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Aquarium Club of Lancaster County

BAP Rules and Regulations

Rules and Requirements

• Breeder must be a member in good standing of ACLC
• Minimum of six fry must be brought to a general meeting for verification by a member of the BAP Committee. The fry must be between one (1) and seven (7) months old. 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 1-7 months old. The BAP Committee reserves the right to require on-site verification, particularly in the case of target spawnings.
• A completed BAP spawning report must be submitted at the time of verification. It is the breeder's responsibility to complete the form and to correctly identify the species of the fish spawned. Individuals are strongly encouraged to make use of current scientific and hobby literature in order to identify species accurately. The BAP Chair or a BAP committee member 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Credit will be awarded to the breeder only once for any species. Only distinct species will be recognized. Different collection locations, color, fin or other varieties, and albinos ARE the same species and will be considered to be such; credit will be given only once. However, it is recommended that these be recorded so that if at a later date they become recognized as a separate species, the breeder can receive credit for that species.
• The spawning must have occurred in the breeder's own tank(s).
• It is requested that a minimum of 6 fry at least 30 days old be donated to ACLC for auction (no split). A bonus of 30% of the normal points (rounded to next highest number) will be awarded to the breeder after the fish are sold at auction. (e.g. breeder donating 6 Corydoras paleatus will receive 5 bonus points to be applied toward lifetime achievement awards in addition to the 15 points they received upon spawn confirmation).
• For Target Group Species, a minimum of 1 pair if sexable or, 3 individuals if unsexable can be brought to auction with a minimum of a 50/50 split to earn the 30% point bonus.

• Brief article, (minimum 150 words), on how the species was conditioned, spawned and fry reared must be submitted for publication in Tank Tales to receive any specialist awards as specified under the rules for those awards. A bonus of 30% of the normal points (rounded to next highest number) will be awarded to the breeder after the article is published. (e.g. breeder donating 6 Betta channoides will receive 6 bonus points to be applied toward lifetime achievement awards in addition to the 20 points they received upon spawn confirmation).
• Rules and requirements may be waived for individual circumstances at the discretion of the BAP chairperson, with Board approval

BAP Committee

The committee is responsible for the review of the ongoing program, assigning proper credit and maintaining records of all members.    All aspects of the program are subject to review by the BAP Committee, subject to Board approval.

The BAP committee will maintain records for individual members listing all species spawned, fry submitted, articles submitted, classes credited and points awarded.  A roster will be presented in Tank Tales on a regular basis.  It is the breeder's responsibility to ensure that they receive the proper credit for their accomplishments.

System of Points

Within each class, fish are divided into groups based upon the relative difficulty of spawning and/or difficulty in raising the fry.  Groups are assigned values of 5(Group A), 10(Group B), 15(Group C) or 20 points(Group D).  Certain species are also designated as Target Group species and are valued at 35 points. Any species on the IUCN Red List as EW (extinct in the wild) or CR (critically endangered) at the time of spawning is automatically categorized as a Target Group species.   Upon successful completion of a spawning and the completion of all requirements, the breeder is given the appropriate points.   The breeder will receive a certificate commemorating their achievement when all requirements for a class are completed.  The breeder is given only one certificate per class, but continues to receive points for spawns beyond the completion of the class as credit toward other awards as specified in this program.

Lifetime Achievement Awards

1 Star Breeder - requires 50 points - Framed Certificate

2 Star Breeder - requires 100 points and 1 completed class - Framed Certificate

3 Star Breeder - requires 200 points and 2 completed classes - Framed Certificate

Advanced Breeder - requires 300 points and 3 completed classes - Plaque

Expert Breeder - requires 500 points and 5 completed classes - Plaque

Master Breeder - requires 750 points and 8 completed classes, including at least 9 species valued at 20 points and 2 target species. - Plaque

Grand Master Breeder - requires 1000 points, plus at least 5 of the target species, 9 species valued at 20 points, and completion of 11 classes. Any member who achieves status of "Grand Master Breeder" will be awarded a lifetime membership in the ACLC. - Plaque

F. Wayne Callender Breeder Award - requires achievement of the "Grand Master Breeder" Award and a total of 1500 points. - Plaque

Specialist Awards

Members who have gone beyond the basic requirements of any BAP class will be awarded the title of Advanced, Master, and Expert Breeder in that class.

The Criteria for each award is as follows:

Advanced Class Breeder - Plaque - Member must have bred a total of two times (2X) the class requirement and written an article for Tank Tales or give a presentation at an ACLC meeting about the keeping and/or breeding of a qualifying species in the class.

Master Class Breeder - Plaque - Member must have achieved "Advanced Class Breeder" status in the class, bred a total of three times (3X) the class requirement, bred one species from the target species for the class, and written two articles for Tank Tales or given two presentations at an ACLC meeting, or one article and one presentation about the keeping and/or breeding of two qualifying species in the class.

Expert Class Breeder - Plaque - Member must have achieved "Master Class Breeder" status in the class, bred a total of 4 times (4X) the class requirement, bred one species from the target species for the class, 2 species with a 20 point value, and written three articles for Tank Tales or given 3 presentations at an ACLC meeting, a combination of articles and presentations totaling three about the keeping and/or breeding of three qualifying species in the class.

Breeder of the Year Award - Plaque

Each year an award will be presented at the December Holiday Party to the BAP participant who has achieved the highest number of points in the BAP program during the period from December 1 through November 30.

Classes & Completion Requirements

Class 1: Livebearers - 6 species

Group A - Xiphophorus helleri, maculatus and variatus, all Heterandria, all livebearers not listed in other point groups

Group B - All species in the family Goodeidae, all Xiphophorus not listed elsewhere, all species of the genera Limia, Phallichthys and Jenynsia

Group C - halfbeaks

Group D - Anableps anableps, freshwater stingrays

Target - Anableps anableps, Skiffia francesae, Jenysia lineata, Hubbsina turneri

Class 2: Catfish - 4 species

Group A - none

Group B - Corydoras aeneus and paleatus and all Ancistrus

Group C - all other Callichthyidae, Synodontis multipuncatus and all other cuckoo spawning Mochokidae, Otocinclus and its allies, Ricola, Sturisoma, Sturisomatichthys and Farlowella

Group D - All other catfish

Targets - any Doradid, Pimelodid, Panaque, Liasomadoras oncinus, Akysidae sp.

Class 3: Barbs and Minnows - 3 barbs and 3 minnows

Group A - all danios, all Tanichthys, all Pimephales

Group B - all barbs under 7" maximum size, all minnows not listed elsewhere

Group C - all North American minnows not listed elsewhere

Group D - all barbs over 7" maximum size, bitterlings

Targets - Tinfoil Barbs, Bitterlings, Welaka

Class 4: Characins - 4 species

Group A - Gymnocorymbus ternetzi

Group B - Hyphessobrycon, Hemigrammus

Group C - Nematobrycon, all characins not listed elsewhere

Group D - Piranhas and their allies, Silver Dollars and their allies, all hatchetfish, Exodon

Targets - Piranhas and their allies, Phenacogrammus interruptus, Paracheirodon axelrodi, Distichodus, Thoracocharax sp.

Class 5: Killifish - 6 species (including 2 from   groups C, D, & Target)

*See Group lists in Appendix A

Class 6: Anabantoids - 5 species (including at least 1 mouthbrooder)

Group A - Macropodus opercularis, Trichogaster trichopterus

Group B - Betta pugnax, all bubblenesting Bettas, all Trichogaster not listed elsewhere, Colisa, all Macropodus not listed elsewhere, Parosphronemus cupanus, Parosphronemus dayi, all those not listed elsewhere

Group C - all mouthbrooding Bettas not listed elsewhere, Trichopsis, Belontia, Helostoma, Ctenops, Malpulutta

Group D - all Parosphronemus not listed elsewhere, Ctenopoma, Betta macrostoma, Betta albimarginata, Betta channoides, Sphaerichthys, Osphronemus

Targets - Betta macrostoma and albimarginata, Sphaerichthys osphromenoides, any licorice gourami, any Ctenopoma

Class 7: New World Cichlids - 6 species

Group A - C. nigrofasciatum

Group B - Pterophyllum scalare, Geophagus steindachneri, all substrate spawners not listed elsewhere

Group C - Astronotus, Apistogramma and its relatives, Acaronia, Neetroplus, Caquetaia, Chaetobranchopsis, Chaetobranchus, Crenicara, Crenicichla, Gymnogeophagus, Hypselacara, Retroculus, Tahuantinsuyoa, Symphysodon, Taeniacara, Uaru, all mouthbrooders not listed elsewhere

Group D - None

Targets - Uaru amphiacanthoides, Taeniacara candidi, Biotecus sp.,

Class 8: Old World Cichlids - 3 substrate spawners and 3 mouthbrooders (including at least 1 riverine species)

Group A - Hemichromis, mouthbrooders from the genera Tilapia and Sarotherodon, Hap. burtoni and closely related species

Group B - all cichlids from Lakes Malawi, Victoria and Kivu not listed elsewhere, Neolamprologus brichardi and its relatives, Julidochromis, all West African riverine cichlids not listed elsewhere, Pseudocrenilabrus

Group C - all species from Lake Tanganyika not listed elsewhere

Group D - Boulengerochromis, Lamp. compressiceps and its allies, Lamprologus sexfasciatus, Lamprologus tretocephalus, Lake Tanganyika 'featherfins,' Teleogramma brichardi

Targets - Cyathopharynx furcifer, Lamp. tretocephalus, Tanganyikan goby cichlids, Teleogramma brichardi

Class 9: Rainbows and Rasboras - 6 species, 2 of which must be Rasboras

Group A - none

Group B - Rasbora trilineata, Rasbora borapetensis, Melanotaenia axelrodi, boesemani, lacustris, praecox, splendida and trifasciata, Bedotia gayi

Group C - all Rasboras and their allies not listed elsewhere, all rainbows not listed elsewhere

Group D - Trigonostigma

Targets - Trigonostigma heteromorpha, Iriatherina werneri, Rasbora espei

Class 10: Sharks, Loaches & Eels - 1 species

Group A - None

Group B - None

Group C - None

Group D - Misgurnus anguillicaudatus (dojo or weather loach), Acanthophthalmus sp. (kuhli type loaches). All other species not listed in target group

Targets - Epalzeorhynchos bicolour (redtailed shark), Botia macracantha (clown loach), and Mastocembelus species (spiny eels)

Class 11: Other Aquatic Animals - 5 species (at least 2 not snails)

Group A - all freshwater snails

Group B - freshwater invertebrates not listed elsewhere

Group C - shrimps, crayfish, solely aquatic frogs

Group D - newts and Pipa pipa

Targets - axolotls

Class 12: U.S. Native Species - 3 species (1 Livebearer & 2 Egglayers)

Group A - Gambusia affinis, Heterandria formosa, Poecilia latipinna and all livebearing species native to the United States.

Group B - All Cyprinodon species (pupfish), Elassoma evergladei (pigmy sunfish), Jordanella floridae (Florida flag fish), and all other egglaying species native to the United States.

Group C - All "sunfish" except Elassoma evergladei, and all "minnows"

Group D - Any species native to Pennsylvania collected inside the borders of the Commonwealth.

Targets - All "Darters" and Sculpins

Class 13: Marine Fish & Invertebrates - 4 species (at least 1 marine fish)

Group A - Aiptasia, all bristleworms and their allies

Group B - pigmy seahorse, all soft corals, colonial anemones, mushrooms, brittle starfish, all worms not listed elsewhere

Group C - Pomacentridae, neon gobies, tropical seahorses, Pseudochromis,

small polyp stony corals, large polyp stony corals reproduced through budding, univalve mollusks

Group D - Coldwater seahorses, all marine fish species not listed elsewhere, large polyp stony corals reproduced sexually, all other invertebrates not listed elsewhere

Targets - dragonets, firefish, Centropyge, bivalve mollusks, cephalopods, echinoderms other than brittle stars

Class 14: All Other Freshwater Fish - 4 species

Group A - None

Group B - All Badis, & Dario species

Group C - Carassius auratus auratus (goldfish: all varieties) , Tateurndina occelicauda, and Chlamydogobius eremius (desert goby)

Group D - Koi, Pantodon, Polypterus, leaf fish and their allies, Mogurnda Mogurnda, Nandids, Tetraodontidae, mudskippers, scats, monos and fish not listed elsewhere at the discretion of the BAP Chair

Targets - Pantodon bucholzi, Brachygobius xanthozona (bumblebee goby), Monodactylus sebae, and all gobies/gudgeons not listed elsewhere

Appendix A:

Group 5 Killifish Groups

Transition

This breeders award program takes effect May 1^st 2007. Any and all awards earned by a member prior to that date remain as awarded.  All species bred prior to this date will be converted to the new format for the purpose of any additional awards the members may be entitled to.

• No member will lose any previously awarded level of achievement but if that member is entitled to an award under the new BAP system, and has not received the equivalent award, the new award will be presented. .  However, should a member qualify for more than one award, they will only receive the higher achievement award. (e.g. A current member has 200 points under the new BAP and has not received any awards in the current BAP, that member will receive the 2 Star Breeder Award.)
• In order to achieve the next highest award in the lifetime achievement award category, the member must meet ALL the requirements set forth in this document for that award.  Since the specialty awards are a new award for the club, ALL requirements must be met to qualify for these awards.
• Transfer points will be accepted from other clubs but, the species will be reclassified to and points awarded based on this BAP program and the highest award only will be awarded.  A maximum of 500 points can be transferred but, all species will be recorded for the purpose of specialty and lifetime achievements.

Awards equivalent to this program from previous program are as follows: