Underwater News March 2012 - Pioneer Valley Aquarium Society

OFFICERS
MARCH 2012
PRESIDENT Linda Giza
413.283.8680
lindagiza@comcast.net
VICE PRESIDENT Will Fontaine, Sr.
413-467-1351
Mrniceguyinmass@comcast.net
SECRETARY Martha Morris
martha_morris@hotmail.com
TREASURER David Giza
413-283-8680
davegiza@comcast.net
BOARD MEMBERS
Michael Lucey
hummingbird7515@comcast.net
Chuck Pixley
cpixley3@verizon.net
Jerine Blissett
icegriller@hotmail.com
COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS
BOWL SHOW Chuck Pixley
MEMBERSHIP (open)
PROGRAMS Dan McKercher
MUSEUM LIASON Linda Giza
LIBRARY Bill Maier
STORE LIASON Will Fontaine Sr.
BAP Chuck Pixley & Mike Lucey
REFRESHMENTS Mike Lucey
SUNSHINE Linda Giza
NEWSLETTER Michael Liu & Jerine Blissett
BYLAWS Chuck Pixley, Linda Giza
EXCHANGE EDITOR Linda Giza, Michael Liu
NEC DELEGATE Will Fontaine
PHOTO CONTEST Chuck Pixley
NEC ALT. DELEGATE (open)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Cover Photo: Pictured on the cover, an orange and white
Midas Cichlid, Amphilophus citrinellum
IN THIS ISSUE
3
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
4
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE CLUB
Minutes from our General & BOD Meeting
6
UNUSUAL BREEDING BEHAVIOUR IN WILD CAUGHT
ARCHOCENTRUS SAJICA
By William Berg
8 PVAS AUCTION ROUND UP: Our 2012 Annual Auction
By Michael Liu
10
PVAS PROGRAMS & CONTEST
Breeder Awards, Bowl Show Results, & Photo Show Contest
12 BUSINESS DIRECTORY & TRADING POST
The Underwater News is the official publication
of the Pioneer Valley Aquarium Society, Inc. and
is published either monthly or bimonthly except
for July and August. The views and opinions
printed herein are those of the individual
authors, and are not necessarily those of PVAS.
The Underwater News is provided free to our
members as part of their membership. Unless
otherwise indicated, original articles and
drawings may be re-printed in other non-profit
publications, as long as credit is given to the
author and The Underwater News. Two copies
of the publication in which the reprint appears
should be sent to PVAS. Address all exchange
bulletins and correspondence to the Pioneer
Valley Aquarium Society, Inc. c/o Michael Liu,
14 Indian Hill, Florence, MA 01062.
VISIT PVAS.NET FOR UPDATES AND MEMBERSHIPS 2
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
MARCH 2012
PRESIDENT’S
MESSAGE
A WORD FROM OUR PRESIDENT
Let me start off by saying our auction this year was one
of the best ever.All of your hard work and long hours on
your feet made it possible.Thank you for a great day.
Several clubs helped us a great deal.Members from TFSRI,BAS,DAAS,
GHAS,WAS,OVAS,NHAS,NAS,(if I missed a club I am sorry)all jumped
in and were great.I hope PVAS members attend their auctions and help
them out.That’s what it’s all about,being there for each other. We are
planning a pizza party for the March meeting as a thank you.Please try to
attend. We will be doing Earth Day again,I am still waiting for the details
to be sent to me,it is always a really fun day,rain or shine.If you still owe
for dues please see David. That’s it for now see you on the 6th.
Linda Giza
PVAS President
VISIT PVAS.NET FOR UPDATES AND MEMBERSHIPS 3
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE CLUB
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE CLUB
NAME THAT FISH!
MARCH 2012
Join us for pizza and an exciting game of Name that Fish! at the PVAS March 6th General Meeting. Winner will
receive a $100 Prize! (Winner will split prize money equally in the event of a tie)
MINUTES FROM OUR GENERAL & BOD MEETING
GENERAL MEETING
PVAS Minutes of the General Meeting held at Springfield Science Museum February 7, 2012 7:15 PM Meeting
called to order by Linda Giza who made the following announcements:
Dan brought a DVD for us to watch this evening. PVAS auction is on the 19th. Fingers crossed the weather is good!
We have sign-up sheets for jobs for the auction. We need help in the kitchen during the auction. Ben, Scott and
Elva volunteered. Martha announced that she will be coming around at break time and ask people to volunteer for
an hour slot to record auction lot numbers, sale prices and bidder numbers. People will go on Saturday to check
out the hall and plan the layout. We can get in at 7:30 on the morning of the auction. We won’t be putting tables
out for eating at. Our venders will all be there, including Ed Pecord and Jim Carmak. Mark Broadmere will be our
primary auctioneer. We still need more announcers. Will said we still have donations coming in. Yet to arrive are
frozen food, fish and plants.
Hartford had a very successful auction recently.
The Rhode Island auction is March 3 and Norwalk auction is March 4. NECA’s first ever auction is April 22.
We have a free NEC convention registration to auction off. Our gift card tonight is from Dave’s Soda and Pet City.
Meeting adjourned.
BOD MEETING
No board meeting was held in February.
VISIT PVAS.NET FOR UPDATES AND MEMBERSHIPS 4
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE CLUB
SAVE THE DATE!
MARCH 2012
Tropical Fish Society of Rhode Island Triple Crown Fish Auction
Saturday, March 3rd at the St. Joseph’s Parish Center, 1303 Mendon Road (Rte. 122) Cumberland, RI
MARCH 2012
Doors open at 9 AM
Auction starts promptly at 12 Noon
Bring your best fish!
TFSRI split is $3 per bag sold, all the rest goes to the vendor.
Visit www.tfsri.net for complete auction rules and forms
Norwalk Aquarium Society 34th Annual Tropical Fish Auction & Aquarium Equipment
Benefit Auction for Earthplace
Sunday March 4th Earthplace-The Nature Discovery, Center 10 Woodside Lane Westport, CT
Set up & Viewing 9:30-11:30 AM
Auction starts at 12 Noon
Visit www.norwalkas.org for information & directions
North Jersey Aquarium Society Aquarium Swap Meet & Vendor Expo
Saturday March 10, 2012 10:00 am to 6:00 pm at the Lyndhurst Elks Club, 251 Park Avenue Lyndhurst, NJ 07071
Vendors: $30 per table, 100% profit, set up at 9:00 am
Buyers: free parking, $5 admission, under 12 free, browse and make deals
Visit www.njas.net for information & directions Or contact Kevin Carr at 201-724-9460 or deadhead_kc@yahoo.com
Jersey Shore Aquarium Society 20th Annual Tropical Fish & Dry Goods Auction
Sunday March 18, 2012 Knights of Columbus Hall 70 E. Main Street Freehold, NJ Set up & Viewing 10:00-11:45 AM
Auction starts at 12 Noon sharp!
Visit www.jerseyshoreas.org for information or to preregister or email allaboutpetsllc@yahoo.com or call 732-223-4530 for
information
APRIL 2012
American Livebearer Association Convention 2012
April 26-29th in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
Hosted by: Gold Coast Aquarium Society at the Ft. Lauderdale Hilton Airport Hotel
$99/night single or double
Two Great Field Trips: Florida Aquatic Nursery & Collecting Native and Exotic Fish
Plus show, speakers, workshop, vendor room, banquet, BBQ, & auction
Visit www.ala2012.com for more information
VISIT PVAS.NET FOR UPDATES AND MEMBERSHIPS 5
FEATURED ARTICLE
MARCH 2012
Unusual breeding
behaviour in wild caught
Archocentrus sajica
By William Berg
of Sweden, for aquaticcommunity.com - This article taken from Aquarticles.com
would like to write a few words about
my experiences breeding wild caught
Archocentrus sajica and a surprise
that these fish gave me - a surprise
that shows the fascinating and
diverse behaviour of these animals.
I got a pair of wild-caught sajicas from a friend who had
collected them on a trip. Since I had kept this species
before (in fact it was the third cichlid I ever bred), I
didn’t expect any surprises. Well, I was wrong.
I
For want of better accommodations I put the 6 cm/ 2
inches long cichlids into a 540 litre/145 gallon aquarium
that was already overly crowded. In the aquarium
already swam four 20 cm/8 inch Texas cichlids, a pair
of N. festae (25 and 20 cm/ 10 and 8 inches), a pair of
N. managuense (about the same size as the N. festae)
and four Natal cichlids, Mossanbicus mossanbicus,
(20 cm/ 8 inches). The tank was also inhabited by
two convict cichlids (about 4 cm/ 1 inches) that had
originally been put there as feeders, and finally loads
of Ancistrus that just wouldn’t stop breeding. All of the
species were breeding regularly in the aquarium. As I
said, the aquarium was already very crowded. I knew
I was taking a chance putting the small sajicas in with
these predators, but I didn’t have any choice.
To my great relief the sajicas found themselves loving
their company and were left alone by their larger
predatory cousins. The aquarium was decorated
with two very large roots that reached all the way to
the surface of the aquarium and which created three
natural territories for the fish in the aquarium. There
were small gaps under the roots that the ancistrus
utilised for breeding. The larger cichlids couldn’t get
into these spaces. These large roots made the water in
the tank very dark and made it look like a black-water
river aquarium. However the water was harder and the
pH level higher than what you might expect to find in a
black-water river.
When the sajicas had been in this aquarium for a
week, on a diet consisting mainly of Hikari pellets and
shrimps, they spawned for the first time. Anyone that
has kept A. sajica wouldn’t be surprised about this, the
surprise would be if they didn’t breed during the first
month. However the surprise was how they bred. My
experience is that sajicas are dedicated parents that
watch furiously over eggs and fry. But under these
conditions this pair chose a different approach. The
female laid her eggs on a root halfway to the surface.
Her eggs had a much darker tone then A. sajica eggs
usually have, and matched the colour of the root
almost perfectly. This was something the parents
seemed to be aware of, since they didn’t care about
protecting their young. They both swam all over the
aquarium just as before the egg laying, and it wasn’t
unusual that the two fishes furthest from the eggs in
the entire aquarium were the sajicas. Occasionally
they did chase away some ancistrus. You would think
that this strange parental behaviour would mean the
end of the eggs in an aquarium where several fishes
VISIT PVAS.NET FOR UPDATES AND MEMBERSHIPS 6
FEATURED ARTICLE
The parents continued to take them on these little
expeditions for about a month, after which the fry
had grown to approximately 1.5 cm / 1/3” inch. The
impressive thing is that almost all of the fry had survived
to this age. After the parents had stopped caring for
their fry, the young quickly became bolder and started
swimming around, which led to all but two of the fry
being eaten one week later. (There had been 50-60 fry
before that). These two however did manage to grow
up in this aquarium.
MARCH 2012
could eat all eggs in one gulp. But this was not the case
and almost all the eggs survived and hatched, at which
time the parents moved them (spat them) under a root
where not even they could get in. They then continued
acting as if nothing had happened. When the fry were
free-swimming the parents took their young out for
expeditions about 1-2 hours each day. The rest of
the time they left them under the root, where they
apparently found food because they grew nicely.
Male C. sajica, or T-bar Cichlid, showing nice purple
coloration, note the “T” bar pattern on the mid-flank
(photo by Michael Liu)
The wild caught A. sajica couple spawned many times
in this aquarium, once every 2-3 months, and they
always had great success using this method. At one
point I moved them to another aquarium about half as
big as the other and with clear water. They shared this
tank with a number of other cichlids, mostly fry from
the larger aquarium. In this aquarium they spawned
in the way one is used to seeing A. sajica spawn, i.e.
standing guard over their eggs and fry. A little later
the couple was moved back to the 540 L /145 gallon
aquarium and they then started to “hide” their eggs
and fry again.
Out of curiosity I also tried keeping them in an aquarium
with clear water and a large pair of N. managuense as
company, and the sajica couple spawned standing
guard over their eggs and fry. It seemed like they
simply chose another strategy in darker waters. I have
kept other pairs of breeding A. sajica in the 540 litre/
145 gallon aquarium since then, but none of them
have shown this behaviour. I’m hoping that others get
to experience this unique behaviour that just goes to
show that cichlids never stop being surprising.
Pair of C. sajica in the aquarium, male front, female rear
(photo by Michael Liu)
VISIT PVAS.NET FOR UPDATES AND MEMBERSHIPS 7
FEATURED ARTICLE
PVAS AUCTION
MARCH 2012
Our 2012 Annual Auction
By Michael Liu
his one didn’t start out as planned but
once we got started and got up some
steam, we made it through the day,
and it looks like it was a successful
auction once again this year. After
a late start getting the speaker
system set up and missing our main auctioneer, Mark
Broadmeyer, the auction finally started with auctioneer
Doug Patac from Vermont doing the dirty work until
Mark arrived. The weather was nice that day and it
seems lots of people attended as the Elks Hall was
full for most of the day. The first batch of “red dots”
and fish donations really took a while to auction off as
there were countless items. For a while it seemed like
we would never get to the actual table lots.
T
We seemed to be a bit more short-handed than years
past, but were helped out by many, many members
from our sister clubs, who worked at registration,
organized auction lots, did the running, helped in the
kitchen, and bid and bought auction items! A hearty
“Thank You!” to all the folks from TFSRI, DAAS, NAS,
GHAS, OVAS, BAS, NECA, and non-club members
who came and enjoyed the auction. I don’t mean to
leave anyone out, and I apologize if I did.
This year, we arranged the auction hall differently than
in years past. We keep trying different layouts, but
this years’ layout seemed to work better than before.
With a few minor tweaks, the next auction should flow
more smoothly. We put the auctioneer on the stage
this year, and that seemed to help with the view over
the large hall. One issue is having the kitchen in the
vestibule away from the auction action. We’ll have to
discuss the pros and cons in more detail, but it seemed
hard to get volunteers to work the kitchen.
We had several vendors at the auction: Seth Harris of
Harris In Wonderland, Ed Pecord of Fish Frenzy along
with Jim Carmark selling fish and aquarium goods, Rick
Rego and RJR Booksellers, Ed Champigny of Kimmy Koi,
and Ken Menard of Ken’s Fish with loads of pre-orders.
We appreciate your attendance and thank you for your
donations to the auction. Once again, Will Fontaine
VISIT PVAS.NET FOR UPDATES AND MEMBERSHIPS 8
FEATURED ARTICLE
MARCH 2012
did a great job collecting donations from national and
international companies and local stores. We have a
lot of leftovers to be used for club meetings and other
club purposes. Some items, including dog foods and
treats, were used in a Silent Auction. This seemed like a
successful way to sell items while not taking time away
from the auction fishy items. We had some nice Raffle
prizes that were donated by companies, such as Tetra
and Fish Frenzy. And, by our own members, Martha
Morris who donated a group of discus, and myself,
who donated a large Synodontis angellicus catfish and
a Lake Tanganyika Cichlid Mystery Box. Raffle tickets
were sold throughout the day until the drawings, and it
looks like the prizes generated a considerable amount
of money. And thanks to Tony and Denise Panetta for
their efforts in selling 50/50 cash raffle tickets, among
other things.
A great big THANK YOU to Dave and Linda Giza
for being such an integral part of the planning and
execution for our annual auction. Without their energy
and efforts, the club would not be in the good shape
it’s in. Finally, everyone in the club should be thanked
for helping to put on another successful auction and
participating in all club activities!
Here are some photos from the auction. Enjoy!
VISIT PVAS.NET FOR UPDATES AND MEMBERSHIPS 9
BREEDERS AWARD PROGRAM
BREEDER AWARDS
In an attempt to increase participation in the BAP,
the program will now have a monetary incentive.
Each member who submits BAP fish for auction will
be awarded 1 Point per bag. Totals for the year will
be kept by the BAP Chair. This portion of the BAP
is based only on the number of bags submitted and
all other BAP rules apply. Awards will be presented
in January and are as follows:
STANDINGS
MARCH 2012
Jim Cormier 605 points Master Breeder Award
Tony & Denise Panetta 580points Master Breeder Award
Mike Liu 430 points Senior Breeder Award
Jim White 380 pointsSenior Breeder Award
Chuck & Charlene Pixley 370 points Master Breeder Award
Dan Balser 225 points Senior Breeder Award
Joe Coleman 170 points Breeder Award
Elva Hughes 170 points Breeder Award
Tom Stevens 30 points
Seth Harris 25 points
Rit Forcier 15 points
Dave Giza 5 points
BREEDERS AWARD
ANNUAL INCENTIVE PROGRAM
PVAS PROGRAMS & CONTEST
PVAS PROGRAMS & CONTEST
Michael Liu 8 Points
Joe Coleman 2 Points
Dave Giza 1 Point
2011 BOWL SHOW STANDINGS
BOWL SHOW CONTEST
2011 BOWL SHOW RESULTS
BOWL SHOW RESULTS – January 2012
There was only one entry for January 2012. First place
and People’s Choice went to Dave Giza for his Synodontis
eupterus.
2012 Bowl Show Standings
Dave Giza 4 points
Awards were presented for the 2011 Bowl Show winners,
first place went to Joe Coleman, second place went to Dave
Giza and third place went to Elva Hughes and Bill Maier.
Congratulations to all the winners!
Joe Coleman 23 points
Dave Giza 21 points
Elva Hughes 8 points
Bill Maier 8 points
Rich DiGeorge 5 points
Seth Harris 6 points
Mike Liu 4 points
The Bowl Show for 2011 will be conducted as in
the past with a couple of minor changes. Points
will be awarded as follows: 1st Place—4 Points,
2nd Place—3 Points, 3rd Place—2 Points, 4th
Place—1 Point.
Also, any fish entered in the Bowl Show that does
not place will still receive 1 Point for participation.
Point totals will be kept by the Bowl Show Chair
and posted in each newsletter. Annual awards will
be as follows:
First Place: $50.00
Second Place: $25.00
Third Place: Free Annual Membership
VISIT PVAS.NET FOR UPDATES AND MEMBERSHIPS 10
DECEMBER 2011 PHOTO SHOW CONTEST RESULTS
There were eight entries in the February 2012 Photo Contest. First place
went to Elva for her photo of a Blue Rainbow. There were three second place
finishers; Mike Liu, Jim Cormier and Chuck Pixley. Third place went to Elva.
Chuck Pixley 5 points
Elva Hughes 4 points
Mike Liu 2 points
Jim Cormier 2 points
Eight entries was the highest number of photos since the contest began.
Let’s see if we can have more entries next month!
Photos will be judged by the
membership in attendance and
winners will be determined based
on popular vote. Points will be
awarded as follows: First Place-3
Points, Second Place-2 Points,
Third Place-1 Point. Point totals will
be kept by the Photo Show Chair.
Winning photos will be published
in the next newsletter.
MARCH 2012
2012 Photo Contest Standings
Members may bring up to two
photos, unframed, each meeting.
Photos can be any size up to 8 x 10
inches.
PVAS PROGRAMS & CONTEST
PHOTO SHOW CONTEST RESULTS
The photo show is open to all
members. Members must take the
photograph and bring the entry to
the show at each meeting.
The first place photo cannot be
re-entered for the current year.
Second and third place photos
may be re-entered in future photo
shows during the same calendar
year.
Point totals will accumulate
through the December general
meeting. Awards will be presented
in January, and are as follows:
First Place-$50, Second Place$25, Third Place-Free Annual
Membership
First place: Elva Hughes
VISIT PVAS.NET FOR UPDATES AND MEMBERSHIPS 11
BUSINESS DIRECTORY
BUSINESS DIRECTORY
MARCH 2012
VISIT PVAS.NET FOR UPDATES AND MEMBERSHIPS 12
BUSINESS DIRECTORY
BUSINESS DIRECTORY (continued)
MARCH 2012
VISIT PVAS.NET FOR UPDATES AND MEMBERSHIPS 13
BUSINESS DIRECTORY
BUSINESS DIRECTORY (continued)
MARCH 2012
TRADING POST
For Sale: 6 large Acei for sale for $30 pickup in Northampton.
Contact Jim at jim.pellegrino@comcast.net if interested
Please send ads to the Editor, Michael Liu, via email at mike@berkshiredesign.com, or call me at 413-585-9127. Lists may
also be dropped off to me at the monthly meetings. Please send an accurate description along with your contact information.
It is not necessary to list a specific price. PVAS is not responsible for ensuring the quantity or quality of the items being sold
through this listing service. All sales and trades are to be negotiated between the buyer and seller.
VISIT PVAS.NET FOR UPDATES AND MEMBERSHIPS 14
COME JOIN US!
COME JOIN US!
DIRECTIONS TO THE SPRINGFIELD SCIENCE MUSEUM:
From the North - Take Interstate 91 South to Exit 7. Turn left onto State Street, proceed for three blocks and you
will see the large, white marble Springfield City Library building on your left. Take the first left past the library onto
Elliot Street and then the next left onto Edwards Street.
MARCH 2012
DIRECTIONS & MEMBERSHIPS
From the South - Take Interstate 91 North to Exit 6. Stay on Columbus Avenue to State Street. Turn right, proceed
for three blocks and you will see the large, white marble Springfield City Library building on your left. Take the first
left past the library onto Elliot Street and then the next left onto Edwards Street.
From the East - Take the Massachusetts Turnpike to Exit 6 (I-291). Exit at Dwight Street (Exit 2B), turn left. Follow
Dwight to State Street. Turn left at the light, go through another light and you will see the large, white marble
Springfield City Library building on your left. Take the first left past the library onto Elliot Street and then the next
left onto Edwards Street.
From the West - Take the Massachusetts Turnpike to Interstate 91 South and follow I-91 South to Exit 7. Turn left
on State Street, proceed for three blocks and you will see the large, white marble Springfield City Library building
on your left. Take the first left past the library onto Elliot Street and then the next left onto Edwards Street.
Parking: Free parking is available in the lots on Edwards Street.
To Download Printable Directions go to http://www.springfieldmuseums.org/about/hours.php
NOT A MEMBER YET ?
The Pioneer Valley Aquarium Society, Inc. is a not for profit educational group. We meet the first
Tuesday of each month, except July and August, at the Springfield Science Museum. Meetings start
at 7:00 PM and include refreshments. Club news and activities are discussed and planned, and an
educational program or speaker is presented, followed by a mini-auction. The general public is
welcome at our meetings and is encouraged to see what fish-keeping is all about. The Pioneer Valley
Aquarium Society, Inc. is affiliated with the Northeast Council of Aquarium Societies, Inc.
PIONEER VALLETY AQUARIUM SOCIETY, INC. - MEMBERSHIP FORM
To join the Pioneer Valley Aquarium Society, annual dues can be mailed to: Linda Giza, P.O. Box 201, Palmer, MA 01069.
Rates are $15.00 for a single membership and $20.00 for a family membership
Name:
Address:
City: Telephone:
Email Address:
State: Zip Code: