I. Purpose
A. To encourage member of GPAS to breed fish and invertebrates and share knowledge concerning the spawning and rearing fish.
B. To recognize the achievements of GPAS members concerning the breeding of fish and invertebrates.
C. To promote an interest in and make available a wider variety of fish and invertebrates.
D. To encourage more members to be active participants in the society.
II. Lifetime Achievement Award
A. The program is made up of six levels of achievement. The levels and requirements are as follows.
B. Certificates or Plaques will be awarded to breeders in the following categories:
Novice — five qualified spawnings
Breeder — fifteen qualified spawnings
Intermediate — twenty five qualified spawnings
Advanced — forty qualified spawnings
Master — sixty qualified spawnings
Grand Master — one hundred qualified spawnings
C. Attainment of any level will be recognized at the next general meeting after official verification.
D. Participants achieving the level of Grand Master will be awarded Lifetime membership in the GPAS.
E. Uncommonly spawned species may be considered by the BAP for special recognition.
III. Special (non-point) Awards
A. No fish may be entered for a special award that has not also and/or separately been entered in the Lifetime Achievement program.
B. A species may be used in more than one Special BAP Program. Each programs submission must be submitted separately, although they may be submitted at the same meeting.
C. Breeder-of-the-Year — An award will be given to the BAP participant who has the highest BAP point total in any given calendar year. Species previously used for Lifetime Achievement may be respawned and entered in the Breeder-of-the-Year once each year. However they only count once towards the Lifetime Achievement Award. In case of a tie, the breeder with most new Lifetime Achievement spawns wins. Additionally five BAP submissions are required to be eligible for the Breeder of the Year award.
D. Specialization Award — An aquarist must spawn 10 different members of one family of fish, (e.g. Cichlidae, Anabantidae, Callichthydae) or 10 different and distinct trade recognized colors and/or fin types, (e.g. Angelfish – Koi, Gold, Black, Blushing, Silver, and Clown), or ten fish that spawn in a similar manner, (e.g. bubble-nesters, mouth-brooders, cave-spawners, etc.).
1. Before an attempt at a specialization award, the BAP chair, or their
appointee must approve it.
2. The participant is responsible for maintaining records to show the ten
species spawned for a Specialization Award.
E. Diversification Award — An award will be given for diversity in breeding once all ten families/orders have been turned in. To receive this award, the participant must have turned in a BAP, for Lifetime achievement, of at least one fish from each of the following families/orders:
1. Poecilidae or Goodeidae
2. Anabantidae
3. Cypriniformes
4. Characiniformes
5. Cichlidae
6. Aplocheilidae
7. Siluriformes
8. Atherinidae, or Bedotidae, or Pseudomugilidae
9. Gobiidae
10. One other family not listed above
IV. Rules and Program Definitions
A. Eligibility
1. Any GPAS member whose membership is current, and not in arrears,
may participate in any BAP function.
2. A species may only be turned in once for Lifetime Achievement points.
3. The name of a fish scientifically recognized as Genus-species-
subspecies and population/collection data (if known). If a subspecies or
population is later raised to full species status, you may enter a different
subspecies and obtain points for Lifetime Achievement. If a species hasn’t
been assigned a scientific name, the name should contain the Genus and
the temporary name, (e.g. Arcocentrus sp. “Red Point”), should the species
later be found to be a previously described species, points will be deducted
from the Lifetime Achievement Award, but not from other awards.
4. Eggs and/or fry must be obtained by spawning your fish in your tanks.
5. Invertebrates considered pest species are not eligible for submisson (i.e.
bladder snails, ramshorn snails, hydra, etc.) If you are unsure get approval
from the BAP chair prior to submission.
B. Awards of Points:
1. To receive points for a fish, 5 fry must be turned in as a donation to the
BAP committee. The fry must be auctioned at a regular meeting, or at the
annual show auction. For species whose spawn is normally less than 5 fry,
special arrangements must be made with the BAP chair in advance.
2. The participant must turn every spawn in with a completed BAP form
that is signed by both the participant and the BAP chair or appointee.
Registration of BAP fish for points is via the BAP form ONLY. No exceptions
are allowed, even with permission from the BAP chair.
3. The participant is responsible for obtaining, completing and turning in all
forms required. The BAP chair is responsible for making all current forms
available, online and at the general meeting.
4. Any questionable entries are subject to approval by the BAP chair.
C. BAP Auctions:
1. To get BAP points and recognition, at least five (5) fry must survive to 60
days post hatch, or birth if a live bearing fish, and five (5) fish at least 60 days
old must be auctioned at the General Meeting. Auctioning of BAP spawns at
Fishtoberfest is allowed if approved by BAP committee.
a. Fish who normally have less than 5 young, (i.e. Rays), should be
consulted with the BAP chair prior to submission.***
b. Members are encouraged to use common sense when submitting fry
for BAP, as some fish need to be much older than the 60-day minimum to
be easily identified by the BAP committee as to species, and also to be
safe to bag and sell to others. Please do not bring in fish that are not large
enough that you would not feel comfortably buying them yourself. The
BAP committee reserves the right not to accept fish that are deemed too
small to auction.
c. The proceeds of all BAP submissions shall go to GPAS. The money
shall be used for awards, and other GPAS expenditures, and put in the
general fund.
d. The BAP Committee, with whom resides final authority, will settle any
disputes and approve all submissions regarding the BAP.
e. The BAP committee consists of the BAP Chairman, and their
appointees. The GPAS Board appoints the BAP Chairman and the
appointment expires at the BOD meeting prior the April general meeting,
unless reappointed.
***Additional exceptions can be granted if approved by the BAP chair prior
to submission.***
Last update (January 2025)