Showing fish at the ACA

[Pat Kelly]

Don't forget to show fish in July.
Its time to start thinking about it and preping those fish.
Have that one fish that is great looking but just needs a little more size?
Well now is the time to start growing it up. Don't wait until the week before.

LOL

There are plenty of tips on showing fish on here somewhere.
You can search or
we can start a new discussion on it. Its fun and easy. You just need to think ahead.

[Avatar]

Do tell.

[Reel Addiction]

So what size tanks are being used at ACA? Air stones or sponge filters?

[Pat Kelly]

All of that will be posted on the upcoming site but
Yes, the tanks will have sponge filters and mostly be 5.5 and 10 gallon tanks.
Remember that the smaller the tank, the bigger the fish looks.
As seen at Aquafest and the Catfish convention I put my Peacocks in 2.5 and 5 gallon tanks.
At those events air stones were used but an ACA convention is longer and the fish are in there longer. So the filters are used.
Again all of that will be on the new web site when it is set up.

[Pat Kelly]

Do tell.

http://www.capitalcichlids.org/forums/showthread.php?t=5175&highlight=showing+fish

[RIFT_LAKES_RULE]

I'm seriously considering entering a fish, it'll be my first time so I'll study up now so I'm ready for the show. Thanks for the link Pat ;)

[SubMariner]

Thanks for the heads up!

[UNCLERUCKUS]

I'm seriously considering entering a fish, it'll be my first time so I'll study up now so I'm ready for the show. Thanks for the link Pat ;)
ME TOO ;)

[fischfan13]

ME TOO ;)

Wrong Continent.:eek:

[Avatar]

?

http://www.capitalcichlids.org/forums/showthread.php?t=5175&highlight=showing+fish

[dogofwar]

Sam - I don't believe that there will be any non-cichlid classes at the show.

Matt

[longstocking]

That is correct... all fish will be cichlids in the ACA fish show.

As many of you know, I might even show a fish even though I never do! Not 100%.... but thinking about.

[mscichlid]

Whoa Sarah! Go girl.

Yes, our membership must make a good showing in the show. We have to represent. Walk the walk, talk the talk. Kick arse and take names. Boo-Yah, baby! BAM!

We have people in this club who have fantabulous fish. If you don't want to show your favorite, raise a cichlid (s) specifically for the show. Start now.

[Leffler817]

If you don't want to show your favorite, raise a cichlid (s) specifically for the show. Start now.

Could that be a grow out contest???

[UNCLERUCKUS]

Wrong Continent.:eek:
SOMEBODY HERE FLUENT IN NEW JERSEYESE.....I CANT EVEN READ THAT THE ACCENT IS SO BAD. WE MAY HAVE TO HIRE A TRANSLATOR FOR ACA :eek:

[mscichlid]

Could that be a grow out contest???

Grow out show contest? Or buy something young and super raise it.

[Cartel]

How big of a fish do people enter? I dunno about stuffing some of mine in a 5g

[dogofwar]

There are usually 10s and 20Hs for bigger fish.

As I'm likely not going to be showing any fish (thanks chimney fire!), some tips:

- Most fish will need to be separated (isolated) in order to be in prime show shape. Judges really look for the condition of the fish to be perfect: no split fins, missing scales, healed scars, etc. They also like really long find extensions. I usually try to isolate about 2 months out.

- Give your show fish extra special care. I do weekly water changes on all of my tanks. Thrown in an extra water change or 3 per month, even small ones, for your show fish. I also start feeding more and better food, especially on weekends (when I'm around). I'm a big fan of red wigglers... Live food makes a difference.

- Don't feed the show fish for 3 days prior to the show.

- Be careful catching your fish. I remove most of the decorations in the isolation tanks for the show fish. It gets them used to no cover and makes catching them easier. I like big white nets. I put the fish in big bags with dechlorinated tap for transport to the show.

- I add ammonia remover and polyfilter to the show tanks...as well as do water changes at least daily on the show tanks (usually more). Big fish + small tank = dirty water and listless fish.

Good luck!

Matt

[mscichlid]

I know some folks who use a container to catch their fish instead of a net.

[dogofwar]

Yes - or especially for long-finned or really delicate fish to catch them directly in the bag. Works pretty well for angelfish.

Matt

I know some folks who use a container to catch their fish instead of a net.

[STATMATT]

Do they have a female cichlid competition. I have some sic loking bland fish that are absolutely stunning if you like that kind of thing... but it seems sexism is awash in this SPORT.

[Tony]

Do they have a female cichlid competition. I have some sic loking bland fish that are absolutely stunning if you like that kind of thing... but it seems sexism is awash in this SPORT.

They don't have a separate category, but you should feel free to enter a female fish if it is a stunner like you say. :)

[Lively]

What about mated pairs... lol My blue is absolutely stunning right now!

[George]

One fish per tank. Females that are unusually well formed and colored well for the breed will do just as well as a male. If the judge is well schooled and knows what he/she is doing the fish is judged as an individual against the ideal for that fish. Fish should really not be simply judged against each other. The fish is given points based on how well it compares to the ideal fish of that breed and the highest number wins. This means that a female has the same chance as a male.

Now we happen to live in the real world and you know that males and females are always treated equally, right? Females are usually not entered. We were talking about fish, right?

George

[Lively]

@George you curmudgeon... you enjoyed posting that didn't you...

Men almost always perform well when there's a fancy bit of fish tail hanging around... at least that's what it's like the the real world :-P

lol

[mscichlid]

Tip: Put your fish right next to each other.

[Lively]

Tip: Put your fish right next to each other.

Brilliant Woman!

[Pat Kelly]

I've often said, I should seperate a male and female for a few weeks and then enter them both. Tanks side by side. LOL
The only hitch would be that you don't know they would be side by side. You are assigned the tanks. You don't get to pick.

[dogofwar]

Good judges will evaluate fish for what they are, male or female, colorful species or drab one.

My female A. siquia "Lago Nicaragua" female won 1st in the New World Cichlids < 4" category at the Catfish Convention, overcoming both anti-female and anti-convict biases ;)

A Tilapia brevimanus won Best of Show at ACA a couple of years ago. It was a male but those aren't exactly peacocks!

Condition and conditioning are really important.

Matt

[dykemyster]

Great thread! I hope that many of you do bring fish to show! Someone asked the question about the size of fish. Most are rather large for their species and most are very nice.

I have an interesting story about showing fish that some may like:
I showed an Aulonocara stuartgranti "Bicolor Maulana" at the OCA which basically judges the fish the same way as the ACA. I chose my fish because instead of the typical wide shoulder my male had a huge yellow band that covered nearly half of his body (he was also huge at 7"). Competition in the Aulonocara class is amazing. My fish did not place and I was told by the judge that the band was simply too much for the particular location of stuartgranti. I personally disagreed but, at the same time I totally understood what the judge was saying.

Oh, this is my first post on the CCA forum.

Hi!

[Tony]

Oh, this is my first post on the CCA forum.

Hi!

Welcome to the forum, Erik. :)

[IMxFROMxDC]

sounds like fun

[Pat Kelly]

It can be.
There are some people in the hobby that really go all out to show fish.
I do it for the fun and I love to win. LOL

[Tony]

It can be.
There are some people in the hobby that really go all out to show fish.
I do it for the fun and I love to win. LOL

Looking forward to seeing your monster peacocks again, Jefe! :)

[Pat Kelly]

LOL
If I have some left.

[davidhusker]

Ill be adding my show entries this week Pat.

[longstocking]

Cool David! Thank you!

Who else?

What is everyone planning on showing?

[Ophelia77]

I was thinking on my male platinum comb-tail angel until he broke off the bottom part of a vent (sniff). I have a DD comb-tail I could enter if nothing happens to his fins by then, and a smokey female that would do well, but i'm torn with the advice on tank size... Yes they are angels and would look much bigger in a ten, but when my males stretch their find out they are ten to eleven inches tall and would clamp their fins in anything less than a 20H... I have never been to a fish show before so I have no idea what the norm is for super-veils vs. tank size.

[mscichlid]

Go for the 29 if your fish is that tall.