Freshwater

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Part IV: Breeding and Other Fun Stuff
Exhibiting Your Fish Properly
After you find and train your show fish, you need the guidelines for exhibiting
them properly. The following tips can help your fish put its best fin forward:
Study the rules carefully before you fill out an entry form so that you
have a good idea of the requirements for the individual competitions.
Fill out all your paperwork properly and legibly and submit it on time.
Get your show fish to the competition with plenty of time to spare. This
gives your entry an opportunity to calm down and regain any color it
may have lost during transportation to the show. (Fish lose color when
they’re distressed, and transporting them is stressful for them.)
Water conditions
Bring water with you so that your fish can remain in familiar conditions during
the competition. Water supplies provided at the show may be very different
from those at your home. Discontinue feeding your fish the night before the
competition to avoid water fouling (remember, it’s good for fish to fast one
day a week) and change the water frequently to keep your show tank looking
crystal clear. If possible, use water that is a couple degrees warmer than what
your fish is accustomed to — this generally helps fish show better. Make sure
to provide an airstone, if possible, to keep the water well-oxygenated.
Tank considerations
It is important to place your show fish in a tank that correctly matches its
size. For example, a single guppy in a 10-gallon tank is dwarfed by the sheer
water volume and tends to look rather miniscule. It’s better to show this type
of fish in a 5-gallon container. On the other hand, an eight-inch plecostomus
doesn’t look very good in a 2-gallon container. It doesn’t have the room to
display all its fins, or the other attributes that may make it a winner. If you
have to use a shoehorn to cram your entry into its show tank, then the aquarium
is probably too small, and if you need a telescope to spot your fish in its
show tank, then the aquarium is probably too large.
To set up an exhibition tank properly, read the competition’s rules. For example,
some categories and competitions allow gravel and decorations, whereas
others do not. If you use gravel, make sure it complements the fish you’re
showing. If you have a dark-colored fish, lighter gravel will show off its colors