Modern Aquarium June 2010

June 2010 volume XVII number 4

Series III ON THE COVER Our cover photo this month features Betta midas, a recently discovered anabantid from Borneo. For detailed information on this new little fish, see Al Priest’s article on page 11.

Photo by Alexander A. Priest

Vol. XVII, No. 4 June, 2010

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

GREATER CITY AQUARIUM SOCIETY

President’s Message

Board Members

President Vice-President Treasurer Corresponding Secretary Recording Secretary

Dan Radebaugh Mark Soberman Jules Birnbaum Warren Feuer Edward Vukich

Members At Large

Claudia Dickinson Artie Friedman Ben Haus Leonard Ramroop

Pete D’Orio Al Grusell Emma Haus

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

MODERN AQUARIUM Editor in Chief Copy Editors

Exchange Editors

Advertising Mgr.

Enriching Lives Our Nation’s Zoos & Aquariums

by Claudia Dickinson

Tonight’s Speaker: Mark Soberman

by Claudia Dickinson

Wet Leaves

by Susan Priest

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

G.C.A.S. Sponsors and Advertisers

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

A Touch of Gold Betta Midas

by Alexander A. Priest

Grand Cayman’s North Sound

by Stephen Sica

Looking Through the Lens Photos from Our Last Meeting

by Claudia Dickinson

MA Classics I Raise Tropical Fish in my Bathtub or, A Poor Man’s Outdoor Pool

by Jack J. Oliva

Cichlidically Speaking

by Claudia Dickinson

Member Classifieds G.C.A.S. Happenings The Undergravel Reporter Fin Fun (Puzzle Page)

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7 9 11

15 18

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From the Editor

by Dan Radebaugh

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ell, here it is nearly summer, both by the calendar and by the temperature, and some of us (not me) are getting ready to move some of our fish to outdoor quarters until Fall.

Speaking from some experience, this is a great way to get your fish to put on some size, color up gorgeously, and in some cases spawn, where they might not readily do so indoors. Of course there are attendant risks – unexpected cold snaps, neighborhood cats, dogs, raccoons, and children, but by and large it’s a pleasant way for the fish hobbyist to justify being outside.

I happened upon an article on this subject in an old issue of Modern Aquarium, written by Jack Oliva, a name I have heard Joe Ferdenzi mention, but who was here at Greater City before my time. I’ve used it this month as part of our MA Classics series. The article is titled “I Raise Tropical Fish in my Bathtub,” and I’m sure that more than a few of us have had that thought flit through our minds on more than one occasion. In fact, one of my sisters used to keep goldfish that way, though that was not the bathtubs’ primary purpose.

She used these bathtubs as water troughs on her horse farm, and the goldfish were in there at least in part to eat any mosquito larvae that took up residence―Florida has no shortage. Also, the fish were just neat to have there. There were two or three bathtubs per pasture, right by the fence where they were easy to refill. The fish lived in those tubs yearround, with only a few losses to predators. It was only just before she finally sold the farm that the raccoons finally pretty much cleaned them out.

While it may have been the end for most of those goldfish, for the tubs it was a different story. They were old bathtubs―I don’t even recall now (if I ever knew) where she got them, and she learned that if she had them re-porcelained, they could be sold for a surprisingly large sum. I wonder what Jack Oliva did with his old tub when its fishkeeping days were done.

Staying with the reminiscent mood for a moment, in “Wet Leaves” this month Sue Priest reviews Ask the Fishkeeper, by Mark Morrone, whom some of you may remember from a television show called Petkeeping With Mark Morrone. The show can still be seen in reruns on some local channels, and Joe Ferdenzi tells me that Mr. Morrone owns a pet store in Rockville Center.

In “A Touch of Gold,” Al Priest tells us about keeping and breeding Betta midas, a newly discovered

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species from Borneo, and along the way updates our knowledge on some of the finer points of managing low-pH water chemistry.

Elsewhere in the issue, Steve Sica treats us to a photo travelogue of “Grand Cayman’s North Sound,” while Claudia Dickinson, our American Cichlid Association delegate (among other duties) treats us to a new installment of “Cichlidically Speaking.” Claudia also contributes photos from last month’s meeting in “Through the Lens,” introduces this evening’s speaker, Mark Soberman, and reminds us in “Enriching Lives” that we must remain alert to the political world and its effects on matters of concern to us, both as fishkeepers and as citizens.

The Undergravel Reporter explains to us why he hasn’t yet become rich, and the issue ends with the popular puzzle, “Fin Fun.”

We need more articles! Remember, Modern Aquarium is produced by and for the members of Greater City Aquarium Society. Our members are our authors, and with ten issues per year, we always, always need more articles. I know several of you are keeping and/or breeding fish that I would like to know more about, and I’m certain other members would be interested as well. Share your experience with us.

Write about it! If you’re a little unsure about the state of your writing technique, don’t worry – that’s why there are editors.

If you 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!

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Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S (NY)

GCAS Programs

2010

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! Enjoy!

Claudia

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June

Mark Soberman Keeping and Breeding Corydoras

July

Jeff Bollbach Fishroom Tour: Missouri Aquarium Society

August

Silent Auction

September

Ed Vukich Cichlid Breeding Tails

October

Rusty Wessel Mexico - The Panuco Valley: Livebearers and Cichlids of the Region

November

Joseph Ferdenzi

December

Holiday Party!

Our Generous Members Each month a blue sheet is located on our auction table where those members who donate items to the auction can indicate their donations if they wish to do so. Due to the immense generosity of those who donate, we have no shortage of items to be auctioned. A warm thank you to the following members and others who so generously contributed, making last month’s auction the bountiful success that it was: Mario Bengcion Jeff Bollbach Pete D’Orio

Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S (NY)

Al & Sue Priest Ed Vukich

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President’s Message

by Dan Radebaugh

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irst of all, welcome back to the Queens Botanical Garden! No, it wasn’t all a dream―we were planning to meet this evening at the Bronx Zoo, as guests of fellow GCAS member and Zoo Director Jim Breheny. The fact that we are here “at home” this evening has a great deal to do with the current financial situation of all our institutions such as the Zoo, the New York Aquarium, and the Queens Botanical Garden.

Having already suffered major funding cuts last year, they are once again in line for drastic cuts by both state and local government.

Clearly, there is no quick or easy solution to this funding crisis. Probably every one of us has directly felt the impact of the financial meltdown of the past couple of years, and we all understand that things aren’t going to recover overnight.

Meanwhile, no one wants to, or should have to bear the burden of funding cuts alone or disproportionately, so every group, cause, or organization that depends on public funding is mobilizing to defend its lifeblood.

This is natural, and is the way our government works. It is up to us to make sure our elected representatives know what we value, and what we expect of them. Yes, I know it’s a drag and a bit of a cliché to “write

your Congressman,” but if we don’t tell them what we’re thinking, how will they know?

So write, call, email. Do what you need to do to let the people you elected know what you think. The animals, fish, trees, and school children can’t do it―they don’t vote.

Jim and I will continue to explore ways to make our Evening at the Bronx Zoo happen.

Meanwhile, our thanks are due to Mark Soberman for heroically filling the breach this evening with his presentation on keeping and breeding Corydoras catfish.

On a different subject, you’ll notice that on one of the tables this evening we have some free samples of freeze-dried blackworms from a source selling them online. If you like them (I found them to be quite tasty with a little cocktail sauce), re-ordering information is included with the packets.

Thanks!

Dan

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 2010 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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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.

Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Aquarium Technology Inc Ecological Laboratories HBH Pet Products Koller-Craft Kordon, LLC Marineland Microbe Lift Ocean Nutrition America Omega Sea Red Sea

Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S (NY)

Rena Rolf C. Hagen San Francisco Bay Brand Seachem Zoo Med Laboratories Inc. Cameo Pet Shop Coral Aquarium Nassau Discus World Class Aquarium Zoo Rama Aquarium

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Enriching Lives Our Nation’s Zoos and Aquariums and the Role of the Wildlife Conservation Society Text and Photos by Claudia Dickinson The Wildlife Conservation Society spreads its here is no greater power guiding the direction major endeavors globally to ensure a positive future of the future of floral and faunal species across for conservation priority species, beginning at the grass the globe than that held by zoos and aquariums. roots by educating the public, young and old alike, Can you imagine a world without ever having observed through the Bronx Zoo and the New York Aquarium. in real life a lion, tiger, elephant, giraffe, seal, penguin, Please take a moment or more to read about the WCS at or sea turtle? Or without beholding a true-to-life www.wcs.org where you will see the amazing breadth exhibit of an Amazonian river, Lake Victoria, or a and diversity of projects that are underway.

Malagasy waterway?

While you are there, be sure to read about the These opportunities are brought to the majority current fiscal plans of the local government which of us only through our nation’s zoos and aquariums. could take away the life changing experience that The impact of experiencing a living creature goes far lies at our back door of a visit to the zoo or aquarium. beyond the best of text books in grade school, or the With our combined voice, those in power will hear, most eloquent of college professors. It captures the and understand. The WCS has given so much of mind in a wonderment that in some manner, great or themselves, let us please support them in continuing small, lasts a lifetime. Affecting the very way that we their efforts to preserve the future for both human and view the world and interact with those around us, it animal kind. brings an understanding of the interdependence of all creatures on one another.

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To give the opportunity of experiencing with ones own eyes, mind, and heart is to empower lives and the world around us.

Hippo lounging in the mud at Luangwa Valley, Zambia.

Zebra mother with foal, Zambia.

Protective elephant mother and sisters, Zambia.

Rainbow tree boa in the Peruvian Amazon rainforest.

Lake Malawi is a constant bustle of life.

Tree boa in the Peruvian Amazon rainforest.

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Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S (NY)

The G.C.A.S. Proudly extends a most Warm Welcome to

Mark Soberman Speaking on Keeping and Breeding Corydoras

by Claudia Dickinson rom the time he was a young boy growing up in Sunnyside, Queens, Mark Soberman was fascinated by all aquatic life. Occasional visits to a neighboring apartment were savored, as here oldfashioned fishbowls, filled with the allure of guppies and live plants, lined the walls.

At the age of ten, Mark received his first tengallon aquarium from another neighbor with like interests. The tank came equipped with all of the fittings, which included an old Supreme piston pump, and two fish that Mark remembers well—one kissing gourami (Helostoma temmincki) and one blue gourami (Trichogaster trichopterus).

Encouraged by the support of his parents, Mark’s passion flourished. It was a memorable day when his father took him on an excursion to Brooklyn for the purchase of his first thirty-gallon tank. His bedroom soon held this plus three more tanks, which housed everything from guppies to discus, and even saltwater fish!

Attending college at the State University of New York at Brockport, where Mark went on to get his Masters, put fishkeeping on a brief hiatus. In 1984, the newly wed Mark and Robin Soberman went for a day’s outing at the racetrack, where Mark won an Exacta. Well, he immediately drove to Tropical Fish Supermarket with his winnings! The store’s proprietor, Charlie Murphy, assisted Mark and got him back into full swing with a twenty-nine gallon setup.

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Mark’s hobby had been rekindled and it expanded, until eventually he was able to create his June 2010 7

dream of a fishroom. Putting in long days as sales manager of a dental supply company, he can now rejuvenate in this basement room, immersed amongst the fish and bubbling waters of forty aquariums which range in size from 10 to 125 gallons. In Mark’s precise and meticulous style, the neat rows of tanks shine with healthy, vibrant, and prolific fish. Although Mark specializes in breeding Corydoras catfish species, over the years he has also bred cichlids, killifish, characins, and livebearers. He is involved in a variety of projects, his most recent being to attempt the breeding of some of the riverine Synodontis species.

One can always spot Mark’s fish in a show, most particularly if they are catfish, for they are certain to stand out from the rest due to the brilliant colors, large size, and striking beauty. His walls and shelves are filled with numerous trophies in recognition of his talents. Mark’s reputation travels far and wide for his ability to condition his fish and provide appropriate conditions for the spawning of the most difficult species.

With a deep interest in the history of the aquarium hobby, Mark has a remarkable collection of antiquarian literature and ephemera that joins numerous aquatic artifacts. This is displayed in special bookcases, with extra space available for his insatiable desire to discover yet another rare book.

The premier “All Aquarium Catfish Convention,” held in 2004, began a new journey in Mark’s outstanding career as he served as a panelist on the

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Corydoras Forum and united with fellow catfish experts from across the world. As a result of his acquaintances here, he now serves in the distinguished role of moderator on the highly respected forum, “Planet Catfish,” www.planetcatfish.com, and he is a member of the British Catfish Study Group. In 2006, Mark was invited back to the biannual convention to speak on African catfish.

Involved with the formation of the North American Catfish Society, as well as other catfish organizations, Mark is also an author, having written articles for Tropical Fish Hobbyist, Modern Aquarium, and several catfish journals. A highly sought after speaker, Mark has traveled extensively, giving his programs across the country as well as in Bermuda for the Bermuda Fry-Angle Society.

A member of the Greater City Aquarium Society since 1984, Mark has served on its Board of Directors for more than 15 years and is currently Vice President of the club. Enrolled in Greater City’s Joseph Ferdenzi Roll of Honor in 1998, he is also one of the club’s top lifetime breeders. Aside from the GCAS, Mark is a member of the Long Island Killifish Association (LIKA), the American Killifish Association (AKA), and the American Cichlid Association (ACA), as well as the aforementioned British Catfish Study Group.

It is with great pride and warmth that we welcome Mark tonight as he shares his extensive knowledge and experience with Keeping and Breeding Corydoras.

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Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S (NY)

on his TV show, Marc is going to be answering your questions. Throughout the ten chapters and 128 pages, fully 98% of the text is in a Q & A format.

There is a chapter on Ponds, and chapters on Marine and Fresh (both tanks as well as fish). a Series On Books For The Hobbyist However, most of the chapters, such as those on Care, Health, Filters, etc., contain information on

by SUSAN PRIEST any and all areas and types of fish and fishkeeping. ecently as I was browsing through one of the For examples, in the chapter called Home, several national fish hobbyist magazines, my eye, questions about aquatic plants are answered, and mind, and heart were all arrested by an the chapter on Health answers a few questions advertisement for this book. It brought back fond about acclimating newly acquired fish. memories of the many hours I have spent enjoying Do at least a few of you remember that a TV program called “Petkeeping Tommy Chang’s most With Marc Morone.” memorable fishkeeping Marc would surround experience (from his Ask The Fishkeeper himself with as large a menagerie Fishkeepers Anonymous

By Marc Morrone of animals as would fit into the article in the March 2010 issue BowTie Press, 2009 camera shot of a small studio. of this fine publication) had to The stars of the show were Harry do with cycling a new tank? the Scarlet Macaw, who Here are a few of the perpetually sat on Marc’s shoulder and frequently questions (without the answers) from the chapter pulled the glasses off of Marc’s face, a GIANT on Water. floppy-eared rabbit named Harvey, and Splash the What is the difference between cycling a saltwater ferret, who did what ferrets do. There was a tank and establishing a saltwater tank? supporting cast of dozens of other animals. Most Why haven’t more people embraced fishless memorable to me was the ever-present corral of cycling as the way to go? puppies who weren’t sure why they were there, and What’s the difference in the time it takes to fishless kept jumping over the fence, only to be quickly cycle versus cycling with fish? retrieved by Marc. And I feel that I simply yes, just in case you’re must comment on the wondering, there was an charming illustrations aquarium as well. contributed by Jason Sometimes Marc O’Malley. To my eye, had guests, such as a they hold a greater veterinarian, or someone appeal than the from an animal shelter, photographs, of which but the bread and butter there are approximately of his show was an equal number. answering questions The only over the phone from his expectation our author loyal viewers. makes of us is that we How many of you have SOME amount of have noticed that I fishkeeping experience. haven’t even started Even the experience of talking about the book THINKING about yet?

The publisher being a fishkeeper will “invites you into the qualify you to enjoy hundred-tank world of and benefit from this Marc Morrone, which book. will keep you laughing I would suggest and learning in equal that you read it straight measure.” This is a through from cover to perfect description of cover in order to the TV show; now let’s discover tidbits of see if it describes this book, as well. information that you haven’t even thought to ask First, I would call your attention to the word about. You particularly don’t want to miss out on “ask” in the title. This is telling you that, as he did Marc’s personal anecdotes, which pop up in

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unexpected places. For example: “When I was about seven, we collected cans and saved up money to buy fish, so we always bought them one at a time.” If you want to know what happened when young Marc bought one tiger barb, you will have to read the book!

Having read and reviewed over 100 books on the subject of the tropical fish hobby, I have found that Marc offers a uniquely satisfying solution to a problem which aquarists often encounter, and I am going to quote it in its entirety:

you catch a lot more oscars, managuenses, and other South American cichlids than largemouth bass. Your question was about native fish. If you originally caught these fish in a pond, you may think it is O.K. to return them to the wild. But they may have picked up pathogens through contact with fish that you purchased at a pet store. In a perfect world you would have a fishpond in your back yard for fish you no longer want in your aquarium. This prevents any contact with wild fish.”

“If I keep a fish native to my area, would it be illegal or harmful to the fish to release it into the wild?

Whether it is legal or not (often it is not), releasing a fish into the wild is unethical and harmful. Our waterways and native fish populations are already in serious danger from aquarium fish that have been introduced into these habitats.

Anyone who has gone fishing in Florida knows that

Do I like this book as well as I did the TV show (which has been off the air since September 2006)? Without the drama of watching for Harry to pull the glasses off of Marc’s face, I would have to say no. It does, however, keep you laughing and learning in equal measure!

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Betta midas A Newly Discovered Species From Borneo Article and photos by ALEXANDER A. PRIEST etta specialists have established The native habitat of Betta midas is a “complexes” for the purpose of grouping blackwater river running through a peat swamp the various Betta species based on shared or forest, having highly acidic water with a pH of 4.1. similar traits. Until very recently the only member The depth of that river varies from 20 cm (slightly of the “Anabatoides Complex” was Betta less than 8 inches) to over 2 meters (about 6 and a anabatoides itself, a species native to the southern half feet). In its native Borneo, Betta midas is half of Borneo. Betta anabatoides goes by the found to the west and north of the range of Betta common names of the Large Unspotted anabatoides.

Mouthbrooder, and the Giant Betta, although this I first encountered a reference to Betta midas latter term is now more commonly used to in an article in Labyrinth, the journal of the reference a A n a b a n t o i d larger-than-usual Association of Great variety of Betta Britain1. There was Scientific Name: Betta midas splendens. Recently, no information in that Common Name: None yet (Gold betta most likely) a shipment of Betta article regarding its Special consideration: anabantoid (air breather) edithae intended for care or breeding, other Standard Length: 2.5" the ornamental fish than that it was a pH: 4.1 to 6.5 (acidic) trade originating p a t e r n a l Water hardness: very soft to soft from Pontianak, the mouthbrooder (all Temperature: 72° to 76° F capital of the mouthbrooding bettas Distribution: Indonesia (Northwest Borneo) Indonesian province are paternal Reproduction: Paternal mouthbrooder of West Kalimantan mouthbrooders), and Temperament: Peaceful, jumper on the island of no reference to sexual Environment: low-light, caves and/or driftwood, Borneo, also dimorphism. It was tight-fitting cover with no gaps contained what later only after I acquired Nutrition: primarily carnivore (live or frozen turned out to be two specimens that I worms, brine shrimp, etc.)

Betta midas, a new obtained a full copy of and previously the scientific paper unidentified species. first describing Betta Betta midas has now become the second member midas2 stating that: “There appears to be no of the Anabatoides Complex. It differs from Betta discernible external characters to differentiate the anabatoides by being more slender, and having sexes.” So, it was probably by pure good fortune more gold-colored scales. The iridescent gold for me to have acquired a true pair that have scales on the gill cover and body of Betta midas spawned several times. (Actually, I believe that are the reason for the reference in its scientific the male of the species is slightly darker, and name to King Midas (who, according to Greek occasionally displays a light blue band on the anal mythology, turned everything he touched into fin. However, since I have never been privileged gold). to witness an actual spawning, I cannot attest to Betta midas is a relatively small fish. It this.) attains an adult SL (SL=standard length, a Usually when I write about a fish, I like to measurement from the tip of the nose up to, but not read articles by other aquarists who have kept the including, the caudal fin) of no more than 2.5 same fish, in order to compare my experiences. inches. Its yellowish pectoral fin is rounded. Its This time however, with a fish that has been filamentous pelvic fin has a white tip. Its dorsal scientifically described less than a year ago, I fin is located towards the back of the fish. The could find no articles, amateur or professional, on anal fin has pointed, extended posterior rays, and the care and breeding of Betta midas. The article sometimes has a dark border. Aside from this, the in Labyrinth that I referred to above was limited body color ranges from brown to light brown, with to a very brief physical description of Betta midas, a slightly darker area behind the eye. excerpted from the original description of it by

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My Betta midas spawning tank (the dark brown in the right rear is an almond leaf) Dr. Tan. Even after obtaining a copy of the Spa, an extract including, among other things, complete description by Dr. Tan, the only clue Ketapang, or wild almond leaf. My New York about the care of this fish I was able to extract was City tap water is naturally very soft, and has a that Betta midas “is from a blackwater river neutral pH. The Betta Spa and additional almond (Sungai Kepayan) running through remnant and leaf dropped the pH to 6.0 (the pH of the water in intact peat swamp forest, with a pH of 4.1.” Dr. which they came), which continued to drop Tan’s description of this species provided no naturally after the fish were introduced into the specific information on how to care for it, or how tank to its present pH of 5.5. No other species of to prepare it for plants or animals were spawning. However, the in this tank. article did indicate that An important syntopic species (species side note is that species sharing the same habitat requiring very acidic within the same water (a pH lower than geographical range) 6.5) present special include, among others, care concerns, in that Betta edithae, a species at lower pH values the nitrogen cycle slows whose care I am familiar and eventually stops as with. (Remember that the pH drops.

Betta midas was Ammonia is of course originally discovered in a still being introduced shipment of Betta to the water by fish edithae.) waste and uneaten So, I provided my food, but instead of Betta midas pair with a being converted by bare-bottom (no bacteria into nitrites substrate) 10 gallon tank and then nitrates (the with a tight-fitting glass so-called "nitrogen lid (most betta species cycle"), a chemical are jumpers), a Native habitat of Betta midas reaction occurs. dual-cylinder sponge Acidic water (water filter, and a small power with a low pH value) has a high concentration of filter with the intake covered externally by a piece hydronium ions. A reaction occurs between of filter media held in place by a rubber band, in ammonia and the hydronium ions resulting in the order to prevent any fry from being sucked into the far less toxic (to fish) chemical compound filter. I put in three different sized and shaped ammonium. But, if you do a water change in an caves, an almond leaf, and a heater set to 76EF. established very low pH tank and fail to adjust the The water was also pre-treated with Atison’s Betta 18

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You need only look at the gill cover to see why this fish was named after a king who turned things to gold. pH of the water you add, you risk an almost immediate pH shock to your fish, and a deadly ammonia spike.

I know of no betta species that is not mostly (if not exclusively) carnivorous. The large upturned mouth of Betta midas is a clue that this species is a surface feeder, most likely eating insects that land on the water’s surface. So, I fed my B. midas mostly live, rinsed adult brine shrimp with added liquid vitamins, and live black worms, with occasional feedings of a high protein floating pellet (I used Atison’s Betta Pro). Due to the almond leaf and the Betta Spa, the water was a light brown color. The tank was kept in a dimly lit environment, with full lighting provided only four or five hours a day.

My specimens were less than an inch and a half long when I acquired them. Since the scientific paper referenced 66.0 mm specimens (a little over 2.5 inches), I expected to grow them up in this tank, then transfer them into a 20 gallon tank in about year or so when, I supposed, they would have reached breeding size. Only a month or so after having acquired them, I was very surprised to see a few small fry darting about.

While there are almost always exceptions, I have had very good luck with leaving the fry of mouthbrooding bettas in the same tank as the parents (and generally poor experiences with removing the fry). I could see no indication that the parents were cannibalizing or harassing the fry (mouthbrooding bettas provide no parental care once the fry are released, and generally just ignore them), so I left the fry in the same tank with the parents.

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

I always have a culture of microworms going (when I don’t have any fry to feed, my Endler’s Livebearers, Poecilia wingei, appreciate them).

When I put some microworms into the tank, even more fry came out to grab a snack. Using a mortar and pestle I pulverized some dry food into dust to make a suitable fry food, which brought even more fry out from hiding.

I can now see several generations in that tank, still with no observable predation or aggression (at one point, one of the adult fish sported a torn caudal, but some fin nipping is a frequent occurrence in the spawning ritual of both bubblenesting and mouthbrooding bettas).

Mouthbrooders typically have a comparatively small spawn, and considering the size of my specimens, I estimate less than a dozen fry result from each spawning.

While Betta midas is still very new to aquarists and not yet common in the aquarium hobby, their small size, relative ease of care, and easy breeding in captivity should make these fish quite popular in years to come.

References van der Voort, Stefan, 2009: “Betta midas: A New Species of Mouth Brooding Fighting Fish from West Kalimantan; Borneo, and Revision of B. anabatoides (Bleeker)” Labyrinth, 157, Sep. 09.

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Tan, Heok Hui, 2009: “Redescription of Betta anabatoides Bleeker, and a new species of Betta from West Kalimantan, Borneo (Teleostei: Osphronemidae)” Zootaxa, 2165: 59-68.

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                

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June 2010

Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S (NY)

GRAND CAYMAN’S NORTH SOUND

by Stephen Sica hanks to frequent flyer miles, we were sitting in the first class compartment of our plane at Miami International Airport, eating and drinking for free. It was Sunday afternoon, December 6, and we were preparing for departure. Then the pilot’s voice disturbed our fun. A food loading cart had rammed a door, which was now damaged and could not be locked. The plane could not take off without the door being properly secured. The parts warehouse had been contacted, and a search had begun to find a replacement part. There would be a delay.

I guess that when you get married on the fiftieth anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, you occasionally have negative thoughts. I wondered if our personal “Day of Infamy” would arrive a day early. Anyway, there was a good chance that the plane would not leave at all. I conjectured aloud to Donna that, today being a Sunday, it would be highly unlikely that anyone would be around to search for the part, retrieve it, and repair the door. Fortunately, I was, as usual, wrong.

We landed at sunset. On the half-hour drive to our hotel, the roads were empty. We saw Christmas lights in plazas, resorts, and private homes. We arrived at our “all inclusive” resort in time for dinner. We chose the Cobalt Coast because it was remote, with an

T

on-premises restaurant, dive shop, and the opportunity to dive the relatively pristine North Sound of Grand Cayman. The resort was small and intimate, with only about two dozen rooms, and modeled after a Jamaican Great House. All rooms were one or two bedroom suites.

After breakfast the next morning we returned to our room, where I packed our dive gear for an 8 A.M. departure for the reefs. When on vacation, I believe that it’s good to sleep a bit late. But when diving, the early bird gets to the best dive site first! The boat dock was literally a fifty yard walk straight from the door of our ground floor room. We walked out the door, and to my immediate surprise there was no boat, but plenty of wind and waves. Because of rough seas, the boat had been moved to a protected anchorage about a mile away.

Since the sea was too rough to dive the North Sound, the boat headed west to the tourist-fashionable Seven Mile Beach to dive the famous West End. We dove there our first two mornings. The next two mornings we were able to dive the North Sound in a calm sea.

Here is a photo essay of just a few of the sights that we saw.

Hawksbill imbricata)

Cobalt Coast resort and pool

Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S (NY)

French paru) June 2010

turtle

(Eretmochelys

angelfish

(Pomacanthus

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Whitespotted filefish in orange phase (Cantherhines macrocerus)

Spiny lobster (Panuliris argus)

Great barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda)

Tiger grouper (Mycteroperca bonaci) and cleaning gobies (Gobiosoma genie)

moray

eel

(Muraena

Deepwater gorgonians on wall at 90 feet (Iciligorgia schrammi)

Giant anemone with lavender tips (Condylactis gigantea)

Banded butterflyfish (Chaetodon striatus)

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Goldentail miliaris)

Honeycomb polygonia)

cowfish

(Lactophrys

Gray angelfish mated pair (Pomacanthus arcuatus)

June 2010

Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S (NY)

Stoplight viride)

Longspine squirrelfish (Holocentrus rufus)

parrotfish

(Sparisoma

Diamond blenny pair (Malacoctenus boehlkei)

Flamingo tongue mollusks (Cyphoma gibbosum)

Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S (NY)

Cobalt Coast resort and beachfront

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Looking through the Photos and captions

Pete D’Orio never stops with his many tasks to bring us Ken Davis receives a copy of Modern Aquarium, autographed a well run meeting, always with a wonderful, cheerful by the members, along with a warm thank you from President Dan Radebaugh on behalf of all of the GCAS for his excellent smile! presentation on ‘Collecting in Uruguay’!

Jules Birnbaum and Jeff Bollbach compare notes on their most recent fishroom successes.

Congratulations to Jason Irizarry, holder of the winning Door Prize ticket for a one-year membership in the American Cichlid Association, along with recent back issues of Buntbarsche Bulletin!

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Jakleen Minassi-Haftvani multitasks as she views last month’s ‘Looking Through the Lens’ while being so wonderful to have her photo taken for this month’s!

Bill Amely is ready to go to Uruguay on the next collecting trip!

June 2010

Tom Chang is preparing to set up his first CARES aquariums and join in the effort of building a solid combined base stock of conservation priority species.

GCAS member, Ronald Wiesenfeld, is the lucky Door Prize winner of the book, “Lake Victoria Basin Cichlids”!

Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S (NY)

Lens with the GCAS

By Claudia Dickinson

Our all-star auctioneer, Ed Vukich, takes a moment to relax after a busy meeting!

Mark Denaro, Ken Davis, and Mark Soberman enjoy final conversation before Mark D. and Ken set off on the drive to Pennsylvania where Ken will speak the following evening at Bucks County Aquarium Society. Many thanks to Mark D. for his time and efforts in making the round trip drive!

Ronald Wiesenfeld and Michael Macht have had another Grande evening with the GCAS and are looking forward to next month!

Ken Davis and Mark Soberman go over the details of Mark’s upcoming trip to Atlanta where Mark will speak at the Atlanta Area Aquarium Association.

Alexander Priest receives third place in the evening’s Bowl Show with his Betta Splendens.

Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S (NY)

Mario Bengcion receives both first and second place in the evening’s Bowl Show with his Ruby Red Cichlid and Buffalo Head Cichlid.

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MA Classics In this installment of our series showcasing articles from past issues of Modern Aquarium, we feature a piece from the December, 1970 issue, showing how useful “old junk� can be when keeping fish.

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June 2010

Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S (NY)

Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S (NY)

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June 2010

Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S (NY)

Cichlidically Speaking Your Link to the American Cichlid Association www.cichlid.org

by Claudia Dickinson

First appearing in the February 2001 issue of the American Cichlid Association’s Buntbarsche Bulletin, my ‘Cichlidically Speaking’ column ran until August of 2005. Its commentary covered current ACA news, as well as relevant cichlid research and conservation efforts.

As your ACA Club Delegate, I continue to bring you that column here in the pages of Modern Aquarium. Let us think of it as ‘Volume II,’ or now on its second year with the GCAS, ‘Volume III’?!

ACA Convention 2010 The event that we all look forward to, our annual ACA Convention, is almost here!

July 22―25, 2010 Hosted by the Milwaukee Aquarium Society Olympia Spa and Resort Have you registered yet?!?!

Register today at www.ACA2010.com!

Be sure to get your room reservations now by calling 800-558-9573.

The group code for our special convention rate is MAC10.

It’s all about cichlids, and cichlidophiles.

We can barely wait to see you there!

ACA Convention 2010 Milwaukee The time is here, the time is now for the ACA to take the Olympia Resort and Spa in Milwaukee by storm on July 22 to 25 as we convene for the largest gathering of like-minded cichlidophiles you have ever before witnessed! Rumor has it that this is the year to top all. It must be the famous Milwaukee beer and brats, or is it because word got out that the Bermuda contingent is heading west with a generous supply of Dark and Stormy ingredients?!? Or, maybe it’s those Babes In The Cichlid Hobby who are at it again preparing for their huge silent auction to support the Paul V. Loiselle Conservation Fund, Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S (NY)

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the Guy D. Jordan Endowment Fund, and the Stuart M. Grant Cichlid Conservation Fund, as well as that famed Friday night auction of rare and conservation priority species. One never knows what will happen behind those doors, but one can be sure it’s full of fun, and all for a good cause in the name of cichlid conservation and research!

The convention speaker line-up has everyone buzzing with celebrated greats such as Ad Konings, Paul Loiselle, Anton Lamboj, Juan Miguel Artigas Azas, Oliver Lucanus, and Lee Newman, plus the late night study groups that offer a plethora of fantastic presenters and topics. If you have yet to meet these cichlid celebrities, your chance is now, as they will be in Milwaukee all weekend and look forward to greeting you, answering questions, and talking fish!

Speaking of cichlid greats to meet, the red carpet goes right to Milwaukee with TFH Editor-inChief David Boruchowitz, South American cichlid luminary, Wayne Leibel, Central American cichlid collector and icon, Rusty Wessel, Lake Victoria authority, Chuck Rambo, ACA Chair and Central American collector, Mo Devlin, and the list goes on with so many others. These red carpet stars want to see you there and get to know you, too!

Did you say you were looking for cichlids for sale? Milwaukee is the place to be to purchase more rare and exquisite cichlids than you can imagine, or fit into your tanks! To top off the event, witness and take part in the largest cichlid show in the nation, an extraordinary vendor room, entertaining side trips, and a Sunday auction as immense and diverse as your wildest cichlid dreams. Most important of all, enjoy the true warmth and camaraderie of fellow cichlidiots as only our hobby knows. Join the sprint to www.ACA2010.com and, if you have yet to do so, register now! I know I can barely wait to see you there!

Juan Miguel Artigas Azas.

Photograph by Claudia Dickinson

The red carpet is rolled out in Milwaukee at the ACA Convention with cichlid greats who are looking forward to seeing you there!

Ad Konings.

Photograph by Claudia Dickinson

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TFH Editor-in-Chief David Boruchowitz.

Photograph by Claudia Dickinson June 2010

Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S (NY)

News On The Cichlid Scene: Amphilophus rhytisma (López 1983) With a limited distribution from Rio Sixaola in Costa Rica to Rio Calovébora in Panama (Artigas Azas, 2008) and preferring moderate to fast flowing rivers, Amphilophus rhytisma resides in the benthic zone where it feeds on aquatic insects and detritus (http://www.fishbase. org). Less aggressive than other members of the genus, it may even appear shy when housed with more assertive tankmates. The relatively mild manner of A. rhytisma coupled with its medium size of 13.5 cm (5.3 in) make this CARES conservation priority species a perfect candidate for the aquarium.

Male Amphilophus rhytisma fertilizing freshly laid eggs.

Photograph by Tomas Nilsson

As sparse as it is in its narrow native range, A. rhytisma is also somewhat challenging to locate in the hobby, although with perseverance a few sources can be found. Hopefully, in the near term we will have more specimens of this exquisite at risk species to distribute amongst fellow hobbyists.

Amphilophus rhytisma pair spawning.

Photograph by Tomas Nilsson

Lake Victoria CARES Conservation Through Education Update

Refurbishment of the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute Aquarium in Kisumu continues to progress! The central air system has just been shipped and hopefully will be in place in the coming weeks in time for a visit to the facility from heads of state. Dr. William Ojwang reports the following: Dear Claudia, I hope all is well with you. We did receive the boxes in good condition with all the items intact. I guess this is a sign that all is well and you may proceed with shipment of the rest.

We plan to ultimately have ‘many’ tanks, at least 60 (in the Aquarium, the big outdoor tank, plus the outside racks). That would certainly require a bigger pump as you indicated. The notes were great!

Thanks for your insight in the Aquarium setup, outlet numbers, etc. The idea of having a backup air unit is welcome.

On the update, we have continued to receive numerous visitors to the facility, people from all walks of life: students from elementary to college levels, heads of government ministries, heads of East African research institutions, universities, and notably we were also visited by honorable members of parliament from the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA). All of our visitors have been full of Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S (NY)

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encouragement and appreciation to our dear donors, you in particular, your friends, and other United States based organizations.

We have since moved into the other portion that was hitherto used as storage space. It has been painted and given room for the Aquarium expansion. I talked to Peter in Nairobi on the possibilities of getting a 19 mm (.75 in) thick glass from there as I have visited every shop in our town but in vain. I might have to get it from Nairobi as soon as I confirm its availability. As you may also recognize from our pictures, the outer wall of the facility requires new paint. I hope to embark on that shortly!

On another front, we used part of our Aquarium setup during the just concluded Kenyan public service week display. This is an annual event held all over the country, mostly at provincial headquarters by public institutions, to update Kenyans on their respective activities which range from conservation efforts to innovations, etc. The displays are usually judged and positions awarded. As you can see from the pictures and trophies, KMFRI, Kisumu took the first position as the best in delivery of services, thanks to YOU, as we could have not done as well without display of items from our improved Aquarium facility.

Kind regards, William

The manager’s office prior to its transformation into an extension of the Aquarium with the removal of the corrugated iron partition.

Photograph by Peter Howard

Dr. William Ojwang and Dr. Richard Abila in the Aquarium prior to the recent Lake Victoria CARES transformation. Please note the lack of any means of filtration in the tanks. Water quality has been monitored by water changes.

Due to the enormous generosity of Joe Garglulo of ATI and Hydro Sponge, Lance Reyniers of Python Products, Ray ‘Kingfish’ Lucas, John Maier of Jehmco, and the Hill Country Cichlid Club, lack of filtration will be in the What was once storage space has since past. been converted into an expansion of the Photograph by Peter Howard Aquarium under the Lake Victoria CARES Project.

Photograph by Peter Howard

The former storage space is now Storage area cleared, painted, and now looking like a prime spot for more part of the ‘expansive’ Aquarium. tanks!

Photograph by William Ojwang Photograph by William Ojwang

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June 2010

Dr. Richard Abila, KMFRI Assistant Director, welcomes members of the East African Legislative Assembly to the renewed Aquarium.

Photograph by William Ojwang Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S (NY)

Dr. William Ojwang (far right) welcomes Prof. M. Ntiba, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Fisheries Development, accompanied by heads of research institutions from the East Africa region to the newly rehabilitated facility. The leaders attended a public launch of the project on the development of Lake Victoria Biodiversity Informatics held at KMFRI. Photograph by William Ojwang

Visitors to the Aquarium, including honorable members of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), on tour viewing Lake Victoria Basin research activities.

Photograph by William Ojwang

KMFRI staff, led by Drs. Abila and Ojwang, display trophies won at the Public Service Exhibition forum.

Photograph by William Ojwang

A warm and heartfelt thank you to those of you whose immense generosity in donating funding, equipment, supplies, and assistance have made this noteworthy endeavor possible!

Special words of heartfelt thanks to...

Dr. Dwight R. Smith American Cichlid Association Aqua Havens CARES ATI Federation of Texas Aquarium Societies Hill Country Cichlid Club Jehm Co. Fish Room Supply House Kingfish Services Michael Hill Python Products Wildlife Conservation Society Together, we can and we are making a difference!

Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S (NY)

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Join the ACA! Be certain that you are a part of the ACA by sending your dues through PayPal to acapaypal@mac.com. or you may prefer to print out the membership application at www.cichlid.org and send it to: Marty Ruthkosky ACA Membership Chair 43081 Bond Court Sterling Heights, MI 48313 Please feel free to contact me during our meetings with any questions that you may have, or e-mail me at ivyrose@optonline.net.

I’m sure you will find becoming involved with such a special group of individuals as rewarding as I have!

Until next time‌ Keep on Enjoying Your Cichlids!

Claudia 28

June 2010

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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Moving to Florida 1 parrot fish-10 6 large barbs-10 1 red hook-10 2 weather loaches-5 1 iridescent shark-10 3 raphael catfish-15 1 geo-10 1 flagtail catfish-5 3 blind cave fish-5 4 cory catfish-5 4 bosemani rainbowfish-30 2 flying foxes-5 1 catfish(undetermined/unique)-5 2 spotted raphael catfish-10 2 dozen assorted small fish-livebearers, tetras-12 125 gallon tank fully equipped w/wood stand-300 75 gallon tank fully equipped w/ hand crafted wood stand-150 30 gallon tank fully equipped w/iron stand-50 Contact Steve Dash: (516) 889-4876 noon till 8pm

Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S (NY)

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GCAS Happenings

June

Last Month’s Bowl Show Winners: 1 Mario Bengcion 2 Mario Bengcion 3 Al Priest

Ruby Red Cichlid Buffalo Head Cichlid Male Betta splendens

Unofficial 2010 Bowl Show totals to date: Al Priest 11

Mario Bengcion 9 Robert Hamje 6

Richard Waizman 1

A special warm welcome to new member David Velez!

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: July 7, 2010 Speaker: Jeff Bollbach Topic: Fishroom Tour: Missouri Aquarium Society 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: June 11, 2010 Speaker: Richard Ross Event: Cephalopods 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: June 18, 2010 Speaker: Mark Soberman Topic: Keeping and Breeding Corydoras Meets: 3rd Fridays (except July and August) 8:00pm.

Greenhouse Meeting Room, Holtsville Ecology Center, Buckley Road, Holtsville, NY Email: Margaret Peterson - president@liasonline.org Website: http://liasonline.org/

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Nassau County Aquarium Society Next Meeting: June 8, 2010 Speaker: Ed Champigny Topic: Goldfish & Koi 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: June 17, 2010 Speaker: Ed Champigny Topic: Goldfish & Koi Meets: 7:30 PM Lyndhurst Elks Club, 251 Park Avenue, Lyndhurst, NJ 07071 Contact: NJAS Hotline at (732) 332-1392 e-mail: tcoletti@obius.jnj.com Website: http://www.njas.net/

Norwalk Aquarium Society Next Meeting: June 17, 2010 Speaker: TBA 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/

June 2010

Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S (NY)

Why I’m Not Rich 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. hat aquarist has not thought about turning his or her aquatic hobby into a profitable business? I remember one Greater City member who had a small aquarium store in Queens.

As a hobbyist, he was interested in Lake Victorian cichlids, which is a fine speciality. But, instead of concentrating on the “bread and butter” common fish (fancy bettas, common dwarf corys, and common livebearers like guppies, swordtails, etc.), he devoted a disproportionately large amount of his limited tank space to those cichlids. Well, his business went (as we say in the fish hobby) “belly up” and, in hindsight, you can see why.

It’s hard to combine work and play, and succeed at both. But what if you could make a profit from a byproduct of your hobby? No, I’m not talking about selling used fish water as plant fertilizer (hmmm now that I think of it, that might not be such a bad idea!). No, I was thinking of algae (you know you have it, come on, admit it).

W

A researcher from Indiana-based Cereplast holds a plastic disk made from algae.

Photo ©Popular Mechanics 1

Popular Mechanics recently reported that an Indiana company intends to make plastic from algae, substituting up to half of the material normally derived from fossil fuels with biomass Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S Modern Aquarium - Greater City(NY) A.S. (NY)

from the aquatic plants. According to the article, the biggest problem is “getting enough of the green stuff to make it in quantity.” It takes about a pound and a half of dried, pressed algae to make a pound of the algal portion of the plastic. (Oh boy, do I ever have a tank or two to show them!)

O.K., here’s the hitch, to make plastic from algae requires “a precise strain of algae from among thousands” that has to be harvested in quantities and dried. Then oil is extracted (that can be used as fuel) and from the left over biomass, plastic can be made. (Today, that left over biomass is, among other things, fed to cattle.)

And, just when I’m about to tell my “significant other” that I need a dozen or so 200+ gallon tanks to start an algae factory, some students at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign find a way to grow algae using “electronic waste.”2

A “Bio-Grow” device Photo ©Discovery News

They invented the “Bio-Grow,” a device made from the side panels of an Apple G4 computer tower, with PVC pipes and acrylic panels for support, an Apple iMac CRT monitor for light and heat, and a modified Dell Latitude CPX laptop to control the CRT so that specific light spectrums are used at different times to adjust the temperature within the tank. The tank uses a water pump to aerate the algae, and a faucet to extract the algae.

What’s missing in the Bio-Grow is a fish tank with fish! These college kids have just dashed my hope of getting an OK for a bunch of 200 gallon tanks (stocked with fish, naturally), and becoming rich at the same time. Sigh. http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/ energy/biofuel/algae-to-plastic

1

http://www.energyboom.com/biofuels/bio-growstudents-use-e-waste-grow-algae-biofuel

2

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Fin Fun Word For Word A working knowledge of the vocabulary of fishkeeping can come in handy at cocktail parties, conversations over the water cooler, and even at fish club meetings. Can you match this list of words with their definitions?

Word

Definition Genus

Gill cover

Bifid spines

Dark patch near the vent of a female livebearer when she is almost ready to give birth

Crepuscular

Eggs that sink or are laid on the substrate

Rheophilic

Active at dawn and dusk

Ichthyologist

A scientist who specializes in the study of fish

Gravid spot

Small sharp erectile spines beneath the eyes of most loaches

Demersal

A series of pores along the flanks of fish which allow them to sense vibrations.

Labyrinth organ

Lives in running waters

Operculum

An accessory breathing organ in the head of some fish

Lateral Line

A group of closely related species

Answer to our last puzzle: Away

to Uruguay Endemic to Uruguay?

Scientific name

Common name

Ctenopoma acutirostre

Spotted Climbing Perch

X

Barbus choloensis

Silver Barb

X

Austrolebias viarius

Roadside Pearl Killifish

Anodontiglanis dahli

Toothless Catfish

Megalebias cheradophilus

Mud Hugger Pearl Killifish

Aplocheilus werneri

Werner’s Killifish

Megalebias prognathus

Long Snout Giant Pearl Killfish

Olyra burmanica

Longtail Catfish

X

Balitora mysorensis

Slender Stone Loach

X

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Yes

No

X X X X X

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