Basic Program

The Basic Program has the following levels:

Aquarists must spawn and raise at least 6 fry to 60 days of age (60 days after hatching for egg layers). The BAP Chairman or a member of NJAS Board of Directors must witness these fish after they are 60 days of age. This must be done at a general membership meeting or at one of the annual functions (fish show, work shop, etc) where an auction will take place. A BAP data sheet must be filled out and submitted. The breeder must put at least 6 of the 60 day old (or older) fish into the auction. The breeder can donate the fish to the auction or he may choose to receive 50% of the auction price.

NO POINTS ARE AWARDED UNLESS THE FISH ARE PUT UP FOR AUCTION.

For 15, 20 and 25 point fish, the breeder will be awarded five points less (10, 15 and 20 points) until writing an article describing in detail the spawning procedures for publication in the “Reporter”. There will be no time limit for submission of the article. Articles worth five points may be written for five and ten point fish at any time if approved by the BAP chairman and the “Reporter” editor.

Alternately, the breeder may make an oral presentation accompanied by slides, video or other visual aids at a general membership meting or at a society function (fish show, workshop).

Articles must be at least one page in length for a single species and at least 1½ pages for two related species. If help is needed in writing the article, a BAP committee member or an officer of the club will provide a ghostwriter.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

Points are awarded only once for any species.

Hybrids are not allowed. It is strongly recommended that Rift Lake cichlids be housed as single species groups and not in community groups of different species.

Following a successful spawning, it is the breeders’ own responsibility to see that his points have been properly recorded.

In the event of any confusion in the identification of a fish in a complex of similar fishes, reference to a published photograph must be made for each member of the complex in order to get credit for that species. In the event no published photograph exists, a color photograph shall be taken and filed with the BAP data form. In the event of a disagreement as to the identity of the fish spawned, the decision of the BAP Committee shall be final regarding the awarding of points.

The genus and species schedules provide guidelines for the scoring of points. It is impossible, however to assign specific points to every species available in the hobby. New fish are constantly being imported and introduced to the hobby. Name changes and trivial names add further to the confusion.

The BAP Chairman will make every effort to assign points on a fair and equitable basis. For this purpose, he may consult aquarists, experts and the literature for advice. In addition, a detailed and comprehensive data sheet is essential for evaluating fish.

Any participant may request a point consultation with the BAP chairman to discuss points awarded.

The similarity between related species when juvenile fish are involved may require further growth beyond 60 days before verification.

Point assignments will be reviewed periodically by the BAP committee.

THE NJAS BAP PROGRAM DOES NOT ACCEPT POINTS OR CREDITS EARNED FROM PARTICIPATION IN ANOTHER BAP PROGRAM.