Modern Aquarium December 2009

December 2009 volume XVI number 10

Series III ON THE COVER Our cover photo this month, featuring a male Betta splendens, illustrates why the species was so named. For information on breeding these “splendid” fish, see Al Priest’s article, “Breeding Betta splendens,” on page 10.

Vol. XVI, No. 10 December, 2009

In This Issue From the Editor G.C.A.S. 2010 Program Schedule

Photo by Alexander A. Priest

President’s Message GREATER CITY AQUARIUM SOCIETY

G.C.A.S. Sponsors and Advertisers

Board Members

President Vice-President Treasurer Corresponding Secretary Recording Secretary

Dan Radebaugh Mark Soberman Jack Traub Warren Feuer Edward Vukich

Members At Large

Claudia Dickinson Artie Friedman Ben Haus Leonard Ramroop

Pete D’Orio Al Grusell Emma Haus

Wet Leaves

by Susan Priest

The Twelve Days of Christmas (Fishkeeper Version)

by Jannette Ramirez

Breeding Betta splendens

by Alexander A. Priest

The Bobbeh Meisseh

by Elliot Oshins

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Committee Chairs

A.C.A. Delegate Bowl Show Breeder Award

Early Arrivals F.A.A.S. Delegate Members/Programs N.E.C. Delegate Technology Coordinator

Claudia Dickinson Leonard Ramroop Warren Feuer Mark Soberman Al Grusell Alexander Priest Claudia Dickinson Claudia Dickinson Warren Feuer

Photos from Last Month’s Meeting

by Alexander A. Priest

G.C.A.S. Past Award Winners G.C.A.S. 2009 Awards The G.C.A.S Author Award Program The G.C.A.S. Breeders Award Program

MODERN AQUARIUM Editor in Chief Copy Editors

Exchange Editors

Advertising Mgr.

Dan Radebaugh Sharon Barnett Susan Priest Alexander A. Priest Stephen Sica Donna Sosna Sica Mark Soberman

N.J.A.S. Certificate and Letter Member Classifieds The Undergravel Reporter G.C.A.S. Happenings Fin Fun (Puzzle Page)

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From the Editor

by Dan Radebaugh ell, here we are in December, and it’s time to celebrate our award winners for this year.

You will find the awards section beginning on page 16, with a review of past honorees. This year’s winners are honored on page 17, with more competition details on the following pages.

The Bowl Show championship this year was hotly contested, with a very thin margin of victory, whereas the Breeders Award competition proved to be pretty much a runaway. All participants and winners deserve our congratulations. We all know that it takes a lot of work and attention to be consistently successful in this hobby. You don’t win awards like these by running on auto-pilot. Please take a moment to look through the detail pages to see what your friends and colleagues have been up to.

Naturally, as Editor of Modern Aquarium, I was particularly interested in the Author Award Points program and very gratified by the level of participation by our members in continuing to make our magazine one of the best aquarium society publications in the country. As we do each year, we’ll have a special raffle this evening for Modern Aquarium authors only, so Thank You and Good Luck to all our authors!

Speaking of bowl shows, one of the consistent stars at these competitions is the Siamese fighting fish, Betta splendens. One of those species that transcends the hobby, virtually everyone at least knows of this spectacular-looking fish. This month it not only graces our cover, but has a starring role in Al Priest’s article on “Breeding Betta splendens.”

In this month’s installment of “Wet Leaves,” Sue Priest reviews “Theatres of Glass,” a biography of Anna Thynne, a nineteenth century naturalist and marine aquarist previously unknown to me. Books still have their uses!

Quite apart from the fascinating story of Ms Thynne, Sue’s review reminds us (or me, anyway) of the great tradition in the 18th and 19th Centuries of what we today might call “amateur” science, and how

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much of our current foundation of knowledge was laid down by people who often saw to their own education, didn’t depend on high technology (not that they would have scorned it!), consulted with like-minded friends, and weren’t afraid to follow their passions. Sounds a little like an aquarium society, doesn’t it?

Quite coincidentally, we have a story from Elliot Oshins that is much in this same intrepid vein. I love it when a plan comes together! And we even have a Christmas carol!

In closing, I’d like to again thank all our authors―these stories and articles don’t write themselves. We’ve had great member participation this year, and I’d like to see even more. We can all learn from one another. Remember, what you do every day might be unknown and inspiring to the rest of us.

If you do have an article, photo, or drawing that you’d like to submit for inclusion in Modern Aquarium, it’s easy to do! You may fax it to me at (877) 299-0522, email it to gcas@earthlink.net, or just hand it to me at a meeting. However you get it to me, I’ll be delighted to receive it!

Articles submitted for consideration in Modern Aquarium (ISSN 2150-0940) must be received no later than the 10th day of the month prior to the month of publication. Please fax to (877) 299-0522, or email to gcas@earthlink.net. Copyright 2009 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 January and February. Members receive notice of meetings in the mail. For more information, contact: Dan Radebaugh (718) 458-8437. Find out more, or leave us a message, at our Internet Home Page at: http://www. greatercity.org or http://www.greatercity.com

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GCAS Programs

2010

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t is our great fortune to have another admirable cast of speakers who have so graciously accepted our invitation to join us throughout the coming season, bringing us their extensive knowledge and experiences. You certainly won’t wish to miss a moment of our prominent guests, not to mention the friends, fish, warmth, and camaraderie that accompanies each meeting. I know I can barely wait to see you here!

Claudia January

Winter Break

February

Winter Break

March

First Meeting of 2010

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President’s Message

by Dan Radebaugh

ast month’s speaker, former GCAS President Joe Ferdenzi, gave us a marvelous, thought-provoking review of the history of our society, as well as that of the tropical fish hobby in general. As fascinating and informative as history is though, it also reminds us that the future is unlikely to be the same as the present. The things we love will change, as surely as the things we hate. The really annoying part is that it’s already happening. Just when we think we’re getting a handle on things, we find that the handle is not attached to what we thought it was. As the late George Allen said, the future is now.

One of the changes I’ve mentioned in previous columns is Jack Traub’s impending retirement as Treasurer. Jack has been a rock during my time with Greater City, and before my time as well. It’s hard to imagine him not being here, but it’s soon to be a fact. I had hoped to be able to announce a successor to Jack in this month’s column, but so far I have nothing to report.

This meeting marks the end of my first year as President of Greater City. I sincerely thank all of our members, our stalwart Board of Governors, and former President Joe Ferdenzi for helping me get through this year.

It’s been nerve-wracking at times, but fun.

Our ongoing challenges as a society are the same as they have always been―to make it worthwhile for us all to continue to show up. For that, we mostly just need to not be shy. If we see someone we don’t know, let’s be curious. What kind of fish do they keep?

What are they here to learn? What can they teach us? The only way to know is to ask.

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Earlier, I mentioned our Board of Governors. Please take a moment and look at the contents page of Modern Aquarium.

You’ll see the names of our current Board members. These folks go above and beyond to make this a better organization for all of us.

We currently have a couple of openings on the Board that we’d like to fill. If you’re up for a little more involvement and responsibility, talk to me during the meeting, or contact me by phone or email. Use the contact information at the bottom of the Editor’s column of page two.

Tonight we’ll be handing out numerous awards to talented and dedicated members of GCAS for their contributions over the past year (or years). This is a great tradition, and it showcases the skills and talents of many of our members. It also shows that we as a group appreciate the knowledge and energy they are sharing with us. This is what a society is about. So if you know someone is good at something―breeding, research, speaking, whatever―but who may shy about pushing themselves forward, give them a little nudge.

Invite them to participate. Sometimes all a person needs is to be asked.

Enjoy the party, and the Holidays! See you next year!

December 2009

Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S (NY)

GCAS Thanks You! Our Generous Sponsors and Advertisers The Greater City Aquarium Society extends our heartfelt thanks to the following manufacturers for their generous donations. Thanks also to our advertisers, whose contributions to our success as a Society are deeply appreciated. Please patronize our supporters.

Ecological Laboratories Cameo Pet Shop HBH Pet Products Coral Aquarium Microbe Lift Nassau Discus Red Sea World Class Aquarium Ocean Nutrition America Zoo Rama Aquarium Omega Sea San Francisco Bay Brand Zoo Med Laboratories Inc. Rolf C. Hagen

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www.northeastcouncil.org 

       2010 NEC CALENDAR February 14 PVAS Auction 26-28 NEC Annual Convention March 21 NAS Benefit Auction 21 TFSRI Auction April 18

NJAS Spring Auction

October 15-17 NJAS Fall Show & Auction The NEC does not coordinate dates for club events, but does publish a monthly calendar for your convenience. Prior to selecting a date for your club’s next event, please check the NEC calendar for availability, and then notify the Editor of the new date immediately at cpolicastro1@verizon.net.

          

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Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S (NY)

1824, one month prior to her eighteenth birthday, and she was to become the mother of ten children.

We will now fast-forward, bypassing the many formative events and relationships in her life which nurtured her voracious curiosity, to the year 1847. Anna had developed a thorough knowledge a Series On Books For The Hobbyist of, and an intense interest in natural history. In addition to visiting fields and meadows, she often

by SUSAN PRIEST took her children on “collecting trips” to the nearby seashore. Among the rock pools they o you know what a madrepore is? I didn’t found many living specimens, including those of until I read this book. There is a drawing of madrepores, the fossils of which she had in a glass one in the two lower left “sections” of the display case in her home. She never imagined that accompanying cover illustration. A madrepore is a they would be soft, with blindly probing tentacles type of coral. The word and tiny red mouths. When madrepore means “mother of her children asked such rock.”

They are “island questions as “can it feel,” Theatres of Glass: The Woman builders,” architects of the and “what did God make it Who Brought the Sea to the City continents of coral reefs which for,” she wasn’t sure how to

By Rebecca Stott took billions of years to form. answer their queries about a Short Books, 2003 (That last statement is a clue to “natural theology” which the controversy which lies gives testimony to the ahead.) wonder of God’s divine This book is not quite a biography, is order. Was it possible to reconcile the story told descriptive of history without being a treatise on the by fossil records with the story told by the Bible? subject, and is replete with both religious and (The “nauralists” of today are still asking this evolutionary approaches to the topic of reproduction question.) (gasp!), which was not a topic to be discussed in Anna and her children took thirty of the polite society of the nineteenth century. I would madrepores home, along with some seawater. have to describe it as a They w ere narrative which “displayed in pie doesn’t lend itself to dishes on the my usual approach, so drawing room floor.”

I find myself When she wanted to scratching my head as transport them to her I ask myself where to home in London, she begin. “carefully sewed I think that I must each one onto a sea focus as concisely as I sponge with a needle can on our heroine. and thread.” Anna Her name is Anna fed her madrepores Constantia Thynne. cut-up shrimp. She As a very young girl moved them into she was adopted by an glass tanks, and did aunt, thereby daily water changes becoming the only with fresh seawater. child of a very wealthy When this became couple. She grew up cumbersome, her with access to household staff took voluminous libraries on the task of within her own aerating the “used” home(s), as well as water by passing it microscopes, back and forth telescopes, and any between containers thing else, scientific or in the sunlight. otherwise, which she Eventually she might fancy.

She discovered that the married the Reverend addition of living Lord John Thynne in seaweed to the tanks

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meant that she didn’t need to aerate the water as often. By processes of trial and error, Anna not only kept her madrepores alive, but was able to observe their asexual reproduction.

I must utilize a few quotes at this point. “While others were drying and pinning their specimens for display cases, Anna’s [specimens] were alive in their own environment.” “Marine invertebrates, with their budding and splitting, provide opportunity to determine nature’s laws of reproduction.” “It was difficult to maintain the supposed superiority of male sexual vitality when some organisms seemed to be able to dispense with males altogether.”

By the spring of 1849, Anna had established the first self-sustaining, balanced marine aquarium in London. This era was a hotbed of naturalist activity. Dozens of luminaries were publishing accounts of their achievements, and

many were making claims to being “first” in the marine arena, but none of their documentation can place them before Anna Thynne and her madrepores. Anna’s notes were published under the title “On The Increase Of Madrepores,” in the Annals and Magazine of Natural History in 1859, which is the same year that Charles Darwin published On the Origin of the Species.

The story of Anna Thynne takes place in a time of enlightenment, a crossroad in history, and a scientific as well as religious environment. Most importantly, it is the story of remarkable woman with immeasurable curiosity and vision who has forever influenced our understanding of the natural world. Our author, Rebecca Stott, has done a much better job of telling Anna’s tale than I have of reviewing her book. Nevertheless, I hope I have aroused your interest in this multifaceted story.

by SUSAN PRIEST ifty miles, maybe one hundred; how far from New York City do you have to go before you can safely say “Merry Christmas” to friends, neighbors and people in passing without fear of offending someone? I know you can do it in Laconia, New Hampshire, as well as in Marysville, Pennsylvania.

One of our club members once told me that she was often wished a “Happy Hanukkah,” which she does not celebrate, but she never felt offended by it. If someone makes their best effort to wish us what they consider to be an appropriate greeting of the season, let’s all try to accept it in the spirit with which it is offered, even if they miss the mark once in a while. I’m going to go out on a limb, so to speak, and say it; “Merry Christmas!”

At last year’s GCAS party, I made a determined effort to subdue my spirit. I chose a seat off to the side, and tried to stay put. This didn’t come naturally to me. In fact, I almost didn’t come at all. I was in fear of picking up a “bug” of some kind. The reason for all of this was that I was facing open heart surgery a week later. I had just resigned from my job of ten years because I was the only employee in a small office. I didn’t know when or if I would be able to return, and someone else needed to be hired. I had so much on my mind that celebrating anything was out of the question for me. I’m telling you these things because my holiday message to you goes like this; it’s never too early or too late to celebrate. On December nineteenth, the day I came home from the hospital and slept in my own bed, it was Christmas at my house! So, if you’ve got some pretty good stuff going on in your life, you find yourself to be in touch with your spiritual side, and maybe you have a little dog around to make you smile, well, don’t let the opportunity pass you by to enjoy them. But if something heavy is weighing you down, and this holiday season just isn’t happening for you, you can always celebrate it when the time is right. If you think that time might not come at all, then celebrate right now, today, and with gusto!!

Anyway, here I am a year later, a newer version of a not-too-old aquarist. I’ve got a lot to be thankful for, and a lot to celebrate, not the least of which is my association with everyone at Greater City. I want to add a few last salutations of the season. I would like to wish one and all happiness, prosperity, and most especially, abundant good health in 2010. Peace on Earth, that would be a big bonus, so while we’re making wishes we’ll wish for that, too!

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Modern Aquarium - Greater City19 A.S (NY)

The Twelve Days of Christmas (fishkeeper version)

by Jannette Ramirez

On the first day of Christmas, my true love sent to me…

The largest aquarium anyone could see!

On the second day of Christmas, my true love sent to me…

Two power filters and the largest aquarium anyone could see!

On the third day of Christmas, my true love sent to me…

Three submersible heaters, two power filters and the largest aquarium anyone could see!

On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me…

Four gallons of conditioner, three submersible heaters, two power filters and the largest aquarium anyone could see!

On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me…

Five silver dollars! four gallons of conditioner, three submersible heaters, two power filters and the largest aquarium anyone could see!

On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me…

Six egg-laying fishes, five silver dollars! four gallons of conditioner, three submersible heaters, two power filters and the largest aquarium anyone could see!

On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love sent to me…

Seven schooling angels, six egg-laying fishes, five silver dollars! four gallons of conditioner, three submersible heaters, two power filters and the largest aquarium anyone could see!

On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me…

Eight cute Madagascar fishes, seven schooling angels, six egg-laying fishes, five silver dollars! four gallons of conditioner, three submersible heaters, two power filters and the largest aquarium anyone could see!

On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me…

Nine active leopard cories, eight cute Madagascar fishes, seven schooling angels, six egg-laying fishes, five silver dollars! Four gallons of conditioner, three submersible heaters, two power filters and the largest aquarium anyone could see!

On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me…

Ten emperor tetras, nine active leopard cories, eight cute Madagascar fishes, seven schooling angels, six egglaying fishes, five silver dollars! Four gallons of conditioner, three submersible heaters, two power filters and the largest aquarium anyone could see!

On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love sent to me…

Eleven precious platys, ten emperor tetras, nine active leopard cories, eight cute Madagascar fishes, seven schooling angels, six egg-laying fishes, five silver dollars! Four gallons of conditioner, three submersible heaters, two power filters and the largest aquarium anyone could see!

On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me…

Twelve types of dwarf \cichlids, eleven precious platys, ten emperor tetras, nine active leopard cories, eight cute Madagascar fishes, seven schooling angels, six egg-laying fishes, five silver dollars! Four gallons of conditioner, three submersible heaters, two power filters and the largest aquarium anyone could see!

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Breeding Betta splendens

by ALEXANDER A. PRIEST any books on breeding the “Siamese Fighting Fish” (Betta splendens) imply you need only put two fish together and, voilà, you have babies—not so, as many have learned. This article highlights basics you need to know for breeding bubblenesting bettas.

Nutrition: A high protein diet is important. If you can get disease- and parasite-free live or frozen worms, that’s great; but any high quality floating food will suffice. Avoid foods whose first ingredients listed are “fish meal,” “fish by-products,” plants, or grains (wheat, rice, etc.).

Conditioning: Keep the male and female separate, but able to see each other. This can be accomplished by putting them in the same tank separated by a glass divider, or with the female in a clear container (a hurricane lamp sleeve or jar) whose top opens above the waterline.

Aquascaping: Bare-bottom is best. The male puts the eggs he squeezes from the female (and later, immature fry) into the bubblenest. Substrate

M

Timing: When should you release the female? Females who bulge slightly indicate they have ripe eggs. Darker colored females also show vertical body stripes as a sign of readiness. Males show their readiness by building bubblenests and by trying to get at the female.

Environment: I’ve always found a 2.5 or 5 gallon tank to be best. Start the sponge filter in the tank where you are conditioning the adults (better yet, use a mature sponge from another tank). Float the Styrofoam™ cup half on the water (or tape it to the glass).

While some “wild” bubblenesting Betta species require special water parameters (usually soft, acidic water), Betta splendens does fine in almost any not-too-extreme range of water hardness and acidity. They breed more readily in warmer water, so try to maintain a temperature of about 80EF. Monitoring: Spawning almost always results in torn fins and bites. If either fish appears unduly distressed (yes, females can and will kill males who they feel are not sufficiently responsive), remove that fish. Wait until it heals before trying again.

A f t e r a successful spawning, remove the female (if she tries to eat the eggs, the male will attack her). Remove the male once the fry are swimming horizontally.

makes it harder for him to find them. Plants are optional (and beneficial), with floating plants preferred.

Caves, driftwood, or rockwork help females hide from overly aggressive males.

A Styrofoam™ cup cut in half will assist males in anchoring bubblenests.

Filtration: A sponge filter with moderate airflow will not disturb bubblenests. The sponge also hosts infusoria as first food for newly hatched fry.

Fry Care: Usually by their second day of swimming, the fry have used up their yoke sacs and should be fed microworms, newly hatched brineshrimp, and finely ground flake food.

One spawning can produce 300-500 eggs, so be prepared!

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Modern Aquarium - Greater City17 A.S (NY)

THE BOBBEH MEISSEH* Story and Illustrations by Elliot Oshins

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n an article called “Remarkable Creatures” in The New York Times Science Section of October 20, 2009, author Sean B. Carroll writes about the ability of fish to learn to discriminate shapes and forms. At the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia, a research team led by Ulrich E. Siebeck trained damsel fish to eat from a feeding tube by attaching a variety of visual stimuli. Needless to say, I found this to be a very interesting and informative article.

And speaking of fish stories…

In the 1960s, I lived in Jackson Heights, Queens. One summer night when coming home from work, I stopped by Coral Aquarium to pick up some bloodworms for my fish. After that I stopped at Mac’s Pub, my local watering hole on 37th Avenue, for a cold one. There, as usual, was Mac, the owner, pouring the locals their usual Happy Hour fare. Mac and I had a lot in common: I would tell him stories about tropical fish, and Mac would tell me stories about his mother’s uncle Nigel, a fish and art aficionado. A man after my own heart.

Again as usual, when the place emptied out Mac poured himself a small glass of fine Port from his “private stash,” and walked down to the end of the bar where I was warming my usual barstool. I really don’t know if his stories were true or not, but at the time they seemed fascinating and informative. Since Mac was the consummate storyteller and I had no place to go, I was all ears.

Mac’s Uncle Nigel was from Cambridge, England. A professor at the university there, he was a well-known botanist and an artist who dabbled in watercolors. His specialty was landscapes of the English countryside. Uncle Nigel also had another passion. He was a lover of cats. In fact, he had six cats: two British domestic short-hairs and four Cornish Rexes.

In the small hamlet where he lived was the local pub, “The King’s Fish & Chips,” where Nigel was affectionately known as Nigel’s Fish

Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S (NY)

& Cats. Around 1896, the university sent Nigel to Africa to study, sketch, and do watercolors of the local plants. Early one scorching afternoon while traveling in the Lake Tanganyika area, Nigel decided to take a swim in a lake. There he saw different schools of fishes: blues, oranges, yellows―a brilliant array of colors. Quite an assortment, he thought. However, upon diving a little deeper, he came across a school of small, inch-and-a-half to two inch, vertically striped fish. Having never seen this kind of fish before, he became very curious and engrossed in their look and, more importantly, in their behavior. He noticed that the fish were swimming in and out of shells. At that point, Nigel decided that he would return to the lake the next day and capture a few to take back to England. So the next day, his trusty guide provided him with a few waterproof containers, and between the two of them they were able to catch at least twenty-five of the extraordinary little fish. His guide was also able to secure some of the shells that these fish called home. When the time came for the professor to leave Africa, he was able to transport at least ten fish and some shells back to England.

Upon arriving at home, he quickly set up one of his tanks for his new tenants. At that time, the professor had no idea that the fish were Neolamprologus multifaciatus (a shell dweller), and lived in empty Neothauma tanganyicense (snail) shells. What he also soon learned was that not only did the fish use these snail shells as dwellings; they also used them as spawning caves.

Nigel then got this brilliant idea: he wanted to see if he could breed the fish without the shells.

Nigel visited the town pottery and asked Ian, the town potter, to make him an 8-inch by teninch castle. Upon its completion, Nigel gingerly took the castle home and carefully placed it in the tank (now containing his new fish but no shells).

Nigel treated his guests very well. He changed the water every other day, and fed them culinary delights, such as chopped up worms. After two months of this routine, not a single baby was born.

Frustrated, Nigel decided to put back the snail

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shells, and after doing so nature took its course, and babies were born. His students were happy, as the professor was so ecstatic that his fish was virtually all he spoke about.

On or about July 21, 1897, castles in fish tanks became more than just a mere aquarium decoration. Story has it that several of the townspeople who saw Nigel’s fish tank fell in love with the castle and bought castles for their own homes as chachkas, even though they had no tanks. The last I heard, Uncle Nigel got married, and it turned out his wife was even more into fish and fish tanks than he was. Talk about getting lucky and hitting the jackpot!

I personally have a fifty-five gallon tank housing N. multifaciatus. The bottom of my fish tank is covered with a special fine sand that brings up the pH level, and shells for my fish to breed and live in. The fish move the sand that covers part of the shells. I put in sand, and somehow when I return a few hours later, the sand has inexplicably changed shapes. The fish are not only expert diggers, but also consummate architects of sand design. As the fish form colonies, I recommend that you feed brine shrimp to the babies, and their 12

adult parents will also eat the shrimp. No one ever turns away shrimp cocktail!

I have a confession to make, and I hope and pray the highest authority in the fish club will grant me dispensation. I do have a castle in my fifty-five gallon tank. The fish swim in and out of the castle, and use the shells for breeding.

Having a natural tank is fine. However, growing plants in your tank is not always easy, unless you’re the Curtin Brothers. Rocks and plants add a great deal to the design of a fish tank, and give it a natural look. I see nothing wrong with tanks that have decorations (i.e., driftwood, sunken ships, or deep sea divers). Being an artist, anything that contributes a sense of artistic design is okay by me. And as a fish hobbyist, if my fish are happy and healthy, what more can I ask?

That’s all that counts. In one of my tanks I have a lighthouse with air bubbles coming out of the top.

I don’t think the fish mind it. I personally think they enjoy it.

At club meetings, some members will bring in fish for the Bowl Show which they think will be winners―having brilliant colors and outstanding fins. Those fish may win either a First, Second,

December 2009

Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S (NY)

or Third Place Ribbon. My hat is off to them, as this represents a great deal of work. To me though, my fish are like my Piscean family. Some are better looking than others, but who am I to discriminate?

All my tanks are a stage and the fish are the actors playing parts and putting on a show for me.

Some say there’s no business like show business.

I say there’s no business like fish business. So get a good seat, sit back and relax, and enjoy the greatest show on earth.

*Bobbeh Meisseh is a Yiddish term, translating roughly as “grandmother story.” Commonly pronounced “bubba myssə.”―Ed.

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Photos from Last Month’s Meeting Photos and captions by Alexander A. Priest

Immediate Past GCAS President Joe Ferdenzi displays items of historical interest.

The room was packed, and everyone was paying close attention.....well, almost everyone!

Sharon Barnett (left) buying Raffle tickets

Marsha Radebaugh (left) and Sue Priest (right) debating the merits of “Idiots” vs.

“Dummies” (the night’s two door prize books)

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

Just some of the night’s raffle items

AND...everyone who bought a raffle ticket also got a “goody bag”

Door Prize winner Denver Lettman collects his “Dummies” door prize

December 2009 2009 December

While Ed Vukich takes the “Idiots” prize

Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S 17(NY)

First comes the careful examination of everything on the auction table

Then, the items go up for bid

Finally: Sold to the highest bidder!

A hotly contested final Bowl Show of the GCAS 2009 meeting year! and, the winners were:

1st Place: Mario Bengcion

3rd Place: Richard Waizman

2nd Place: Robert Hamje

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

December 2009 December 2009

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GCAS Past Award Winners JOSEPH FERDENZI ROLL OF HONOR Gene Baiocco Claudia Dickinson Joe Bugeia Charles Elzer Mary Ann Bugeia Joe Ferdenzi Dan Carson Warren Feuer

Herb Fogal Paul Hahnel Ben Haus Emma Haus

Jack Oliva Al Priest Susan Priest Herman Rabenau

Marcia Repanes Nick Repanes Don Sanford Mark Soberman

DON SANFORD BREEDER OF THE YEAR (Since 1981) 1981-82; 1982-83 . . . . . . . Ginny & Charlie Eckstein 1994-95 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Steve Sagona 1983-84; 1984-85 . . . . . . . Rich Sorensen 1995-96 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tom Miglio 1985-86 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Yezid Guttierez 1996-97 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mark Soberman 1986-87 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joe Ferdenzi 1997-98 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jeff George 1987-88 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Patricia Piccione 1998-99; '99-'00 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tom Miglio 1988-89 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joe Ferdenzi 2000-01 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mark Soberman 1989-90 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Francis Lee 2001-02 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alexander Priest 1990-91 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Eddie Szablewicz 2002-03; '03-'04, '04-'05 . . . . . . . . . . . . Anton Vukich 1991-92 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dominic Isla 2006 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Warren Feuer 1992-93 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Steve Sagona 2007, '08 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jeffrey Bollbach 1993-94 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joe Ferdenzi GENE BAIOCCO AQUARIST OF THE YEAR (Since 1990-91) 1990-91 . . . . . . Diane & Harold Gottlieb 1999-00 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pete D’Orio 1991-92 . . . . . . Doug Curtin & Don Curtin 2000-01 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bernard Harrigan 1992-93 . . . . . . Mark Soberman 2001-02 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jason Kerner 1993-94 . . . . . . Warren Feuer 2002-03 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Carlotti De Jager 1994-95 . . . . . . Steve Sagona 2003-04 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jack Traub 1995-96 . . . . . . Alexander & Susan Priest 2004-05 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Claudia Dickinson 1996-97 . . . . . . Joe Ferdenzi 2006 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Anton Vukich 1997-98 . . . . . . Claudia Dickinson 2007 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ed Vukich 1998-99 . . . . . . Vincent & Rosie Sileo 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Al Grusell WALTER HUBEL BOWL SHOW CHAMPIONS (Since 1983-84) 1991-92 . . . . . . . . . Steve Sagona 1992-93 . . . . . . . . . Steve Sagona 1993-94 . . . . . . . . . Steve Sagona 1994-95 . . . . . . . Carlotti De Jager 1995-96 . . . . . . . . Mary Eve Brill 1996-97 . . . . . . . . . Steve Sagona 1997-98 . . . . . . . . . Steve Sagona 1998-99 . . . . . . . . . . . Tom Miglio 1999-00 . . . . . . . . . . . Tom Miglio

1983-84 . . . . . . . . . Tom Lawless 1984-85 . . . . . . . . . Tom Lawless 1985-86 . . . . . . . . . . Joe Ferdenzi 1986-87 . . . . . . . . . . Joe Ferdenzi 1987-88 (tie) . . . Mark Soberman and Mary Ann & Joe Bugeia 1988-89 . . . . . . . . . . . Jason Ryan 1989-90 . . . . . Eddie Szablewicz 1989-90 . . . . . Eddie Szablewicz

2000-01 . . . . . . . . . Pat Coushaine 2001-02 . . . . . . . . . . . Bill Amely 2002-03 . . . . . . . . . Evelyn Eagan 2003-04 . . . . . . . . . . . Bill Amely 2004-05 . . . . . . . . . Evelyn Eagan 2006 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ed Vukich 2007 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ed Vukich 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . William Amely

VICTOR BECKER MEMORIAL AWARD For most outstanding species bred (1st awarded 1994-95) 1994-95 . . . . . . . . . . . . Thomas Bohme (Serrasalmus nattereri) 1995-96 . . . . . . . . . . . . John Moran (Synodontis multipunctatus) 1996-97 . . . . . . . . . . . . Carlotti De Jager (Betta simplex) & Mark Soberman (Corydoras duplicareus) 1997-98 . . . . . . . . . . . . Greg Wuest (Nothobranchius foerschi) & Joe Ferdenzi (Corydoras adolfoi) 1998-99 . . . . . . . . . . . . Tom Miglio (Rasbora heteramorpha) 1999-00 . . . . . . . . . . . . Charley Sabatino (Spathodus erythrodon)

GCAS PRESIDENTS (Post 1945 — number in parenthesis = consecutive terms) 1946-49 Elliott Whiteway (4) 1968-70 Walter Hubel (2) 1981-84 Brian Kelly (3) 1950-51 Robert Greene (2) 1970-72 Dave Williams (2) 1984-86 Jack Oliva (2) 1952-53 Robert Maybeck (2) 1972-73 Dan Carson (1) 1986-97 Joe Ferdenzi (11) 1954-55 Leonard Meyer (2) 1973-75 Herb Fogal (2) 1997-99 Vincent Sileo (2) 1956-57 Sam Estro (2) 1975-76 Richard Hoey (1) 1999-00 Jeff George (1) 1958 Leonard Meyer (2+1) 1976-77 Ted Tura (1) 2000-08 Joe Ferdenzi (11+8) 1959-64 Gene Baiocco (6) 1977-78 Gene Baiocco (6+1) 2009 Dan Radebaugh 1965 Andrew Fazio (1) 1978-79 Louis Kromm (1) 1966-68 Charles Elzer (2) 1979-81 Don Sanford (2)

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December2007 2009 December

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

Greater City Aquarium Society

— 2009 Awards — To be awarded December 2, 2009

GENE BAIOCCO AQUARIST OF THE YEAR AWARD DAN RADEBAUGH

DON SANFORD BREEDER OF THE YEAR AWARD JEFFREY BOLLBACH

WALTER HUBEL BOWL SHOW CHAMPION MARIO BENGCION

AUTHOR AWARD PROGRAM (AAP) AWARDS

Only authors making contributions printed during 2009 (or who received AAP points as a result of NEC and/or FAAS publication awards announced in 2009) and whose AAP levels changed are listed below.

William Amely . . . . . . . .

Sharon Barnett . . . . . . . .

Frank Fallon . . . . . . . . . .

Dan Radebaugh . . . . . . .

Marsha Radebaugh . . . . .

Marsha Radebaugh . . . . .

Correspondent Journalist Correspondent Journalist Author Correspondent

Jannette Ramirez . . . . . .

Jannette Ramirez . . . . . .

Stephen Sica . . . . . . . . . .

Undergravel Reporter . . .

Michael Vulis . . . . . . . . .

Essayist Journalist Laureate Master Laureate Author

Claudia Dickinson is Author of the Year for 2009!

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

December 2009 December 2007

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e are very pleased to welcome Jules Birnbaun, Temes Mo, and Michael Vulis to our family of authors this year. Also, two members who were already participants have accomplished a “first” in this program by spanning two award levels in the same year. Marsha Radebaugh is now both an Author as well as a Correspondent, and Jannette Ramirez is both an Essayist as well as a Journalist! We would like to extend our congratulations to all of our winners, and we hope to hear more from each of you in the months and pages ahead.

W

Overview The GCAS AAP awards points for contributions to Modern Aquarium. Persons acquiring a specified number of points will receive additional recognition in the form of a certificate for having reached designated Accomplishment Levels. (See “Accomplishment Levels.”)

Each person making a qualifying contribution to Modern Aquarium (and that includes writing for our “Anonymous Fishkeeper” column!) receives points, as well as chances for a Prize Drawing at the Annual Holiday Party.

Eligibility Any member of Greater City who makes a contribution to Modern Aquarium is automatically a participant.

Points Five points will be awarded for an original article of 500 words or less.

Ten points will be awarded for an original article of 501 words and over.

Five points will be awarded for an original photograph, drawing, or illustration submitted with, and as part of, an original article. If more than two photographs, drawings, or illustrations are submitted with a related article, only two will be given points (this is in addition to the points awarded the article, based on its size).

Ten points will be awarded for an original color photograph that is used on the front cover.

Photographs must be the work of the member submitting them, and must not have been previously published, or submitted for publication, in any commercial or amateur publication.

Two or more related photographs or illustrations submitted with captions, and occupying one or more pages, will be counted as two photos (10 points) and as an article over 500 words (10 points), for a total of 20 points. An example would be a photo spread with captions.

An original article on a fish in the C.A.R.E.S. Preservation Program will receive double points (i.e., 10 points for an article of 500 words or less,

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and 20 points for an article of 501 words or more).

Photos and drawings of a C.A.R.E.S. eligible species will also receive double points.

Five points will be awarded for an original puzzle which is used on the “Fin Fun” page of Modern Aquarium.

Points are awarded only once for an article, drawing, puzzle, or photograph. No points are awarded for subsequent reprints, regardless of whether the original article was awarded points in the AAP previously. To be eligible for AAP points, a contribution must first have been submitted to Modern Aquarium. However, if an article previously published in Modern Aquarium is significantly revised by its author (as a result of new information or developments), and if such a revision is first submitted to Modern Aquarium, it will be treated as a new article. Points are awarded in the year the article is printed.

An article deemed unacceptable by the Editorial Staff of Modern Aquarium for reasons of appropriateness of topic, suitability, or possible violations of copyright or libel laws, will be ineligible for participation in the GCAS AAP. Decisions of the Staff are final.

Points credited to an author may not be carried over or credited to subsequent calendar years for the purposes of raffle prize chances or “Author Of The Year” designation.

Bonus Points If, in the year following its publication in Modern Aquarium, an article is given a 1st, 2nd or 3rd place award by the North East Council of Aquarium Societies (“NEC”) or by the Federation of American Aquarium Societies (“FAAS”), an additional 10 points will be awarded if the author is a GCAS member in the year the NEC or FAAS award is announced. This applies only to articles (not to drawings, columns, cartoons or photos).

These bonus points are credited in the year that the award is announced, not the year it is awarded for.

Prize Drawing For every 5 AAP points earned in a calendar year, the recipient is given one chance in our “Authors/Contributors Only” Raffle.

Author of the Year The person with the most points in a calendar year receives a certificate as “Author Of The Year” for that year. This is our most prestigious award, and the winner truly exemplifies the high value which they place on the contribution of experience and knowledge to the aquarium hobby at large.

December 2009 December 2009

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

Accomplishment Levels For the accomplishment levels specified below, points are cumulative over the life of the AAP program.

Author . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 to 45 pts Correspondent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 to 95 pts Writer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 to 145 pts Essayist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150 to 195 pts Journalist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200 to 295 pts Columnist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300 to 495 pts Laureate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 500 to 745 pts Senior Laureate . . . . . . . . . . . . . 750 to 995 pts Master Laureate . . . . . . . . . . 1000 to 1495 pts Grand Master Laureate . . . . . 1500 to 1995 pts Sr. Grand Master Laureate . 2000 to 10000 pts Editor Emeritus . . . . . . . . . . . . over 10000 pts

Author Award Program Report A Status Report - Points Awarded March to December 2009

Author William Amely

Art Work (in points)

Number of Articles1

Awards

Photo/ Drawing (up to two per article)2

500 words or less 5

over 500 words 5

Bonus3 Points

5

3

2

Sharon Barnett 5

Jeff Bollbach

5

Claudia Dickinson

185

22

Frank Fallon Joseph Ferdenzi Bernard Harrigan

Raffle4 Chances

30

6

10

2

15

3

5

1

10

425

n/a

20

20

4

30

75

15

20

25

5

1 2 1

4

5

Prize

Current Year Total: March to December

10

Jules Birnbaum

Total Points

Rich Levy

5

10

2

Desiree Martin

2

20

4

5

1

Temes Mo

1

Elliot Oshins

15

Alexander Priest

110

Susan Priest

2

10

45

9

2

7

50

285

n/a

7

7

40

145

n/a

3

50

80

n/a

60

12

Dan Radebaugh Marsha Radebaugh

55

1

Jannette Ramirez

5

2

3

20

65

13

Stephen Sica

70

1

7

40

185

37

5

1

80

n/a

30

3

Jack Traub

1

Undergravel Reporter

8

Michael Vulis

20

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

2 1

December 2009 December 2009

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Points are doubled for each article on a fish in the C.A.R.E.S. Preservation Program.

Points are doubled for each photo or drawing of a C.A.R.E.S. fish used on the cover.

3 Bonus points are awarded to participants for awards (other than Honorable Mention) received from the Federation of American Aquarium Societies (FAAS) Publication Awards, and The Northeast Council of Aquarium Societies (NEC) Article Awards, in the year these awards are announced, not in the year it is awarded for..

4 Modern Aquarium staff members are ineligible for the Raffle, as well as for the designation of “Author Of The Year.” Family members of staff ARE eligible.

5 Editorials and President’s Messages are excluded.

1 2

Here are the total AAP points for all GCAS members as of December 2009.

If you have questions, or feel that there are errors, please contact Dan. Bill Amely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 Sharon Barnett . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200 Fred Bellise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Mario Bengcion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Steve Berman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Jules Birnbaum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Tom Bohme . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Victoria Bohme . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Jeff Bollbach. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Roger Brewster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Donald Curtin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Doug Curtin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 Carlotti De Jager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Les Deutsch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Brad Dickinson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Claudia Dickinson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,950 Al DiSpigna . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Pete O’Orio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Rod Du Casse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Evelyn Eagan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Frank Fallon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 Harry Faustmann . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Anita Ferdenzi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Francesca Ferdenzi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Joseph Ferdenzi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,160 Marisa Ferdenzi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Michael Foran . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Artie Friedman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Alison Feuer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Warren Feuer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275 Peter Foster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Jeff George . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115 Horst Gerber . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 Steve Giacobello . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Joseph Graffagnino . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150 Steve Gruebel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Al Grusell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Bernard Harrigan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,790 Jason Kerner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140 Denver Lettman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Rich Levy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Bill Luckett . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 John Malinowski . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Desiree Martin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Tom Miglio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

20

34

Jackleen Minassi-Haftvani. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Temes Mo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Jerry O'Farrell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205 Elliot Oshins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205 Jim Peterson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Margaret Peterson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Alexander Priest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,940 Susan Priest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,725 Dan Radebaugh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225 Marsha Radebaugh. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90 Jannette Ramirez . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205 Leonard Ramroop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Mark Rubanow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Charley Sabatino . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170 Donna Sosna Sica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Stephen Sica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 605 Vincent Sileo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Danielle Soberman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Ilyssa Soberman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Robin Soberman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Mark Soberman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 Jack Traub . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Undergravel Reporter . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,030 Anton Vukich . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Edward Vukich . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Michael Vulis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Greg Wuest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

December 2009 December 2009

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

GCAS BREEDERS AWARD PROGRAM GCAS BREEDERS AWARD PROGRAM 2009 2009 TOTALS THROUGH JULY

NAME

JEFF BOLLBACH

SPECIES BRED

Points 1st - GCAS

CERT # 1743 PACHYPANCHAX ARNOULTI 1744 MELANOTAENIA NIGRANS

30 5

U U

1746

AULONOCARA RUBESCENS

20

1747

LABIDOCHROMIS CAERULEUS

10

1748

EPIPLATYS CHAPERI

10

1749

RIVULUS HARTII

15

CARES

Ì

DATE

3/4/2009 3/4/2009 4/8/2009 4/8/2009 4/8/2009

U

4/8/2009

U

5/6/2009

1750

APHYOSEMION POLIAKI

5

1751

SAWBWA RESPLENDENS

20

5/6/2009

1752

PSEUDOCRENILABRUS MULTICOLOR

10

1753

RIVULUS TENIUS

15

1760

APLOCHEILUS LINEATUS

10

1761

ALLOMOGURNDA NESOLEPSIS

25

U

8/5/2009

1762

15

U

8/5/2009

1764

XENOTACA VARIATA MELANOTAENIA SP. " SUSWA VILLAGE"

1765

DANIO (BRACHYDANIO ROSEUS) ALBOLINEATUS

5/6/2009 5/6/2009

U

7/1/2009

5

9/2/2009

5

9/2/2009

1766

CHILATHERINA CAMPSI

15

1767

CARASSIUS AURATUS

10

10/7/2009

1768

RIVULUS sp. PAN 2006-18

5

10/7/2009

1769

POECILIA PERUGIAE

5 Number of species 19

U

9/2/2009

10/7/2009 Total Points

235

Total Points

10

JOSEPH FERDENZI 1745

NEMATOBRYCON LACORTEI Number of species

JOSEPH GRAFFAGNINO 1741

3/4/2009

10 1

3/4/2009

APHYOSEMION CASTANEUM

15

1742

HYPHESSOBRYCON COLUMBIANUS

15

1763

POECILIA RETICULATA

5

8/5/2009

1770

DANIO (BRACHYDANIO ROSEUS) ALBOLINEATUS

5

11/4/2009

1771

BRACHYDANIO RERIO Number of species

U

3/4/2009

5 5

11/4/2009 Total Points

45

MARK SOBERMAN 1754

CORYDORAS NAPOENSIS

1755

DANIO MARGARITATUS

1756

ANCISTRUS SP. "ALBINO" Number of species

25

5/6/2009

U

5

5/6/2009

15 3

5/6/2009 Total Points

45

EDWARD VUKICH 1757

PSEUDOCRENILABRUS MULTICOLOR

10

7/1/2009

1758

PACHYPANCHAX SAKARAMYI

10

7/1/2009

1759

LAMPROLOGUS CAUDOPUNCTATUS

15

Number of species

3

7/1/2009 Total Points

35

U��indicates U indicates first first recorded recorded breeding breeding of of the the species species in in the the GCAS Breeders Breeders Award Program ��indicates a species at risk that is listed in the C.A.R.E.S. Preservation Program

Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S (NY)

December 2009

21

GCAS BREEDERS AWARD PROGRAM POINTS TOTALS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 22

NAME POINTS # BRED JEFF BOLLBACH 1,315 100 ANTON VUKICH 910 70 JOSEPH GRAFFAGNINO 905 62 JOSEPH FERDENZI 905 59 TOM MIGLIO 865 66 MARK SOBERMAN 695 36 STEVE SAGONA 655 47 WARREN FEUER 615 39 JOHN STORA 540 47 JOSE ARANDA 505 47 JOHN IANNONE 485 45 THE ECKSTEINS 455 39 CARLOTTI DE JAGER 440 33 EDWARD VUKICH 430 33 RICHARD SORENSEN 420 33 CLAUDIA DICKINSON 410 26 FRANCIS LEE 390 28 GERALD GORYCKI 370 41 CHARLEY SABATINO 360 20 THE REPANES 355 27 JACK OLIVA 345 42 HAROLD KETTERER 335 30 THE LOMBARDIS 325 32 GREGORY WUEST 310 30 DON SANFORD 310 25 TED KURDZIEL 295 24 TONY FERRARO 275 23 THE BUGEIAS 270 31 DOMINIC ISLA 235 20 STEPHAN ZANDER 230 14 YEZID GUTIERREZ 206 20 PHILIP INGENITO 205 13 AL PRIEST 200 6 ROD DU CASSE 190 14 THE DONATONES 175 18 JOHN MORAN 170 11 LOUIS KROMM 170 16 JEFF GEORGE 165 17 DICK MOORE 160 5 JEAN BRAUDE 155 12 BARRY LYNCH 150 18 SHARON MIRABELLA 135 10

43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 December 2009

NAME POINTS # BRED THADDEUS TURA 135 9 JOE CUCINIELLO 135 9 JORGE RODRIGUEZ 135 9 HARRY EVANS 125 11 KEN BRUST 120 15 FRANK GANNON 120 16 JERRY SCHULTZ 120 11 THE KELLYS 115 12 GEORGE MAROTI 115 8 JOE MANCUSI 115 8 HERB FOGAL 100 13 JERRY MAYER 95 7 JOE FLANAGAN 95 12 DENNIS EGIELSKI 95 4 BRIAN KELLY 90 6 PETE D'ORIO 90 9 ROBERT MC KEAND 85 5 EDWARD SZABLEWICZ 85 7 NOEL RODRIGUEZ 85 7 BOB KUHLKE 80 7 LEONARD RAMROOP 80 11 BRADLEY PLOTKIN 80 6 JOHN LEE 75 5 DOUGLAS CURTIN 75 12 JOSE PEREZ 75 6 TOM BOHME 75 7 BOB RADAMACHER 70 9 DONALD CURTIN 70 10 PAT PICCIONE 70 7 SARA MONHEIT 65 6 CHARLES KUHNE 60 8 JOEL FORGIONE 60 4 BOB DU BOIS 55 5 HORST GERBER 55 4 BOB WRANOVICS 50 4 MIKE CASSANO 50 5 WARREN BURKE 45 7 BRUCE WEILER 45 3 WILLIAM BRANDOFINO 45 4 CHARLES SHATAKA 40 5 CHARLES BENEFATTI 40 7 BRIAN STERN 35 4 Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S (NY)

85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111

NAME POINTS # BRED ARTHUR MAYER 35 3 BARRY CENTER 35 3 THE MARTINS 35 5 VINNIE RITCHIE 35 3 AL PHANEUF 35 5 BRUCE WELLER 30 3 MICHAEL VILLANO 30 4 ROGER BEAULIEU 30 2 THE STEGMANS 30 3 ROB ALTONEN 30 2 GENE BAIOCCO 30 4 STANLEY WEGLARZ 25 4 VINCENT BABINO 25 2 EMMA JORDAN 20 3 DANNY SHEPARD 20 3 GUNTER HORSTMANN 20 3 STEVEN MILLER 20 1 PETER SCHLEISMAN 20 2 ARNOLD FREED 20 4 STUART KRICHEVSKY 20 3 JOE ARONNE 15 2 IGNACIO ARENCIBIA 15 1 THE FERNANDEZ 15 1 WILLIAM SADERA 15 1 DAN GAWIAK 15 2 KATHY BUSBY 10 1 ABE COOPER 10 2

Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S (NY)

112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136

December 2009

NAME POINTS # BRED BILL ARONNE 10 1 DAN RADEBAUGH 10 1 DIANNE SPELLMAN 10 1 JOHN MC CAFFERY 10 2 JERROLD MEYER 10 1 HORST MIEHLBRAD 10 1 FRANK FALLON 10 1 WALTER ROSTOWSKI 10 2 JASON KERNER 10 1 JAY LIEBOWITZ 5 2 ADAM KLEINROCK 5 1 EDYTH MONSOUR 5 1 KATHY FERNANDEZ 5 1 THE QUINNS 5 1 WILLIAM STALZER 5 2 JAMES BROOKS 5 1 RICHARD WALSH 5 1 BILL SMITH 5 1 DANNY CIRNIGLIAR 5 1 GEROLD COCH 5 1 BOB FUCHS 0 1 PETER SAGINARIO 0 5 DEAN ABRUMSON 0 1 VINCENT MASCOLA 0 3 JOHN HILL 0 1

23

24

December 2009

Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S (NY)

Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S (NY)

December 2009

25

Sunday, February 14, 2010 At Chicopee Elks Hall RAIN OR SHINE!!

Auction starts at 11:00 AM Doors open at 9:30 for viewing and vendor registration.

Free Admission-Everyone is welcome!!

Giant Auction of Live Tropical Fish, Plants and Dry Goods Door Prizes!! Raffle for Tank Setup!! 50/50 Cash Raffle!!

Food & Refreshments Available From our Kitchen Free Coffee!!

Bring the Whole Family and Enjoy The Day with New and Old Friends!

DIRECTIONS TO CHICOPEE ELKS HALL From I-91 north or south: take Exit 12 to I-391 north; go 1 mile to Exit 3, take a right on to Granby Road; go straight thru lights and up hill, Elks Hall is 1 mile on your right.

From I-90 east & west: take Exit 5 Chicopee; bear left after toll booth to Montgomery Street, take a right on to Montgomery Street and stay in left lane; take a left at lights on to Granby Road; Elks Hall is 1-1/4 mile on your left.

26

December 2009

Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S (NY)

Member Classifieds EQUIPMENT: 3 Rena Filstar XP3 Cannister Filters -- Up to 350 GPH -- $50 each 1 Eheim Pro II 2026 $65 1 Emperor 280 Power Filter (single bio-wheel) $20 1 Emperor 400 Bio-Wheel HOB Power Filter $30 1 Coralife Turb Twist 18 watt with 3 extra (never used) UV bulbs $50 All nearly new, in original boxes. Call (631) 563-1404 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2-10’s---complete $15 each 2-20 Longs complete, no lights 20 each 1-20 high-complete, no filter 20 2-29’s complete 30 each Refrigerator 30 1-55 complete 60 1-65 with canister filter, full lighting, Laterite in gravel metal stand---$250 Some large wood, meds, rock, caves.

“Complete” means heater, filter, full lighting (they were used as plant tanks), canopy.

Call Charley: (917) 837-6346 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------46 bow tank, light, stand, all oak finish $310 Looking for Oak stand for 36g bowfront Call Ron: 718-464-8408 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Eclipse: 2 hood 12”*24” used only 4 months $122.00 retail price asking price $65.00 Eclipse: rite size hoods H cartridge quantity (7)* (3) packs $10.00 each $9.00 Aqueon filter: 55 flow rate 325 for 55 gal. brand new -never used $50.00 / $40.00 Duetto 100 internal filter brand new-never used $30.00 / $25.00 Marineland canister filter: c-160 up to 30gal brand new-never used $120.00 / $105.00 Marineland canister filter: c-220 up to 55 gal brand new-never used $155.00 / $130.00 Pentair pump: quiet one 400/106 hp brand new-never used $30.00 / $25.00 Coralife: 24” lite 65 white/65 actinic 130 watts brand new- never used $165.00 / $155.00 Coralife: 24” lite 65 white/65 actinic 130 watt -1 actinic bulb barely used $165.00 / $80.00 Coralife: 24’ lite 65 white/65 actinic 130 watt -no bulbs $165.00 / $50.00 Coralife: bulb square pin 28 watts/13” 6700k (2) brand new-never used $30.00 / $20.00 Coralife: bulb square pin 28 watts/13” 50/50 brand new-never used $30.00 /$20.00 Coralife: bulb straight pin 36watts/16” 10,000k brand new-never used $30.00 / $20.00 Coralife: bulb straight pin 36watts/16’ actinic brand new-never used $30.00 /$20.00 Aquatic Gardener: 20’ grabber/cutter brand new -never used $4.00 /$3.00 Planting tweezers stainless steel brand new-never used $15.00 /$12.00 Bone cutter brand new-never used $20.00 /$25.00 Coralife: uva 9watts turbo twist with maxi jet 600 brand new-never used $165.00 /$150.00 Coralife: uva 9 watts turbo twist with maxi jet 600 barely used $165.00 / $75.00 Coralife: uva 9 watts bulbs quantity(3) brand new-never used $40.00 each $35.00 Perfecto: lite strip 24”for tanks15,25,30h,20h,28 euro used 6months $40.00 /$20.00 All Glass: lite strip 20”for tanks 10,15h,16b,20x,35h used 2months $30.00 / $15.00 Attractive decorative bowl holder for betta LIMITED EDITION , not in production for more than 10 years, plastic bowl 3/4 gal retail $70.00 Call Jakleen: 718-225-3940 Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S (NY)

December 2009

27

Guess What’s Behind These Headlines A series by “The Undergravel Reporter” 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.

ome tabloid publications lure you in with headlines that suggest one thing, but really mean something else. I’m giving you some make-believe headlines for real stories. Let’s see if you can take one look at the headline, and guess the real story behind it.

Santa Claus is coming

Yokohama Hakkeijima Sea Paradise, a Japanese aquarium in Yokohama, Japan, is preparing for Christmas this year with a very special Beluga whale show. This show features a scuba diving Santa Claus in his traditional white-trimmed red suit and, of course, with his famous sack. But this Santa’s sack isn’t filled with toys—it’s filled with sardines that Santa feeds to the white whale in front of visitors. The stunt is among the special events the aquarium puts on in a bid to boost their holiday season sales—hit hard this year by the recession.2

S

Eelvis has left the building

After five years in residence at Macduff’s marine aquarium in Scotland, a conger eel named Eelvis (after the king of rock and roll) was finally allowed to leave the building. Eelvis, the fourth conger eel released by the aquarium since 2001, is over six feet long. He now faces a swim of about 2,000 miles to the Atlantic waters off the Azores, where he it is hoped that he will find a mate.1

“Eelvis”

Sardines for a good whale.

Photo: BBC

Sponge Bob is a crab!

A six inch sponge crab, nicknamed Bob, is now a resident of the Blue Reef Aquarium in the East Sussex town of Hastings in England.

Sponge crabs are so named because they have two pairs of modified legs tipped with needle-like pincers. They use them to secure sponges over their bodies as camouflage. However, this means they only have two pairs of legs to walk on, so they tend to also use their front claws to assist them with walking.3

photo from eveningexpress.co.uk Sponge Bob

Photo: BBC

References: 1 http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/1488665?UserKey= 2 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8363614.stm 3 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/sussex/8349347.stm

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

December2009 2009 December

Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S17 (NY)

GCAS Happenings

December

A special welcome to new member Tommy Chang!

Last Month’s Bowl Show Winners: 1 Mario Bengcion Ruby Red Peacock 2 Robert Hamje Copper Oranda 3 Richard Waizman Half-Moon Betta

Official 2009 Bowl Show totals: Mario Bengcion 28 Robert Hamje 25 Susan Priest 3

Richard Waizman 10 Ed Vukich 3

Vincent Babino 1 Richard Levy 1

Here are meeting times and locations of some aquarium societies in the Metropolitan New York area: Greater City Aquarium Society

East Coast Guppy Association

Next Meeting: March 3, 2010 Speaker: TBA Topic: TBD Meets the first Wednesday of the month (except January & February) at 7:30pm: Queens Botanical Garden 43-50 Main Street - Flushing, NY Contact: Dan Radebaugh (718) 458-8437 E-mail: gcas@earthlink.net Website: http://www.greatercity.org

Meets: 2nd Tuesday of each month at at 8:00 pm.

Alley Pond Environmental Ctr.: 228-06 Northern Blvd.

Contact: Gene Baudier (631) 345-6399

Big Apple Guppy Club Meets: Last Tuesday each month (except Jan, Feb, July, and August) at 7:30-10:00pm.

Alley Pond Environmental Ctr.: 228-06 Northern Blvd.

Contact: Donald Curtin (718) 631-0538

Brooklyn Aquarium Society Next Meeting: December 11, 2009 Speaker: None Event: Holiday Party Meets the 2nd Friday of the month (except July and August) at 7:30pm: NY Aquarium - Education Hall, Brooklyn, NY Call: BAS Events Hotline: (718) 837-4455 Website: http://www.brooklynaquariumsociety.org

Long Island Aquarium Society Next Meeting: December 18, 2009 Speaker: None Event: Holiday Party & Awards Banquet Meets: 3rd Fridays (except July and August) 8:00pm.

Banquet will be held at Sunny Buffet Restaurant 72 E. Main St, Bay Shore, NY 11706, 631-665-6050 Email: Margaret Peterson - president@liasonline.org Website: http://liasonline.org/

Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S (NY)

Nassau County Aquarium Society Next Meeting: December 8, 2009 Speaker: None Event: Holiday Party Meets: 2nd Tuesday of the month (except July and August) at 7:30 PM Molloy College - Kellenberg Hall ~1000 Hempstead Ave Rockville Centre, NY Contact: Mike Foran (516) 798-6766 Website: http://www.ncasweb.org

NORTH JERSEY AQUARIUM SOCIETY Next Meeting: December 5, 2009 Speaker: None Event: Holiday Party Meets: Party will be at Harold’s Restaurant - Lyndhurst, NJ Contact: NJAS Hotline at (732) 332-1392 e-mail: tcoletti@obius.jnj.com Website: http://www.njas.net/

Norwalk Aquarium Society Next Meeting: December 17, 2009 Speaker & Topic: TBD Meets: 8:00 P.M. - 3rd Thursday of each month at: Earthplace - the Nature Discovery Center - Westport, CT Contact: John Chapkovich (203) 734-7833 Call our toll free number (866) 219-4NAS E-mail: jchapkovich@snet.net Website: http://norwalkas.org/

December 2009

29

Fin Fun 16 Years, And What Do You Get? This month, Modern Aquarium concludes its 16th year of publishing in its current series (“Series III”).

Last month, former Greater City President, Joe Ferdenzi, did a program on aquarium hobby history, and the GCAS. Just how much do you know (or can guess) about the history of your society’s magazine?

(Hint: some, but not all, of the answers can be found elsewhere in this issue.) Answers in March.

1. The first issue of Series III of Modern Aquarium was January, 1994. From then until now, how many different people have been President of the Greater City Aquarium Society? ______ 2. From January 1994 until now, how many Editors have there been of Modern Aquarium? _______ 3. Only one of the following regular Modern Aquarium features has been in every single issue of Series III. Which one is it?: ______Editor’s Page ______President’s Report ______FinFun Puzzle

______Undergravel Reporter

4. In what year was the first July issue of Series III of Modern Aquarium printed? ______ 5. From January 1994 until now, what has been the largest issue in number of pages? ______ 6. Match these past and present Modern Aquarium columns and features with their authors: Fishkeepers Anonymous

Bernard Harrigan

The Amusing Aquarium

Sharon Barnett

Looking Through The Lens

Stephen and Donna Sica

Mermaid Tales

Susan Priest

Fish Bytes Answers to last month’s puzzle:

Claudia Dickinson

Body Parts

Scientific Name Common Name Ctenopoma ocellatum ------------------- Eyespot ctenopoma Anableps anableps ------------------- Four-eyes Pseudomugil mellis ------------------- Honey blue eye Rineloricaria fallax. ------------------- Whiptailed loricaria Ctenopoma kingsleyae ------------------- Tailspot ctenopoma Pseudosphromenus cupanus ------------------- Spiketail paradisefish Iriatherina werneri ------------------- Threadfin rainbowfish Gnathonemus petersii ------------------- Elephantnose fish Hemigrammus bleheri. ------------------- Rummy-nose tetra Thorichthys meeki. ------------------- Firemouth cichlid source: http://www.fishbase.org/

30

December 2009

24

December 2009

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