Fish Lingo

[georgedv]

A few weeks ago I had lunch w/two friends, two sisters. They are professional dog breeders and showers of those wrinkled Chines dogs.

It was very interesting as they discussed their "bitches " and "studs". How this one "stud" had a "h_ll of a tail" and the "paired ***** had a smooth coat"...something like that. It was hilarious...plenty of heads turned towards us...the sisters just kept talking as if all was normal...by the end of the meal I was hiding underneath the table partially because I was laughing so hard and partially because I was trying to hide.

My point...do fish breeders, showers, what ever, have they got similar lingo....even if it's not as funny as those in the dog world.

Also, if I posted (or anyone else) a picture of an apisto, or pelv or other dwarf cichlid, does anybody have the knowledge or/and experience to show us about desirable and non desirable characteristics on these fish that we spend so much passion, time, and money on?

Of coarse if this is acceptable to be done in this forum...is anyone else interested on this topic?



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[tjudy]

I do not think that we tend to talk in 'lingo', but noone speaking lingo does. I think that we are more guilty of shortening words, such as 'apisto' for apistogramma or 'pleco' for plecostomus. When writing we tend to use abbreviations like 20H for 20-gallon high aquarium, or bbs for baby brine shrimp.

As for 'judging' fish... since dwarf cichlids do not fall into any of the 'fancy' strain categories the general rul of thumb is that the fish's standard is that of a mature wild fish. THis has caused problems in shows when albino, other non-wild type color forms (such as orange flash cacatuoides or red tail aggassizii) or long fin (rams) fiish are shown. Some judges immediately disregard any fish that is not wild type, others will judge on overall shape, health and deportment without weighting color. For the most part we shoudl be able to judge the merits of our own fish. We should all be able to see bad fins, odd body shape or other obvious deformities. I am picky about my breeders, and do not ever want to use a fish with obvious deformities, or even fish that strike me as being a tad 'off'... even if I cannot pinpont why the fish gives me that impression. When I judge shows I always ask myself 'would I want this fish as a breeder?" If the answer is 'no' I rarely end up placing the fish.

 

[Mike Wise]

Having judged many fish, including at several ACA national conventions, I will agree with Ted. Remember that the judges have to judge the fish on the merits that they show at the exhibition - not in their home tank. I have some hints for dwarf cichlid showing:

1. - apistos don't show well (unless conditioned to a bare tank). Condition them to a bare tank.

2. - apistos & rams don't comport well (unless conditioned to a bare tank). Condition them to a bare tank.

3. - species that don't change color and are mid-water swimmers (Dicrossus & Biotoecus species) often win because they can't really change body colors as radiacally as apistos & rams, and don't cower on the bottom.

4. - avoid showing extremely new/rare species that very few judges know anything about. If there are questions about species identification or - especially - possible hybrids, judges will often rule them out. This happened at an ACA convention where I judged. The Best of Show went to a New World species because none of the African judges were sure if the best Old World entrant was a valid species or a hybrid.

5. - If possible learn what the judges prefer and work toward that end. It might be unfair, but we all have biases. Some prefer wild caught forms; others prefer extravagant finnage and bright colors. Me? I will never understand why anyone would want to take a beautiful Electric Blue and make it white (albino).

6. - Show what you want and don't expect to win. When you do, it's a bonus!