May 2009 - Kitchener Waterloo Aquarium Society

M A Y 2 0 0 9Fins & TalesServing Kitchener-Waterloo and the surrounding area since 1960In This Issue: Volume 49, Issue 5The Minimalist Aquarist in Israel - page 5PlantED Tank: Moss Mayhem - page 950 th CAOAC Convention Details - page 12Cory’s: A Second Helping - page 14The Minutes Made the Front Page? - page 16Official Publication of the Kitchener-Waterloo Aquarium SocietyNext Meeting:Tuesday, May 5 th at 7:30pmFRESHWATER SHRIMP!Complimentary CopyWelcome to our club!Visit us at http://www.kwas.ca

M A Y 2 0 0 9This Issue Contains...TMA in Israel (part 3)PlantED Tank: MossesName That FishCAOAC Convention DetailsFrom The VP’s Desk &From The Editors’ DeskPage 4Junior Jar Show ContestTMA finishes his tour ofthe UnderwaterObservatory MarinePark in Eilat, Israel.Page 5Ed delights us with anarticle about mossesand their many uses.Page 9Griffin is under covertinvestigation followingthis mysterious andunprecedented doublewin last month. Seewhat he nabbed inZenin’s write up forApril’s Name That Fish.Page 19Speaker, prizes, friendsand a show. For all thedetails on the highlyanticipated 50 thCAOAC conventioncheck outPage 12April Jar Show ResultsCorys: A Second HelpingMay Exchange ReportPage 8Page 13Page 14Page 15The Article YOU Didn’t WritePage 21Could Have Been All YoursPage 22Wouldn’t it be Nice to WriteSomething??! Sure it would!Page 23Upcoming Fishy Events• May 2nd - St. Catharines Auction• May 3rd - London Auction• May 5th - KWAS General Meeting• May 12th - KWAS Business Meeting• May 15-17th - 50 th CAOAC Convention• June 2nd - KWAS General Meeting• June 9th - KWAS Business Meeting• June 28th - CAOAC Meeting & President’s BBQ• July 19th - KWAS Summer BBQ 1-6pmOn the front coverThis photo of an Electric Blue JackDempsey was taken by Phil Maznyk.On the back coverThis 35 gallon planted communitytank is owned by Jayne and stole theshow in April’s Tank of the Monthcontest on our forums.Get your cameras out! Your fish or tank could be featured in an upcomingedition of Fins & Tales! All you have to do is enter the monthly People’sChoice Photo Contest on our forum. Submit pictures to webmaster@kwas.cabefore the 1 st of each month then vote between the 1 st and the 7 th .2

M A Y 2 0 0 9KWAS Mission StatementThe Kitchener Waterloo Aquarium Society (KWAS) is a nonprofitorganization whose primary goals are to:• Further the hobby and study of tropical fish and relatedendeavours• Inspire the preservation of aquatic life• Maintain a meeting place for its members• Develop and maintain a library on aquatic life• Promote fellowship among its members• Seek out and establish a kinship with other clubs withsimilar objectivesKWAS is a charter member of CAOAC:The Canadian Association of Aquarium ClubsFins & Tales is published 10 times each year between themonths of September and June for KWAS members. Opinionsexpressed in this publication are those of the authors and notnecessarily those of the Fins & Tales editors or KWAS. Themention of any product does not constitute an endorsement byFins & Tales or KWAS members.Reprint Policy — Articles from this publication may be printedin a not-for-profit publication provided credit is given to boththe author and KWAS. Copies of the reprint must be sent toboth the author and KWAS. Any other use is prohibited withoutthe written consent of KWAS.Exchange Program — KWAS exchanges newsletters with otherclubs across North America. If your club is interested inbecoming a part of this program please contact our exchangeeditor by mail or e-mail zenin@golden.netCorrespondence — Please send all correspondence to theKitchener Waterloo Aquarium Society, Box 38037 256 KingStreet North, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2J 4T9.Submission of ArticlesCover images and articles can be submitted for publication inFins & Tales by all hobbyists and must be submitted digitally.Priority is given to KWAS members and to topics that have notbeen recently covered. Not all submissions will be printed in themonth they are submitted. The editors of Fins & Tales may berequired to edit your submission for length, spelling, grammarand/or clarity. Please indicate if you would like to proof readthe edited version prior to official publication.Submissions are due via email to the editors (editor@kwas.ca)by the 15 th day of the month for publication in the upcomingissue of Fins & Tales. Please contact us if you have anyquestions or would like suggestions or feedback on possiblearticle topics.KWAS Officials 2008 - 2009ExecutivePresident ** To Be Elected in May **Vice President Geoff Money (gmoney@golden.net)Treasurer Brad McClanahan (nasfan@3web.com)Secretary Lezley Smith (scarlett_0767@hotmail.com)Past President Al Ridley (pyrofish@sympatico.ca)Board of DirectorsEditor/Publisher Cameron Turner, Tanya Morose(editor@kwas.ca)Exchange Editor Zenin Skomorowski (zenin@golden.net)Membership Chair Mary Lynne Lucier (marylynnel@yahoo.ca)Auction Chair Ed Koerner (edkoerner@sympatico.ca)Oktoberfish Chair Al Ridley with Ed and GeoffLibrarian ***** Open *****Lunch Committee Katie McClanahan (nasfan@3web.com)Programs Al Ridley (pyrofish@sympatico.ca)Raffle Chair The Quigley FamilyB.A.P Chair ***** Open *****H.A.P Chair Filipe Martins (filipem@rogers.com)CAOAC Reps Phil Maznyk (and one position open still)Name That Fish Zenin Skomorowski (zenin@golden.net)Jar Show Anthony McAslin (mcspetworld@sympatico.ca)Webmaster Phil Maznyk (webmaster@kwas.ca)Pet Store Liaisons Al Ridley (pyrofish@sympatico.ca)Zenin Skomorowski (zenin@golden.net)Advertise in Fins & TalesPlease contact the newsletter editor if you are interested inadvertising in KWAS Fins & Tales. Rates apply for ten (10)consecutive issues (one year).Business Card, B&W$25/yr1/4 Page, B&W $60/yr1/2 Page, B&W $100/yrFull Page, B&W $150/yrFull Page, Full Colour$35/issueAdvertising of any hobby related items in Fins & Tales is free toKWAS members in good standing, space permitting.Join KWAS2009 Membership Fees Adult Family 1 Year $25 $30 2 Years $48 $58 3 Years $71 $86 4 Years $92 $112 5 Years $100$120Junior Members (under the age of 18) $10 per year 3

M A Y 2 0 0 9Hi All,From the Vice President’s DeskHello All,From The Editors’ DeskThis month’s business portion of the meeting is election nightfor the coming year’s executive. The four positions voted onare President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary; the finalposition is Past President. The new executive will be takingcharge at the May business meeting.The new executive will be looking to fill some open positions inthe Board of Directors, so if you would like to get moreinvolved with the running of the club please let Mary LynneLucier know.This month’s Jar show is Killifish and Loaches, these areinteresting categories, some of the most beautiful fish are fromthe Killi family, and we all know Loaches, these fish are in aworld of their own and can be the tank comedian.The program this month is shrimp and invertebrates, by ourfriend Kathleen Gallagher (Katalyst in the forum); this seems tobe an area that is gaining interest in the hobby, so it shouldprove an interesting program.Spring is here at last, and this is a reminder to all, that citywater supply has extra chemicals, so be mindful when doingwater changes. This is also the time of year for me to switchover to rain water, I still use a little tap water but at least 75%rain and the fish love it.See you at the meeting,Geoff MoneyVice President, KWASSpring must be in the air since article submissions are down,attendance at the meetings is down and so is participation inthe jar show.We hope you’re enjoying the on-again off-again nice weatheroutside. It certainly is an interesting ride.This month we’re down to 20 pages, so again we’re calling forNEW contributors to Fins & Tales. As usual you don’t need todo all the work yourself. Our editing team can make yourrandom, incoherent thoughts about fish read like a best-sellingnovel. So, go ahead, don’t be shy, and WRITE SOMETHING!One saving grace for the size of this issue is the oversizemeeting minutes from the business meeting. It was a long,interesting but very productive meeting this month and weencourage you to read the minutes this month, even if younormally skip them.Lastly, TMA is running out of stories to tell. He assures me hehas one or two more that will come in the next few months, buthe may not be a regular contributor of this widely re-printedtravel log for fish-heads. We want to thank Rein for over 30articles relating to his travels, and we hope he’ll keep writingabout fish, even if they are in his tanks at home.Take care all, see you at the meeting. Don’t get sun burned.Cam Turner & Tanya MoroseNewsletter Editors, KWAS4

M A Y 2 0 0 9The Minimalist AquaristIsrael BeckonsDoing more with less and keeping it simple: TMA’s visit to Israel (part 3)— Article and Photos by Rein & Char Breitmaier, KWAS (mrrein@gmail.com)A good story ought to have a great ending, so herewith thefinal chapter of TMA’s Mediterranean Expedition. We return tothe City of Eilat in southern Israel one final time. Did I mentionthat this marine park hosts the biggest artificial reef in theworld, housed in a massive 360,000 litre environment? That’sjust over 95,000 gallons and certainly qualifies being called anenvironment instead of simply a ‘salt water tank’.But first let’s poke our heads into the Rare Fish Museumsection. That’s the rarely seen Kwasoni honourarymemberi at theentrance. Inside a serpentine path kept us cool and darkened, awelcomed respite from the desert sun. The displays were in therange of 60 to 100 gallon tanks and gave an opportunity forclose up inspection of stone and scorpion fishes, octopi, seahorses, pipefishes and the like.One pair of anemone fish (possibly the two bar, Amphiprionbicinctus) was fanning their eggs under a rock directly againstthe front glass of their aquarium. The placard explained (inEnglish thankfully) that this pair will share the guarding oftheir egg site until the youngsters hatch. At that point the frywill float up into the water column where they will be swept bythe artificial current through netting and into a separate sectionTOP: Anemone fish protecting eggs.LEFT: A rare and scary fish. 5

of the tank where they will grow up until they are suitably sizedfor release to the sea.M A Y 2 0 0 9Thankfully yet another partly opened doorway gave us aglimpse into the quarantine and grow-out section behind thescenes. Security is everything in the Holy Land, outrageously soin Jerusalem itself, but here in the seaside beach strip betweentwo friendly neighbours in Egypt and Jordan no-one botheredthis intrepid chronicler. In fact they could not have beenfriendlier or more helpful had they held the door open onpurpose.Amazonia is of interest all the world over, even here in thebridge between Africa and Asia. Piranhas, arawanas andangelfishes shared a minor display area and it was fascinatingto realize that in a land where freshwater is a precious resourceand sea water is plentiful, these fishes were allotted the lesserenvironment. Most public aquaria house a token marineelement – but here those tables were turned. This duo of not-sorare-in-our-worldred breasted piranhas was cruising calmly astheir scheduled 3pm feeding show was still a few hours away.There would be no touchy-feely opportunities for the kiddies inthis section of the marine park.Next up, the world’s largest marine reef tank! [pic top of pg. 7]Imagine if you would, a lifesaver candy. Now picture anaquarium shaped in that image, with an under-the-water tunnelentrance which puts you into the middle of the candy. Becausecurved glass is difficult and expensive to engineer the designersopted for a 12-sided viewing room and rounded walls for thebackdrop behind the displays. As you can project from thepanoramic image I’ve stitched together for you, each glasspanel was about 8 feet wide by 5 feet in height, expanding intoa water depth of just over 8 feet in the reef ‘environment’.Our little friend perched upside down in the middle of a coralrock was one of the many interesting distractions meant to leadguests of the marine park into an appreciation of naturallyoccurring camouflage. Some skipped by thinking this tank wasempty only to be re-focused by the ever present guides whohelpfully explained the exhibits.6

M A Y 2 0 0 9What made this reef tank special is that each and every bit of‘rock’ which one sees in these images is live coral and neitherplastic nor fiberglass look-alikes were used. Much of the coralwas grown right here in the marine park. The enormous watervolume permits schools of fishes (400 species call this placehome) to circle the visitor every few minutes or so, or topopulate their chosen site whichever they might naturally do.Imagine also the logistics of rolling 95,000 gallons of water over,every 5 hours and you will share my respect for the ambition ofthis project.TMA showed up for the scheduled high noon feeding at the reefexhibit and of course a little showmanship for the tourists wasin order. You will note that the diver is tethered to a breathingtube from above rather than traditional scuba. As big as thedisplay was, it was so jammed full of excitement that the addedbulk of breathing tanks would have made maneuverabilitydifficult for the staff. Clearly the fishes know what is comingand have been ‘trained’ to gather around their waiter.It took no time at all for this crowd of tangs and other dinnerplate sized fishes to demolish a giant head of romaine lettuce.The tough part was trying to capture the photo amid all theactivity. 7

enheten större, vid Länssjukhuset i Halmstad var den 90,6 procent(motsvarande andel vid uppföljning 1 var 88,9 procent) och vid Sjukhuset iVarberg var den 92.Den fortsatta vården av strokepatienter sker huvudsakligen i närsjukvården,och det arbete som i början av året påbörjades för att säkerställa att patientengör ett uppföljningsbesök i närsjukvården efter utskrivning har gett resultat. Istället för att skicka epikris till patientens valda vårdenhet och informerapatienten om att de själva skall boka tid, remitteras nu 90-92 procent avpatienterna till sin vårdenhet för uppföljning.DiabetesDeltagande i Nationella Diabetesregistret är viktigt för att säkra en högkvalitet i diabetesvården och i specialistsjukvården är täckningsgraden fortsattmycket hög. Vid Sjukhuset i Varberg och Länssjukhuset i Halmstadregistrerades cirka 90 procent av patienterna och vid Närsjukhuset iKungsbacka 95 procent. Andelen diabetespatienter som fått sina fötterundersökta och status noterade i journalen har vid Länssjukhuset ökat från53,8 procent i april till 81 procent vid denna uppföljning. Vid Varbergssjukhus är andelen oförändrad, 97 procent och vid Närsjukhuset i Kungsbackaundersöker man alla diabetespatienters fötter (100 procent).HjärtsjukvårdAndelen patienter som behandlas med direkt PCI (ballongvidgning av ettkranskärl) vid akut hjärtinfarkt av typen ST-höjningsinfarkt är vid bådasjukhusen 83 procent. Det är en ökning sedan förra uppföljningen då andelenvar 76 procent vid länssjukhuset och 68 procent vid sjukhuset i Varberg. VidVarbergs sjukhus får 50 procent av patienterna behandlingen inom 60 minuter,resterande 50 procent behandlas inom 120 min. Länssjukhuset kunde tilldenna uppföljning inte få ut dessa uppgifter ur sitt kvalitetsregister.Förskrivningen av de fyra vanligaste läkemedlen som rekommenderas somstandardbehandling efter hjärtinfarkt var hög inom specialistvården. Läkemedelsgruppernasom redovisas i figuren nedan är rekommenderade somstandardbehandling efter hjärtinfarkt och förskrivs ofta i kombination.4

M A Y 2 0 0 9most anything else left behind. Moss also seems to provide aneasy travel path for shrimp. While they can swim quite well, Ifind that they would rather spend their time wanderingthrough a trail of moss than traversing bare gravel or anythingelse.How to Grow MossMoss is quite easy to grow but it requires some patience to startout. First decide if you want to grow a specific species of mossor whether you just wish to have a bunch of green clumps ofsome kind growing in your tank. Moss should normally begrown one species to a tank as it can become mixed andinterwoven over time and it is almost impossible to sort outlater. If you want to trim and sell or share some of your mossafter it grows out you might want to provide a properidentification for the next grower. Also, different mosses willgrow with different textures and looks and your choice mayvary on what image you are trying to create. Weeping moss forexample will form a wonderful hanging effect from brancheswell above the substrata while erect and flame moss will formpatterns that grow upwards from their bases. Some mosses alsogrow quicker than others or may be finer textured or are morereadily available. These factors may weigh on your decision.Once you have your moss it is time put it in your tank.If you are using it just for fry, then you could get away with justtossing some loosely in with your fish and allowing it to growanyway it chooses. It will start to rot or decay if it is toobunched up on the substrata and can’t get any light orcirculation. I find in a bare bottom tank where it can roll andfloat around it will do well enough to sustain itself if not evengrow. If you are looking to attach it to driftwood or branches orrock, you will need to tie it down until it at least starts todevelop a hold on your base. You can use thread to tie yourmoss or thin fishing line. I suggest using green brown or blackthread as this will blend in with the moss or wood and will notbe noticed very easily. Fishing line should be almost invisiblewhen used, but is not as flexible as thread, but will not decay ordegrade. If you are using thread, cotton will break down overtime while polyester will have a much longer life. Take yourthread and tie a knot on your base at one end.Now lay your moss down in whatever thickness or pattern youhave decided on and then wrap the thread tightly around thebase material. If you wrap it too loosely the moss will comeloose over time and your efforts will be wasted. Don’t worryabout tying your moss too tightly or seeing the thread over topof it. When the moss begins to grow out it will cover the threadand over time you will not be able to tell it is there. After youhave your moss secured tie off and knot the thread so that itwill not come loose over time. Place you piece in the tank andwait for it to grow. Don’t expect a change over night. Mossestake some time to establish themselves and adjust to newconditions. You should see bright new growth developing in aweek and soon there will be more solid growth. Once it hasestablished itself you might be trimming your moss everycouple of weeks.Most mosses require very little light. They will grow inconditions of .5 wpg but their rate of growth will depend ontheir environment. With higher light they will of course growfaster and CO2 will increase their growth as well. I have hadvery good success with Excel but you need to develop a goodbalance in your tank. Too much light or nutrients will promotealgae and this is the last thing that you want to have growing inyour moss. Also too heavy a dose of fertilizers may cause algaeblooms in the form of a slimy cloud covering a patch of moss.Hair algae and thread algae are also plagues. Spot dosing withan eye dropper of Excel can combat outbreaks of hair algae buttoo much can kill off your moss. Mosses should also have goodwater circulation. If they are located in a relatively dead areathey will accumulate waste particles and either look like a messor be choked out and start to die. You need to be aware of thebehaviours of your tank inhabitants. If you are growing shrimpthen moss is a great choice to invest in. If you are going to keepbarbs or mollies or crayfish, then you may not want to spendmoney or time on trying to develop a patch of moss in yourtank. Crayfish will totally rip apart your moss if they get to itand many barbs and some plant loving fish will nip, nibble andlay waste to any moss project you have attempted. Also, mostshrimp will break down and destroy a moss ball over time.Some Mosses to ConsiderJava Moss (Taxiphyllum barbieri)This is the most common of mosses. It will grow in almost anycondition and will form a nice layered look if grown in a tightclump with good light or can form long vine-like tendrils in aloose pattern in lower light. It is usually easy to find and is thecheapest moss to buy. It is a very good choice for breeding andfry tanks and is very easy to grow.Tiawan Moss (Taxiphyllum alternans)I find that this moss can look very similar to well grown Javamoss. It is a bit thicker in it leaf structure and will formbranches or fronds that can look a bit like Christmas moss……but will be finer and more spaced. It will form a nice layeredtexture when grown out in larger areas and is quite easy togrow and maintain.Singapore Moss (Vesicularia dubyana)This is another easy to grow moss. It has a lighter green colourand is a noticeably thicker and stiffer in its growth. It forms10

M A Y 2 0 0 9fronds that will be straighter in their patterns. It will take a littletime to establish itself and then will be a steady grower and willgrow into a wide loose patch that will support itself.more impressive specimen if offered CO2 and fertilizers.Flame Moss (Taxiphyllum sp. “flame”)Christmas Moss (Vesicularia montagnei)One of the most popular mosses it is easy to grow if a bit slow.It will take some time to establish itself and needs a little morelight to flourish. Its fronds are shaped like a small spruce treewhich is how it gets its name. When grown in peak conditions(high light with CO2) it will look like a miniature fern with 3-4inch fronds and make a unique specimen.This is another upward growing species of moss. It will form athick mass of textured fronds that give it a look of a burningflame. It should be given room to grow vertically. It does betterin higher light than some of it’s cousins but is well worth givingsome space in the aquarium. It should have get some watermovement, both to help keep it clean as it can collect moredebris because of its growth pattern and to show off its shapeand texture to best advantage.Erect Moss (Vesicularia reticulata)As the name would imply this plant has an upright growthpattern to it. It has thin branches that send out many shoots indifferent directions but growth up in an erect manner. It makesfor an interesting textured growthand a bit darker in colour. Itcan be more difficult to grow as it can be more brittle and looksa bit bare and unimpressive until it grows in over time. It is a bitslower to grow than some other species and not seen as often.This plant requires more patience to allow it to develop thanmost mosses.Phoenix Moss (Fissendens fontanus)This little moss can be an adventure and a test to one’s patience.I find it more difficult to work with as it usually comes in smallpieces of leaves and it is harder to attach and get it started. Theleaves are unique in shape and look like a cross section of acone. It is not difficult to grow after you have managed to get itstarted. When covering a surface it gives a scale armour-liketexture.Weeping Moss (Vesicularia ferriei)This is a beautiful plant when it has a chance to grow and isused in the correct placement. It has long fronds that looksomewhat fern-like that will arch and weep downwards as theygrow out. It should be placed on top of wood or branches wellabove the substrata to allow space for it to hang. A very goodplant for creating unique aquascapes with. It will be a muchSo there you have a little over view on mosses. For those thatwant to get a better look of moss identification please check outJRS’ article in the April 2008 issue of Fins and Tales or this linkon the KWAS forum http://www.kwas.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=7632&highlight=mossesNext month, we will take a little shopping trip so get out yourbest walking shoes and come along to check out how topurchase plants at your LFS. 11

M A Y 2 0 0 950 th CAOAC Convention Details…May 15, 16 & 17, 2009Fanshawe College in London OntarioSCHEDULE:Friday Night4:00 – 7:30 pm: Registration and Show Set-up7:30 - 9:00 pm: Speaker – Heiko Bleher, Heiko's Amazing Adventures in India9:00 - Bed Time: Mix & Mingle – Have a social meetingwith all our speakers in the Whatsits bar.Saturday8:00 am – 4:00 pm: Registration and Show Set up9:00 – 10:15 am: Speaker - Anthony Calfo, Conservation ofSpecies10:30 – 11:45 am: Speaker - Heiko Bleher, NewlyDiscovered South American CichlidSpecies12:00 - 1:00 pm: Lunch1 - 2:1 5pm: Speaker - Gary Lange, Collecting in NewGuinea2:30 – 3:45 pm: Speaker - Bob Fenner, Algae Can be YourFriend4 – 5:15 pm: Speaker - Heiko Bleher, Geophagus andDwarf Cichlids6:30 - 9:30 pm: Dinner/ Speaker - Rein Breitmaier, OurGreat Mediterranean Expedition9:30 pm: Judging of the show begins9:30 - Bed Time: Light & Lively - Calfo & Fenner in theHospitality SuiteSunday8 – 9:30 am: AGM and elections9:30 am: Brunch and Awards12:00 pm: Giant Auction starts! Be There!AUCTION:ALL DONATIONS HAPPILY ACCEPTED & WELCOMED!!Contact Tony Bernard (tbernard@krway.com) or CarlMcCleary (boxturtlesrule@sympatico.ca) for questions, formsand details.TICKET PRICES:Full Weekend: $75Saturday Speakers (5) ONLY: $50Children (Under 16YRS): $30SUNDAY EVENING WRAP-UP PARTY:Social evening following the auction for those who arestaying the evening. Cost per person is $10 and is NOTincluded in the weekend ticket price!ROOM RATESThe two bedroom suites are $59.95 per night.The four bedroom suites are $119.90 per night.Each two bedroom suite can be supplied as a kitchenette orliving room suite. Each four bedroom suite comes with both akitchenette and living room.To book a suite please contact Terry Little, 519-752-8642 ortlittle28@rogers.com. Payment will be made directly to thecollege upon check-in to the Convention.SPEAKERS:Heiko Bleher: World-famous Ichthyological ExplorerAnthony Calfo: World-famous Reef and InvertebrateSpecialistBob Fenner: World-famous Marine HobbyistGary Lange: World-famous Rainbowfish GuyRein Breitmaier: World-famous Traveller and MinimalistAquarist.12

M A Y 2 0 0 9June Tank Drawfor KWAS MembersCatfishApril Jar Show StandingsJudged by Anthony Mc AslinSpeciesPoints• Free draw for KWAS members• Your membership card is your raffle ticket,no card, no entry• Max two cards entered per familymembership• You must be present to winThere will be 2 Hagen Waterhome 21 EuroKits each containing the following:• Rimless Allglass Aquarium, 79 L (21 US G)• Double Fluorescent Canopy with 1 Aqua-GloFluorescent Bulb and 1 Sun-Glo FluorescentBulb• AquaClear 150 Filter• Thermal Compact Pre-Set Heater, 100 W• Digital Themometer• 2 Plastic Plants• Fish Net• Nutrafin Max fish food• Combo Pack (Cycle, AquaPlus, WasteControl)• Basic Aquarium Guide and VideoGeoff MoneyGeoff MoneyJuniorsGriffen QuigleyJohnathan SamsonGriffen GuigleyJohnathan SamsonAOVGeoff MoneyJuniorsJohnathan SamsonGriffen QuigleyJohnathan SamsonGriffen QuigleyPeoples ChoiceJohnathan SamsonTotalsGeoff MoneyZenin SkomorowskiAl RidleyAlan SmileyTony GibbonsRyan BartonJuniorsGriffen QuigleyJohnathan SamsonRafael 4Royal Pleco3Albino cory4Haplo Cat3Long Fin Albino Cory2Banjo Cat1Red Swordtail4Brichardi4Yellow Dragon Betta3Goldfish2Clear Dragon Betta1Banjo Cat2333175314437Because you can never have enough fish tanks..May’s class is Loaches, Killifish & AOV. For future classes visit:http://www.kwas.ca/jar_show.htm 13

Well, I am here writing on a little extra helping for my previouscatfish recipe. I have had another of my corys spawn and addeda few more fry to my collection. If things go well, and some ofmy other little buns in the oven turn out I’ll have a few morespecies to compare with. At the moment I have 9 varieties ofcorydoras that I’m working on. Three have spawned, but I haveonly been able to verify fry on two of them. The first wascorydoras paleatus or peppered catfish. This time I had successwith another of the more common “bread and butter” cats –corydoras aeneus, also known as the green or bronze cory.I started with 3 older fish and added in 6 younger ones that Ihad mistakenly purchased at an auction after getting excited onhearing a Latin name that I wasn’t familiar with and throwingup my hand thinking I might be getting a deal. Well, a word ofadvice – brush up on your Latin before going to an auction. Ibrought them home anyway and tossed them in with the otherfish that I had hoped would be spawning by this time but haddone nothing. I thought maybe a larger group of new bloodmight get them feeling a bit more spunky but after a couple ofweeks there was still no action to report. Well, I looked at thetemperature on the heater, not having paid a lot of attention toit when I first set up the tank. 72 F. This was a bit low, so Ifigured that I should go back to the basics and follow my ownproven recipe. Well, not mine so much but the idea was torepeat what had worked on other fish and what I had suggestedto other people already. It is sometimes hard to listen to one’sown advice but I forced my self. First, I reset the heater to 76degrees. Next, it was time for a severe water change. I did abouta 50% WC and replaced it with very cool rainwater fromoutside after it had pretty much thawed. The tank was a 29gallon with a thin sand substrata and a few low light plantssuch as crypts, wisteria and some Java moss and a few aldercones. The pH was about 7.2. I had a piece of driftwood and apair of bristle nose plecos that I didn’t have room for anywhereelse….. and a few angel fry. Just your basic breeding tank orsoup pot. I fed them a nice meal of black worms to help getthem in the mood as oysters are just too big for them. I turnedoff the lights and went to bed.I had to work the next day so I turned on the lights, fed them afew more worms and headed out. I came home that night tofind some eggs sticking to the glass in 3 or 4 places. I harvestedthem by rolling them carefully onto my finger which I havefound less damaging than scraping them off with a razor orutility knife. I keep a patch of Java moss in my other hand andcarefully wipe my finger over the moss allowing the eggs toadhere to it. After filling a section of moss, and finding that Ican’t seem to add any more eggs without getting other onesstuck back to my finger, I drop the moss ball into my grow out14M A Y 2 0 0 9Corys: A Second HelpingBAP Submition by Ed Koerner, KWAS (edkoerner@sympatico.ca).tank that is filled with various mosses and riccia and a colony ofcherry shrimp (when you don’t have a lot of tank space youhave to double up with things that can get along together andsetups that serve more than one inhabitant). The eggs will stickto the moss until they hatch and the new fry are provided withinstant cover and enough plant life to encourage infusoria andother food to start out on. Well, after putting away 30 or soeggs, I relaxed thinking that they had finally spawned and I hadto wait for the eggs to hatch. The next morning I woke up andchecked the tank. There were clusters of eggs all over the tankand I couldn’t believe it. After harvesting these in the samemethod I estimated that I had 70-100 eggs to wait on. The eggshatched in 3-5 days and little swimmers started to wanderaround the tank a few days later.Corydoras aeneus pair. Photo from Wikimedia Commons.I did notice a few differences between the two species. Whilethe paleatus’ eggs were quite sticky and soft gel-like eggs that Ihad to harvest one or two at a time, while the aeneus eggs werein tighter clusters and harder. I could peel off 5 or 6 eggs at atime and they were much easier to handle. I also found that thepaleatus fry would hug the bottom of the tank or under coverand move in very rapid and short bursts. The green coryswould actually swim through the water column in search offood and didn’t seem as shy.That’s pretty much it for now. I am hoping to find some pandacory fry swimming about at some point as I have seen themspawning and tried following the female as she carries her eggsto deposit them but have been unsuccessful so far in being ableto find out where the eggs are laid in the plants. I have not beencertain of what eggs I am harvesting as I have the pandas inwith the peppers right now. I really have to set up those othertanks I have sitting in the dining room. Thanks for gettingthrough this and I hope that it might help a few of you have afew spawns of your own. I did receive on e-mail from a memberdescribing their pepper catfish success so I was just happy thatsomeone besides me read it – and got all the way through it.- Ed

M A Y 2 0 0 9May Exchange Editor’s ReportSubmitted by Zenin Skomorowski, KWAS (zenin@golden.net).The newsletters featured in this column and others are available toyou. Please let me know by email, or at the monthly meeting, whichones you would like to read.Hemirhamphodon tengah is an exceptional halfbeak. Mosthalfbeaks are livebearers, but this one is an egg layer. ReginaSpotti wrote about her experiences with this interesting fish inthe February 2009 issue of Finformation from the GreaterPittsburgh Aquarium Society.The first issue of Aquatic Views from the new Cambridge andDistrict Aquarium Society was published in March andcontains two noteworthy articles. First, Stephen Crawfordwrote “Aponogetons and Me” discussing the varieties he haskept, including propagating them by seed. Second, AnthonyMcAslin wrote “MacSalty 101” as a beginner’s guide to settingup a salt water tank.The April 2009 issue of Aqua Antics from the Sarnia AquariumSociety contains BAP reports for a variety of fish. Read aboutMadagascar Rainbows by Jack VanderAa, Checker Barbs byWayne Cole and Swordtails by Shawna Foster.Surf’s up ! Here is this month’s web site to explore:Halfbeaks are small slivers of fish that like to be at the surface.Some are marine, others are brackish but the fresh watervarieties are ones mostly kept by aquarists. Most halfbeaks arelivebearers, but some do lay eggs. For more information andphotos surf to:http://homepage.mac.com/nmonks/Projects/halfbeaks.htmlBruce Hart wrote “Breeding Glossolepis incisus, the NewGuinea Red Rainbow” in the March 2009 issue of Aqua Anticsfrom the Sarnia Aquarium Society. Peter Melady wrote aboutbreeding Corydoras napoensis. Ann Stevens give us “A FewTips About Selling At Auctions”.Once in a rare while, I see a fish in a tropical fish store calledthe Baby Blue Whale. Of course I knew that fish was notreally a whale, but I had no idea what it might be. Turns out itis a catfish from the Brazilian Amazon. Derek Tustin updatesus on this flesh eating fish in the March 2009 issue of TankTalk from the Durham Region Aquarium Society. Also in thisissue, Tom Mason give us some information on the“Conservation Connection” which focuses on “maintainingthe health of our waterways and dealing with the majorthreats to our aquatic systems”.Have you ever heard of someone starting their very first tankas a planted Discus setup ? Alesia Benedict is just such aperson. She wrote about it in “Plants + Discus = Wow”featured in the March 2009 issue of Hi Fin from the PeelRegion Aquarium Club.One of my favourite Characins is the Columbian Tetra. DaveFurness wrote about his in “Hyphessobrycon columbianus” inthe April 2009 issue of The Scat from the St. Catharines & AreaAquarium Society. Spawning them is very easy whenproviding the correct water parameters. Also in this issue,Dave Unruh wrote about “Blue Green Algae”. This slime thatmay form in your aquarium is not actually algae, but rather aclass of bacteria called Cyanophyta. What causes it ? Howdo you get rid of it ? Find out some of the answers in thisarticle.The Fish Sempaiwww.fishsempai.cominfo@fishsempai.com(519) 648-9992• Show quality goldfish: Ryukin, Ranchu, Oranda,Butterfly Moors, Jikins, Pearlscales, Tosakin• Japanese & Malaysian Koi• Arrange to visit the fish farm to see one-of-a-kind,rare and marvelous specimens• Hobbyist Club members receive 10% off purchases• Wholesaler inquiries are welcome• Visits by appointment ONLY1268 Kramp Road RR 2, Breslau, Ontario N0B 1M0 15

Meeting MinutesGeneral Meeting on April 7th, 2009Submitted by Lezley Smith, KWASWelcome guests. There were 48 peoplepresent.Announcements• A vote on Constitutional changes, aspublished in last month’s Fins and Tailswas passed.• Motion to open nominations forexecutive positions, Mary Lynne will betaking nominations and will be runningthe voting. Cam Turner motioned andPhil Mayznk seconded.• A motion is required to go ahead with aCalendar program for next November($1500). Ed Koerner motioned andMary Lynne seconded.• Presentation from Phil Mayznk,convention chair for CAOAC.• Announced club’s intent to create anexemplary service award in MieciaBurden’s honour.BAP:none to report looking for a newchairpersonHAP:none to reportName that Fish (Ed Koerner):Griffen Quigley won both games. Thefirst was 2 blue gouramis and a bonusgold gourami (trichogaster trichopterus)while the second prize was 4Neolamprologus leleupi.Our program:Terri John on Koi and housing Koi.Show Jar:The show jar results for April were: 3people showing with 11 entries. Details innewsletter.M A Y 2 0 0 9Library Draw: $14.00 was won by DickMatheson.Raffle: A Rena Heater 75w and a PondKit with a container were won by GriffenQuigley.Business Meeting on April 14th 2009Submitted by Al Ridley, KWASTuesday April 14, 2009 hosted by CamTurner, WaterlooThe meeting was called to order at7:30pm with the following peoplepresent…Geoff Money (Vice President), BradMcClanahan (Treasurer), Al Ridley (PastPresident), Cam Turner (Newsletter),Mary Lynne Lucier (Membership), PhilMaznyk (Webmaster), Ed Koerner(Auction), Zenin Skomorowski (Pet StoreLiaison).Absent – Lezley Smith (Secretary)March Business Meeting Minutes -Motion to approve by Cam, seconded byPhil - V&CApril General Meeting Minutes - Motionto approve by Mary Lynne, seconded byEd – V&CFuture Business Meeting HostsMay ~ Al Ridley (tentatively)June ~ Zenin SkomorowskiSeptember ~ Cam TurnerZenin arrived at 7:36pmTreasurer’s Report – Read by Brad.Motion to accept by Phil, seconded byMary Lynne – V&CCorrespondence – Nothing to reportNewsletter (Cam) –• Thanked Mary Lynne for helping inorganizing and processing distributionof newsletter.• Thanks to everyone, especially Phil andZenin for their proof reading andcorrections.• Fifteen newsletter kits containing backissues have been sent to potentialadvertisers – we are looking for one fullpage colour advertiser. Moreinformation to come next month.• Some members are asking fornewsletter in PDF format only (greenstory). This is currently being done, ifyou want your newsletter sentelectronically and not receive ahardcopy, please advise Mary Lynne.• Deadline has been extended to April 20.Webmaster (Phil)• Zenin advised Phil to update the linkfor MTVSlick• Profile/Memorial of Miecia will remainon our homepage until the end of May.• Forum rules and responsibilitiesdiscussed. Review of recent activitiescreating tension reviewed. Option ofshutting forum down for three weeks tohelp settle things down discussed.• Renewal of chat room due at $140 US$.As there is such a small percentageusing it, it was decided to drop iteffective on expiry (approximately May7th). Cam suggested that as we do notwant this to be seen as a censorshipissue (it’s not), we should research andrecommend a free chat site at Yahoo(for example) or elsewhere online.• Advanced Breeder/Licensed VendorSection participants have been sentreminder to post a minimum of onceper month. We are still looking forsome Freshwater Licensed Vendors(very heavy in the salt side and want tobalance it out)Program (Al)• May welcomes Kate Gallagherspeaking on shrimp• June will be our regular meetingwithout a speaker. Zenin will create aslideshow of the past years meetingsand events to continuously play duringthe evening. KWAS will supply pizza(Pepi’s) and pop. Zenin will run thetank draw.16

• Terri Johns donated an Evolution AquaFC12 Dechlorinator that we will use inour Christmas draw.• September will feature Phil and MattMannell speaking on AquariumPhotography. Along with the program,we will show the finalists in theCalendar submissions for the generalmembership’s opinions.• Speakers will receive a minimum of 6months of our newsletter emailed tothem.Oktoberfish 2009 (Al)• Donation request letters going out inJune.• Al needs 2008 class sponsorshipinformation from Geoff• Cam has a master advertiser index thathe will forward to Al• Meeting pending before the end of June• Terry Little (CAOAC) has been advisedof the date change of the event.• Sponsorships for classes will beaccepted beginning June 1st.• Date is November 1 st (Novemberfish?)Exchanges (Zenin)• Nothing to reportCAOAC (Phil)• Jennifer Bawden has taken over theNewsletter and Ann Stevens has takenover Recording Secretary.• Some KWAS submissions for CAOACAwards missed being submitted thisyear due to Miecia’s illness. We willhold these awards and submit themnext year with our apologies to thequalifying member(s).CAOAC Convention• Carl McCleary asked for donationsfrom each club for a draw at theSaturday Night Dinner.• Zenin motioned that KWAS spend upto $250.00 for a donation prize in thememory of Miecia Burden at theM A Y 2 0 0 9CAOAC Convention dinner onSaturday. Seconded by Brad – V&C• Convention shirts are now available –order online at the CAOAC website.Membership (Mary Lynne)• Clarified the definition of the FamilyMembership and the JuniorMembership (under the age of 18).Zenin to announce the now consistentpolicy at the June meeting. Need tomake the wording consistent on ourwebpage, our flyers and our newsletter.• Mary Lynne’s printer will not printmembership cards. Needs a solution.• Miecia’s membership database cannotbe read by Mary Lynne’s computer(read only). Cam will help to find asolution.• Membership list will be mailed toExecutive and BOD monthly.Auction (Ed)• Cam had comments that people werenot aware of the new format of splittingthe auction.• Watch the timing of the first half of theauction.Library (open)• Dave has resigned• Ed or Cam will get the keys and relateditems ASAP.Raffle (Quigley Family)• Charity has resigned• Position has been taken on by theQuigley Family (thank you)• Raffle table needs better items, Geoff toarrange pick up of boxes from Charity.HAP (Filipe)• Chair is absent• Cam has sent the template for thecertificates but has not dropped offpaperBAP (open)• BAP Awards are outstanding• Need a chair to completeName That Fish (Zenin)• Thanks to Ed for last months help• Griffin Quigley needs to beinvestigated.Show Jar (Anthony)• Chair absent• Had a weak turnout last monthLunch (Katie)• Chair absent• Nothing to reportPet Store Liaison (Zenin and Al)• Zenin has printed new flyers – willarrange with Al for pick up.Old BusinessCalendar –• Will have as a reportable item movingforward under its own category.• We will update the thread as follows…1. Calendar photos are open to ALLKWAS Club and forummembers. Since this is a ClubCalendar, priority will be givento images submitted by KWASclub members in good standing.2. The images DO NOT have to befrom past contest winners.ANYONE can submit imagesbetween now and the clubelections taking place at the Maygeneral meeting.3. Images can be the followingformats. JPEG, BMP, TIFF, PNGor RAW. Only Livestock imageswill be accepted. Tankdimensions vary too much tomeet the page layoutrequirements. Whatever formatyou send must be a minimum of300 DPI and sized at 3300 pixelswide by 2550 pixel high. 17

4. Following the May elections theBoard of Directors and Executivewill narrow the choices down toselect 24 finalists. These 24images will be part of theSeptember general meetingpresentation. Those in attendanceat the meeting will be given asheet of paper where they canindicate their preference.5. Following the meeting the KWASExecutive and Board of Directorswill decide on the final imagesfor publication. The calendar willthen be printed and available atOktoberfish later this year.• Calendar pricing to be firmed up at afuture meeting.• Eastwood Printing recommends RAWor TIFF but said they can use JPG ifnecessary.Sound System –• Al advises that both Future Shop andFred Smith Studios recommendedSherwood Music. Al will contactSherwood for a quote.• Phil to speak to the Adult RecreationCentre about a microphone and their inhouse sound system.Miecia Burden Award -• To be awarded at CAOAC Conventionsby KWAS.• Sub Committee to be invited to createthe requirements and name of saidaward.• Suggested that Dick Mattinson, ReinBreitmaier, Geoff Money and Al Ridleybe the committee due to their long termfriendship with Miecia.• Phil to determine what CAOAC isdiscussing.Nominations –• Advise Mary Lynne immediately if youintend to run for an Executive position.Voting/Acclimations will be done atthe May meeting for the Executive.M A Y 2 0 0 9New BusinessSummer Picnic -• July 19 th at the covered picnic area inWaterloo Park. More details to come.See newsletter or forum.Waterloo Inn Aquarium –• Reminder that Ridley and Radtke aredoing maintenance in MayMotion to close Business meeting at 10pmmade by Phil – seconded by Cam – V&CJohnsFishFood.comOur company is your number onesource for high quality aquariumproducts. We surpass the competition,in not only price, but value as well. Weonly buy what we ourselves would useand purchase. We value your business,so any products we don't have, just askand we will do our best to get them.Check out our web catalog at...JohnsFishFood.com18

M A Y 2 0 0 9April Name That FishSubmitted by Zenin Skomorowski, KWAS (zenin@golden.net).Neolamprologus leleupi - Photo by ZeninThanks to Ed Koerner for conducting this month’s “Name ThatFish” guessing game and to Phil Maznyk for taking photos inmy absence.The first “Name That Fish” was a group of 3 Gouramis( Trichogaster trichopterus ) donated by Chad Martin andguessed by Griffin Quigley.Despite two of the fish being blue and one was gold, they arejust colour morphs of the same species. Other names are ThreeSpot Gourami, Opaline Gourami, Gold Gourami, and SilverGourami. They are a labyrinth fish. They need an open area atthe surface so its specialized labyrinth organ can take in oxygenfrom the atmosphere, just like a Betta. Gouramis are originallyfrom ditches, canals, ponds and flooded rice fields of South EastAsia. Most gouramis available to the hobby today come frombreeding farms and hobbyists.The Blue Gourami is an omnivore so give them flake, frozen,freeze dried and live foods. Water parameters can be quitevaried, so they make an excellent beginner fish. Their pelvicfins are very long and thin and can be pointed in any directionfor feeling items and other fish in the aquarium.Males grow to at least 10 cm ( 4 inches ) sometimes larger,females are smaller. Males canbecome aggressive and territorialwith other tank mates and may beeven more aggressive with othermale blue gouramis. Females havea dorsal fin with rounded edges,whereas a male has one that is longand comes to a point. The malewill blow a bubble nest. A femaleis invited under the nest where themale wraps himself around her,Trichogaster trichopterus - Photo by Jeff Catalinaturns her sideways or upside down to release and fertilize theeggs as they float up into the nest. Several batches of eggs maybe released. Once spawning is complete, remove the female, orthe male may injure her when keeping her away from the eggs.The male tends the bubble nest and returns any eggs that mightfall out. Just over a day later, the eggs will begin to hatch. Feedthe fry infusoria and other very small foods. Frequent partialwater changes will keep them in excellent health and makessure the labyrinth organ forms properly during the third week.This month’s second “Name That Fish” was a group of 4 yellowleleupi ( Neolamprologus leleupi ) donated by Dave Bradley andalso guessed by Griffin Quigley.Sometimes, these fish are known as the Lemon Cichlid due totheir bright yellow colour. On occasion, an orange variety isavailable as well as a grey and black version. Originally fromLake Tanganyika, they should be kept in very hard andalkaline water, Kitchener-Waterloo tap water being ideal. Feedthem a variety of flake foods, frozen foods, and small pellets.Males grow to 10cm ( 4 inches ) and are generally larger thanfemales. They prefer a sandy bottom tank with a variety ofrocks or pots to choose from. They are “secretive cavespawners”. When the fry appear from the rocks, feed them finefoods like brine shrimp andpowdered flakes. The fry willgrow rapidly and be tended byboth parents.{Ed. Note: Griffin is currently beinginvestigated for the double win whilebeing the runner at the same time.The results of the investigation arepending.] 19

M A Y 2 0 0 9Join our forums @ www.kwas.ca/forumWith over 4,000 unique visitors every month our forums are amongst the most active of any ‘local’ hobby club. With membersfrom all over the world, but especially all over Canada, the wealth of knowledge and advice is astounding. The moderators andadministrators take great pride in maintaining top quality discussion, debate and information and it shows. Thanks to everyonewho participates already. For everyone who hasn’t (yet), come join us and see what all the fuss is about!Come to our meetings. We love to have guests.KWAS meets on the first Tuesday of each month from September until June at the Adult Recreation Centre at 185 King StreetSouth in Waterloo (at the corner of King and Allen). We meet on the second floor in the large multi-purpose room. Parking is atthe rear of the building. The meeting room opens at 7 PM with the meeting starting at 7:30 PM sharp. Please feel free to come outat any time and learn more about your hobby, KWAS and the many benefits of belonging to our club.Guests are welcome any time.Bring your friends and showthem what our club is allabout!MeetingParking20