Modern Aquarium by Dan Radebaugh

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AQUARIUM

Vol. IX, No. 2

February, 2002

FEATURES

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Editor's Babblenest

President's Message

An Almost Perfect Pearl

The Patty Cake Hybrid

FAASinations - FAAS Delegate Report

Spawning of the Rainbow Gudgeon

Looking Through The Lens Photos from our January Meeting

.10

"Treasure Chest" - My Mystery Fish

Gian Padovani in Memoriam

GCAS 2002 Holiday Party

Cleaning Magnets - Part II

"Fun Fish" - Freshwater Sharks Part III

Tales from the Backsplash Aquarist

Holy Tank Water

G.C.A.S. Happenings

Fin Fun (Puzzle Page)

Printing By Postal Press

Articles submitted for consideration in MODERN AQUARIUM must be received no later than the 1 Oth day of the month, three months prior to the month of publication. Copyright 2002 by the Greater City Aquarium Society Inc., a not-for-profit New York State corporation. All rights reserved. Not-for-profit aquarium societies are hereby granted permission to reproduce articles and illustrations from this publication, unless the article indicates that the copyrights have been retained by the author, and provided reprints indicate source and two copies of the publication are sent to the Exchange Editor of this magazine. Any other reproduction or commercial use of the material in this publication is prohibited without express written prior permission. The Greater City Aquarium Society meets every month, except during July and August. Meetings are the first Wednesday of the month and begin at 8:00 P.M. Meetings are held at the Queens Botanical Gardens. For more information, contact: Joe Ferdenzi (718)767-2691. You can also leave us a message at our Internet Home Page at: http : //ourworld. CompuServe . com/homepages/greatercity

Well, a "Researched" article requires no personal experience. Have you seen an article in a magazine, a photograph in a book, or a fish in someone's tank that you would like to know more about? If that article, photo, or fish caught your interest, it will likely be of interest to others, as well. Just research it, and write down what you find out. Remember to give credit to the sources of your information, and don't copy someone else's research without giving credit. Here are some questions to ask, and the steps to follow, to write a "Researched" article: O

What are you writing about/researching? This defines the scope of your article.

Read several articles on your topic, then create an outline, listing the subjects you feel should be covered.

For each subject, read at least three sources of information, then summarize what you read in your own words. (An occasional quote is fine, if you put it in quotation marks and credit the source.)

When citing Internet sources, give the URL (e.g., "Uniform Resource Locator," which is the "address" of a website) and, because the Internet changes so quickly, the date you found the information.

For each book you used, give the full title, the author, the publisher, and the most recent publishing date.

For each magazine article you used, give the name of the magazine, the title of the article, the author of the article, and the date of publication.

Learn the use of quotes in an Internet search engine. A search for blood worms (two words, no quotation marks) on Google found 163,000 matches â&#x20AC;&#x201D; all sites with both blood and worms. A search for "blood worms" greatly narrowed the search to 4,390 matches.

by ALEXANDER A. PRIEST hose of you who were at last month's Holiday Party and Awards Presentations saw me hand out certificates and hold a drawing as part of Greater City's Author Award Program ("AAP"). For those of you who missed it (and who, as a result, left more cheese and fruit for me), I'll briefly recap a sentiment I expressed. Our Author Award Program looks a little like our Breeders Award Program ("BAP") but without the authors-only prize drawing. However, one difference is significant. Last summer, I looked into a tank with a pair offish I had been feeding for two years, and dozens of baby fish looked back. I did nothing but feed the parents and, when my conscience got the better of me, do a water change. Nevertheless, since there was no recorded breeding of these fish in our BAP, I "earned" enough BAP points to get a certificate. The "AAP" certificates I handed out last month were not the result of some "accident" or "stroke of luck." None of the authors receiving those certificates just "found" an article lying around the fish room. In each and every case, they made a conscious effort to work for hours (and, in some cases, days) to share information with you, and to help Modern Aquarium remain the best amateur hobby club publication in the U.S.A. Instead of my monthly plea for articles (which, by the way, are still very much needed and would be very much appreciated), I'd like to ask every member to thank the author of an article you enjoyed, or that you found helpful or useful. That's it â&#x20AC;&#x201D;just a "thank you." Thank you. Continuing with the mini series I've been doing in this column on writing articles, this month I'm going to discuss "Researched" articles. I often hear members saying that they would like to write an article, but don't feel that they have enough experience or knowledge to do so.

So, prepare an outline, consult several sources, summarize the results in your own words, and give credit to all your sources. Give me your typed, handwritten, or saved text on disk, and you'll see your article in Modern Aquarium. In future columns, I'll discuss "Humorous," "Historical," "Interview" and "Photo Spread" articles (and probably a few more). I hope this mini-series will encourage you to write.

February 2002

Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S. (NY)

President's Message

and auctions, umpiring important and unimportant arguments — all to encourage, aid, and spread the enjoyment of the marine aquarium hobby. This is frequently a labor of love with little reward. I am happy to dedicate this book to the "spark plugs" — those individuals that have started and/or served as officers and have given freely of time, effort, money, and love in aquarium societies all over the world.

by JOSEPH FERDENZI ecently, I read a very interesting dedication in a book. The book in question was the 1992 edition of Martin Moe's The Marine Aquarium Reference: Systems and Invertebrates. It is a brief dedication, and it merits quoting in its entirety, as follows:

Most authors include a dedication. It's a good way to acknowledge and pay respect to people who are important to the author. Books are usually dedicated to family, friends, supporters, mentors, heros, or pioneers. There are many people in these categories to whom I would love to dedicate this book. Instead, however, I want to dedicate the book to a group of people who are not only important to me, but to all marine aquarists. This book was written as a source of information for those that enjoy the challenge and satisfaction of keeping marine aquarium systems. That fascinating but sometimes troubled path is often smoothed by those that begin and maintain marine aquarium societies. Great effort is put into organization and planning; long nights of sweat and tears are spent building a newsletter, managing funds

Get ready!

Get your fish ready!

Of course, I agree with him. Martin focused on marine aquarium societies, I suspect, because he was writing a book for marine aquarists, but I think he would agree that those sentiments apply equally to all aquarium societies. Do you? Since you are reading this, chances are you do. But, I'd love to hear it put in your own words. Please consider writing me a letter in which you describe what you like or appreciate about our society and/or any of its members. We 'II tak a cup o' kindness yet, For auld lang syne. — Robert Burns, poet, 1759-1796 ("Auld Lang Syne," or "Old Long Since" is a Scottish expression that refers to fondly remembered times.)

Get your whole family ready!

For the Greater City Aquarium Society Birthday Blast that's been 80 ears In the makin!

Queens County Farm Museum 73-50 Little Neck Parkway Floral Park, NY

al&nt J.KU joocfa auction h&ited bu Idnablik ^etw Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S. (NY)

February 2002

by ALEXANDER A. PRIEST he Pearl Gourami (Trichogaster leeri) is arguably one of the most attractive freshwater fish in the aquarium hobby today. It is also one of the hardiest and easiest to keep of the gouramis. It breeds easily in the home aquarium. It is relatively undemanding with respect to feeding and water chemistry. And, for a relatively small fish, it is fairly long lived, given proper care. This makes it an excellent choice for a beginner, and an attractive addition to even an expert's fish room.

Appearance The Pearl (also called "Mosaic" or "Leeri" Gourami) has an elongated body that is laterally compressed. Its ventral fins are long and thin, having the appearance of thin hanging threads, or of "feelers." The mouth is small and upturned. The background coloration is silver-gray, with a brownish area in front of the dorsal fin. The sides of the fish are covered with many light spots having darker edges. These spots give the

Sexual Dimorphism The pearl-like mosaic patterning described above appears on both the male and female of this species. Adult males have longer and more pointed dorsal fins, and larger anal fins. However, these differences are only apparent in fully adult specimens and only in comparison to adult females. A better indication of the sex of the fish is that males develop a patch of reddish color on their throat and chest area, which is noticeable when

drawing by Gian Padovani

Pearl Gourami, Trichogaster leeri appearance of iridescent pearls, hence the common name for this fish of "Pearl Gourami." The mosaic pattern of the spots gives rise to another of its common names, that of "Mosaic Gourami." A horizontal black line on each side of the fish runs from the mouth to the tail and ends in a spot at the base of the tail (the caudal peduncle). Breeders have crossbred and exploited genetic aberrations for several other gourami species (e.g., the "Gold Gourami," the "Pink Kisser," the various solid color varieties of the "Dwarf Gourami," Colisa lalia, etc.). But, at least up to now, no one has seen any reason to attempt "enhancing" one of the world's most beautifully patterned freshwater fish, the Pearl Gourami.

they are ready to breed. Females that are ready to breed will be slightly "plumper," owing to the presence of eggs. Habitat and Care The Pearl Gourami is native to Southeast Asia, in the regions of the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, and Borneo. They have been in the hobby for quite a while, as they were first imported in the early 1930s. Accustomed to heavy vegetation in their natural habitat, they will thrive if given similar conditions in the home aquarium. Provide them with floating plants (such as Salvinia or allow long stemmed Vallisneria to continue growing over the surface of the water), subdued lighting, and a dark substrate. They prefer soft,

February 2001

Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S. (NY)

acidic water, especially for breeding; but they are adaptable to a fairly wide range of water conditions. The tank should be filtered by a box or sponge filter (I often use both). Powerheads, canisters, or other filters that can cause water turbulence should be avoided. Labyrinth Fishes The Pearl Gourami is an Anabantoid. Anabantoids (sometimes also referred to as Anabantids) are distinguished from all other fish by a structure known as a "labyrinth organ." This organ is located in the fish's head, near its gill cavities. It consists of folded membranes covering maze-like (or "labyrinth-like") compartments of thin bony plates called lamelli or lamellae (from the Latin lamella, meaning small thin plate). The membranes are filled with blood vessels through which oxygen is absorbed from the air, much like a terrestrial lung. I f a labyrinth fish (especially an adult, as anabantoid fry are generally more dependent on their gills) is denied a c c e s s to atmospheric air (that is, air above the water), it is likely to suffocate (literally, "drown") because its gills alone probably will not supply the fish with sufficient oxygen. (This "labyrinth organ" is also the reason anabantoids are s o m e t i m e s referred to as "labyrinth" or "labyrinthine" fish.) The labyrinth organ permits anabantoids to live in water with a very low concentration of dissolved oxygen. Diet Pearl Gouramis will eat flake, freeze-dried, frozen, and small live foods (such as tubifex worms, adult brine shrimp, black worms, glass worms, etc.) Fresh vegetables such as lettuce, cooked peas, and spinach should also be part of the diet. Live foods should be used if you want to condition the fish for breeding. Breeding Anyone familiar with the breeding behavior of the Siamese Fighting Fish (Betta splendens) will recognize some similarities to Pearl Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S. (NY)

Gourami breeding. A pair of Pearl Gouramis should be identified (see " Sexual Dimorphism") and conditioned with live or frozen food (see "Diet"). There are several different schools of thought on the best way to trigger breeding in the Pearl Gourami. I will give you three, but I would like to mention right now that if you have a healthy, properly conditioned adult male/female pair, you should have success with any of them. If, for some reason, one scenario doesn't work, try another. Scenario One: The method I think is the easiest is to start off with a five gallon barebottomed tank, a heater, a gently running sponge filter (ideally, one from an already established tank), and some floating plants. Although these are not "cave spawners," I would add a tube large enough for the fish to swim through and one or two potted plants, of no more than six inches in height. Set the water temperature to at least 80 degrees F., and add black water extract according to label directions. Introduce the male and female together and continue your feeding of live foods. Gradually lower the water level to about six inches. There s h o u l d b e no excessive aggression shown by the male towards the female. If there is, try Scenario Two. Scenario Two: Set up a breeding tank as in Scenario One, above. Introduce a female with rounded belly (full of eggs) to the breeding tank first. (The premise here is that even in breeding condition, a male may regard a female introduced into his territory as an intruder. By putting the male into the female's territory, aggression can be avoided.) Scenario Three: This method is intended to mimic the changing of the seasons in the Pearl Gourami's native habitat. I have never tried it (never had any reason to), but even though it seems to contradict some of the prevailing thoughts about feeding fish to condition them for breeding, there is a certain logic that may work if all else fails. Introduce only the male into the breeding tank. For the first two weeks, gradually increase the temperature in the breeding tank to 81 degrees F., and gradually drop the water level to

February 2002

around 10 inches. During this period, cut back on feeding the male. This process emulates the dry season in the wild. Then introduce the female and continue to raise the temperature and drop the water level over another two weeks until 84 degrees F. is reached and the water is around 8 inches deep. Minimal feeding should be continued for the second two weeks. Regardless of which method you use, the male should start building a large bubblenest (often four or five inches in diameter and a half inch or more in height), while courting the female. The female should eventually show her readiness to spawn by pushing her snout into the side of the male. The male will wrap his body around the female and fertilize the eggs as they are squeezed from her vent. The male then delivers the freefloating eggs to the nest. Hundreds of eggs are produced in one spawning. After the spawning act is completed, the male guards the nest, and the female takes refuge from the male. At this time, remove the female from the breeding tank. Make certain the tank temperature is not over 80 degrees F. The male will continue to guard the nest, and the fry should start hatching in 24 hours. Fry Care After about four days, all the fry should be free swimming. This is the time to remove the male. Feed the fry liquid food, such as Wardley's "Small fry®" (use the "egglayer" formula) or infusoria culture several times a day. (Remember that sponge filter? Well, by now it should have a nice growth of naturally occurring infusoria on it to supplement what you add to the water.)

Newly hatched brine shrimp can be given at between 10 days and two weeks of age. This can be either hatched by you, or frozen (I have used "Sally's San Francisco Bay brand frozen baby brine shrimp" with no problems in the past). I prefer, at this point, to use microworms, as they are readily accepted by the fry, and live long enough for most of them to be consumed between feedings (as long as you don't overfeed, of course). Finely crushed flake foods may be given a month after hatching. Water changes should be performed in the fry tank at least every other day. I find that a small daily water change of between 5% to 10% works well. If the water is cloudy soon after a water change, the tank is either overcrowded, or you are overfeeding. I suggest alternating between a basic water change and a vacuuming water change. For the former, I use a large airstone attached to airline tubing. This is perfect for removing water without sucking up fry. Since this airstone method does not remove detritus, or the accumulation of uneaten food, I alternate with water changes using a narrow siphon tube into which I have inserted a "plug" of filter material to prevent siphoning of fry. Conclusion The Pearl Gourami is one of the easiest to keep, feed, and breed of all aquarium fish. It is frequently available in most pet stores, and generally at quite an affordable price. Every fish hobbyist owes it to him/herself to try them. This fish will truly stand out as the nearly perfect pearl in your fish room.

NASSAU DISCUS • • • • •

QUALITY DISCUS MANY VARIETIES (call) ALREADY QUARANTINED ALREADY CONDITIONED SOLD DIRECT TO HOBBYISTS ONLY (appointment required)

Mark Rubanow 205 8th Street, Hicksville, NY 11801 (516) 939-0267 or (516) 646-8699 (beeper)

morgansfin@aol. com February 2001

Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S. (NY)

by DOUG CURTIN ver the years, I have bred and raised tropical fish, aquatic plants, and been into gardening. The gardening part included raising African violets, gloxinias, and other members of the Gesneriad family. Hybridizing gloxinias used up the names of members of my family, as new hybrids were created. Even though I read up on genetics, I never crossed any fish. One day, about a year and a half ago, I said to myself, "Why not?" On that day, I decided to create a guppy hybrid. There were plenty of strains to chose from, since I'm into guppies. For fifty plus years I have kept the original Trinidad Guppy strain, along with its counterpart, the Gold Trinidad Guppy. By today's standards, they would be considered feeder guppies. They are both hardy fish and never get diseases. My choice was a Gold Trinidad Guppy female and a half-black red male. The reason I chose this combo was because of my reading an article about half-black reds that stated the black color was carried through the females. I didn't want any black color in my hybrid â&#x20AC;&#x201D; red , blue, and green were O.K. Now, in my mind, I was ready to hybridize guppies, but I didn't have any virgin female Trinidad Guppies. But, as luck would have it, 1 saw baby fish in my five gallon balanced aquarium bottle where Trinidad Gold Guppies have had a home for twelve years. I removed ten baby fish to a two and a half gallon stainless steel aquarium located alongside four other two and a half gallon stainless, a three gallon stainless, and finally a four gallon stainless on a shelf fourteen inches from the floor. A double 40 watt shop light with reflector is ten inches above the row of aquariums. I refer to these as aquariums because all have gravel, plants and snails, with no heaters or filters of any kind. I now had ten baby Gold Trinidads, but where are the virgin females? Reading informed me the guppy breeders hold the babies up to a strong light and are able to see the gravid spot on the females, much like checking for blood spots in chicken eggs. There would have to be a super nova for me to see gravid spots on baby guppies. I decided to use a different approach: raising the babies until they started developing into males that would still be immature enough not to get their sisters in trouble. This meant I would have to watch them carefully. The temperature of the

Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S. (NY)

aquarium ranged from 60 degrees in the winter, to 80 degrees in the summer. After two to three months, I removed five males and put them back in the five gallon bottle where they were born. Now I had my five virgin female guppies. When I placed two male half-black red males with the five maidens, I thought they would feel they had entered Paradise. But they seemed more interested in eating than chasing females. This was not a good sign. 1 left them together for a month. The females didn't look like they were with child, so I figured the males were too old to cut the mustard. They were a year old â&#x20AC;&#x201D; middle age for a guppy. This guppy hybridizing is not easy. What to do? Since these were the only males 1 had, I thought my quest for a new strain of guppy had come to an end. But, as fate would have it, a visit to Bob San Angelo in June 2000 would prove to be most rewarding. When my brother Don, Richie Gambino, and I arrived at Bob's house after a 100-mile trip, he took us to his basement and showed off his fish, like all us fish guys do. I noticed he had an aquarium filled with half-black red guppies. Upon telling Bob of my dilemma, he offered me half-black male guppies. I only accepted one because, if he was good, all five virgins would be having offspring. After a nice visit, and 100 miles later, I put the new male with the females. The two old ones had since died. The male immediately began chasing the females and I knew I had a winner. After about a month, the females started dropping young. Since they had plenty of vegetation in which to hide, I didn't take any of the babies out. All five females dropped fry and they had fifteen to twenty babies each. I noticed an equal amount of gold babies and olive drab ones. Since I was really interested in the gold ones, after a month I took ten out and put them in a one and a half gallon brandy glass, containing Anacharis and snails, in front of the window in my dinning room. They were fed a diet of micro worms, newly hatched brine shrimp, and finely ground flakes. After a year, the females are two inches long, a bright gold color and no black, and are larger than the Gold Trinidads, which are one and a half inches long. The males, which inherited the delta tail of the half-black red male, are one and a half inches long, and have large amounts of red throughout their bodies. The original male

February 2002

Trinidad Gold Guppies are small, only reaching three quarters of an inch at maturity. The tails are also round. The new strain is definitely more beautiful than the old. They have both increased in size and color, plus the males have the delta tail. The gold hybrid have since bred and I am now in the process of rearing them. The olive drab babies were left in the two and a half gallon aquarium, and those females have the black color of the half-black reds. The males have the delta tail which, in some, is yellow speckled with red and black, but the bodies have no black, mostly red on a gray body. The size is the

same as the gold hybrid. Over the last year, I have given both varieties to the Big Apple Guppy Group, and I am now down to 30 adults in the two and a half gallon aquarium. Now why is the title of this article "The Patty Cake Hybrid?" Well, one day my daughter was looking at my gloxinia hybrids containing my other daughter and son's names on them, but couldn't find hers. I quickly told her I had developed a new guppy hybrid and would name it after my nickname for her for twenty one years. Maybe one day it will win Best of Show. My daughter certainly is.

FAASinations窶年ews From: The Federation of American Aquarium Societies by ALEXANDER A. PRIEST

s result of input from the FA AS Delegates' Council, the Publication Award rules have been changed. By the time you read this, the societies should have received notice that: 1) The deadline for submissions for the 2001 publications and articles has been extended to February 28. 2) Effective immediately, there is no longer a requirement that all articles be submitted on 8.5"xH" size paper. Any format used by a society will now be accepted. 3) The following category names have been changed to reflect the way they were being judged: #20. Best How-To or Do-It-Yourself Article #25. Best Original Artwork #26. Best Cartoon

4) A new category has been approved, effectively immediately (for 2001 submissions), as category number 28: "Best Article not Nominated in Any Other Category." Any article submitted here CAN NOT be submitted anywhere else. There is no other criteria. There are no subcategories or divisions for this. This was meant solely for submitting an article that could not fit any of the existing categories already available. 5) a new category number 29 has received tentative approval for year 2002 submissions and beyond (but not for 2001). This new category 29 will be "Author of the Year." It will be available after the criteria/guidelines have been established by the Delegates' Council and approved by the Board.

Pioneer Valley Aquarium Society - Aquarist Day 2002 - Sunday, February 10, 2002 The Knights of Columbus Hall - Washington Road, Enfield, CT 0682 Giant Tropical Fish and Dry Goods Auction - Doors Open at 9:30am. For more information contact: Paul and Linda Parciak at (860) 745-0785 or email p.parciak@worldnet.att.net

Tropical Fish Soc. of Rhode Island - Buck-a-Bag Auction - Sunday, March 10, 2002 St. Joseph's Parish Center (Rte. 122) Cumberland, RI. Doors open at 9:30am. Auction starts at Noon. For information contact: Allen Wagonbtott: (401) 847-3364 or Email mr_wiggles_sr@hotmail.com. Visit TFSRI on the web for printable auction forms at: http://www.petsforum.com/tfsri/

Jersey Shore A.S. - 8th Annual Tropical Fish Auction - Sunday, March 10th 2002 Knights of Columbus Hall, Rt. 537 (70 East Main Street), Freehold, NJ. Registration: lOam-noon; Viewing 1 l:00am-l:00pm; Auction begins at 1:00 p.m. To pre-register call Frank Policastro at 609-371-1195 or e-mail aquapops@comcast.net For information call Cindy (732)970-1707 or e-mail boots693@aol.com or visit: www.jerseyshoreas.org

February 2001

Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S. (NY)

Spawning of the Rainbow Gudgeon (Tateurndina ocellicauda) by CHARLEY SABATINO he Rainbow Gudgeon (Tateurndina ocellicauda) is an absolutely beautiful fish that is found in the lowland rivers and ponds of East Papua, New Guinea. It has a long, narrow killie-like body that sports a mosaic pattern of yellow, blue and red. The unpaired fins are colored similarly, capped in yellow and red stripes. The ventral fins are colorless with a black spot present on the caudal penduncle. T. ocellicauda is somewhat sexually dimorphic, as the males have a blunt almost humped head, while females have a pointed head, rounded ventral area and a black line on the edge of the anal fin. It is a cave spawner, with the male caring for the eggs until hatching. While the literature states that this fish reaches 3" (SL), my experience is that it never gets bigger than about 2". T. ocellicauda has all the characteristics of a great community tank inhabitant: it stays small, it is not aggressive, it is fairly hardy and it is not fussy about food. Despite all these things going for it, the Rainbow Gudgeon is not seen very often in the shops. I had read about T. ocellicauda a few years ago in Tropical Fish Hobbyist and was quite interested in keeping them. Naturally, when I happened to stumble on them at a local distributor last spring, I purchased a male and three females. They were placed in an established 10 gallon tank with a sponge filter and several 3" lengths of 1" diameter PVC pipes fitted with caps to act as spawning caves. Over the next few weeks, the fish settled in nicely and soon the females began to plump up. Then one evening, I found a pair in a cave, both tail-first, side by side and waving back and forth. The next day, 50-75 eggs were deposited on the lower half of the cave. The female had left and the male was guarding and fanning the eggs. By the next morning however, the male had abandoned the cave and the eggs were gone. Further reading on their husbandry revealed that when groups of Rainbow Gundgeons are housed in the same tank (especially multiple females), egg predation was high.

Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S. (NY)

The next time they spawned, I decided to hatch the clutch artificially. I removed the cave containing the eggs and male to a separate tank containing water from the parent tank. The male immediately abandoned the clutch (as per the literature). I then removed him, added some Acriflavin and placed an airstone at the mouth of the cave. Unfortunately, within a few days all of the eggs fungused. Similar results were obtained using Methylene Blue and Jungle's Egg Saver. Finally, after much research and experimentation, the following procedure yielded success: after spawning was complete, a divider was placed in the tank separating the females from the male and eggs. Once egg development was observed, the females were removed (I found that when the females were removed without being separated first, the commotion caused by netting them stressed the male and he would eat the eggs). As the eggs began to hatch (in about four days) the male would expel the wrigglers from the cave. Once hatching was complete, he would leave the cave and I then removed him to prevent any predation. The wrigglers were very small (at least to me) and were free swimming in about two days. First feedings consisted of powdered, prepared foods and eventually freeze-dried cyclops. Growth of the fry is slow and they have very small mouths, so they stay on small foods longer than you would expect. Also, fry mortality was high, probably due to a combination of their sensitivity and my inexperience. T. ocellicauda is a beautiful fish that deserves more attention than it gets. As stated earlier, it has all the stuff needed to be a perfect tankmate in a non-aggressive community setting.

References Aquarium Atlas 2, Hans A. Baensch and Dr. Rudiger Riehl, Baensch Publisher, pg. 1074. "The Care and Breeding of Tateurndina ocellicauda'' Hans Jurgen Rosier, Tropical Fish Hobbyist, February 1997, pp. 84-94.

February 2002

Photos and captions of our January 2002 meeting more perfect a way to JlJIl celebrate the New Year, than with a big "Welcome Back" to long-time GCAS member Rod DuCasse!

A heartfelt welcome to our new GCAS member, Darwin Richmond, as he joins in the evening's festivities! ***It was a night for the Stars to shine, and the awards to be presented!***

The evening began with the presentation of the most prestigious Gene Baiocco Aquarist of the Year Award, to a most deserving Bernie Harrigan, by GCAS President Joe Ferdenzi.

A most touching moment for all of the Dickinsons, as President Joe Ferdenzi honored Brad Dickinson with a Special Merit Award.

Mark Soberman's superb aquaristic accomplishments for the year resulted in the Don Sanford Breeder of the Year Award and recognition for reaching the level of Grand Master Breeder, earning 500 points!

It was with great pride that President Joe Ferdenzi honored Tom Miglio with the outstanding achievement of Senior Grand Master Breeder, earning 800 points!

The awards continued as our esteemed Editor, Al Priest, recognized his team of Modern Aquarium writers with the results of the Authors Award Program.

February 2002

Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S. (NY)

by Claudia Dickinson

I Bringing us many enjoyable "Fun Fish" moments with his wonderful articles throughout the year, author Warren Feuer had his arms filled with awards and prizes!

Rich Levy was delighted to add the Door Prize of the Baensch Aquarium Atlas I to his aquatic library!

Alison D'Orio is always a *STAR* at our Holiday Party! Alison, along with her parents, Roberta and Pete, put countless hours of time, talent and efforts into making our party a beautiful setting, and seeing to it that the tables are brimming with delectable delights!

***Sarah Dickinson made herself quite at home with her GCAS family...*

In the arms of her "Aunt And "Uncle Joe" Beverly" Richmond Graffagnino

And "Uncle Bill" Amely with Bill, Jr. looking out for her over his father's shoulder.

Special friendships and good times sent all of us on our way, with big smiles and warm hearts, as shown by Stephen and Donna Sica! (*!*)

Modem Aquarium - Greater City A.S. (NY)

February 2002

modern AQUARIUM

Creature

Unfortunately, I wasn't present when the trophies were awarded, thus I missed my chance of talking with one of the judges (a gentleman from New Jersey), who identified it as a characin. When I arrived at the show to collect my trophy, this judge had already left for home.

During our Diamond Jubilee year (1997), we ran a "Treasure Chest" series of articles from Series I and Series II issues of Modern Aquarium. As a fitting tribute to the memory of one of the first editors of Modern Aquarium, here is an article written by Gian Padovani which appeared in the December 1969 issue of Modern Aquarium.

Rare And UNIDENTIFIED

My Mystery Fish by Gian Padovani, LIAS One of the facets of this great hobby of ours is searching the dealer's shelves for the unusual. At least it is with me. One day while looking over a tankful of cardinals just over from South of the Border, I spotted a fish that I immediately recognized as an oddity. I quickly purchased it and at once proceeded to try to identify it. All to no avail. None of my hobbyist friends nor available aquarium literature could give me the name or identify it. My first thought, strengthened by the fact that the fish did not posses an adipose fin made me think that it probably was some kind of a young native minnow and not a characin. It was not a barb and certainly not a cichlid. Eventually, when the annual tropical fish show and exhibition came up at the Long Island Aquarium Society, I decided to enter my specimen in the "Rare and unidentified" class, certain that I would have a very good chance. My hopes were not in vain. It got a third prize trophy. 12

The cover from the December 1969 issue. Illustrated by Gian Padovani. I was told that he was so interested in this fish which he identified, that he expressed a wish to buy it. I also learned that had this fish a mate, it would have won "Best in Show." The black and white illustration, which I painted after many sketches, hardly does the fish any justice. The fish itself is about two inches long. In the four months since I purchased it, it has developed a very long dorsal and anal fin. The general color is a reddish tone, similar to the coloring in a red minor (Hyphessobrycon callistus serpae). The band on its side is jet black which reflects glorious facets of metallic emerald green. The dorsal fin is edged in black at the top and, from the base upward, it has a triangular red spot. The rest of the fins are colorless with the exception of the tail which, on occasion, shows two darker bands on the outer edges.

February 2002

Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S. (NY)

The fish itself is very shy and prefers the darker recesses of the tank, as under a rock. It will eagerly eat dry food as well as brine shrimp. It has a copious mouth which is highlighted by a dark band on the upper jaw. However, it doesn't seem to bother other aquarium inhabitants. My first thought was to photograph it, but I was too concerned by the fact that if anything should happen to it, I would feel terrible. Also, in

a plain, isolated tank, it probably wouldn't show its best for a few days. An observation worth noting is that when the fish is frightened he will dart to a safer place in a sort of "fluttering" swim, aided by the dorsal fin. He will then resume his normal still position, pectoral fins quivering very quickly, yet going nowhere. [Ed. note: many years later, this fish was identified as Poeciliocharax weitzmani]

Gian Padovani in Memoriam by JOSEPH FERDENZl t was with great sadness that we learned that Gian Padovani died on Saturday, January 12, 2002. Gian was a member of Greater City in the 1950s and was instrumental in establishing Series I of our famous publication, Modern Aquarium. Gian was born in Ancona, Italy, but he emigrated to America at an early age. Here, he began a successful career as a commercial artist. Gian was also an avid nature lover. It was our mi good fortune that, shortly after marrying and setting up house in Queens, he found the Greater City Aquarium Society, and decided to join. IfJJ Back in the early jjj '50s, there were only two maj or aquarium magazines: the venerable The Aquarium (published by Gjan PadO vanJ William T. Innes) and the fledgling Tropical Fish Hobbyist (published by H.R. Axelrod). According to correspondence from Gian that is in our archives, some of the members of Greater City decided a more modern, hobbyist oriented magazine was needed. Gian, of course, was ready to contribute his artistic talents. And so, in 1957, Modern Aquarium (Series I) was born. Although it was a rather modest publication, Gian's talents lent it a very "polished" look. Gian also made many artistic contributions to Series II of Modern Aquarium. Many of his drawings graced the cover of that outstanding series. The January 1971 issue even featured a photo of his young daughter, Simonetta, as she peered at an aquarium. (Gian was also an accomplished photographer.) After Gian moved from Queens to Suffolk, he became an integral member of the Long Island Aquarium Society. He was, for many years, the editor of their outstanding club magazine,

Paradise Press. Gian contributed beautiful artwork and numerous articles to the magazine as well. In the mid 1980s, Gian generously volunteered his artistic talents and printing connections to help Greater City make its newsletter, Network, a more attractive periodical. It was in Gian's nature to be helpful, and he always had a sentimental spot for his first club, Greater City. He was especially happy when Greater City resumed publication of Modern Aquarium in 1994. In addition to his work on behalf of the local clubs, Gian found time to write articles for the nationally distributed Freshwater And Marine Aquarium magazine. In Photo by Dan Carson 1988, they published a book written by Gian, The Catfish, which is still in print. Gian was involved in every facet of the aquarium hobby, and was always a person who encouraged others. He went on several collecting expeditions to the Amazon, and continued writing and drawing for the hobby. After retiring from his job, Gian and his wife moved to North Carolina. Gian was an avid fly fisherman, and he was able to continue this passion amidst the beautiful North Carolina countryside. Only a few years ago, Gian was a guest speaker at the Long Island Aquarium Society. Those in attendance were treated to a typical Gian Padovani presentation, full of wit and insight. Gian was a very unique person. His passing marks a great loss for his family, our hobby, and Greater City in particular. Our condolences are extended to his wife, Judy, his family, and his many friends,

amico caro Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S. (NY)

February 2002

Cleaning^ I ^^ n Part II: Now TheWloat! by JOSEPH FERDENZI n the December 1997 issue of Modern Aquarium, I surveyed the world of cleaning magnets. As I said then, cleaning magnets are wonderful devices for cleaning algae from aquarium glass. They have several advantages over other methods (for example, they can reach more spots in the tank, they are less disruptive of the water surface, and they allow you to work in tanks with little "elbow room" above them). However, one of their disadvantages has always been that if you lost the magnetic contact between the inside and outside magnets (such as when you go too fast, or the glass is too thick, or algae slime is excessive, or you try to turn a corner), the inside magnet might become difficult to retrieve. In a deep tank, this becomes particularly annoying. Well, now, a new concept has largely eliminated this problem. The concept involves making a portion of the housing that surrounds the magnet into an airtight chamber so that when the inside magnet loses contact with the outside, instead of sinking, it floats (!). Why hadn't anyone done this before? I suppose other aquarists had the same annoying experiences I had, and they were finally heard by someone with ingenuity. There are currently several brands on the market that have this floating capability. The one I purchased (because they were the first ones I came across) are manufactured in the Netherlands by Bakker Magnetics and are sold under the trade name Mag-FloatÂŽ. The magnets feature a rounded, off-white casing, and come in three sizes. I purchased one of each size. The larger the device, the more powerful is the magnet. The largest of the three is a true behemoth, having a pad measuring 2'/2 inches by 3!/4 inches. This very strong magnet is for use on tanks with thick glass. Usually (but not always), the thickness of the glass corresponds to the size of the tank (larger tanks have thicker glass). Hence, the largest magnet is useful for tanks down to 75 gallons (glass thickness of % inches or greater). The medium size magnet, which has a cleaning pad that measures 1% inches by 33/4 inches, is useful for tanks in the 55 to 30 gallon range (glass thickness of % of an inch). And, the smallest magnet (measuring a mere 1% inches by

^â&#x201A;ŹgfaM

2% inches) is suitable for 20 gallons on down (glass thickness of 3 / ]6 of an inch). I have found that these magnets work well. And, the first time one of them separated, I was delighted to see the inside magnet float to the top, where it was easily retrieved. These magnets may be a bit more expensive than comparably sized ordinary magnets, but the slight difference in price is justified by the convenience they afford. Some magnets do come with a loop on the housing by which you can attach a string in between the inside and outside magnets. However, I have never found this arrangement for recovery of the inside magnet to be particularly handy. Firstly, the length of the string determines how big a tank you can use it on; too short and it's of no use at the bottom; too long and the excess string gets caught on objects in the tank. Secondly, and most inconveniently, the string prevents you from easily accessing the part of the tank under the cover or canopy that is still sitting on the tank. With unattached magnets (no strings), you just need an opening in the hood; you don't have to take the whole thing off. No, for my money, strings don't cut it. One slight drawback to these Mag-FloatsÂŽ needs to be mentioned. Their design has resulted in a plastic housing that is considerably higher than normal magnets (the measurements I gave you earlier are for the size of the cleaning pads, not of the entire three dimensional device). This increased housing size means that the inside magnet is not as adept at cleaning narrow spaces between the glass and aquarium ornaments such as rocks, ceramic castles, etc. If you don't readjust the position of your ornaments, you will be left with uncleaned algae "spots" where the magnet could not go. Of course, you could use a conventional magnet or other device for the one or two spots. However, I have found it is more satisfactory over the long haul to move the ornament just enough to create the clearance. "Floating" magnets are an overdue remedy. I recommend them to you as "must have" equipment.

February 2002

Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S. (NY)

by WARREN FEUER

The Fresh Water Sharks, Part III inally, in our last look at "sharks" for freshwater home aquariums, we come to fish that are actually suitable for almost all home aquariums. Most aquarists can easily keep these fish, several minor considerations aside. I am, of course, referring to the rainbow, red tailed black, and black "sharks." At this point, being welleducated consumers as well as readers, we know that none of these fish are actually sharks, but have inherited the common name due to their relatively high dorsal fin, which retailers have latched on as a way to sell the fish. The fish in this group are all members of the cyprinid family and can be looked at as "fancy minnows." They have neither the size, nor the dental equipment, to be the top of the food chain predators we think of when discussing sharks. Although, as we shall see, they can be rather nasty and a definite threat to smaller tank residents. Proper scientific names aside, how does one distinguish the fish? Rainbow sharks have both dorsal and caudal fins that are red. The rest of the body is black, except for the albino version. Red tailed black sharks have only red caudal fins, the rest of the body, surprisingly enough, being black. Black sharks are all black. The average home aquarium specimen grows to about 4 inches, with black sharks the largest, growing to about 22 inches. All three species are native to Thailand. The rainbow shark - Epalzeorhychus frenatus grows to a maximum of 6 inches, the red finned black shark - Epalzeorhychus bicolor grows to a maximum of 5 inches, and the black shark - Labeo chrysophekadion, can grow as large as 22 to 24 inches. The black shark is treated as a food fish in Thailand. Originally, all three of these fish were included in the Labeo genus, and references to them using that genus name are still common. Only the black shark is still classified as being in the Labeo genus.

Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S. (NY)

So, you may wonder, why are these fish fun to keep? It's simple really. Appearance wise, they are like mini-sharks, with their high dorsal fins. They can be seen swimming around the tank, checking out all spots, probably for a meal. These fish are clearly omnivorous, and will eat just about anything, although they do relish vegetable matter, and it should be included in their diet. Of the three, the black shark is definitely the most predaton7. It will eat smaller fish without hesitation, and should be treated as a carnivore. As has been said many times before, and will doubtless be said (or written) many times again, all fish should be given as varied a diet as possible and allowable. Even large predatory fish that seem to survive on nothing but live food ingest other food items through the diet of their prey. These fish definitely prefer the availability of hiding places, and will come out more often if they know they have the security of somewhere to hide when necessary. They do well in typical aquarium water parameters; pH between 6.8 and 7.2 and temperature in the 74-80 degree Fahrenheit range. So far, pretty good, right? Well, here comes the fine print. These fish are known to jump. The several I have kept prior to my current red tailed black shark all jumped out of their tank. They can be a bit nippy, given the chance, especially the black shark, which is said to become outright aggressive as it ages. This is most likely due to its territorial nature. Many fish with strong territorial instincts tend to become more aggressive and protective as they mature and come to feel the tank they are in is their own. When browsing through a store's tanks, one of the most attractive sights is a tank full of rainbow or red tailed black sharks. Do not try this at home. These fish do not get along well when kept in the same tank. They co-exist in a store setting only because there are so many in one tank

February 2002

that their aggression is defused. Two or three of them in all but the largest tank (125 gallons and even larger) will fight among themselves leading to injury and, most likely, death, until only one is left. This is not "Survivor," we don't keep fish to pit them against each other. So, take my advice and keep one per tank. In addition, I would not recommend keeping small peaceful fish such as neon and cardinal tetras, guppies, rasboras and the like with them. It would probably not be a good idea to keep them with fish such as Betta splendens that are slow moving and have flowing fins. I currently have a red tailed black shark in my 75 gallon mixed community tank. This tank contains several different African tetras such as

Congo Tetras, Silver Dollars, and several large catfish. In this setting, the fish is a perfect community member. I am keeping this fish because my 12 year old son Eric, who does not get overly excited over most fish, insisted that I buy one of these. What can I say? Good looks sell. This ends my overview of "freshwater sharks." Like all fish, before purchasing a fish to bring home, its characteristics should be researched and known. Most of the fun in keeping fish is watching them thrive in our charge. Taking the time to do it right makes success that much easjer, and "fun fish" that much more fun.

The Northeast Council of Aquarium Societies 27th Annual Convention When: ApriM2-14, 2002 Where: Hartford Marriott Hotel Farmington, CT Exit 37 Connecticut I-84 Theme: "Roaring Twenties" Tentative Schedule Friday, April 12, 2002 l:30pm: Registration Opens 2:00-4:00pm: AGA Discussion Group 2:00-6:00pm: Pet Store Tour 4:00-6:00pm: Rainbowfish Discussion Group 5:00-7:00pm: "Light Fare" Dinner 8:00pm: Convention Kick Off with Lee Finley & Wayne Liebel "History of the Aquarium Hobby" Saturday, April 13,2002 8:30-10:45am: Breakfast Cart 8:30:am Registration Opens 9:00-10:15am: Wayne Leibel ("Breeding Difficult Fish") Erik Olson ("Plants and Photography") 10:OOam-Noon: Non-Fishy Bingo 10:45-Noon: Dick Au ("Discus") Gary Lange ("Rainbowfish") 11:45-1:15pm: A-la-cart Lunch 1:00-2:15pm: Labbish Chao ("Project Piaba") David Schleser ("Native Fish") l:30pm: Registration Closes 2:30-3:45pm: Doug Sweet ("Nutrition for Fish") Lee Newman ("So. American Cichlids")

Saturday - Cont'd 4:00-5:50pm: Ian Fuller ("Corydoras Catfish") 5:00pm: Vendor Room Closes 6:00pm: Banquet Happy Hour. Cash Bar 7:00pm: Banquet Dinner - Tony Terciera, M.C. 1 l:00pm: Ian Fuller, Late-nite Special Sunday, April 14,2002 8:30-1 l:00am: Breakfast Cart 8:30-9:00am: Drop Off Auction Lots 9:00am: Vender Room Opens 9:30-10:45am: Viewing of Auction lots 1 l:00am: Giant Auction begins Noon: Hotel Check-out time l:00pm: Rare/Endangered Fish Silent Auction For More Information, Contact: David/Janine Banks: (802)372-8716 Penny/Al Paul (978) 534-3683 Aline Finley (401)568-0371 Wally/Sue Bush (860)276-9475 NEC website:

February 2002

http://www.northeastcouncil.org

Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S. (NY)

by SUSAN PRIEST eping tropical fish (and everything that goes long with them), in an area where food is repared and consumed by us humans, makes for strange bedfellows, so to speak. They don't always conjugate. Case in point; today is Tuesday. What does that mean at your house? Bowling night? Hungarian goulash? At my house, it is LIVE FOOD DAY. Well, folks, this does not mean a lobster that is still kicking! It means that on the second shelf of the fridge, next to the mustard and the leftover Moo Shu vegetable, is a plastic cup with "air holes" punched in the lid. It means that there is a gallon sized plastic jug full of bubbling saltwater between the sink and the toaster oven. It means "don't even think of using the sink to prepare vegetables for the humans until the LIVE FOODS have been attended to." First, we take care of the brine shrimp. Several "servings" of them are in a plastic bag. The task at hand is to get them from the bag into the previously prepared jug of saltwater without dumping in the "used water." If Al had been an aquarist when we got married, I would suspect that he chose me (among other reasons) to supply a "third hand" for this job. I hold the brine shrimp net over the sink, while he pours in the contents of the bag. Then, he puts fresh water into the bag, which he also pours through the net, thus rinsing the brine shrimp, and making sure none are left in the bag. I invert the net into the jug. So far, so good. Then we move onto the worms. Al doesn't need my help for this. He rinses the worms several times, until he's satisfied they're clean. Well, someone once said that you can get used to anything. As I picture the expression on my grandmother's face while I explain to her why there is a container of live worms in my refrigerator, I can't quite believe it. "Did you say 'live worms?'" "Yeah, Al feeds them to some of the fish." "What about all those little plastic jars? I thought that was the fish food." "It is. They are. But the worms are especially good for them." "Well, why do you have to keep them in the refrigerator? Can't you put them in a shoebox in the basement?"

Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S. (NY)

"Because they clump together more instead of climbing up the sides of the container, where they would dry up and die. Also, they will live longer." "Where do these worms come from? "Mud holes." "You have live worms from a mud hole in your refrigerator?" "Yes, but they're clean. Al cleans them every day." "A 'clean worm' is like a 'jumbo shrimp' â&#x20AC;&#x201D; there ain't no such animal. By the way, what is that jug of bubbling water for?" "That's where we keep, well, you wouldn't understand." Anyway, last Tuesday, 1 was faced with a problem. On the surface it seemed simple, but I found myself sorting through a multiplicity of possible solutions. The problem: how to "clean up" that one tiny Black Worm squirming in a splash of water on the counter next to the sink? Heloise, can you give me a hint? (Just so you know what I was dealing with, this particular worm was about the size of the half-moon at the base of the fingernail on my pinky finger.) For every other splash, I would reach for the sponge. Not this time! Maybe I should use a paper towel or a paper napkin to swipe it up. That seemed wasteful. How about swishing it down the drain with some water? What if it lives and grows down there, and becomes big and hungry enough to eat the plumbing? Think again. Of course, how could I overlook the obvious choice â&#x20AC;&#x201D; feed it to a fish! But, how am I going to "deliver" it? I could use the tip of a knife blade. NOT! (The thought of using that same knife to cut up a slice of French toast seemed, shall we say, distasteful!) I could roll it onto my finger and carry it, but what if it slips off onto the floor? Then I am back to the original question of how to "clean it up." Well, I didn't use any of those methods, but I did manage to prepare a salad without Blackie's company! Actually, I solved the problem by sopping it up on the corner of a tissue, and then dabbing it into the nearest Betta bowl. That is one of the varied challenges and adventures that this homemaker faces in her kitchen. It reminds me of the time I was having this dinner party....but that is a tale for another day.

February 2002

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February 2002

Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S. (NY)

Holy (Tank) Water A series by "The Under-gravel Reporter'"

Have you been known to sacrifice small animals in the hope of obtaining the blessings of fertility or health (examples of such sacrificial animals might be tubifex worms, blood worms, black worms, wingless fruit flies, brine shrimp, guppies, goldfish, etc.)?

Have you ever practiced divination? Answer "yes," and give yourself one point for having done any of the following: a. You ever t r i e d to d e r i v e meaning and knowledge by dipping paper (called a "test strip" or "litmus paper") into water, or by meditating on the color of a liquid from a "test kit." b. You ever t r i e d to obtain knowledge or wisdom by cutting open a fish and examining its entrails.

Do you make pilgrimages, traveling hours, maybe even staying overnight, to attend or participate in a fish show or convention?

Do you ever go to public meeting places where the faithful gather, such as an aquarium society meeting?

Do you ever m a k e l o u d v e r b a l exclamations to the Almighty? For example: "Oh my God, that filter is clogged again!"

Have you ever gotten down on your knees in order to perform the ritual of "tank purification"?

10)

Have you ever coveted your neighbor's Bowl Show trophy?

In spite of popular demand to the contrary, this humor and information column continues. As usual, it does NOT necessarily represent the opinions of the Editor, or of the Greater City Aquarium Society. "...ifyou believe in it, it is a religion or perhaps the religion...." - Leo Pfeffer. as the fish hobby become more than a hobby to you; maybe more than even an obsession? Has it become a religious experience, perhaps without you even knowing it? Answer the questions below, to be sure. Give yourself one point for every "Yes" answer (and don't forget to add the "extra points," when applicable, in question #3):

H 1)

Have you ever spoken in strange tongues, and uttered words in languages you were never taught (such as Chalinochromis, Julidochromis, Trichogaster, Empalzerynchusm, or Tanichtys)! Do you perform regular rituals, such as "siphoning the gravel/' "washing the bowls," or "changing the water" because of your belief in the invisible, but ever present and powerful, "Nitrogen Cycle"? Do you use large quantities of kosher salt? (If you answered "yes," and are Jewish, but don't keep a kosher house, add one extra point. If your answer to this question is "yes," and you're not Jewish, add two extra points.)

Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S. (NY)

If your score is eight or over (and regardless of what religious beliefs you may otherwise profess), you are a member of the notorious "Cult of the Tropical Fishkeeper." Welcome sister, and welcome brother; come, let us meditate on the mysteries of livebearers together.

February- 2002

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February 2002

Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S. (NY)

G.C.A.S. HAPPENINGS Welcome Back Renewing Member: Rod DuCasse

Bowl Show winners last meeting: None - No Bowl Show at the Holiday Party September 2001 - June 2002 Season unofficial totals to date: 1) Claudia Dickinson (12 pts) 2) William Amely (11 pts) 3)Carlotti DeJager (8 pts) 4) Pete D'Orio (3 pts.) 5) Doug Curtin, Rich Levy (tie) (1 pt.)

January's Door Prize: Baensch Aquarium Atlas, volume 1 - was won by Rich Levy

Here are meeting times and locations of aquarium societies in the Metropolitan New York area: GREATER CITY AQUARIUM SOCIETY

Brooklyn Aquarium Society

Next Meeting: March 6, 2002 Speaker/Topic: To Be Announced - Check the GCAS website or wait for the reminder flyer mailed to members next month. 8pm: Queens Botanical Garden 43-50 Main St., Flushing, NY Contact: Mr. Joseph Ferdenzi Telephone: (718) 767-2691 e-mail: GreaterCity@compuserve.com http://www.greatercity.org

Meeting: February 8, 2002 Speaker: Pat Donston Topic: "Fish You Can Keep in Your Reef Tank and How to Keep Them Disease Free" 7:30pm: Education Hall, N.Y. Aquarium Surf Ave. & 8th St., Brooklyn, NY Contact: BAS Events Hotline Telephone: (718) 837-4455 http://www.brooklynaquariumsociety.org

East Coast Guppy Association

Big Apple Guppy Club

Meets: 8:00 P.M. - 1st Thursday of each month at the Queens Botanical Garden Contacts: Jeff George / Ckne Baudier Telephone: (718)428-7190 / (516)345-6399

Meets: 8:00 P.M. - 3rd Thursday of each month at me Queens Botanical Garden Contact: Mr. Donald Curtin Telephone:(718) 631 -0538

Long Island Aquarium Society

Nassau County Aquarium Society

Meets: 8:00 P.M. - 3rd Friday of each month at Holtsville Park and Zoo, 249 Buckley Rd. Holtsville,NY11801 Contact: Mr. Vinny Kreyling Telephone: (516) 938-4066

Meets: 8:00 P.M. - 2nd Tuesday of each month at the William M. Grouse Post 3211 V.F.W., Rte. 107, Hicksville, NY Contact: Mr. Ken Smith Telephone: (516) 589-0913

February 15,2002: Jason Ransdale North Jersey Aquarium Society

Norwalk Aquarium Society

Meets: 8PM - 3rd Thursday of the month at the American Legion Hall, Nutley, NJ (exit 151 Garden State Pkwy., near Rt. 3) Contact: NJAS Hotline at (201) 332-4415 ore-mail: tcoletti@obius.jnj.com

Meets: 8:00 P.M. 3rd Thursday of each month at the Nature Center for Environmental Activities, Westport, CT Contact: Mrs. Anne Stone Broadmeyer

February 21, 2002: Dr. Ted Coletti, speaking on: "Platies & Swordtails: Wild and Fancy"

Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S. (NY)

Telephone: (203) 834-2253

February 2002

Fin Fun A Labyrinthian Question There are many "labyrinth" fish common in the aquarium hobby. These fish have a specialized organ in their head that allows them to utilize oxygen taken directly from the air above the water. Most aquarists are familiar with Bettas, such as the Siamese Fighting Fish (Betta splendens), Paradise Fish, and Gouramies. However, there are many other labyrinth fish, which you are being asked to pick out from among the list offish below: Scientific Name • • " . ' • - . - -.:•:.-.•: /,-,-"•

:.•••'•--•.•

Common Name . '• -"",... .

> :;'•;. - : — ••' -*V.: . • • . " • - : • • • ; ' • ..:]^. '••

Nandus nandus

Common Nandid

Protoptenis annectens

African Lungflsh

Channa striata

Snakehead

Anabas testudineus

Climbing Perch

Petrocephalns catostomus

Big-Nosed Whale

Luciocephalns pulcher

Pikehead

Proterorhinus marmoratus

Amur Tube-Nose

Ctenopoma weeksi

Mottled Bushfish

Tetraodon m turns

Congo Puffer

Sandelia bains ii

Rockeye

';::•/

; , • • . .

Labyrinth Fish? (Y/NY .;./..../-•,:-. . • • • ' : ; * . , ., ' :•..; v:,;. • •-

:,-•••/•.••:••-•

;

, .

Solution to last month's puzzle: The Ma0/C

1) How many "Fun Fish" articles did Warren and Bernie write in 2001?

2) On what page is the article by our newest author, Carlotti DeJager?

3) Including this issue, how many times has the column "InterFish Net" appeared in Modern Aquarium?. 1 4) How many terms did Vince Sileo serve as President of the GCAS?

5) How many times per day did Claudia fed her Neolamprologus multifaciatus fry?

6) How many ideas are listed in "Home Sweet Home?"

7) How many livebearer articles did Modern Aquarium publish in 2001?

8) What page is the "President's Message" on?

9) How many Special Merit awards were given out for 2001?

10) How many articles were in the "My Favorite Tank" series by Joe Ferdenzi?

February 2002

Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S. (NY)