Re: [Killietalk] Convention Show - New Rules

[Mark Delraso <altos at att_net>]

I guess that a pair of wild caught Nothos won't get judged either!  Is this primarily a rule against people who work with natives.  It seems to me that if you have caught a pair of fish and managed to acclimate them to aquarium conditions to the point that they can compete with aquarium stock, then maybe you should get a medal.  Anyone with experience working with wild fish knows that wild fish degrade when introduced to a closed system.  Some recover faster than others, but, unless you are showing wild fish, straight from a creek, I do not think this rule is fair.  In fact, I would bet that if you did put a wild pair of Fundulus whateveratus in a small show tank from the wild, they would probably be dead before the judging starts.
   
  Furthermore, a newly caught, wild fish wouldn't show well anyway.  A good judge would notice that they would be stressed out - no color!  To add more, this does not promote the hobby for those working with wild natives or exotics.  I want to see a fish as close to it's wild form as possible.  What is a better way to see a standard exihibited by an aquarium conditioned - wild specimens.
   
  I think that I am probably going to get blasted, but I can't see why this is happening.  Did somebody get second place to a healthy wild fish?  If the wild fish was exotic, I'm sure most of us would pay for it in the auction. 
   
  Something else, If they are native to us, why would a Notho or Aphyosemion guy care?  I know that I wouldn't care even if a nice wild pair of fulgens beat mine.  It would nice to see.  I know that I will probably never get to see a wild one anywhere else!
   
  Mark Del Raso
  Contemplating in Indianapolis

Joel Antkowiak <mrkillie at comcast_net> wrote:
  I just went to the convention web site (which is now looking great and is
very informative about the upcoming convention!!) and again noticed the new
judging rules that I believe I saw published in the BNL. I am wondering
about the thought process that went into deciding that wild fish would not
be judged. It seems to me that, in a time when people are complaining about
the lack of entries in the national convention, that this rule takes a step
to further reduce the number of entries. Further, some people may now omit
the fact the fish are wild caught in order to get the fish judged. If
someone acquires a young pair of wild caught fish and raises them into
show-winning quality fish, I see no good reason to prevent them from earning
the recognition for that accomplishment. This is, in my opinion, is an awful
change.

The next question is, who is this "judging committee"? Obviously, Liz is on
it, but who else? Shouldn't all the certified judges, or at least the senior
judges, be part of this committee? It seems strange that as a senior judge
for about 20 years now, I never know about changes in the judging standards
until they are published (and sometimes they don't even get published! So
they surprise me at the next show that I judge-that's always fun!)

Can anyone clue me in!!

Joel Antkowiak
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