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Giving a Talk or Writing an Article About Tropical Fish

By Robert Schaarschmidt
Reprinted from the November 1995 FishTalk, the publication of the Atlanta Area Aquarium Association, which was reprinted from PISCES PRESS, the publication of the Nassau County Aquarium Society
Aquarticles

As a member of the East Coast Guppy Association, I was fortunate enough to receive a copy of an outline written by Mr. Al Martinez and Mr. Vic Pieto, who are both members of the ECGA. This outline was written to aid members of the ECGA while giving talks at their monthly meetings. I feel this information would be a great asset to members of other aquarium societies when they have to give a program or write an article for their monthly publication.

Strain: (Type of fish to be discussed)
A. Origin
   1. What part of the world does the species come from
   2. From what source did you get your first breeding pair
B. Identifying Characteristics
   1. Size of the male and female
   2. Shape of the male and female
   3. Color and distinctive markings
C. Development (length of time from birth to maturity)
   1. Compares to other strains and species
D. Length of time kept
E. Susceptibility to disease
F. Fertility

Male/Female characteristics

Age of breeders and why

Type of breeding and what method is used
A. Line breeding (cousin to cousin)
B. Sibling cross
C. Back cross (father to daughter, mother to son, nephew to aunt, etc.)
D. Hybrid crosses
   1. Related strains (same color)
   2. Non related strains (same color strain)
   3. Unrelated strain and color

Breeding method
A. How does that species breed
B. How do you set up the breeding tank

Results obtained from previous crosses and how followed up
A. After sibling cross, do you continue
B. After hybrid cross, do you sibling cross or back cross
C. After back cross, where do you go
D. Results
   1. Percentage of color desired
   2. Percentage of size desired
E. Does inbreeding cause genetic problems

Method of rearing the fry
A. Size of tank used
B. How long in what size tank
C. Age fish are sexed and culled
D. Temperature used at various ages
E. Feeding
   1. Number of feedings per day
   2. Types of foods used (live, flake, paste, frozen, home-made)
   3. Does the number of feedings and/or type of food change with the age of fish or temperature

Method of rearing adults
A. Are males and females separated
B. Size of tanks used
C. Number of fish kept in various size tanks
D. Age of fish kept in various size tanks
E. Number of feedings of what foods

Tank maintenance
A. Type of tank (plastic, all glass, slate bottom, acrylic)
B. Type of filter used (undergravel, box, power-outside, sponge)
C. Type of filter medium used (marbles, gravel, dolomite, oyster shells, charcoal, filter floss, etc.)
D. How do you care for the filter
   1. How long does the filter remain in the tank
   2. Do you completely change the filter medium or wash and re-use the old medium
E. Plants
   1. Care
F. Lights used and for how long each day
   1. Individual tank
   2. Ceiling overhead
   3. Fluorescent
   4. Incandescent
   5. Others

Water conditions
A. Temperature
B. pH - acid or alkaline
C. Hardness
D. Source of water (city, rainwater, well, other)
E. Water changes
   1. Frequency of water changes
   2. Amounts changed each time
   3. Is the water aged or tap
   F. Do you periodically measure pH, nitrogen content, hardness

Particular problems encountered
A. Susceptibility to disease
B. Type of feeding
C. Fertility
D. What types of food and water condition affect
   1. Color
   2. Size
   3. Fertility

Note: In each situation, relate how each item effects your particular strain

I hope this outline will give you help when breeding fish or writing an article about your spawn.