Eggspots Elsewhere - Welt der Fische / World of Fishes

Dissolved through lack of interest! These few words, brief and to the point, and dire
to the enthusiast’s ear, mark the end of an era. Many aquarium clubs are battling
against the constant loss of members. But even so it is a shock to hear that a national
organisation has found itself obliged to fold. The more so in that the organisation in
question is one whose dynamism has brought it fame beyond the borders of its own
country. Yet until just a few years ago it regularly organised a major aquarium show
in Antwerp. For many clubs and regional groups of other cichlid organisations the
“Cichlidenshow” was a reason to visit the city, sometimes by the busload. The
members of the Belgische Cichlidenliefhebber Vereniging (A. B. C. V. = Belgian
Cichlid Association) put on this incomparable event, sometimes every other year, in a
former cinema in the
suburb of Borgerhout. The
aquaria, some of them
constructed of wood, were
always attractively and
often also innovatively
decorated. The fishes,
cichlids from all over the
world, were impressive,
and frequently spectacular
and rare. Many an
illustrious guest attended
the exhibition, and note -
worthy experts were
always invited to be guests
at the assemblies of the
association. Cichlidae, the
informative journal of the
association, was indepen -
dently published even in
the early years. In its
heyday the club had
several hundred members,
but only five turned up at
the last member assembly,
even though it was known
that matters had reached a
“life or death” situation.
Given that sort of lack of
interest, the “last of the
Mohicans” had no choice
but to dissolve the
association on 22nd
October 2009, after more
than 35 years in existence.
eggspots No. 4
The end of an era
by ERWIN SCHRAML
View from the upper floor of the former cinema, showing some of the aquaria at the (9th)
“Cichlidenshow” for which the Belgian Cichlid Association was famous far and wide.
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