STATEMENT
OF PURPOSE
The purpose of the Breeders
Award Program is: to promote the keeping and breeding of tropical
fish, to recognize and motivate achievement in the hobby, encourage
research into the spawning of more difficult species, to share knowledge
about breeding techniques, and to publish accounts of spawning techniques.
To further our purpose, various awards and titles are presented
for achievements in breeding fish. These include: Individual Species
Certificates, Class Completion Plaques, Target Species Plaques,
Chair's Awards, and titles of achievement.
REQUIREMENTS
FOR THE INDIVIDUAL SPECIES CERTIFICATE
Each time an individual
spawns a different species of fish, a certificate recognizing that
spawning will be presented to the breeder upon the completion of
the following requirements:
1. Verification Six fry
must be brought to a general meeting for verification by a member
of the BAP Committee. The fry must be between two (2) and four (4)
months old. Fry of rapidly maturing species may be verified before
two (2) months of age ONLY with the PRIOR permission of the BAP
Chair. In special cases (e.g. if moving the fry would endanger them),
the breeder may request that a BAP Committee member verify the spawn
in the breeder's home, when the fry are 2-4 months old. The BAP
Committee reserves the right to require on-site verification, particularly
in the case of target spawnings.
2. Report A completed
BAP spawning report must be submitted at the time of contribution.
It is the breeder's responsibility to complete the form and to correctly
identify the species of the fish spawned. The scientific name (genus
and species) must be spelled correctly. Individuals are strongly
encouraged to make use of current scientific and hobby literature
in order to identify species accurately. The BAP Chair should be
consulted if there is confusion as to the currently accepted scientific
name. When the term "unidentified" is used in these rules, it refers
to fish unidentified in the scientific literature, not to fish simply
unidentified by the breeder.
3. Contribution The breeder
must choose and complete one of the following options (These options
are in addition to completing a spawning report): a. Donate six
or more fry to the BAP auction. The fry must be of sufficient size,
health, and development to provide them a reasonable chance for
survival. b. Write an article about the fished spawned which will
be submitted for publication. The article should cover and expand
on items covered briefly in the spawning report, as well as interesting
and useful information gained by the breeder's experience and information
from the literature (which must be referenced). Inadequate articles
will be returned for revision. c. Give a short slide and/or verbal
presentation on the spawning at a GPASI General Meeting or program,
containing the elements listed above for a written article.
GENERAL RULES
FOR INDIVIDUAL SPECIES CERTIFICATES AND FOR PLAQUE
1. The spawning report
must assign the fish to the appropriate BAP Class. "Native" species
must be endemic to the waters of the United States, not a species
that has been introduced. If a fish is eligible for inclusion in
more than one Class, the spawning report must declare which Class
is chosen by the breeder.
2. Credit will be awarded
only once for any species. Only distinct species will be recognized.
Sub-species, color varieties and albinos ARE the same species and
will be considered to be such; credit will be given only once.
3. The spawning must
have occurred in the breeder's own tank.
4. Some species normally
produce extremely small spawns, or spawn over an extended period.
For such species, breeders may apply for credit with six fry produced
from more than one spawn. The BAP Committee will consider each case
individually. It shall be the responsibility of the breeder seeking
such special treatment to support the case with references to published
literature.
5. The BAP Committee
has final authority to determine the identity of submitted spawns.
Their decision will be based on recognized, published literature
of recent copyright.
6. In the instance of
distinct, but unidentified, species, a certificate will be awarded
only if reference can be made to a description and/or photograph
in recognized literature. Alternatively, a recognizable photograph
and, the specific description may be submitted with the spawning
report. In such cases, the certificate shall be designated as "unidentified"
with notation such as "Whiptail Catfish, Sturisoma sp.", if the
genus can be established.
7. Special problems
in classifying fish for BAP credit include; "species complexes",
synonymous species names, and different species impossible for the
hobbyist to differentiate from each other will be credited only
once to each breeder. Examples: A Species complexes include groups
of fish (such as the Lake Malawian cichlid "peacock" certain varieties
of which are not recognized as distinct species. Photograph identification
may be used to differentiate the varieties. B Synonymous species
names are duplicate names used at various time for the same fish;
e.g. Geophagus steindachneri, Geophagus hondae, and Geophagus pellegrini,
the first of which is currently recognized as correct. C Cichlasoma
(Heros) bimaculatum and Aequidens portalegrensis are distinct species
but impossible for the hobbyist to identify with certainty. Likewise
Mogurnda mogurnda: Mogurnda adspersa. * These groups are listed
in the Point Groups (below) at the appropriate locations, marked
with an asterisk and enclosed by brackets.
8. If a target species
is spawned repeatedly the target status of that species may be re-evaluated
by the BAP Committee.
REQUIREMENTS
FOR CLASS PLAQUES AND AWARDS
With the exception of
certain target species (see below), spawnings awarded a certificate
will be applied toward completion of the appropriate Class and award
of a Class Plaque. For this purpose all fish are categorized into
the following Classes, with the required number and type of spawnings
necessary to complete the Class as shown.
Class 1: Livebearers
- 6 species
Class 2: Anabantoids
- 5 species
Class 3: Barbs - 5 species
Class 4: Minnows and
Rainbowfish - 5 species (3 minnows and 2 rainbowfish)
Class 5: Rasboras -
2 species
Class 6: Characins -
4 species
Class 7: Cichlids -
Old World - 6 species (3 mouthbrooders and 3 substrate)
Class 8: Cichlids - New
World - 6 species
Class 9: Killifish -
Mop Spawners -4 species
Class 10: Killifish -
Soil Spawners - 2 species
Class 11: Catfish - 2
species
Class 12: Sharks, Eels
and Loaches - 1 species
Class 13: Marine Fish
and Invertebrates - 1 fish or any combination of invertebrates that
total to 40 points
Class 14: All Other Fish
- 2 species
Class 15: Native Fish
- 3 species (1 livebearer and 2 egglayers)
TARGET
SPECIES PLAQUE
To encourage BAP members
to spawn very difficult or rare fishes, the BAP Committee will award
a plaque for the spawning of any fish from the Target List. The
plaque will be awarded following donation of six fry for BAP auction,
submission of a completed BAP spawning report and submission of
an article about the fish and spawning written for GPASI publication.
Any member may propose another species of fish as difficult to spawn
as those listed as Targets (below) and may petition the BAP Committee
in writing so that it may be considered. The petition must be accompanied
by written proof as to the difficulty of spawning, with references
to published literature.
THE CHAIR'S AWARD
The Chair's award may
be presented for outstanding contribution to the goals of the Breeders
Award Program. This is separate from and in addition to any other
awards.
SYSTEM
OF POINTS FOR SPECIES SPAWNED
Within each Class, fish
are divided into point categories based upon the relative difficulty
of spawning the fish and/or raising of the fry. Fish are assigned
values of 5, 10, 15, or 20 points, with "Targets" being valued at
40 points. At the time a certificate is awarded, the breeder is
automatically credited with the appropriate number of points. Although
eligible for only one plaque per Class, each breeder continues to
receive certificates and points for additional species reported
spawned.
ACHIEVEMENT
TITLES
Achievement Titles will
be given based on total points earned, Classes completed, and number
of 20 point and target species spawned. The program is made up of
six levels of achievement. The Achievement titles are: *One Star
Breeder Requires 100 points plus 1 completed Class **Two Star Breeder
Requires 200 points plus 2 completed Classes ***Three Star Breeder
Requires 300 points plus 3 completed Classes ****Four Star Breeder
Requires 400 points plus 7 completed Classes and at least 1 species
spawned from the Target group Master Breeder Requires 500 points
plus 10 completed Classes and at least 9 species spawned from the
20 point groups and at least 2 species spawned from Target groups
Grand Master Breeder Requires "Master Breeder" status and at least
5 species spawned from Target groups and must have completed All
Classes. (Any member who achieves "Grand Master Breeder" status
will be awarded a life time membership in GPASI.)
ADVANCED, SPECIALIST
AND EXPERT TITLES
Members who have gone
well beyond the basic requirements in any of the BAP Classes will
be awarded that title of Advanced, Specialist or Expert Breeder
in the Classes. Members who have fulfilled the criteria below are
responsible for notifying the BAP Chair. The Chair will verify the
completion of the Title requirements, issue the appropriate certificates,and
note the BAP records. Titles issued under this article will be noted
in the BAP published reports. The criteria for each title is as
follows:
1. Advanced Breeder in
the Class. The member must have: a. spawned a total of two times
the number of species normally required for the Class, and b. written
an article for the GPASI publication or presented a program for
GPASI about spawning or keeping a species from the Class.
2. Specialist Breeder
in the Class. The member must have: a. previously attained Advanced
Breeder in the Class, and b. spawned a total of three times the
number of species normally required for the Class, and c. written
another article for the GPASI publication or presented a program
for GPASI about a topic related to the Class, and d. completed at
least two of the following: (1) spawned a species, from the Class,
that has not been spawned by any GPASI member within the previous
five years, (2) fulfilled a Species Maintenance Contract for a species
in the Class (3) written an article for the GPASI publication, related
to any aspect of the Class, that reviews the published literature
(4) shown and placed (1st, 2nd, or 3rd) in at least three different
fish shows with species from the Class (5) spawned a total of six
times the number of species normally required for the Class.
3. Expert Breeder in
the Class. The member must have: a. previously attained Specialist
Breeder in the Class, and b. spawned a total of four times the number
of species normally required for the Class, and c. written an article
for the GPASI publication or presented a program for GPASI about
a topic related to the Class, and d. completed a least three of
the following: (1) written an article, related to the Class, which
is published by a national journal or magazine (2) presented a program,
related to the Class, at an aquarium club other than GPASI's (3)
served as a judge for species from this Class at a fish show other
than GPASI's (4) shown and placed first with species from the Class
in at least three different fish shows. (5) served as an Officer,
Board Member, or Editor for a specialty club. (6) fulfilled Species
Maintenance Contracts for two or more species from this Class. (7)
spawned a total of ten times the number of species normally required
for the Class. (8) spawned two species from this Class that have
not been previously spawned by GPASI members (9) spawned one species
from this Class that has not been previously spawned in FAAS-Federation
of American Aquarium Societies.
TRANSITION CLAUSE
The Breeders Award Program
was revised in February 1992. Species spawned prior to February
28, 1992 will be transferred into the revised program format. Completed
classes and breeder status will be carried over into the revised
program. Breeder's may not "re-earn" a completed class except when
an old class has been divided into 2 new classes (old class 3 -
Barbs & Minnows divided into new class 3 - Barbs and class 4 - Minnows
& Rainbowfishes, old class 6 - Killifish divided in new class 9
Killifish, Mop Spawners and class 10 - Killifish, Peat Spawners,
and old class 8 - Cichlids divided into new class 7 - Cichlids of
the Old World and class 8 - Cichlids of the New World). In these
cases, plaques will be awarded as the requirements for each divided
class are met.
All species submitted
to the Breeders Award Program after February 28, 1992, will be credited
towards the completion of the revised classes.
THE
BAP COMMITTEE
1. The BAP Committee
is responsible for reviewing the ongoing program, assigning proper
credit, and maintaining BAP records of members. All aspects of the
program are subject to review by the BAP Committee and decisions
of the committee are final.
2. The BAP Committee
will maintain records for individual members listing all species
spawned, the Classes credited, and the points awarded.
3. Periodically a roster
of participating members with their cumulative record will be published.
Upon the periodic publication of the BAP roster, it is the breeders'
responsibility to see that their species records are correct and
that appropriate points have been credited.
4. Any species not assigned
in the Point Groups (below) will be assigned by the BAP Committee.
5. Any person transferring
membership into GPASI from another club will receive our BAP point
values for all spawns verified by their previous club. Their request
for assignment of points must be submitted to the BAP Committee
in writing, along with a record of verified spawns from the previous
club. However, the transferred species will not contribute towards
the requirements for class plaques.
CLASSES
Class 1: Livebearers
(6 species)
* 5 points Brachyrhaphis
rhabdophora, Heterandria sp., Gambusia sp.Poecilias (guppy & molly
types), Xiphophorus (swords, platys, and variatus), and All other
Livebearers not listed in other point groups
* 10 points All species
in family Goodeidae, all species from genera Ameca, Belonesox,
Chapalichys, and Xenotocas
* 15 points All livebearing
halfbeaks plus all species with published brood records of less
than 20 fry
* 20 points Ataeniobius
toweri, Skiffia lermae, and S. multipunctata plus All species
with published brood records of less than 10 fry including: Allodontichthys
tamazulae, Brachyrhaphus holdridgei, Gambusia alvarezi, Poecilia
melanazona, Poeciliopsis prolifica, P. turraburensis, Potamotrygon
magalalenae, and P. schroederi Target Anablepsanableps and Jenysia
lineata and all livebearing sting rays
Class 2: Anabantoids
(5 species)
* 5 points Macropodus
opercularis (paradise fish, all varieties), Trichogaster trichopterus
(all varieties such as 3 spot, blue, gold, Cosby and opaline gouramis)
* 10 points Betta picta,
Betta splendens, Trichogaster leeri (pearl gourami), Colisa sp.
(dwarf blue gouramis, neons, and giant gouramis) *[Betta picta
=Betta trifasciata ]
* 15 points All species
from genus Macropodus, except those listed in other point groups.
All species from the genera Belontia and Trichopsis (croaking
gouramis). All wild Bettas such as Betta smaragdina, and Betta
unimaculata. plus All other Anabantoid species not listed in other
point groups.
* 20 points Betta coccina,
Helostoma (kissing), Osphronemus goramy (true goramy) and Parosphromenus
sp. (licorice & related sp.) Targets Betta macrostoma, Ctenopoma
sp., and Sphaerichthys sp. (chocolate gouramies)
Class 3: Barbs (5 species)
* 5 points None
* 10 points All barbs
not listed in other point groups, including Puntius sachsi (gold
barb), Capoeta oligolepis (checker barb), andCapoeta tetrazona
(tiger barb).
* 15 points Barbodes
everetti (clown barb), Puntius filamentosa, Capoeta arulius
* 20 points Barbodes
lateristriga (spanner T barb), and Any African barb species such
as Barbodes fasciolatus, Barbodes macrops, Barbodes kerstenii,
and Barbodes trispilos Target Barbodes schwanenfeldii (tinfoil
barb)
Class 4: Minnows and
Rainbowfishes (3 minnows and 2 rainbows)
* 5 points All minnows
from genera Danio and Brachydanio, Tanichthys albonubes (white
clouds), Melanotaenia splendida (including all subspecies such
as inornata and rubristriata )
* 10 points All species
of the genera Glossolepis, and Pseudomugil, Bedotia geayi (madagascar
rainbow). All Melanotaenias sp. not listed elsewhere. Telmatherina
ladigesi and Chilatherina heikobleheri
* 15 points All minnows
and rainbowfishes not listed elsewhere
* 20 points Pseudomugil
tenellus
Target Iriatherina
werneri (featherfin rainbowfish)
Class 5: Rasboras (2
species)
* 5 points None
* 10 points None
* 15 points Rasbora
trilineata (scissortail rasbora), and Rasbora borapetensis (redtailed
rasbora) * 20 points All species of Rasboras not listed in other
point groups
Targets Rasbora heteromorpha
(harlequin)
Class 6: Characins (4
species)
* 5 points None
* 10 points Inpaichthys
kerri (royal tetra), Nematobrycon lacortei (rainbow tetra), and
Nematobrycon palmeri (emperor tetra)
* 15 points Gymnocorymbus
ternetzi (black tetra) and All species not listed in other point
groups.
* 20 points Exodon
paradoxus (buck toothed tetra), Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi
(black neon tetra), and All species of genera Carnegiella and
Gasteropelecus
Targets Paracheirodon
innesi (neon tetra), Cheirodon axelrodi (cardinal tetra), and
Micralestes interruptus (Congo tetras) and All species of Serrasalmus
sp. (piranha), Serrasalmidae sp.(silverdollars) and Thoracocharax
sp. (hatchetfish).
Class 7: Cichlids of
the Old World (6 species: 3 mouthbrooding + 3 substrate spawning)
* 5 points All mouthbrooders
from genera Sarotherodon, Hemihaplochromis, Tilapia, plus Haplochromis
burtoni and other closely related Haplochromis species
* 10 points Steatocranus
casuarius, all mouthbrooding species from Lake Malawi and Victoria,
plus all substrate spawning African and Asian cichlids except
those listed in other point groups
* 15 points Etroplus
maculatus, Haplochromis moorii, all species from genera: Lamprologus,
andSteatocranus, (except those listed in other point groups),
and all substrate spawning species from Lake Tanganyika
* 20 points Etroplus
suratensis, Teleograma sp., (except those listed in other point
groups), and all mouthbrooding species from Lake Tanganyika Targets
Cyathopharynx sp. and other Lake Tanganyika "featherfins"
Class 8: Cichlids of
the New World (6 species)
* 5 points Cichlasoma
nigrofasciatum (convicts), and Herotilapia multispinosa (rainbow
cichlid)
* 10 points Pterophyllum
scalare (angelfish: all varieties) Geophagus steindachneri, Geophagus
brasiliensis, Gymnogeophagus balzanni, Apistogramma sp. Cichlasoma
managuensis, Cichlasoma meeki, Cichlasoma octofasciatum, Cichlasoma
spilurum, andNannacara anomala, plus All substrate spawning Central,
North and South American cichlids except those listed in other
Point Groups.
* 15 points All species
from genera Acarichthys, Biotodoma, Cichla, Cichlasoma, (a.k.a.
Heros ), Crenicara, Crenicichla, Geophagus, Gymnogeophagus, and
Neetroplus (except those listed in other Point Groups) plus all
mouth brooding species from South American cichlids except those
listed in other point groups
* 20 points Astronotus
ocellatus
Targets Pterophyllum
altum, Symphysodon species (discus), and Uaru amphiacanthoides
(Uaru)
Class 9: Killifish, Mop
Spawners (4 species)
* 5 points Fundulopanchax
gardneri, Aplocheilus lineatus, Aplocheilus panchax, Epiplatys
dageti, Pachypanchax playfairi,Oryzias latipes (rice fish)
* 10 points Aphyosemion
cognatum, Aphyosemion christyi, Aphyosemion schoutedeni, Aphyosemion
fallax, Aphyosemion gulare, and Aphyosemion australe plus All
mop spawning species not listed in other point groups.
* 15 points--all species
from the Aphyosemion diaphoton group including Aphyosemion
abacinum, Aphyosemion georgiae, Aphyosemion
cyanostictum, and Aphyosemion fulgen plus all species
from the genus Procatopus.
* 20 points Pseudoepiplatys
annulatus, and Rivulus marmarata
Targets Lamprichthys
tanganicanus
Class 10 : Killifish,
Peat Spawners (2 species)
* 5 points None
* 10 points Fundulopanchax
sjoestedti (Blue Gularis)
* 15 points All soil-spawning
species with PUBLISHED* incubation times of five months or less
*
20 points All soil-spawning
species with PUBLISHED* incubation times of six months or more
Targets Astrofundulus
dolichopterus (sabrefin killie), and Nothobranchius rachovi
* Proof of publication should be copied and added to the BAP Form
Class 11: Catfish (2
species)
* 5 points None
* 10 points None
* 15 points Corydoras
aeneus, and Corydoras paleatus, (including albino forms)
* 20 points All species
not listed in other point groups. Corydoras hastatus, Corydoras
pygmaeus, Hoplosternum pectorale (dwarf hoplo) and Ancistrus "temmincki"
Targets Any species
from the genus Synodontis. and Any species of "plecostomus" or
"suckermouth" types
Class 12: Sharks, Loaches,
and Eels (1 species)
* 5 points: None
* 10 points: None
* 15 points: None
* 20 points: Misgurnus
anguillicaudatus (dojo or weather loach), Acanthophthalmus sp.
(kuhli type loaches). All other species not listed in target group
Targets Labeo bicolor
(redtailed shark), Botia macracantha (clown loach), and Mastocembelus
species (spiny eels)
Class 13: Marine Fish
and Invertebrates (Any combination that amounts to 40 points or
1 fish)
* 5 points: Bristleworms,
Aptasia species anemones, Copopods, and All other highly opportunistic
species.
* 10 points: Tubeworms
and mushroom anemones.
* 15 points: None
* 20 points: All shrimps,
crabs, lobsters, and other crustaceans.
Targets All marine
fishes and all other species not listed in other point groups.
Class 14: All other Species
(2 species)
* 5 points: For points
only - no credit towards class plaques: crayfish, ghost shrimp,
bumblebee shrimp and all snails from the genera Ampullaria, Vivipara,
Campiloma, and Marisa.
* 10 points: Badis
badis
* 15 points Carassius
auratus auratus (goldfish: all varieties) and Chlamydogobius eremius
(desert goby)
* 20 points Koi, Scats,
Mogurnda mogurnda, all others not in other point groups.
Targets Brachygobius
xanthozona (bumblebee goby), Monodactylus sebae, Pantodon buchholzi
(butterfly fish), "mudskippers" and All other gobies not listed
elsewhere.
Class 15: Natives (3
species: 1 livebearer + 2 egglayers)
* 5 points Gambusia
affinis, Heterandria formosa, Poecilia latipinna and All livebearing
species native to the United States.
* 10 points All Cyprinodon
species (pupfish), Elassoma evergladei (pigmy sunfish), Jordanella
floridae (Florida flag fish), and All other egglaying species
native to the United States.
* 15 points All "sunfish"
except Elassoma evergladei, and all "minnows"
* 20 points None
Targets All "Darters"
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