Freshwater

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Part IV: Breeding and Other Fun Stuff
Each class usually has its own judge. The judge is supposed to mark your
entry on its own merit, not compare it to the other fish in the competition.
But judges are human, and an outstanding fish sitting in the next tank over
may have a slight bearing on the outcome of your own entry’s marks.
After all fish are judged, the “best of show” is awarded to the highest quality
entry of all the classes combined. This decision is usually reached by a group
conference — the individual judges all get together to vote for what they consider
to be the best overall fish at the show. An important thing to remember
is that the marks that your fish receives generally are from a single judge’s
point of view. So try to resist the temptation to verbally tear every judge limb
from limb because of what you consider to be serious oversights and bad
vision. Nobody likes a spoilsport, so keep your cool and just remember that
you are enjoying your hobby at a new level.
To keep judging from becoming too personal, aquarium societies devised a
set of standards that each individual fish in a competition can be judged
against. The fish that comes closest to matching a set standard in each category
is usually determined the winner. This policy keeps the fish from being
judged on personal preference only. Judges come from a wide range of backgrounds
and aquarium-keeping skill levels. Most are experienced hobbyists
or dealers who complete special training at schools that teach them how to
judge fish shows efficiently.
Each competition’s evaluation system varies slightly, but most show fish are
judged on a point system. A certain number of points are allotted for different
physical traits, such as size and color. The fish with the most total points
after the judging is complete is considered the winner. In the event of a tie,
the fish are judged again, or a decision is made by all the judges together.
Judges disagree quite a bit, so don’t hold your breath waiting for a unanimous
decision, or you may pass out from lack of oxygen.
Size and body weight
One of the main physical traits that consistently inspire judges to give a fish
high marks is its overall size. Judges generally look for a fish that has reached
its full stage of adulthood and is the maximum size for that particular
species. In other words, the bigger the better. So an oscar, which should be
10 or 11 inches long, probably won’t win if it resembles a minnow with
anorexia. If you are able to raise a fish to achieve its full physical potential, a
judge may feel that you are a responsible aquarium keeper who takes pride in
his/her hobby.