Breeder's Award Program (BAP) Rules

  1. Purpose

    The Breeder's Award Program is for members who take pride in breeding their fish. Any fish spawn, whether a guppy or a massive cichlid, is eligible for this program. Members must contact the BAP coordinator to register their fish.

  2. Program Eligibility

    All ASCM members who regularly attend meetings are eligible to participate in the program.

  3. Program

    The BAP recognizes members according to their accomplishments. It is structured to promote collaboration rather than competition. Members attain achievement levels and awards based on the points earned for different breeding objects. Members will be awarded points only once per species, subspecies, or variant. All points earned are cumulative over an indefinite period. Points are awarded as described in the Point Schedule for the successful spawning and rearing of species and sub-species based on the difficulty level.

  4. Rules

    To qualify for the BAP, you must meet the following criteria and complete the ASCM BAP form.

    1. 4.1. Successful spawning is defined as raising a minimum of 6 healthy fry for a minimum of 60 days.
    2. 4.2. As the BAP committee acknowledges, a subspecies is a naturally occurring population that differs from other subspecies only in terms of color and geographic location. Subspecies recognized by the BAP program are those found in publications acceptable to the BAP Committee. If the scientific community later recognizes a subspecies as a distinct species or changes the taxonomic classification of an animal, the BAP committee shall reclassify each animal accordingly.
    3. 4.3. Color, finnage, shape, and locality variants are separately eligible for points as noted in the Point Schedule for a particular species.
    4. 4.4. Parents of the fry must be owned by the member applying. Eggs may not be obtained elsewhere and then hatched.
    5. 4.5. A photo of the free-swimming fry within the member's tank must be presented.
    6. 4.6. Points will be awarded based on classification. Classifications and points are based on difficulty.
    7. 4.7. The BAP Coordinator and/or the Board will evaluate and assign a class species not listed in the classification.
    8. 4.8. The BAP Coordinator and/or Board may alter the BAP program regulations or classifications to preserve the program’s quality and integrity.
    9. 4.9. The Breeder is responsible for ensuring their points have been adequately recorded.
    10. 4.10. In cases involving uncertain identification, a published photograph shall be used for identification purposes. If no published photograph exists, a photo of the submission shall be taken and filed with the BAP Submission Form.
    11. 4.11. The BAP Coordinator and/or Board shall keep a record of participating members’ point totals, which will be published monthly.
    12. 4.12. A member may petition the BAP Coordinator and/or Board to submit a lower number of fry when it is documented that a specific species produces small broods.
    13. 4.13. Hybrid fishes are allowed if they are already established in the hobby or if they are naturally occurring. All other hybrids are not allowed.
    14. 4.14. Hormone use is not allowed. ASCM acknowledges that, in exceptional cases, hormones have played a crucial role in saving specific species from extinction. However, the BAP seeks to promote experimentation by its members to learn the aquarium conditions under which challenging fish may be successfully spawned and reared without resorting to hormones.
    15. 4.15. Additional points may be earned by doing any of the following:
      1. 4.15.1. A written article on the propagation of the species was submitted for publication on the website or in the monthly newsletter. Articles must be approximately 250 to 400 words. Articles should describe the fish characteristics, the breeding environment, water parameters, and the growth cycle of the fry. In other words, what would someone need to know to breed a particular species if they have a mature pair? Articles must be readable, informative, and suitable for publication on the club website. These articles will be kept on our website in our reference library and published in the club newsletter. The addition of photographs to accompany the article is encouraged. The pictures should be in focus and substantially composed of the spawn and their parents.
      2. 4.15.2. A ten-to-fifteen-minute oral presentation on the propagation of the species. At least one month’s prior notification to the BAP Chairman and President is required before an oral presentation can be scheduled.
    16. 4.16. Members are responsible for adhering to U.S. federal, state, and local laws regarding aquaculture, wildlife, and species protection, as well as copyright restrictions.
    17. 4.17. Comments, questions, clarifications, and suggestions may be directed to the Board.

  5. Point Categories

    1. 5.1. Class A: 5 points Livebearers, Tanichthys (White Clouds), Brachydanios, Convict Cichlids, Tilapia (mouthbrooding)
    2. 5.2. Class B: 10 points American Flag fish (Jordanella), Shrimp, Badis badis, Gouramis (large), Bettas, Paradise fish, Tilapia (non-mouthbrooding), Copeina sp., Angels, Mouthbrooding Cichlids, Pelvicachromis, A. cacatuoides, Aquidens, Geophagus, Julidochromis, Neolamprologus, Rainbowfish
    3. 5.3. Class C: 15 points Small Gouramis, Barbs, Killifish, Corydoras, Crenicara, Oscars, Chocolate Cichlid, Chromides, Pencil fish, Microgeophagus, Apistogramma, Urau, Headstanders, Goldfish, Koi, Otocinclus, Nannochromis, Gobies, Cichlasoma, Anomalochromis, Chromidotilapia, South American Cichlids, Gobies, Gudgeons
    4. 5.4. Class D: 20 points Synodontis, Discus, Neon Tetras, Anableps, Hatchetfish, Cardinal Tetras, Silver Dollars, Pantodon, Marine Damsel fish, Glassfish, Archerfish, Ctenopoma, Chocolate Gouramis, Axolotl, Bumblebee Goby, Monos, Scatophagus, Leporinus, Sucker mouth Cats, Pike Cichlids
    5. 5.5. Class E: 25 points Arowana, Eels, Knife fish, Loaches, Elephant Nose, Piranha, Sharks
    6. 5.6. Class F: 5 points reserved for all cultivable organisms that provide food to aquatic inhabitants for breeding and raising to adulthood. Examples would include snails, brine shrimp, and worms. Points apply to the Culture Award.
    7. 5.7. W - Article (15 points)
    8. 5.8. P - Presentation (20 points)

  6. Achievement Award Level

    1. 6.1. Novice Breeder, 50 points - Earned by breeding fish from any class.
    2. 6.2. Intermediate Breeder, 100 points - Earned by breeding fish from at least two classes.
    3. 6.3. Advanced Breeder, 300 points - Must have at least one article.
    4. 6.4. Expert Breeder, 500 points - Must have at least one article.
    5. 6.5. Master Breeder, 1,000 points - Must have a minimum of two articles and two club presentations.
    6. 6.6. Grand Master, 1,500 points – Must have a minimum of four articles and four club presentations.
    7. 6.7. Culture Award, 25 points max in Class F

  7. Additional Recognition

    In addition, the BAP Committee may bestow the following or other awards:

    1. 7.1. Breeder of the Year – For earning the most points of any BAP participant over the calendar year.
    2. 7.2. Rookie of the Year – For the greatest number of successful spawns of any BAP participant in their first year of participation in the program.
    3. 7.3. Junior Breeder – For earning 50 breeding points in any category by a junior member.
    4. 7.4. Specialization Breeding – For earning points for breeding and rearing 10 or more different species within a taxonomic family over the calendar year.
    5. 7.5. Diversification Breeding – For earning points in 10 or more different taxonomic families over the calendar year.
    6. 7.6. Lifetime Achievement – Awarded for sustained excellence in achieving a breeding objective such as preservation of one or more CARES species, exceptional line breeding, preservation of genetic variability, sharing knowledge, and mentoring others.

  8. Requirements

    1. 8.1. Breeding points are awarded upon proof of spawning in any of the categories.
    2. 8.2. Guidelines for determining a spawn are defined as follows:
      1. 8.2.1. For livebearers, a spawn is a birth.
      2. 8.2.2. For mouthbrooders, a spawn is the maternal release of free-swimming fry, or, in the case of incubator-reared fry, the time at which the fry becomes free-swimming.
      3. 8.2.3. For killifish, a spawn is the total number of fry hatched in one week for plant spawners or one month for soil spawners from the eggs laid during a single collection period. The spawn is complete at the end of one week of hatching.
      4. 8.2.4. For all other fish, a spawn begins with the physical act of mating and is considered complete when the eggs hatch.
      5. 8.2.5. If the first indication that a spawn has occurred is the presence of free-swimming fry in the tank, this is considered a spawn.
      6. 8.2.6. A spawn is considered all fry of approximately the same age or size as fish bred in a colony or natural setting.
    3. 8.3. To be eligible for an award, spawning must occur in the breeder’s tank or pond and not result from eggs or gravid fish obtained from another breeder.
    4. 8.4. After a successful spawning, the breeder assures that their points have been adequately verified and reported. The breeder must submit a spawning report to receive points. The online BAP Spawning Report Form is available on the club’s site.
    5. 8.5. The requirement for 10 fry may be waived by the BAP committee when a fish is known to produce less than that number in an average spawn. Requests for such a waiver must be submitted in writing to the BAP committee before awarding points.

  9. Proof of Spawning

    1. 9.1. The first notification of breeding must be performed within 10 days after free-swimming fry are detected. Notification may be made via email to bap@acsmaryland.com or by contacting the BAP Chairman directly. Photographic documentation is required.
    2. 9.2. A BAP Committee member or a delegate shall verify and inspect the fry. At the time of inspection, the fry must be at least 30 days old and in the appropriate number (at least 10, unless approved otherwise). The fry can be brought to a general meeting for verification, or the breeder may request that a verifier travel to the breeding site if transporting the fry may harm them.
    3. 9.3. A BAP Spawning Report must be filled out and submitted online within 4 months of submission of the initial notification to receive credit for the spawn.
    4. 9.4. Any spawning may be investigated at any time by the BAP Committee.
    5. 9.5. No members, including BAP Committee members, may check or verify their spawnings, nor may any member of their household do so

  10. Walking through the Process

    1. 10.1. Spawn your fish.
    2. 10.2. Start your Spawning Report Form. Also, list any factors or special circumstances the BAP should consider for new species or varieties, for lowering the fry required, or for changing point values.
    3. 10.3. Report your spawn within 10 days of free swimming. Do this even if you don't have 10 fry—they can surprise you.
    4. 10.4. Grow out your fry for 30 days.
    5. 10.5. Bring the required number of fry to the next meeting or arrange to verify them in person.
    6. 10.6. Submit your Spawning Report Form (Website Link) and any proposals for changes or special considerations to the BAP Chairman.
    7. 10.7. Get an email from the BAP Chairman stating that your points have been awarded.

  11. Changes and Modifications to the Rules

    1. 11.1. The Committee will review the rules at least once a year. Additionally, members are encouraged to suggest any rule changes they believe would be beneficial. The committee will adhere to the following procedures:
    2. 11.2. The BAP Chairman, Committee member, or the ASCM President may directly propose a change to the BAP Committee. It will be discussed and voted on. The change will be published to take effect immediately; however, General Members may comment, and it shall remain provisional until the second general meeting.