AQUATICA T H E JO U R NA L O F T H E B R O O K LY N AQ U A R I U M S O CI E T Y VO L . X X I I I M A R CH ~ A P R I L 20 09 N o . 4 GIANT DANIO Danio aequipinnatus Illustration: John Todarol 1 A Q U A T I C A V O L X X I I I • J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2 0 0 9 • N O 3 C O N T E N T S 2 Calendar of Events ~ 2009/2010 22 The Control Of Algae In Ponds 3 Wanted: Help Finding Alewife 23 The Practical Plant 4 A Rough Ride With A Tiny Horse 28 Sand Loaches, They Breed By Themselves The Dwarf Seahorse 31 Mudskippers: A Fish Out Of Water 9 The Miracle Of The Fishes And Wa l k i n g ( A Story With A M o r a l ) 32 Exchange Editor’s Report 12 Spawning The “Galaxy Rasbora” 33 Pa t ronize Our Sponsors, They Support U s ! Celestichthys marg a r i t a t u s We Must Support Them! Beauty In Motion 34 Membership A p p l i c a t i o n 17 The Giant Danio } Danio aequipinnatus AQUATICA STAFF Editor: John To d a r o Subscriptions: Lita Goldberg Copy Editor: Kay Martin Exchange Editor: Izzy Zwerin Marine Editor: O p e n C o n t r i b u t i n g Wr i t e r s : Mike Hellweg, John To d a r o , Plant Editor: Izzy Zwerin Sallie Boggs, Robert Fenner, Frank Greco, Izzy Zwerin, Illustrations: J. To d a r o ,C. Giam David Banks Jr., Vinny Babino Advertising: Izzy Zwerin Note: The Editor takes full responsibility for misspellings and punctuation errors. Aquatica is published bi-monthly (except July/August) by BAS. Original articles may be re p r i n t e d by other n o n - p rofit organizations, provided proper credit is given to the author and A q u a t i c a, and two copies are sent to the E x c h a n g e E d i t o r. Transcriptions of lectures may not be reprinted without written permission of both Editor and the S p e a k e r. Distribution of articles on any online electronic service is prohibited without written permission f ro m the Editor and A u t h o r. Anotice of where approved articles have been posted should be sent to the BAS Exchange Ed i t o r. Aquatica will exchange publications with all interested societies. If we do not receive your publications for thre e co nsecutive months, we will assume you no longer wish to exchange and your club will be removed from our mailing list. AL L C O R R E S P O N D E N C E C O N C E R N I N GT H I S P U B L I C AT I O N S H O U L D B E S E N T TO: • Editor: John Todaro, 247 Middletown Road, S. Londonderry VT , 05155 Home: 802 824-3743 Fax: Same Please submit all articles to the Editor by mail, fax, or E-mail J T O D D Y B A S @ A O L . C O M. • Advertising Manager: Izzy Zwerin , P. O . Box 290610, Bklyn, NY 11 2 2 9 - 0 111 C e l l Phone: 646 269-5926 • Exchange Editor: Vinny Babino, P. O . Box 290610, Bklyn, NY 11 2 2 9 - 0 111 Phone: 718 298-5978 • Membership: Lita Goldberg, P. O . Box 290610, Bklyn, NY 11 2 2 9 - 0 111 Phone: 718 375-0948 OFFICERS BOARD MEMBERS President: Joseph Graffagnino 1st Vice President: Steve Matassa Robert DeBonis Charles Stein 2nd Vice President: Marie Licciardello Stuart Hershkowitz Izzy Zwerin Treasurer: Denise Hershkowitz Alfred Licciardello Corresponding Secretary: Kay Martin Exchange Editor: Vinny Babino Membership Chairperson: Lita Goldberg PAST PRESIDENTS (In good standing) Sergeant-at-Arms: Joseph Cingari Al DiSpigna Recording Secretary: Adam Engerow John Todaro Web Master: Bernard Deren Seth Kolker Editor: John Todaro The Brooklyn Aquarium Society Inc. is a non-profit organization 501(c) (3) for people i n t e rested in the aquarium hobby and the study of aquatic life. The Society meets the 2nd Friday of each month except July and August at the Education Hall of the New York Aquarium at Coney Island, Surf Av e n u e at West 8th St., at 7:30 PM. Meetings are open to visitors. Refreshments are served. Membership is $25 per year f a m i l y/$20 individual/$15 for students under 14. Send inquiries or membership checks payable to: Brooklyn Aquarium S o c i e t y, c/o Membership Chairperson, P.O. Box 290610, Brooklyn, NY 11 2 2 9 - 0 0 11 . On occasion, the Brooklyn Aquarium Society uses its mailing list to send notices of i n t e rest other than society business to our members. If you do not wish to have your name used in this manner call the Hotline 718 837- 4455 and leave a message. All articles in Aquatica are the opinion and experiences of the author or authors, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the editors or staff of Aquatica or the Brooklyn Aquarium Society Inc. 2 BROOKLYN AQUARIUM SOCIETY C A L E N D A R O F E V E N T S 2 0 0 9 - 2 0 1 0 MAR 13 ~ Bob Larsen ~ The Glorious Guppy ~ F reshwater & marine f i s h , a q u ac u l t u red corals, plants auction • D i s c o u n t books & sales. APR 10 ~ Tony Vargas ~ Diving On The Philippine Reefs ~ Marine fish & aqua-cu l t u re d c o r a l s, freshwater fish & dry goods auction • D i s c o u n t books & sales. M A Y 8 Spring Au c t i o n ~ Freshwater fish, plants, marine fish, aqua-cul- tured corals & dry goods auction; including a 55 gal tank & stand • Raffles • Discount aquarium books & sales• Door prizes. JUN 12 M e e t The Experts Experts will answer your questions at a F reshwater fish table, Plant table, Marine table and a Live/Frozen foods table. Marine fish, aqua-cultured corals, freshwater fish, plants & dry goods auction • Discount books & sales • Door prizes • Raffles • BAS Elections. Summer Break July & August SEPT 11 ~ TBA • Freshwater & marine fish, aq u ac u l t u red corals, plantsauction • D i s c o u n t books & sales. OCT 9 ~ Fall Giant Au c t i o n • F reshwater fish, plants, marine fish, aquacul- tured corals & dry goods auction • Discount books & sales • R a ffles • Door prizes. NOV 13 ~ Greg Sullivan ~ Building Filter Systems For Fresh & Marine Aq u a r i u m s • Freshwater & marine fish, aq u ac u l t u red corals & p l a n t s a u c t i o n • D i s c o u n t books & sales DEC 11 ~ BAS Holiday Party Members, their families & friends • All you can eat d i n n e r. • Fish Bingo & prizes • BAS Aw a rds pre s e n t a t i o n . All Events held the 2nd Friday of the Month at 7:30pm at the Education Hall of the New York Aquarium ~ Surf Avenue & West 8th Street ~ Brooklyn, NY (unless stated) We request a $5 Donation for non-members, good towards membership the night of the event only. FR E E R E F R E S H M E N T S A N D F R E E PA R K I N G AT E V E RY M E E T I N G - U N L E S S S TAT E D NOTICE TO ALL MEMBERS A motion was made, seconded and passed at the March board meeting (3/7/08) that membership cards be made up and handed out the night a person joins the BAS. If you join or renew by mail you must come to the next general meeting to get your card. Publications will still be sent by mail. Web memberships do not get a card, and only get publications that may be on-line. The cost of mailing has gone up and this is a cost-saving measure. 3 4 Mike Hellweg - First published in The Darter, Missouri Aquarium Society Aquarticles - http://www.aquarticles.com A ROUGH RIDE WITH A TINY HORSE Hippocampus zosterae, THE DWARF SEAHORSE he Dwarf Seahorse, Hippocampus zosterae, is a truly diminutive creature. The name in print on this page is longer than the fish is in real life! It is a Ttruly amazing animal that many people don't even believe exists. Until recently, it was the smallest member of its genus. But now two more diminutive Seahorse species have been found - one of them just within the last few months. A fish that swims upright with mystical creatures into your home!" I the head of a horse; a high-powered love reading ads - ads of all kinds, but vacuum/trapdoor contraption for a especially aquarium and hobby relat- mouth; an armor plated body shaped ed ads.