Volume 2, #8, August 2016

ACA CONVENTION 2016

The party’s over my friends. And a great party it was. If you missed the convention, you missed a lot. Many kudos to the folks in Cincinatti for a job well done. The official count was 297 attendees, all having one heck of a great time. I am sure that BB will have various accountings of the festivities, so I will just say that I can’t wait to do it again next year in the Detroit area.

Look to the 2017 promo’s for more information coming out in the near future. (Hint: start at the end of this message.)

Part of the fun, for me at least was finally meeting my counterpart, Daryl Hutchins, who flew in from Australia to the event. Daryl, the BB Editor, also helps me with the ACA NEWS by putting it together and making it all computer-tolerable. I write it and he publishes it. In case you were wondering what we look like, Mo Devlin snapped this photo of us after the banquet. Thanks, Mo! Daryl’s the guy with grey hair and glasses. Oh, wait, that describes me, too. He is on the left (obviously, the distinguished-looking one – Helper).

Daryl Hutchins, BB Editor and Alan R. De Angelo, ACA NEWS Editor.

SHOW RESULTS

Class 1 Amphilophus, large Cincelichthys bocourti, –pearsei), and Tomocichla: 1st – Scott Myers – Mesoheros festae, 2nd – Scott Myers – Cincelichthys pearsei, 3rd – Scott Myers – Amphilophus hogaboomorum.

Class 2 Herichthys, Thorichthys and similar (Amatitlania, Archocentrus, ExCichlasoma; all other species not in class 1, Astatheros, Crytoheros, Herotilapia, Rocio, Thorichthys):
1st – Scott Myers – Cribroheros rhytisma, 2nd – Eric Jacobsen – Herichthys carpintis “Escondito”,
3rd – Bruce Duong – Amatitlania sajica.

Class 3 Paratheraps and similar (Chuco, Hypsophrys, Neetroplus, Paratheraps, Paraneetroplus, Theraps,
Vieja): 1st – Scott Myers – Vieja bifasciata, 2nd – Scott Myers – Vieja sp Coatzacoalcos, 3rd – Jerry Partin – Hypsophrys nicaraguensis.

Class 4 Parachromis, Nandopsis, and similar (Nandopsis, Petenia, Parachromis): 1st – Scott Myers – Nandopsis haitiensis, 2nd – Scott Myers – Amphilophus istlanus, 3rd – Scott Myers – Mayaheros beani.

Class 5 Symphysodon (all Symphysodon species) – no entries.

Class 6 Pterophyllum (all Pterophyllum species) – no entries.

Class 7 Apistogramma, and similar (Apistogramma, Apistogrammoides, Biotoecus, Crenicara, Dicrossus, Mikrogeophagus, Taeniacara): 1st – Kathy Muraca – Apistogramma macmasteri, 2nd – Ramon Garcia – Apistogramma macmasteri, 3rd – Nicholas Caputo – Apistogramma nijsseni.

Class 8 Geophagines (Acarichthys, Biotodoma, Geophagus, “Geophagus“, Gymnogeophagus, Guianacara, Retroculus, Satanoperca): 1st – Scott Myers – Geophagus braziliensis.

Class 9 Acaras and similar (Aequidens, Acaroni, Australoheros, Bujurquina, Cichlasoma, Cleithracara, Hypselacara, Ivanacara, Krobia, Laetacara, Nannacara, Tahuantinsuyoa):
1st – Dave Smith – Cichlasoma bimaculatum, 2nd – Andrew Baran – Hypselecara temporalis.

Class 10 Pike Cichlids (Crenicichla, Teleocichla) – no entries.

Class 11 All Other South American (Astronotus, Cichla, Caquetaia, Cheatobranchopsis, Cheatobranchus, Heroina, Heros, Hoplarchus, Mazarunia, Mesonauta, Uaru): 1st – Marcus Christy – Heros notatus “Spotted Severum”, 2nd – Doug Miner – Heros sp Rotkeil “Red Shoulder Severum”.

Class 12 Lake Malawi Mbuna group (Cynotilapia, Genyochromis, Gephyrochromis, Iodotropheus, Labeotropheus, Labidochromis, Melanochromis, Metriaclima, Petrotilapia, Pseudotropheus, Tropheops:
1st – Steve Kalbli – Labidochromis caeruleus, 2nd – Scott Myers – Metriaclima sp “Dolphin”, 3rd – Greg Miceli – Metriaclima sp “Red Top Galliroya”.

Class 13 Lake Malawi Aulonocara group (Aulonocara, Lethrinops, Taeniolethrinops, Tramitichromis): 1st – Butch Livingston – Aulonocara sp “Maleri”, 2nd – Scott Myers – Aulonocara jacobfriebergi “Mamalela”, 3rd – Butch Livingston – Aulonocara sp “Lwanda”.

Class 14 Lake Malawi Haplochromis group (Alticorpus, Astatotilpia, Caprichromis, Chilotilapia, Copadichromis, Corematodus, Ctenopharynx, Cyrtocara, Diplotaxodon, etc):
1st – Butch Livingston – Trematocranus placodon, 2nd – Lisa Hoeber – Plaicdochromis sp “Phenochilus Tanzania”, 3rd – Scott Myers – Protomelas sp “Spilonotus Tanzania”.

Class 15 Lake Tanganyika Lamprologus, Julidochromis, and similar (Altolamprologus, “Lamprologus“, Lepidiolamprologus, Neolamprologus, Variabilichromis, Chalinochromis, Telmatochromis): 1st – Greg Miceli – Altolamprologus calvus “Black Calvus”, 2nd – Matt Anderson – Julidochromis ornatus, 3rd – Mark Murtaugh – Altolamprologus compressiceps.

Class 16 Lake Tanganyika Featherfins, Sand-Dwellers, Cyprichromis and similar (Asprotilapia, Aulonocranus, Bathybates, Benthochromis, Callochromis, Cardiopharynx, Cunningtonia, etc): 1st – Greg Miceli – Ophthalmotilapia nasuta “Green Tiger”, 2nd – Isaiah Jenkins – Ophthalmotilapia ventralis “Kipilli”, 3rd – Greg Miceli – Ophthalmotilapia nasuta “Mukosa”.

Class 17 Lake Tanganyika Tropheus, Cyphotilapia, and others not included elsewhere (Boulengerochromis, Ctenochromis, Cyphotilapia, Eretmodus, Gnathochromis, etc): 1st – Jerry Partin – Lobochilotes labiatus, 2nd – Greg Miceli – Eretmodus cyanostictus.

Class 18 Chromidotilapiines (Benitochromis, Chromidotilapia, Congochromis, Divandu, Limbochromis, Nanochromis, Parananochromis, Pelvicachromis, Teleogramma, Thysochromis): 1st – Scott Myers – Pelvicachromis pulcher, 2nd – Marcus Christy – Benitochromis nigrodorsalis.

Class 19 Tilapiines and similar (Etia, Gobiocichla, Heterochromis, Konia, Myaka, Oreochromis (including Rift Lake), Pungu, Saratherodon, Steatocranus, Stomotepia, Tilapia, Tylocromis): 1st – Marcus Christy – Steatocranus tinanti, 2nd – Marcus Christy – Oreochromis niloticus,
3rd – Dave Smith – Coptodon bythobates.

Class 20 Hemichromines, Lamprologines and similar (Anomalochromis, Hemichromis, Lamprologus, Pelmatochromis, Pterochromis): 1st – Scott Myers – Hemichromis fasciatus.

Class 21 Haplochromines (all Lake Victoria, and Lake Victorian Basin Haplochromines, Chetia, Ctenochromis, Cyclopharynx, Orthochromis, Pharyngochromis, Pseudocrenalibrus, etc:
1st – Dave Hale – Pundamilia nyererei, 2nd – Marcus Christy – Neochromis greenwoodi “Velvet”,
3rd – Scott Myers – Pundamilila nyererei “Mwanza”.

Class 22 Malagasy and Asian (all genera endemic to Madagascar and Asia) – no entries.

Class 1 B Discus (genus Symphysodon) – no entries.

Class 2B Angelfish (genus Pterophyllum): 1st – Isaiah Jenkins – Pterophyllum scalare,
2nd – Isaiah Jenkins – Pterophyllum scalare, 3rd – Isaiah Jenkins – Pterophyllum scalare.

Class 3B New World Cichlids (other than Discus and Angelfish): 1st – Erv Gundrum – Andinoacara sp “Electric Blue Acara”.

Class 4B Old World Cichlids – no entries.

Class 1A Photography (digital, slide and film photography that has not been manipulated in any way other than what can be accomplished in a darkroom on photographic paper):
1st – Nicholas Caputo, 2nd – Tyler Termini, 3rd – Barry Heller.

Class 1B Altered Photography (photographs that have been changed into works of art through digital manipulation or physical application of color or other media) – no entries.

Class 3A Frameable Art and T-shirt Designs (paintings, drawings, silk screens, etchings, prints and similar) – no entries.

Class 4A 3-Dimensional Art (sculptures, models and similar) – no entries.

Best of Division A: Scott Myers – Mesoheros festae.

Best of Division B: Dave Smith – Cichlasoma bimaculatum.

Best of Division C: Butch Livingston – Aulonocara sp “Maleri”.

Best of Division D: Dave Hale – Pundamilia nyererei.

Best of Art and Photography: Nicholas Caputo.

Ornamental Cichlids Reserve Best of Show: Erv Gundrum – Andinoacara sp “Electric Blue Acara”.

Ornamental Cichlids Best of Show: Isaiah Jenkins – Pterophyllum scalare.

Mike Sheridan Tank Buster Award: Scott Myers – Nandopsis haitiensis.

CARES Best of Show: Dave Hale –Pundamilia nyererei

Natural and Ornamental Cichlid People’s Choice: Scott Myers – Geophagus braziliensi.

Reserve Best of Show: Dave Hale – Pundamilia nyererei.

Best of Show: Scott Myers – Mesoheros festae.

ACA SPECIAL AWARDS 2016

Plaques were presented to:

BOT MEMBERS, OUTGOING 2015

Sam Borstein
Michael Meyer
Charles Rambo (Chair)

COMMITTEE CHAIRS, OUTGOING

Sean Danekind: Webmaster
Andy Hudson: Club Liaison, Breeder of the Year Award, Speaker Program
Kenneth Warren: Archives

SPECIAL THANKS

Babes in the Cichlid Hobby

Paul V. Loiselle Conservation Fund: $2400
Guy Jordan Endowment Fund: $3175

World Pet Association

Guy Jordan Endowment Fund: $2500

ACA CARES MEMBER OF THE YEAR

BB EXCELLENCE IN WRITING AND PHOTOGRAPHY AWARD

Hobbyist Division Winner
Morrell Devlin – The Hobby Isn’t Getting Any Younger (BB #285).

Hobbyist Division Honorable Mention
Alan De Angelo – Adventures in Cichlidom (the series).

Scholarly Division Winner
Paul V. Loiselle, Ph.D – In Situ Captive Breeding: An Essential Contribution to the Conservation of Madagascar’s Endemic Fishes (BB #285).

Scholarly Division Honorable Mention
Wolfgang Staeck – The Apistogramma Species of the Orinoco Basin: Review of the Revision of 2011 (BB #285).

Photography Division Winner
Stanislaw Gajaszek – Aristochromis christyi.

Photography Division Honorable Mention
Wolfgang Staeck – Apistogramma hongsloi.

Photography Division Honorable Mention
Morrell Devlin – Parachromis managuense.

‘BORN TO BE FREE’ DRAW

Congratulations to John Byma of Middletown, OH who was the winner of a refund for up to three nights lodging, including taxes, at the convention hotel, a refund of one banquet ticket, if purchased and a refund of the cost of one T-shirt, if purchased.

PIJAC

Sandy Moore and Shelby Bush were at the convention to highlight what is occurring in the Michigan legislature. As usual, the politicians have got it wrong. But, that’s what happens when you listen to the wrong people and do not seek out experienced sources before you draft legislation. Please, make note of this as it will affect us ALL in the future. It must be stopped now. PIJAC is in the forefront of fighting for our hobby.

In a nutshell, there are white lists and black lists. A black list contains fishes that can not be kept in the state. A white list is a list of what is allowed in the state. That seems pretty simple right? Wrong! You see, if you have a black list, you have a simple listing of things that are outlawed. So, if MI says: “River ruffe would invade our rivers and streams and displace native fishes, multiplying like crazy, we should outlaw that fish.” No problem, right? BUT, a white list is a list of allowed species. So, if cardinal tetras are on the white list and some taxonomist gets a bug in his bonnet and changes the name from Paracheirodon axelrodi to something else, the cardinal tetra is under a new name and is suddenly outlawed and illegal to keep. We all know that soft, tannic water tropical fish will die in a MI winter, heck maybe a MI summer, and are not a threat but since the name no longer appears on the white list … kiss it goodbye. Another example is that Pelvicachromis humilis is now in the new genus Wallaceochromis. So, it would be illegal to keep with the stroke of a taxonomist’s pen. If you think that any government agency is going to keep up with this and amend the list constantly, you are sorely mistaken. Just look what recently happened to all of the Central American cichlid genera! They would all possibly be outlawed.

And, if this legislation is passed in MI, then it is easier for the anti-hobby kooks to get it passed in other states. (Yes, I said kooks.) It could severely regulate our hobby to the point of no return.

💗 BABES IN THE CICHLID HOBBY 💗

The Babes In The Cichlid Hobby want to send a BIG THANK YOU to everyone who donated and bought items at the Oral and Silent Auctions! Once again we have demonstrated that hobbyists really do care about Cichlid Research and Cichlid Conservation! We will continue to spread awareness and share the reasons why it is so important! We love you and the cichlids love you! It’s not too early to start your pile of donations for next year!

We will see you all in Michigan!!

TRADING POST

I remember receiving the Trading Post in the mail back in the good old days. I would spend hours looking at the ads and dreaming about what cichlids I was going to get next, what species were prevalent in the hobby and how much they cost so I could better plan for their purchase.

Well, folks, the Trading Post is back! If you will log on to the ACA website, cichlid.org, go to “Community” and click on the “Trade your cichlids” tab. You are at the new Trading Post area. And … it’s full of cichlids listed to buy. You can also list your wants if you can’t find a fish in your area. So, take advantage of the new Trading Post, it is there to help you buy and sell the world’s most interesting family of fishes.

Unlike the old TP, it is listed not by seller but by a geographic area and, then, alphabetically by genus/species. However, if you are interested in a particular seller, simply click on their name and just their listings will be presented.

Remember, there are many new names for genera now so while you may be looking for Theraps nourissati, it probably would be listed as Wajpamheros nourissati. Wajpamheros, really? You have to love taxonomists, don’t you?

ELECTIONS

According to our By-Laws the period for nominations closed on August 10th. The names of the nominees will be presented to the BOT by August 20th. Look for your ballots to be arriving via email in the near future. Remember to vote for who you think will best represent the ACA during the 2017-2018 period. Thank you.

Please, don’t forget to help PIJAC in its fight against bad legislation that effects our hobby and don’t forget to VOTE for the BOT candidates of your choice.

Finally, thank you to the ACA for the award that I received for my series, ‘Adventures in Cichlidom’. I hope that you are enjoying reading it as much as I am enjoying reminiscing about my journey and writing about it. Speaking of writing about it, send all BB submissions to Daryl Hutchins at: [email protected].

Keep cool.

Alan

NOW AVAILABLE FROM BACK ISSUES

Go to the convention website for more information.

MONTHLY PHOTO CONTEST Have you been keeping up on the results of the ACA Photo Contest? Some truly wonderful entries have been sent. Show off your talents in photography, your creative eye and your fish. See the website for entry instructions, current entries and to view past results. LOCAL CLUB EVENTS Please send us your cichlid-related news and events and we will be happy to spread the word for you. Allow six weeks lead time. Thank you. [email protected]. MEMBERSHIP DETAILS Check/edit your Contact Details on CRC yourself when you move or change your e-mail address. It is simple … give it a try. Log-in to cichlidae.com Click username in Welcome Panel Select the Edit Tab and make changes Click Save You can support the ACA by shopping at AmazonSmile Simply go to smile.amazon.com, choose the American Cichlid Association as your charity and they will donate 0.5% of each purchase to the ACA! It’s easy and basically free money. Please help spread the word.