Fish Folk

Of course there is always some aspect of honor system with things like this. In theory, yes, of course. If you document the original egg laying, count fry free swimming at some point thereafter, and count at least 10x a month later that are reasonably the same size indicating that they hatched from the same spawning, then yes that would probably qualify. In a good Fish Club, there will be a BAP Chairman. I might be wrong, but I _think_ Cory mentioned that he served as BAP Chairman for GSAS awhile back. Maybe I'm confusing him with someone else. Anyway, the BAP Chairman has a degree of leeway to count reports in or out . . . answer tricky scenarios, questions, etc. Often the BAP Chair will reach out to highly experienced breeders to get their input too. Our fish club has a deep, deep bench of amazing aquarists. I could brag on them awhile. But the long story short, they're living legends. Believe me, they are very technical and qualified to answer questions. And this is what I've gleaned from joining a fish club. The few old, wise aquarists will eventually open up and pass along their treasure house of knowledge. I message folks quite regularly from my club, exchange fish . . . it's amazing. I've been invited to join up with other break-off clubs too. The folks out east who really get into it are often members of multiple clubs. But I'm kind of a one-and-done person. I stick with one Club, and am very thankful for all I've learned. We drive 3 hrs one way to get there. So, add that up . . . it's a nine hour commitment just getting to, through, and back. When we bag fish and plants to sell, that's an added 3+ hrs of prep in the wee hours before sunrise too. HOOAH!

And here is a link to our club’s current BAP official standards… https://www.pvas.com/breeders-award-program

BAP = Breeders Award Program. Breed fish, write up detailed spawning and raising report. If submitted online, link photos and videos. For most species, 10x fish must be successfully hatched / dropped and raised from fry through one month to earn a stated amount of points. Species are classified into different difficulty levels, with corresponding points. My son is “Advanced Breeder” in our fish club (PVAS) and I am trying to beat him 😎 The term “Master Breeder” is earned by someone who breeds enough fish from enough categories to earn the award. I think our club awards that at 500 pts, with certain very difficult species being spawned, and certain CARES (endangered) species being spawned. HAP = Horticulture Award Program. Similar to BAP. But with plants. There are different twists. Our club doesn’t currently offer HAP. On the whole, the programs get Club Members experienced, recognized, and rewarded. Here’s an example of one of my son’s BAP Spawning reports… Here’s an example of one of mine… What I appreciate about them is you have to really focus on a project well enough to succeed. @Zenzo can probably speak into CoOp Club, BAP, etc. Here is a form-outline for online BAP submissions at our fish club: Spawning Report Form Please create a forum post with the following information: Name Scientific Name of Fish* (Genus and species) Hobby Name of Fish Method of Reproduction (Egg Scatterer/Livebearer/Mouth Brooder/Mop Spawner/Nest Builder/Pelvic Brooder/Substrate Spawner) Number and Gender Distribution of Parents (Pair/Trio (1 male and 2 females)/Reverse Trio (1 female and 2 males)/Group) Origin of Parents (Wild Caught/Tank Raised/Mixed) Approximate number of eggs or fry* Date of Hatch or Birth* (MM/DD/YYYY) Date of Free Swimming If Hatched (MM/DD/YYYY) Approx. Number of Fry at 30 Days* Approx. Number of Fry at 60 Days Aquarium Conditions: pH (0 to 14) General Hardness (ppm) Average Temperature (F) Salinity (if brackish or marine) Average Nitrate (ppm) Aquarium Size (L X W X H and Gallons) Water Source Water Changes (how much and how often) Filtration System(s) Additives (Salt, iron, etc.) Décor (Please include all that apply): Live Plants Plastic Plants Wood Leaves Caves or Similar Hiding Places Spawning mop Substrate (Gravel/Pea size gravel/Sand/None/Other; Please Specify) Lighting Type and Timing Food Fed to Parents and How Often* Food Fed to Fry and How Often* Photographs Comments and Additional Information

You can go a few generations deep before major deformities set in. Separate males from females for best results. Lots of tanks is the way pros do it. I just let them stay in a colony, and pull out pretty ones / cull sickly ones…

You should look into the Aquarium CoOp club! I’m thinking they have BAP and HAP. I’d have joined long it ago, but I am trying to beat my own kid’s BAP record at ours!!! 🤣🤣🤣

My approach to this fine hobby has centered around two challenging values that are not easy to harmonize: (1) Breeding (2) Beauty For example, I am easily drawn in by colorful new additions at my LFS. It is exhilarating for me go encounter new fish and plant species here on the Forum. A stunningly planted tank gets me every time. But for breeders — true, serious breeders — the functionality of a tank is preeminent. Many avoid the dirty nature of plants, substrate, hardscape, etc. preferring largely bare bottomed aquariums, sponge filtration, and functional decisions about air, lighting, tank arrangement, etc. Other breeders lean towards the functional value of molm-filled bottoms, selective plants, collection of rainwater, etc. I admit to finding myself on a sort of river-meets-the-sea “estuary” between these values. So, as my example today, I’m sharing some photos and a video from a tank that represents this odd dance of ideals. Most noticeable, are seven Discus. I’m hoping for three pairs… Rocks were bought on Etsy a long while back as “Lake Michigan Rocks.” My personal satisfaction is more in the Rams I’ve raised since last summer. Their colors far outstrip their store bought parents… But “Functionality” meets “Beauty” with half a dozen Siamese Algae Eaters… Compatibility with Discus has proven excellent, and they’re growing wonderfully in the warm water. Tucked into the background are a school of very small Glowlight Pygmy Barbs — an India native species… Now, while I love to keep this tank looking fine, there is a raft of algae I’m sure will endure forever. That’s an acceptable functional component that I’ll admit the folks at Green Aqua wouldn’t tolerate. Still, I did scrape a lot off the back glass yesterday because I preferred it clean. I’m trying out some new stem plants — Moneywort. I don’t expect it to thrive. But I had to try something new back there. I’m also floating some Frog-bit across the top. Also added is an aquarium Lily. I’m eager to work with these new plants, though unsure if they’ll necessarily all do well in here. Functionally, my Rams recently spawned. So my approach is to float a fry tray in the tank for a month or two — NOT very “beautiful” to look at every day, but an incubator for future beauty! For a look over how function meets beauty, here’s a short video looking at the pieces all together. For perfectionists on either side, this is maddening! But for me, it’s just how I NERM…

@CornAndCrawlers I like your photos! My Banded Darters are fairly shy. But so are my Rainbows. I took this photo of a couple Rainbows earlier today. It's dark in their tank because my secondary LED went out. I'll have a new one in tomorrow.

Tonight, I decided to bet out and have a good look at my Banded Darters. Here they are… I put them back immediately afterwards. NOW PLEASE SPAWN!!! 💚

It would be nice to get a look at those purple pencilfish. I'd love to see how your Rams look too.

Very sad to hear. How long have you had it with these tank mates? We raised up a pair of Threadfin Acaras until they were so big we couldn't keep them any more. They started majorly earth-moving the substrate daily, and then all of a sudden "thunder-dome" occurred and one was nearly killed by the other. Sounds like you've seen nothing like this though with yours. We also raise Electric Blue Acaras. I've never seen Krobia xinguensis, but they look a bit like the Laetacara araguaiae we tried to breed. I am not sure that I would imagine conflict to arise between these, especially so young. One thing that Threadfins do -- it's a geophagus thing -- is they pick up and sift substrate. It is an odd possibility, but perhaps a stone, or shard of sharp substrate got caught? I have occasionally seen cichlids get digestively blocked up fast and succumb quickly if they cannot pass food like blood worms, etc. Unless you've seen aggression and witnessed marks of a battle (torn fins, pitted attack points), my guess is it was something internal to the Threadfin. *sigh* Very sorry for your loss . . .

Nicely done! Those red egg casings -- are your feeding lots of live baby brine shrimp? Xtreme flakes? Carotenoid-rich foods?

I like the 29 gal for its vertical height, combined with sane “footprint” as a 30 gal long.

Just took a couple photos while feeding my NANF tank… Here’s my two Banded Sunfish… And here’s a Darter lurking…

Oof… looks externe, bacterial. QT and treat. I’d probably reach for E. M. Erythromycin / Maracyn first…

I’d recommend a 20 gal or larger if you’re getting into Enneacanthus and multiple species. My Darters and Sunfish do Ok together. Darters are peaceful. But Sunfish sometimes are a _tad_ mean.

Well… I’ll suggest snails, though NANF often eat the young ones. As far as fish go, I frankly don’t believe in “a cleanup crew.” Some fish eat algae. Maybe a Hillstream loach could help, but you’re moving wide of US natives.

I've got two Banded Sunfish in the 29 gal. video I linked in the thread above. One comes out on the lower right, and the other on the lower left. One of mine is coloring up. Here is an excellent summary of Native fish compatibility. You could probably add a small group -- ca. 10x Rainbow Shiners in a 20 gal. with a couple Enneacanthus. The Bluespotted Sunfish @L_goodei200 mentions are Enneacanthus gloriosus. Very pretty. Excellent choice! The Orange Spotted Sunfish probably will need a minimum 55 gal to be happy for long, though perhaps a juvenile could be kept for awhile in a 20 gal.

Fungus. Looks like an injury site. I'd put him in a separated off Quarantine tank and treat with API Fungus cure. It will stain your tank madly green. For a DIY solution to QT, check out Irene's video...

Yes. There are three species of sunfish in the Enneacanthus genus that would do just fine in that size tank. I personally wouldn't want more than a pair in there. They are rather reclusive, so don't expect a lot of interaction -- particularly if you leave them places to hide. I have two Enneacanthus obesus (Banded Sunfish). When fully colored, they can look like tiny Jack Dempseys...

Many states prohibit the retail sale of native fish species. Other states require a Bait-sale license to be maintained. Rainbow Shiners sell marvelously in Europe! I learned my breeding techniques, in part, by watching videos in German.

Beautiful fish! One of my favorites. Many LFS won’t carry. But they sell great online, or at fish club auctions. I breed mine in a 29 gal. I set out a small glass cube with landscaping rocks in. They spawn over top. Eggs fall in, I pull, and hatch out in a plastic storage bin inside the cabinet — or a DIY floating flow-through fry container…

I’m not familiar with their needs, but generally I follow advice here. I might personally limit my number to 4x in a 10 gal.

Personally, I’d probably go with the redhead G. tapajos. I’ve never kept them before… but looked at them longingly many a time! I live this Swiss guy’s videos. He’s always tinkering around with his tanks…

Interesting. I’d have guessed this the other way around: that the 90 gal would be more stable. How often do you perform water changes? Aquariums can build up humic acid with plant decay, etc. If your KH is low, and the acidity cuts through your buffer, maybe it is just poised for a crash. How much crushed coral did you add? I think a big tank would require a fair bit for it to be effective. But maybe running your filter through it helps.

Be patient. Grow these out. You’ll make money selling them! If you’d like, I can explain how I use a rack of 1-gal. jugs for this… If you’ve never shipped fish, here’s a thread explaining how to do it… My method is tedious, but has been 100% successful so far. Mature pairs can go for $30 or more on AquaBid or GetGills. If you get 20x fry, $15 each, you’ll bag $300. Which isn’t a lot after you consider the long process of raising them. But it does recover you some expenses. They’re very easy to ship in cool weather — late fall, early spring.