October 23, 2024

ACA News

Volume 10, #10, October 2024

Editor: Alan De Angelo

Contact: [email protected]

I plan on becoming a millionaire by breeding cichlids. Now, if I can only get a billion dollars to start off with, I’ll be in good shape.

As promised, when I receive more convention info, I will pass it along. So, here’s the latest convention news for you. These guys are not messing around. They are really on top of things.

Although I liked my version of the name, the Big As Texas Aquatic Extravaganza, it had a little pizzazz to it, the official name of the 2025 ACA Convention is (drum roll, please):

Lone Star CARES Convention – Texas Hold ’em!

Two entries were combined to come up with the name. Congratulations to Jason Reding (Lone Star Super Convention) and Lew Carbone (Texas Hold ’em!). They will both be awarded a free convention registration. Thanks to Clay Trachtman for handling this.

With the focus on CARES, the Texas Hold ’em makes perfect sense. We need to hold on to those rare and endangered species. Hopefully, many rare CARES species will be available through all of the various organizations. Peter George did a wonderful job of this at the last convention. Let’s see him out do himself in 2025. Remember, this is a combined convention of ACA, AKA, ALA, FOTAS and the IBC. Who knows what gems you may find.

For information about all participants, check out:

To access the ACA and other convention information that I have so far, please click HERE.

___

Lone Star CARES Convention – Texas Hold ’em!

REGISTRATION HOME PAGE

Convention Registration includes exclusive access to the following:

Entry to the main Fish Show with cichlids, livebearers, killifish and Bettas from around the world;
Vendor and Manufacturer Booths featuring display, sales and promotional items;
Goodie bag stuffed with great manufacturer and vendor giveaways;
Presentations on topics relating to cichlids, livebearers, killifish and bettas, including travel, collecting, keeping and breeding by experts in the hobby and industry;
The big Sunday Swap Meet with Vendors and Hobbyists who will be offering fishes, plants, equipment and dry goods for sale;
Club-sponsored Hospitality Suite on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings;
Option to register for special side events, including Thursday Fish Farm Tour and Friday Texas Native Fish Collecting Trips including The Xiphophorus Stock Center – limited space available, so reserve early;
Option to register to the Saturday evening Banquet featuring a humorous Key-Note Presentation by Greg Steeves.

To Register by mail please make checks payable to: Texas Convention 2025.

Please have the checks mailed to: Rusty Wessel, 6815 Carolyn Road, Louisville, KY 40214

Please include an itemized list of what the check is for, your name, an address, phone # and email if you have one.

Please mail all checks prior to May 15 or contact Rusty Wessel to make arrangements for payment.

REGISTRATION PAGE

This registration will get you into all of the speakers for both the ACA, AKA, ALA and IBC Show; the hospitality suite; the AKA Maier Fund and ALA VPF fund wine and beer fundraiser; and the ACA BABES auction late Friday night; and all of the side trips (extra cost); and any other convention-included programs.

Adult pricing is $65 until May 01 when it will go up to $75 and is for anyone 18 and older;

Youth pricing is $30 for those 13-17 year of age;

Child registration is $10 for those 12 and under.

Early Bird Registration!

Package deal 1: Speaker and Banquet Ticket purchased before January 1, 2025 is only $120. We will contact you with your banquet preference after the registration is received.

Package deal 2: Speaker and Banquet ticket purchased between January 1 and February 29, 2025 is $125. We will contact you with your banquet preference after the registration is received.

BANQUET

Buffet Banquet is $66.

Tomato Cucumber Fennel and Onion Salad and Traditional Caesar Salad with Anchovy Dressing;

Grilled Beef Tenderloin and Seared Tilapia with Citrus Relish;

Grilled Asparagus;

Oven Rosemary Roasted Potatoes;

Crème Brulee Cheesecake and Carrot Cake;

Vegetarian option available upon request.

Banquet Speaker: Greg Steeves

No Entry without a Banquet Ticket. Space is limited.

CONVENTION SPONSORSHIPS

If you would like to sponsor the Convention, we have three different levels at which you can do so while receiving unique benefits to your organization:

Bronze Level

$400 cash donation or $800 worth of product donation for the auction;

Includes: Up to two tables with chairs located in the vendor room;
Advertisement recognition as a sponsor in the Convention program;
Two free speaker registrations for the Convention.

Silver Level

$500 cash donation or $1000 worth of product donation for the auction;
Includes: Up to three tables with chairs located in the vendor room;
Advertisement recognition in the Convention program;
Two free full registrations for the Convention;
Two free Convention T-shirts.

Gold Level

$1000 Cash Donation or $2000 worth of Product Donation for the auction;
Includes up to four tables with chairs located in the vendor room;
Full-page advertisement recognition as a sponsor in the Convention program;
Two free full registrations for the Convention;
Two free Convention T-shirts.

SWAP MEET TABLE

A SWAP meet will be held on Sunday from 12:30pm to 2:00pm. All the proceeds go to the seller and the ACA/ AKA/ALA/IBC/FOTAS will not be taking a split of your profits. You may sell any hobby related items that you wish and it doesn’t need to be fish related items.

Tables are 6′ long each and multiples can be purchased.

The preregistered price for a table is $50.00.

The price for a table goes up to $60 on May 15 and for walk-ins. However, it is highly recommended that you preregister to ensure yourself a table.

VENDOR TABLES

Would you like to sell your product at the Texas Convention? If so, you can purchase vendor room tables. you will be able to sell your products on Thursday, Friday and Saturday to all convention-goers and anyone who comes to view the show.

The table cost is $100 for the weekend. If you need more than one there is a $25 discount on the tables after that.

1 table is $100

2 tables are $175

3 tables are $250

4 tables are $325

CONVENTION BOOKLET ADS

Help to offset the costs of the Convention while advertising your products in the program booklet. Ads must be placed by April 1 to be in the booklet.

Full page ad $50.00

Half-page ad $25.00

SIDE TRIPS

We have some great side trips for the 2024 Convention, you will want to arrive early and stay late.

You must be registered for the Convention to attend any of the side trips.

Thursday June 12^th Morning Farm Tour – Fish can be purchased.

Texas’ largest breeder and shipper of freshwater aquarium animals.

Our passion for the hobby is evident. One of Texas’ leading tropical fish farms since 1984, Goliad Farms is operated by Charles and Susie Clapsaddle. We specialize in breeding high quality tropical fish including a variety of community fish, American and African Cichlids, invertebrates and more.

Cost to participate is $55.

Friday June 13th – San Marco River collecting and Xiphophorus Stock Center

Limited to 56 people.

ALA SHOW ENTRY PAGE

The Convention show is a great opportunity to show your fish. The entry fee is $2 per fish regardless of how many fish you enter. The number of tanks is limited so it is strongly suggested that you register early. You do not need to list what fish you will be bringing since the tanks are flexible.

Show Rules

Entries must be registered by Friday May 15 at 10pm;
All exhibits must be Set up by Friday at 10:00PM and cannot be removed until Saturday after the banquet or 9pm on Saturday evening and must be removed by 10am Sunday morning;
Tampering with any exhibit other than that which belongs to oneself is strictly forbidden. If an entry needs to be moved for any reason the Show Committee will do so;
No extensions or early tear downs without prior permission of the Show Committee;
All exhibits will be under the full control of the Show Committee while in the show, they must remain there for the duration of the show;
Items not claimed by 10am on Sunday will become the property of ALA;
Neither the Hotel, nor the American Livebearer Association, nor the host club will be held responsible for any loss or damage incurred during the show. Exhibitors do have a responsibility to be careful with water;
Exhibitors may choose to have their exhibits auctioned. The exhibitor is responsible to be sure that those fish are bagged and properly labeled after judging is completed.

Show Classes

1. Guppy – Male Solid Color Tail, Delta Tail;

2. Guppy – Male Variegated Color Tail, Delta Tail;

3. Guppy – Male Other Tail Types;

4. Guppy – Female;

5. Mollies – Domestic Varieties and Hybrids – Color and/or finnage variations of either sailfin or shortfin type mollies;

6. Mollies – Natural Species: Poecilia butleri, caucana, chica, gilli, gracilis, latipinna, mexicana, orri, petenensis, salvatoris, sphenops, velifera, etc.;

7. Swordtails – Domestic, Common Finnage Xiphophorus helleri;

8. Swordtails – Domestic, Fancy Finnage Xiphophorus helleri;

9. Swordtails – Wild type: Xiphophorus alvarezi, birchmanni, clemenciae, cortezi, continens, kallmani, malinche, mayae, mixei, montezumae, monticolus, multilineatus, nezahuacoyotl, nigrensis, pygmaeus, signum, and helleri (with collection site information);

10. Variatus and Platies – Domestic, Common Finnage Xiphophorus variatus and X. maculatus;

11. Variatus and Platies – Domestic, Fancy Finnage Xiphophorus variatus and X. maculatus;

12. Platies – Wild type: Xiphophorus andersi, couchianus, evelynae, gordoni, milleri, meyeri, xiphidium, and variatus and maculatus (with collection site information);

13. Limias: caymenensis, dominicensis, melanogaster, miragoaensis, nigrofasciata, ornata,
perugiae, sulfurophila, tridens, versicolor, vitatta, zonata, etc.;

14. All other Poeciliid species: Alfaro, Belonesox, Brachyrhaphis, Carlhubbsia, Cnesterodon, Flexipinnis, Gambusia, Girardinus, Heterandria, Heterophallus, Neoheterandria, Phallichthys, Phallocerous, Poecilia (other than guppies and mollies listed above), micro-Poecilia, Poeciliopsis, Priapella, Priapicthys, Pseudopoecilia, Quintana, Scolichthys, Xenophallus, etc.;

15. Goodeids – Torpedo Body Shape Allodontichthys, Allotoca, Ataenobius, Characodon, Girardinichthys, Goodea, Ilyodon, Xenotaenia, etc.;

16. Goodeids – Deep Body Shape Alloophorus, Ameca, Chapalichthys, Skiffia, Xenoophorus, Xenotoca, Zoogoneticus, etc.;

17. All Other Livebearers: Halfbeaks (Dermogenys, Nomorhamphus, Hemirhamphodon, Zenarchopterus, etc.), Anableps, Jenynsia, Stingrays, etc.;

18. Pairs Class – Livebearers only male and female of the same species;

19. Family Class – Livebearers parents and 10 or more fry under three months old. The fishes must have been bred by the exhibitor;

20. Livebearer photography.

Chairman’s Award “most points”;

Joanne Norton Award “Best domestic”;

Frances Hubbs Miller Award “Best Goodeid”;

Robert Rush Miller Award “Best Wild-type” (other than Goodeid).

NOTE: By entering fish into the Back to the Bay 3 Fish Shows or bringing fish to the Convention for Sale, you are certifying that these fish have been obtained, imported, or bred within the parameters of the United States and Florida laws. Members are encouraged to review the Lacey Act, the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and other relevant legislation before displaying or distributing wildlife. The Convention host organizations, including the American Killifish Association, The American Livebearer Association, and First Coast Bettas will not accept any fish prohibited by the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA) or in violation of applicable laws in our shows.

Lacey Act – fws.gov/law/lacey-act-amendments-1981#:~:text=The%20Lacey%20Act%2C%20as%20amended,tribal%20law%2C%20or%20foreign%20law

Lacy Act Amendments of 1981 – Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

ESA – fws.gov/law/endangered-species-act

Endangered Species Act –Endangered Species Act | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

ALA SHOW CLASS SPONSORS PAGE

The ALA Convention show is a 20-class show. We award 1st, 2nd and 3rd places in each class. Additionally there are four additional Major awards.

Sponsoring and class costs $30 and the Major awards sponsorships are $50 each.

Show Classes

1. Guppy – Male Solid Color Tail, Delta Tail;

2. Guppy – Male Variegated Color Tail, Delta Tail;

3. Guppy – Male Other Tail Types;

4. Guppy – Female;

5. Mollies – Domestic Varieties and Hybrids – Color and/or finnage variations of either sailfin or shortfin type mollies;

6. Mollies – Natural Species: Poecilia butleri, caucana, chica, gilli, gracilis, latipinna, mexicana, orri, petenensis, salvatoris, sphenops, velifera, etc.;

7. Swordtails – Domestic, Common Finnage Xiphophorus helleri;

8. Swordtails – Domestic, Fancy Finnage Xiphophorus helleri;

10. Variatus and Platies – Domestic, Common Finnage Xiphophorus variatus and X. maculatus;

11. Variatus and Platies – Domestic, Fancy Finnage Xiphophorus variatus and X. maculatus;

12. Platies – Wild type: Xiphophorus andersi, couchianus, evelynae, gordoni, milleri, meyeri, xiphidium, and variatus and maculatus (with collection site information);

13. Limias – caymenensis, dominicensis, melanogaster, miragoaensis, nigrofasciata, ornata,
perugiae, sulfurophila, tridens, versicolor, vitatta, zonata, etc.;

14. All other Poeciliid species – Alfaro, Belonesox, Brachyrhaphis, Carlhubbsia, Cnesterodon, Flexipinnis, Gambusia, Girardinus, Heterandria, Heterophallus, Neoheterandria, Phallichthys, Phallocerous, Poecilia (other than guppies and mollies listed above), micro-Poecilia, Poeciliopsis, Priapella, Priapicthys, Pseudopoecilia, Quintana, Scolichthys, Xenophallus, etc.;

15. Goodeids – Torpedo Body Shape Allodontichthys, Allotoca, Ataenobius, Characodon, Girardinichthys, Goodea, Ilyodon, Xenotaenia, etc.;

16. Goodeids – Deep Body Shape Alloophorus, Ameca, Chapalichthys, Skiffia, Xenoophorus, Xenotoca, Zoogoneticus, etc.;

17. All Other Livebearers – Halfbeaks (Dermogenys, Nomorhamphus, Hemirhamphodon, Zenarchopterus, etc.), Anableps, Jenynsia, Stingrays, etc.;

18. Pairs Class – Livebearers only male and female of the same species;

19. Family Class – Livebearers parents and 10 or more fry under three months old. The fishes must have been bred by the exhibitor;

20. Livebearer photography.

Chairman’s Award “most points”;

Joanne Norton Award “Best domestic”;

Frances Hubbs Miller Award “Best Goodeid”;

Robert Rush Miller Award “Best Wild-type” (other than Goodeid).

AKA SHOW CLASS PAGE

Show Class sponsorship $100.00;

Speaker sponsorship $100.00.

JOIN PAGE

Please take a moment to join the AKA, ALA, ACA, IBC, FOTAS

American Cichlid Association

International Betta Conference

FOTAS

American Livebearer Association livebearers.org

American Killifish Association aka.org

ALA SPEAKER SPONSORS

Speaker Sponsorship

Putting on a Convention has many costs. To help with offsetting these costs, please consider sponsoring an ALA Speaker or a GPS Student.

Help offset the costs with a $100 donation.

Sponsorships made before April 1, 2025 will be published in the Convention Program.

AKA SHOW PAGE

Please see the following link to enter the AKA show.

AKA Convention Guidelines 2025

AKA show Classes

NEW SHOW CLASSES

KILLIFISH PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST RULES

Class 16 – Digital submissions: Images submitted as digital files, even if they weren’t originally shot with a digital camera, i.e., even if they were scanned from film negatives, slides, or prints. Entries are limited to images of killifishes, as defined in the KMI (Killifish Master Index), i.e., oviparous Cyprinodontiform fishes. Fishes pictured must belong to a killifish family contained in the KMI, even if the particular species in question is too new (or undescribed) for inclusion.

Parameters for digital files submitted for competition:

File format: JPEG

Resolution/Image size: Images should be sized at 1425 pixels wide, allowing the vertical dimension to fall where it will, as per the aspect ratio of the particular image. If entrant’s software doesn’t allow sizing to specific pixel dimensions, images should be sized to 4.75 inches in the horizontal dimension at 300ppi, again allowing the vertical dimension to fall.

Each digital file submitted for competition should be devoted entirely to the actual photographic image (“live art”) only; no borders or other decorative effects should surround the photographic image.

There are no limitations on post-exposure editing/manipulations. It’s understood that photographers may take creative liberties with digital files. It’s up to the judges to detect and determine when such interventions are unnatural or otherwise obtrusive, and evaluate images accordingly.

File name: File name should include entrant’s last name, first name, and the full

binomial/trinomial, as per the following example:

doe john_Cyprinodon variegatus ovinus

Images will be archived, renamed, and cross-referenced before being submitted for judging, so that judges will not see entrants’ names as part of the file name.

Method of delivery: Entries should be e-mailed as file attachments to convention organizers at [email protected] by May 01, 2025.

A checklist of submissions must occupy the body of the e-mail(s) accompanying the attached files, and may contain additional information about the fishes pictured, such as, but not limited to, sex, locality, and any other pertinent information, at the entrant’s discretion.

There is a limit of five (5) images per entrant.

KILLIFISH ARTWORK CONTEST RULES

Class 17 – Artwork:

This class is reserved for original, killifish-themed artwork created by the exhibitor within the past five (5) years. Media can include drawings, paintings, woodwork, stained-glass, pottery and any other non-photography artwork. The piece must be killifish-themed and must be in good taste and of appropriate size for physical display at the Convention.

Artwork entries must be accompanied by the name of the entrant/exhibitor, media type, approximate size of the piece(s) and name of the artwork (if applicable). Each entry must be pre-registered (see website for details). The Artwork will be evaluated by qualified judges based on creativity, theme consistency, originality, and overall appearance. First, second and third places will be awarded.

Method of delivery: Exhibitors may bring their artwork entries to the Convention (preferred) or may mail/ship to the Convention venue (see below details). Shipping costs will be the responsibility of the exhibitor and the exhibitor may either donate the artwork or arrange and pay for return shipment. Questions can be directed to Dave Shumacher at [email protected]

There is a limit of three (3) entries per exhibitor.

Guidelines for Shipping to Hotel:

All packages sent to hotel need to be addressed in care of the person that will ask for them on site (Brian Skidmore). Due to the limited amount of storage space, we ask that packages be sent no more than three days prior to arrival (must arrive at hotel between Monday, June 9 and Thursday, June 12, 2025). Please have the conference name (ACA/AKA/ALA/IBC/FOTAS 2025 National Convention) and dates also noted, as this will make it easier to locate among all shipments received. Items may be shipped to:

Marriott San Antonio Airport

C/O Lone Star CARES Convention

77 NE Interstate 410 Loop

San Antonio, TX 78216

By entering fish into the LONE STAR CARES CONVENTION Fish Shows or bringing fish to the Convention for Sale, you are certifying that these fish have been obtained, imported, or bred within the parameters of the United States and Florida laws. Members are encouraged to review the Lacey Act, the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and other relevant legislation before displaying or distributing wildlife. The Convention host organizations, including the American Killifish Association, The American Livebearer Association, and First Coast Bettas will not accept any fish prohibited by the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA) or in violation of applicable laws in our shows.

Appendix III: Prohibited killifish species
With regard to endangered species, as an organization dedicated to the conservation of killifish, the AKA will follow the intent of CITES regulations and the US Endangered Species Act (ESA). No killifish species are presently listed by CITES. There are, however, numerous species listed at the national level by the ESA as endangered or threatened and which constitute prohibited species in the context of AKA programs. These species are as follows:

Prohibited sp. listed by ESA                              Sp. ESA Status
Crenichthys baileyi baileyi                                Endangered
Crenichthys baileyi grandis                               Endangered
Crenichthys nevadae                                         Threatened
Cyprinodon bovinus                                           Endangered
Cyprinodon diabolis                                           Endangered
Cyprinodon elegans                                           Endangered
Cyprinodon macularius                                      Endangered
Cyprinodon nevadensis mionectes                   Endangered
Cyprinodon nevadensis pectoralis                   Endangered
Cyprinodon radiosus                                          Endangered
Empetrichthys latos                                           Endangered

Lacey Act – fws.gov/law/lacey-act-amendments-1981#:~:text=The%20Lacey%20Act%2C%20as%20amended,tribal%20law%2C%20or%20foreign%20law

Lacy Act Amendments of 1981 – Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

ESA – fws.gov/law/endangered-species-act

Endangered Species Act – Endangered Species Act | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

2025 ACA – ALA – AKA – IBC National Convention – FOTAS Schedule of Events

Wednesday

8am-5pm Show Room, Rental Room and Vendor Setup

Thursday

8am-4pm Goliad Farm – Lunch provided (limit 56)

9am-5pm Show Room, Rental Room and Vendor Open, BABES Table

6pm-8pm Bonus program

5pm-8pm Registration Open

7pm-8pm Jose Gonzalez – Killies!

8pm-9pm Gerald Griffin – Bettas!

9pm-10:30pm Juan Miguel Artigas Azas – Swordtails of the Panuco!

8pm-12pm Hospitality suite Open

Friday

8am-2pm San Marcos Collecting and Xiphophorus Stock Center Tour

9am-5pm Show Room and Vendor Room Open, BABES Table

9am-5pm Registration Open

9am-5pm ALA-AKA-Betta SILENT Auction

1pm-2pm ALA-AKA-Betta Board Meeting

2:30pm-3:30pm Jose Gonzalez – Madagascar Cichlids!

3:30pm-4:30pm Killie Speaker

4:30pm-5:30pm (ALA Goodied Speaker)

7pm-8:30pm Rare Goodeid Auction to support ALA

9pm ALA-AKA-Betta Show Entry Deadline

10pm-end ACA BABES AUCTION

Saturday

7am-9am Show Judging ALA-AKA-Betta

9am-5pm Show Room and Vendor Room Open, BABES Table

9am-10: 00am Charles Clapsaddle – Domestic Livebearers!

10am-11:30am Juan Miguel Artigas Azas – Cichlids of Mexico!

12-1pm Kids Decorating Contest by Aqueon and Segrest (limited to 15)

1pm-2:00 pm Killi Speaker

2:00pm-3:30pm AKA Killi Carnival

3:30pm-4:30pm Ad Konings – African Cichlids!

4:30pm-5:30pm (ALA Graduate Student Poster Presentations)

5:30pm-6:30pm Wine/Beer tasting

6:30-7:30pm Reception Bar

7:30-8:30pm Combined Banquet (ACA, AKA, ALA, IBC and FOTAS)

8:30-9:30pm Banquet Speaker Greg Steeves

9:30pm-12am Hospitality suite open and Fish/Vendor room open

(show fish can be removed)

Sunday

8am-10am Tear Down Fish Show

8am-10am Show award presentations

10am-noon AKA/ALA auction

Noon-3 pm SWAP Meet

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VOTE!!!

I don’t care who you vote for, just vote. Every person on the ballot this time is a great fit for the BOT and has the best interests of the ACA in mind. So, no matter who you vote for, the important thing is that you participate in the election by casting your vote. If you haven’t voted, please take the time to do so today.

If you haven’t noticed, Tim Hovanec has taken over the reigns as Election Chair. Kudos for stepping up to the plate on this, Tim. As ACA Treasurer, Tim does a lot behind the scenes for ACA and rarely gets any recognition. Tim is also very protective of the ACA’s 501c3 status. Thanks, Tim, for all you do.

2025 AND BEYOND …

While the 2025 convention is slated for San Antonio, it is never too early to consider hosting the ACA Convention in your home town. Our current Convention Liaison is Jan Benes. Contact Jan at [email protected].

BB

I recently submitted two articles to Daryl for use in BB. It’s not that hard to do. So, sit down at the keyboard or put pen to paper and get writing. Daryl will edit any submissions so don’t worry about grammar or spelling errors, it’s what he does for all authors. He even catches me on very, very, rare occasions. None of us are perfect. Send all submissions to [email protected].

I hope to have more about the 2025 convention next month.

Enjoy the fall weather,

Alan

Don’t be bashful! Run for the ACA BOT and help to guide the organization through the next few years. You can nominate for the next election (2026) any time. Send your short bio to Tim Hovanec at [email protected].

PS: Be sure to mark this event down in your calendar too: