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.
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