet at the Vet School at around 11am, get to the aquarium by 2pm, and be home for dinner (or we could eat there if we want). Plus, this month, we have a second option for you! If you can’t spend the whole day at the aquarium, Gerald Pottern will be taking Josh Weigert (our program speaker) on a local field collecting trip to get some pygmy sunfish. Either way, let us know your interest. 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 any suggestions, contact Jeremy at (919)7404067 or [email protected].

July 2015 Silent Auction (SA) Report By Larry Jinks

The July meeting saw our smallest ever monthly auction with four members bidding on two lots. One lot was a bag of albino Ancistrus catfish fry donated by Dan Koenig and the other was a daphnia culture donated by Todd Wenzel. Through our monthly auction, quality livestock and plants are provided to the membership at reasonable prices which enables the membership to try working with new species of fish and plants that they won’t normally see at local shops. If you have any extra fish, plants or aquatic items, please consider a donation to the auction to help build our treasury. The auction form will be posted on the website to allow members to save time by downloading the forms and filling them out before the meeting. See Rick and Maggie Poole at monthly meetings to enter items in the auction and be sure to check the tables in the back of the meeting room for more aquatic treasures.

July 2015 Breeder’s Award Program (BAP) Report By Larry Jinks

We had 4 BAP entries from 3 different members in July which led to several significant changes in the standings. Frank Montillo moved past Todd Wenzel to second place in the cumulative standings. Frank entered the African mop spawning killifish Epiplatys fasciolatus and the South American substrate spawning cichlid Aequidens patricki. Dan Koenig moved past Matt DeGroodt to second place in the “Breeder of the Year” standings with albino bristlenose pleco catfish (Ancistrus sp.). Larry Jinks entered yet another Central American cave spawning cichlid (Thorichthys callolepis) from the stock collected by Rusty Wessels. The new BAP revisions can be seen on our new website along with the restructured submission form. Webmaster Matt DeGroodt is working on an electronic submission of the form to eliminate the paperwork and make filing easier. Through the monthly auction and Breeder Award Program, we provide quality livestock to the membership at reasonable prices and enabling us to try working with new species of fish not normally available. Anyone who would like to join the BAP can contact chairman Larry Jinks at meetings or email ([email protected]). BAP standings are now posted on the website along with the rules and entry form. Members don’t have to have anyone come to their house, but can bring 6 fry at least 60 days old to a meeting with a completed BAP form (found on the website). There are four options to get credit for the entry: (1) Enter the fish in the silent auction (or weekend workshop auction), (2) Donate the fish to the monthly raffle, (3) Write an article on the spawning for the monthly newsletter, or (4) Do a presentation at a monthly meeting. See BAP chairman Larry Jinks to join the fun of the Breeder Award Program!

Annual BAP Standings (as of 8/1/15) Cumulative BAP Standings (as of 8/1/15) 1. Larry Jinks = 200 1. Larry Jinks = 1545 2. Dan Koenig = 100 2. Frank Montillo = 715 3. Matt DeGroodt = 70 3. Todd Wenzel = 695 4. Frank Montillo = 65 4. Neil Frank = 300 5. Jon Haddad = 15 5. Eric Hanneman = 250 6. Allan O’Briant = 10 Elvin Eaton = 250 Elvin Eaton = 10 7. Gerald Pottern = 230 8. 8. Dan Koenig = 185 9. 9. Dave Herlong = 120 10. Matt DeGroodt = 70 11. Ben Guardiola = 55 12. Phil Lamonds = 30 Lauren Layton = 30 14. Jon Haddad = 25 15. Allan O’Briant = 20 16. Justin Ho = 10 Sam Jenkins = 10 Joe Magura = 10

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

x FREE: RAS logo’ed items bumper stickers & pens; black print on white background, show your support! Contact Michael Maieli or Frank Montillo [at the monthly meetings]. {never expires}

x FOR SALE: Blackworms; @ $15.00/pound or $8.00/half pound. Delivery mechanism varies (call or send email). Contact Gerald Pottern [(919)5568845 or [email protected]]. {never expires}

x WANTED: Back issues of assorted tropical fish, plant, pond, or aquarium hobbyist magazines and literature. Contact Todd Wenzel [(919)7917352 or [email protected]]. {never expires}

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

x FREE: Convict cichlid breeding pair and 25 of their fry in Burlington. Contact Linda Cummins [(336)2691928 or [email protected]]. {expires 8/31/15}

x FOR SALE: assorted fishtanks (3) of various sizes and prices. Contact George Carlton [(757)773 3367 or [email protected]]. {expires 8/31/15}

x FOR SALE: 75 gallon tank and most accessories; landlord won’t allow it on hardwood floors, Best offer. Contact Lori Jenkins [(845)6490832 or [email protected]]. {expires 8/31/15}

x WANTED: L10a Red Lizard Catfish; is anyone breeding these? Contact Charlie McGee [(903)441 1282 or [email protected]]. {expires 9/30/15}

x SERVICE: Fish sitting; also can provide help in setup, maintenance, or care of marine or freshwater aquariums. Contact Josh Leary [(919)5309530 or [email protected]]. {expires 9/30/15}

x FOR SALE: Tank and fish; 55 gallon with lights, heater, filter, & decorations, plus 7 acei cichlids and algae eater. Contact Rocky Chum [(252)4691987 or [email protected]]. {expires 9/30/15]

x FOR SALE: 100 gallon tank; comes complete with filters and lights. $500.00 OBO. Contact Harmony Smith [(336)4595545 or [email protected]]. {expires 10/31/15]

x FOR SALE: 30 gallon planted tank; complete with fish/plants plus has an Emperor 400 filter, lights, & cover. $80.00. Contact Jeremy Miller [(919)9800413 or [email protected]]. {expires 10/31/15}

x FOR SALE: 10 gallon tank; with stand, filter, ornaments, light, and lid. $30.00. Contact Quincy Rowan [(919)4550477 or [email protected]]. {expires 10/31/15}

x US Directory (for all national clubs and societies) = http://www.ifocas.org/usstates/unitedstates.htm or http://www.fishchannel.com/fishcommunity/fishclubsandsocieties.aspx x Aquarium Enthusiasts of the Triad (located in Winston Salem, NC) = webpage in progress {only FACEBOOK page available} x Aquatic Ponds (located in Warrington, PA) = www.aquaticponds.com x Atlanta Area Aquarium Association (located in Atlanta, GA) = www.atlantaaquarium.com x Brooklyn Aquarium Society (located in Brooklyn, NY) = www.brooklynaquariumsociety.org x Capital Cichlid Association (located in Silver Spring, MD) = www.capitalcichlids.org x Carolina Fishtalk forum (located in Durham, NC) = www.carolinafishtalk.com/forum x Charlotte Area Aquarists Society (located in Charlotte, NC) = www.aquacharlotte.org x Columbia Marine Aquarium Club (located in Columbia, SC) = www.columbiamac.org x Duke University Marine Laboratory (located in Beaufort, NC) = www.nicholas.duke.edu/marinelab x Durham Regional Aquarium Society (located in Durham, Ontario, Canada [not in North Carolina!]) = www.dras.ca x East Tennessee Reef Club (located in Knoxville, TN) = www.easttnreefclub.com x Gold Coast Aquarium Society (located in Fort Lauderdale, FL) = www.gcaquarium.org x Greater Pittsburgh Area Aquarium Society (located in Pittsburgh, PA) = www.gpasi.org x Greater Washington Area Aquatic Plant Association (located in Washington, DC) = www.gwapa.org x Heartland of America Aquarium Society (located in Kansas City, MO) = www.kcfishclub.org x Iowa Aquaria Association (located in Waterloo, IA) = http://www.iowaaquaria.com x James River Aquarium Society (located in Richmond, VA) = www.jamesriveraquariumsociety.org x Jersey Shore Aquarium Society (located in Freehold, NJ) = www.jerseyshoreas.org x Kingfish Services (located in Boston, NY) = www.kingfishservices.net x Marine Aquarium Society of the Carolinas (located in Raleigh, NC) = www.reefkeeping.com x North Carolina Aquarium Society (located in Roanoke Island, Pine Knoll Shores, & Fort Fisher, NC) = www.ncaquariums.com x North Carolina Koi & Watergarden Society (located in Raleigh, NC) = www.nckws.net x NC State University College of Veterinary Medicine (located in Raleigh, NC; (919) 513 6218) = www.cvm.ncsu.edu x North Jersey Aquarium Society (located in Lynhurst, NJ) = www.njas.net x Potomac Valley Aquarium Society (located in Fairfax, VA) = www.pvas.com x South Carolina Aquarium Society (Greenville, SC) = www.scaquariasociety.com x South Jersey Guppy Group (located in Griggstown, NJ) = www.guppysa2z.com x UNC Wilmington Marine Biology Laboratory (located in Wilmington, NC) = www.uncw.edu/career/marinebiology x Western North Carolina Aquarium Society (located in Hickory, NC) = webpage in progress {only FACEBOOK page available}

Great White Shark Headed Up East Coast (And Making A Splash) By Laura Begley Bloom, Yahoo Executive Editor There’s a great white shark headed to the New York area and we know it because the 16foot, 3,456 pounder has been tweeting her way up the east coast. No, it’s not a joke. Mary Lee (the shark has her own Twitter handle @MaryLeeShark) is the shark and she has been sending out updates from her journeys. This very social shark also has a web page (www.sharksocearch.verite.com) where fans can follow her route. Nonprofit group Ocearch, which researches great white sharks, humanely tagged the shark off Cape Cod in September 2012 and tracks her whereabouts with a device that gives off a ping each time the fin goes above the water. Mary Lee’s Twitter account isn’t affiliated with Ocearch, but the cheeky posts have gained her a following that would be the envy of any millennial: 14,700 followers and counting. In the last month, Mary Lee has had quite a sightseeing tour, with stops near Maryland, North and South Carolina, and the Delmarva Peninsula. Her latest pitstop: just north of Brigantine, New Jersey. And there’s no denying that Mary Lee has a sense of humor. “Maybe I'll just cruise on down to visit my friends the right whales,” she wrote on Twitter. “Maybe we can do dinner.” How does she celebrate Shark Week? “Oh you know, swim, eat, tweet and repeat. Every week is #SharkWeek for me.” Her feelings about her recent travels? “Looking back over my social calendar for the past month. Busy, busy, busy.” But Mary Lee better watch out, as she has competition: Lydia Shark (@RockStarLydia) is the first great white to be tracked crossing the Atlantic. Lydia has 12,800 followers on Twitter.

Several Recent Shark Attacks in the Carolinas By AP Staff Reporters, Associated Press; (separate articles) Here is a brief synopsis of the recent 2015 attacks:

May 15: A 30yearold man was bitten by a shark while swimming off Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina.

June 11: A 13yearold girl suffered small cuts to her foot at Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina.

June 15: A 12yearold girl from Asheboro lost part of her arm and suffered a leg injury and a 16yearold boy from Colorado Springs, Colorado, lost his left arm less than 90 minutes later and about 2 miles away off the town of Oak Island, North Carolina. Each victim was about 20 yards offshore in waistdeep water.

June 23: A 9yearold Fort Mill, South Carolina, boy was bitten by a shark off St. Helena Island, South Carolina.

June 24: An 8yearold boy suffered minor injuries to his lower leg, heel, and ankle while swimming in knee deep water in Surf City, North Carolina.

June 26: A 47yearold man was bitten multiple times on the back in the surf off Avon on Hatteras Island, North Carolina.

June 26: A 43yearold Pennsylvania man is bitten by a shark while swimming off Hunting Island State Park, South Carolina.

June 27: An 18yearold man suffered injuries to his right calf, buttocks, and both hands while swimming with others in shallow water off the Hatteras Island town of Waves, North Carolina. He was taken to a Norfolk Virginia, hospital in critical condition.

June 30: A 12yearold Utah boy was bitten by a shark while swimming at the Isle of Palms County Park near Charleston, South Carolina.

July 1: A 68yearold man suffered wounds to his ribcage, lower leg, hip, and both hands as he tried to fight off a shark in waistdeep water at around midday on Ocracoke Island, North Carolina.

BE CAREFUL OUT THERE!

The Outer Banks

Pro Surfer Mick Fanning Attacked By Shark During Competition By AOL Staff Writers, www.aol.com

During the annual JBay Open Surfing Competition in South Africa last month, pro surfer Mick Fanning had a close call with a giant shark. The Australian professional surfer was competing in the final round and while he was sitting on his board for his next run, he noticed a fin next to him. He quickly tried to kick and get away from it. Fanning claimed that he wasn't hurt but just stunned at the event. "I was just sitting there and I felt something get stuck in my leg rope and I was kicking trying to get it away" he said. After he spotted the fin, the surfer claimed he managed to get a punch in the animal's back before it took off. Officials temporarily suspended the event. Fortunately, Fanning narrowly escaped the biggest fear for all surfers. Or his biggest fan.

MegaShark Extinction Linked to Whales' Current Size By AOL Staff writers, www.aol.com

A long long time ago, an almost unimaginably large shark called megalodon terrorized the seas (one inch of tooth corresponded to 10 feet on length). It didn't make the evolutionary cut, though, and some researchers now believe that it being wiped off the face of the Earth may be what allowed some whales to get so big. The first step towards arriving at this theory was reassessing exactly when it was that the 60ton predator disappeared. Despite the wealth of artifacts available, it has proven tough to pinpoint when the final days of megalodon actually were. Previous best guesses estimated that the shark's demise happened about 1.5 million years ago. But researchers are now saying it took place closer to 2.5 million years ago. Probably not by coincidence, that's around the time that whales, specifically those of the baleen variety, started to get big. Marine mammals likely constituted a big part of megalodon's menu, so with it gone, they were free to thrive. Observations indicate that in the years since the megashark's extinction, baleen whales' physical mass increased significantly. They can now reach up to almost 100 feet in length. The science behind the theory hasn't been verified, and researchers say further investigation into the possible connection is needed.

Scientists Find Endangered Shark Capable of Virgin Births By Rebecca Dunn, AOL Staff Writer, www.aol.com The smalltooth sawfish is critically endangered, and scientists say the females are doing something rather drastic that species on the brink of extinction sometimes do: giving birth virgin Mary style. This is according to new research published in the journal Current Biology. Researchers found seven of the female sawfish they examined in Florida were likely the product of asexual reproduction... which is weird for a species that usually reproduces sexually. Here's how it works: Scientists say an unfertilized egg absorbs "a sister cell" that is almost identical to the egg. The offspring usually don't survive, but the sawfish's did, and they appeared to be healthy to boot. And scientists found this by chance. They were observing a sawfish population in an estuary in Florida to see if they would mate with relatives. So they essentially went searching for inbreeding and got virgin births. It's the first time researchers had seen this type of asexual breeding occur in the wild. Sky News reports these "virgin" births had only previously been seen in animals in captivity — and that this was the sawfish's way to "cheat extinction." The discovery is important because it is causing us to rethinking what we thought we knew about reproduction in vertebrates. One scientist involved in the research said in a statement this discovery could "rewrite the biology textbooks." The smalltooth sawfish is currently listed as critically endangered. So, this extra reproductive help is needed.

[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/fishsupplies/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.tetrafish.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_FishA_Beginners_Guide.pdf

SHARK ATTACK? WHAT TO DO, WHAT NOT TO DO

1. Swim, surf, or dive with other people and don't move too far away from assistance.

2. Stay out of the ocean at dawn, dusk, and night, when some shark species move inshore to feed.

3. Do not enter the water if you have open wounds or are bleeding in any way. Sharks can detect blood and body fluids in extremely small concentrations.

4. Avoid murky water, harbor entrances, and areas near stream mouths, channels, or steep dropoffs, especially after heavy rains. Sharks are known to frequent these areas.

5. Do not wear highcontrast clothing or shiny jewelry. Sharks see contrast very well.

6. Refrain from excessive splashing. Keep pets, which swim erratically, out of the water. Sharks are known to be attracted to such activity.

7. Do not enter the ocean if sharks are present. Leave the water quickly and calmly if a shark is sighted. Do not provoke or harass a shark, even a small one.

8. If fish or turtles start to behave erratically, leave the water. Avoid swimming near dolphins, as they are prey for some large sharks.

9. Remove speared fish from the water or tow them a safe distance behind you. Do not swim near people fishing or spearfishing. Stay away from dead animals in the water.

10. Swim or surf at beaches patrolled by lifeguards and heed their advice.

Shark Facts By Ryan Somma, via Flickr

There are several hundred species of sharks, ranging in size from less than ten inches to over 50 feet. These amazing animals have a fierce reputation, but a fascinating biology. Here are 10+ things that define them.

1. Sharks are cartilaginous fish The term “cartilaginous fish” means that the structure of the animal’s body is formed of cartilage instead of bone. Unlike the fins of bony fishes, the fins of cartilaginous fishes cannot change shape or fold alongside their body. Even though sharks don't have a bony skeleton like many other fish, they are still categorized with other vertebrates in the Phylum Chordata, Subphylum Vertebrata, and Class Elasmobranchii. This class is made up of about 1,000 species of sharks, skates and rays. 2. There are over 400 species of sharks Sharks come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and colors. The largest shark and the largest fish in the world is the whale shark (Rhincodon typus), which is believed to reach a maximum length of 60 feet. The smallest shark is thought to be the dwarf lanternshark (Etmopterus perryi) which is about 68 inches long. 3. Sharks have rows of teeth Teeth of sharks don’t have roots so they usually fall out after about a week. However, sharks have replacements arranged in rows and a new one can move in within a day to take the old one’s place. Sharks have 5 to 15 rows of teeth in each jaw, with most having 5 rows. 4. Sharks do not have scales A shark has tough skin that is covered by dermal denticles which are small plates covered with enamel, similar to that found on our teeth. 5. Sharks have a lateral line system which detects movements in water Sharks have a lateral line system along their sides which detects water movement. This helps it find prey and navigate around objects at night or when water visibility is poor. The lateral line is made up of a network of fluidfilled canals beneath the shark’s skin. Pressure waves in the ocean around the shark vibrate this liquid. This in turn is transmitted to jelly in the system which transmits to the shark’s nerve endings and the message is relayed to the brain. 6. Sharks sleep differently than we do Sharks need to keep water moving over their gills to receive necessary oxygen. Not all sharks need to move constantly though. Some sharks have spiracles; a small opening behind their eyes, that force waters across the shark’s gills so the shark can be still when it rests. Other sharks do need to swim constantly to keep water moving over their gills and their bodies and have active and restful periods rather than undergoing deep sleep like we do. They seem to be “sleep swimming”, having parts of their brain less active while they remain swimming. 7. Some sharks lay eggs, others give birth to live young Some shark species are oviparous, meaning they lay eggs. Others are viviparous and give birth to live young. Within these livebearing species, some have a placenta like human babies do, and others do not. In those cases, the shark embryos get their nutrition from a yolk sac or unfertilized egg capsules filled with yolk. In the sandtiger shark, things are pretty competitive. The two largest embryos consume the other embryos of the litter! All sharks reproduce using internal fertilization with the male shark using his "claspers" to grasp the female and then release sperm which fertilize the female's oocytes. The fertilized ova are packaged in an egg case and eggs are laid or develop in the uterus. 8. Sharks are longlived species While nobody seems to know the true answer, it is estimated that the whale shark can live up to 150 years, and many of the smaller sharks can live at least 2030 years. 9. Sharks are not vicious maneaters Bad publicity around a few shark species has doomed sharks in general to the misconception that they are vicious maneaters. In fact, only 10 out of all the shark species are considered dangerous to humans. All sharks should be treated with respect, though, as they are predators, often with sharp teeth that could inflict wounds. 10. Humans are a threat to sharks Humans are a greater threat to sharks than sharks are to us. Many shark species are threatened by fishing or bycatch, amounting to the death of millions of sharks each year. Compare that to shark attack statistics; while a shark attack is a horrifying thing, there are only about 10 fatalities worldwide each year due to sharks. Since they are longlived species and only have a few young at once, sharks are vulnerable to overfishing. One threat is the wasteful practice of sharkfinning, a cruel practice in which the shark's fins are cut off while the rest of the shark is thrown back in the sea.

A shark does not have one bone in its body. Its skeleton is made up of cartilage. Cartilage is a tough material, like the material that shapes your ear. The Swell Shark, found in New Zealand, barks like a dog. Weird things have been found inside a shark, such as nails, bottles of wine, a treasure chest, coats, a suit of armor, a drum, and a torpedo. A shark’s skin is covered with denticles, which are small, razorsharp teeth. Denticles can be removed from a shark’s body. After the

© 2015 RAS (All Rights Reserved) www.raleighaquariumsociety.org Page 25 of 32 Raleigh Aquarium Society (RAS) Volume 34, Issue 8 August 2015 small teeth are removed, the remaining skin can be made into very strong leather. A pair of shoes made from shark leather can last up to four times longer than shoes made with cowhide. Sharks have very good senses. Sometimes a shark is called “a swimming nose”, for its great sense of smell. Sharks can easily detect prey that is in the sand, as well as at night. A shark also has a remarkable sensitivity to vibrations in the water. It can feel the movements made by other animals that are hundreds of feet away. They can hear sounds from thousands of feet away. Sharks can tell the direction from where the sound is coming from, too. Sharks cannot eat the Puffer Fish because the Puffer Fish inflates like a balloon and pokes the shark’s mouth with its sharp needles. Most sharks give birth to their babies. Only a few sharks lay eggs. Most sharks have 6 to 12 babies at a time, but the Hammerhead and Tiger Shark can have as many as 40. Most species of sharks can swim between 2040 miles per hour. A Mako Shark has been recorded at more than 60 miles per hour. A shark has 3 types of fins; they have 2 dorsal fins on their back, one fin beneath their body (called the pectoral fin), and the caudal fin (tail). The Whale Shark is the biggest fish in the world. A Whale Shark has more than 4,000 teeth, but each is less than 1/8 inch long. A shark may go through 1000 sets of teeth during its lifetime. When a shark loses a tooth, one replaces it. A Whale Shark weighs about 90,000 pounds. The second largest shark is the Basking Shark. It can be as much as 40 feet long. A very few number of sharks have been known to actually attack people. Every year, people kill thousands of sharks. They are killed for food, oil, skins, and sport.

How To Avoid A Shark Attack By Staff Writers at the Discovery Channel, www.discoverychannel.com

Have you ever surfed a sunset session and happen to be the last person in the water? If you have, it can feel a little sketchy. As it gets darker, not being able to see very far, you start noticing there is no one around. There’s no life guard that will save you if something unimaginable happens. You’re not sure if your mind is playing tricks on your because you just caught a glimpse of something moving. Your imagination starts to run wild and that moving objects resembles a dorsal fin. You see them all the time but you're usually not afraid because they're your friendly neighborhood dolphins. Pausing for a second, you remember that sharks like to feed at night. Within a second of consideration, you're frantically paddling back to shore looking for the next wave to ride to the beach. Encountering a shark is one of the most terrifying experiences any surfer can have and it prevents many people from ever surfing. For the most part, most surfers don't worry too much about shark attacks. It’s common knowledge that the occurrence is rare; getting struck by lightning is more likely or dying from a car accident, dog attack, or allergic reaction is more worrisome (statistically). However, the one in a million chance of encountering a shark is enough to deter people from ever entering ocean. Nonsurfers often refer to sharks as an excuse for not being able to pick up a surfboard. Perhaps the paranoia of sharks is a great benefit to surfers as the crowds would be worse without it. Professor Jeff Rosenthal from the University of Toronto says your chances of getting attacked are 1 in 9 million and less than one American per year is killed by a shark. In fact, your odds of getting killed by a shark are 1 in 400 million.

TIP 1: This should be common sense, but if you see a shark in the water, leave the area immediately. TIP 2: If you see a lot of fish, harbor seals, sea lions, and other potential shark prey in the water, chances are that sharks could be around and you might be confused with dinner. Leave the area. TIP 3: Avoid looking like a seal. Reclining on a surfboard, wearing a wetsuit and fins, or spending a lot of time at the surface can give you the silhouette of a seal or marine mammal from a shark’s vantage point below. TIP 4: Swim in a group, or at least be sure to have a partner with you. Stay alert as to what is going on in the surrounding water environment. Refrain from swimming in waters known to be frequented by sharks. Most unprovoked U.S. attacks have occurred off the coasts of California and Florida, but consult with lifeguards, surf associations, and other authorities for more specific regional information. TIP 5: Don't swim in waters known to be frequented by sharks. Consult with lifeguards and other authorities. TIP 6: Try to swim on sunny clear days. Foggy mornings, dusk, and other periods of reduced sunlight may cause a shark to confuse you with a seal or some other more desired prey. TIP 7: Sharks, like humans, are creatures of habit. Do not swim in areas where a shark attack has recently occurred since the same shark, or others, are likely to frequent the spot. TIP 8: If you sustain a cut that bleeds or have any other kind of exposed wound or are menstruating, do not swim in open water. Blood and human waste are powerful shark attractants. TIP 9: Avoid swimming in dirty, murky water. It can impair your field of vision and also that of sharks, increasing the chances of an encounter. TIP 10: Don’t swim too far from shore. It takes you away from assistance that could save you. TIP 11: The mouths of rivers, channels, deep drops, and areas between sandbars tend to attract sharks. Refrain from swimming in these places, as well as far from shore. TIP 12: Brightly colored swimwear, colorful surfboards, and shiny jewellery mimic the natural fish bling, so save your flashy gear for terrestrial pursuits. TIP 13: Suffering from sunburn or an uneven tan? If so, avoid swimming in open water because skin color contrasts seem to attract sharks, probably because they resemble color variations found on fish.

TIP 14: Splishing, splashing, and other erratic movements signal distress and can alert sharks to your presence. Try to keep strokes and kicks smooth, subtle, and even. TIP 15: Your dog may love the water and be your constant buddy, but do not take your pet with you in waters where there is even a remote chance of encountering a shark. The splash of a dog paddling is like a dinner bell for sharks. TIP 16: Fishing boats and anglers from shore can attract sharks looking for an easy seafood meal, so refrain from swimming near such areas. TIP 17: Fish probably will be aware of a shark before you notice it. If fish start to school or dart away, chances are a shark or other potential predator is nearby so pay attention to fish swimming patterns. TIP 18: Never attempt to feed a shark. Just don’t, period. TIP 19: Some sharks are very small and resemble tropical fish. Avoid touching fish around you as you may find your hand in a tiny, yet welltoothed, mouth. TIP 20: Avoid diving from boats but, if you must, refrain from doing so at night and be sure to carefully scan the surrounding water beforehand. TIP 21: Is there a dead animal floating nearby? Stay away, as a shark might be aiming to make it a meal. TIP 22: Sharks sometimes become temporarily stuck in lagoons, shallow pools, and small bays during periods of low tide, so be especially careful when swimming in such areas at these times. TIP 23: Refrain from swimming after heavy rains, which may move some fish, including sharks, into regions they would not otherwise frequent. TIP 24: Carry shark repellent, which drives sharks off by mimicking the smell of their own dead or by interfering with the chemical signals with which they communicate. TIP 25: Steer clear of dolphins and seabirds, which not only may attract sharks, but also often seek out the same prey that many sharks are after.

What To Do If You Encounter A Shark: (1.) Stay calm and still This sounds a lot easier said than done but it is really important. Like many predators, shark can sense fear and this will only arouse their senses and attack instincts. You also need to keep cool in order to analyze the few critical seconds that you have to make the right decisions that will save your life. This is not the time to panic. If a shark is approaching, you will not be able to out swim it. Instead, stay still and take the next steps. (2.) Defend yourself Get in a position where you are able to defend your front and sides of your body. Try to avoid using your hands. Use any weapons possible, like a bracelet, key, or rope. If possible, use a surfboard as a shield from the shark. Strike back at the most delicate facial areas like the eyes, nose, or gills. (3.) Get aggressive If it bites into you and drags you underneath water, playing dead will not help. Get as aggressive as you can by clawing at its eyes and gills. (4.) Stop the bleeding Get out of the water as efficiently as you can. Most sharks who attack think that you’re prey. Once it realizes that you are not their usual high fat meals, they usually let go. In fact, fatal shark attacks are usually due to the injury sustained from the attack and not from getting devoured. It’s critical that you get onshore as quickly as possible and stop the bleeding. (5.) Get help Find a lifeguard or anyone nearby and get immediate medical attention.

Bala Sharks For Your Aquarium By Johannes Jorgenson, Denmark Home Aquatics

The Bala shark, or Balantiocheilos melanopterus, is also known as the Silver shark, Tricolor Shark, or Tricolor Shark Minnow. It is a freshwater species with a maximum size of 1416" and it is commonly kept in larger aquariums. The male Bala shark grows larger than the females. It is not really a shark but a bony fish and belongs to the class Actinopterygii (rayfinned fishes), the order Cypriniformes (carps) and the family Cyprinidae. The Bala shark is called shark due to its sleek and sharklike body shape. The Cyprinidae family includes several well known fish groups such as carps, danios, barbs and minnows. It has a silver colored body and black margins on its dorsal, caudal, anal and pelvic fins. Body shape is slender and convex, and the dorsal fin is shaped like a triangle. The mouth is somewhat down facing and without barbles. Wild Balas are found in Asia, in the Mekong and Chao Phraya basins, and around the Malay Peninsula and in the waters surrounding Borneo and Sumatra. It inhabits the midwater regions of large and moderately sized lakes and rivers and is considered endangered (it is almost extinct in many Asian river basins). The minimum population doubling time for the Bala shark is 1.4 4.4 years.

The Bala shark is a popular aquarium fish and is very easy to keep in captivity. It is hardy and tough and will not require a lot of pampering from its keeper. It is appreciated for its beautiful silvery coloration, but it can grow too big for many home aquariums. Balas are sold as small juveniles in pet shops and many buyers do not realize exactly how large this fish can grow or how large their aquariums must be. It is docile and will rarely show any aggressive behaviour. Even fish smaller than the Bala shark will usually be safe in an aquarium, and so it I often kept with small tetras. Even though the Bala shark is nonaggressive, it is seldom bullied by other fish in a community aquarium since it is very swift. It is recommended to keep a group of at least 5 individuals which will school together and feel much safer in the aquarium. A single Bala shark can become stressed and nervous and hide. It might also uproot plants and gravel. It is best to use live plants when you decorate the aquarium, however, but leave larger areas open for swimming. Try to duplicate the shark’s natural habitat when you decorate the aquarium since this makes the fish feel more secure. Wild Bala sharks are found in streams and rivers where aquatic plants provide shelters and hiding spots. This fish is very energetic and you will see it swimming around in all areas of the tank. It will also carefully search the bottom substrate looking for lost pieces of food from earlier feedings. The aquarium must be safely covered since the Bala is a very strong jumper. When placed in a new aquarium it might take a few days until it feels comfortable in the new home. During this time there is an even greater risk of them trying to escape by jumping. Keep the water temperatures in the 72ºF to 84ºF (2229°C) range. The pH should be neutral or slightly alkaline; a pH value between 5.8 and 7.8 is recommended. The Bala shark will do best in soft or medium hard water with a dH in the 5.0 to 15.0 range. The Bala shark will be happily to eat almost anything you feed it and will readily accept flake foods. Natural diets consists of phytoplankton, rotifers, insects, insect larvae, and tiny crustaceans. The Bala shark is an omnivorous species and will eat meaty foods as well as algae and vegetables (it will also help keeping algae growth under control). There are reports of Bala sharks spawning in aquariums and they are frequently bred by professional breeders in Asia. Bala sharks are egg scatterers and uses external fertilization. They do not guard their eggs or fry and migrate to special breeding grounds to engage in mass spawning.

A Bala shark will become sexually mature when it is between 10 and 15 centimeters long. They will often function as “parrots” in the aquarium since they can warm you about an early outbreak of Ich. If the Bala shark tries to peel of its scales against rocks and other aquarium decoration, an outbreak of Ich will most likely soon take place in the aquarium. Start treating all your fish with Ich medication as soon as you notice this behaviour. This way you will be able to kill of the Ich parasites before things escalate further. The Bala shark's popularity as an aquarium fish has unfortunately lead to severe over fishing in some areas of the world and many collectors have an extremely high mortality rate among their catch, which makes them capture even more individuals. Since the Bala shark is a relatively short lived species, large amounts of Bala sharks have to be collected to satisfy the market. Some collectors began to collect breeding individuals from the breeding grounds before the mature Bala sharks had a chance to produce offspring, which naturally resulted in a severe decrease of wild Bala sharks after just a few years. Fortunately, it has gotten a 2nd chance; while the wild populations became nearly extinct in several parts of Asia, populations in Thailand were thriving. Several breeders have managed to successfully breed Balas and today most found in pet shops are cultured fish.

“The best way to a fisherman's heart is through his fly…” Denise Rissmiller

“Don’t tell fish stories where the people know you, but particularly don’t tell them where they know the fish…” Mark Twain

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