Showing fish in the ACA?

[tpl*co]

Well, looking at the show rules on the ACA this year and there are two classes for showing discus.

In Division A there's the "Discus - hobbyist class"

Then there is the "Division D - Discus* This Division is open to commercial breeders and the winner of this Division will be named the "Grand Champion Discus""

Well, there is a difference in entrance fees, and the hobbyist class only gets a 10 gallon tank while Division D gets a 20 gallon one. 10 gallons just doesn't cut it for any decent sized discus (and a sponge filter and heater), but I'm apprehensive putting my fish against proffesional breeder discus ;). (though I am looking at a male I got from Angela and Andrew to put in ;) it may still not be old enough and big enough against other breeders fish ;))

Can anybody give me pointers on showing in the ACA?

Tina

[Greg Richardson]

Tina. I've never shown before but here is a few thoughts.
I think that is strange the difference in gallons for the same fish. LOL!

But if I was in your shoes I'd go with hobbyist class.
You can buy short heaters. Start looking now.
Have the smallest sponge filter to use and you'll be fine.

Yep, still sucks but remember the ones you are competing against will be under the same conditions.

I'd try to change water often if possible.
Not sure what their rule is on that.

Reason hobbyist class for you is think about the odds.

Commercial breeders have thousands of fish to choose from and us hobbyist have a small % compared to them.
So in their position they can pick out the best constantly and breed those.

So unless a hobbyist has a knockout fish chances are better in hobbyist class imo.

I play the odds not my pride.

[tpl*co]

That's what I was thinking Greg, better odds, but a 10 gallon! jeez, I've never put a discus in a 10 gallon (well, besides my 3.5 gallon transport container ;) ) I guess you wouldn't feed them for the weekend? Poor thing.

Tina

[Apistomaster]

I'm an ACA member but have never shown fish let alone discus.
It is a strange rule to restrict hobbyist class to ten gal tanks.
Why and how they came up with this makes no sense. Hobbyist: You shall practice cruelty to your seven inch discus? Your discus is worth less?
Commercial: You may have 20 gallon tanks because why? Oh, you know better than to place your seven inch discus in a ten gallon.

I'll have to read the show rules. Are all hobbyists restricted to ten gallon tanks to show off their Cichla species specimen but the commercial importer can use a 50 gallon?

If you are showing Apistogramma species are you only allowed to use a Betta bowl?

[tpl*co]

I agree Apistomaster,

I see they have a class for 6" and over cichlids, in a 10 gallon? aghhhh. And if you don't pick up your fish on time on Sunday it goes to auction!

I doubt I'll see any wild angels or altums at show :(

Tina

[AADiscus]

Tina....that is awesome you are thinking of showing one of your fish you got from us. One thing to remember is that breeders normally sell there fish in the auction at the end of the show. Not always but most do. I think putting it in a 10 gallon for a couple days will not hurt it because you are not feeding it. It is of age to where if you are going to show it......take it off feed a couple days before the show. This way they are out of poop and there tank will stay clean in the show. You won't get the ammonia build up, etc. You might send some pm's to people that have shown fish and get there opinions.

[greyhoundfan]

How exciting good Luck tina.. all the hopes and dreams of other discus hobbyists such as myself rest on your shoulders.. no pressure right?

regarding the tank size, maybe they just don't have the space to accomadate everyone with a 20 G.. as usual it's the little guys that get the short end of the stick.. IMO.

[Discus-Hans]

The whole 10 or 20 gallon thing has nothing to do with little guys or big guys.

It's all about the money, the money you've to pay to put a Discus in the hobby competition seems not to couver the price of the tank. The pro's pay more to put the Discus in, they get a bigger tank.

I personaly have for those vew days no problem at all with the 10 gallon tanks, your Discus will be fine, stop feeding at least 2 days for the show and they will survive the 10 gallon with no problems. I think we put for a vew years in a row the biggest Discus in the show and.........none of the Discus complained :D

There are "knock out" Discus under "hobbyists" after a show we've always sold every Discus we had in a competition,

my 2 cents

Hans

[Jeff]

I don't really think it was meant to be hobbyist vs commercial. The idea of the second class was the winner gets $1,000.00 You are paying to compete for a cash prize. They also showcase the discus in this class by giving them a bigger tank. Most hobbyists here have pleanty good enough discus to compete in this class or even win it in my opinion.

[tpl*co]

Tina....that is awesome you are thinking of showing one of your fish you got from us. One thing to remember is that breeders normally sell there fish in the auction at the end of the show. Not always but most do. I think putting it in a 10 gallon for a couple days will not hurt it because you are not feeding it. It is of age to where if you are going to show it......take it off feed a couple days before the show. This way they are out of poop and there tank will stay clean in the show. You won't get the ammonia build up, etc. You might send some pm's to people that have shown fish and get there opinions.

Thanks Angela, thanks guys...

This one Neon blue is turning out to be really nice. He's also the king pin :). I'm nervous though competing against the big names though and I'm worried about putting him in a 10 gallon tank. They said that I could compete with him in the other class though.

Tina

[AADiscus]

Tina,
don't worry about it. Take him off his feed a few days before the show. You never know how he will do untilyou put him in there. I can't wait to see the results. :D