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Celebrating dedication, advancing the hobby and preserving aquatic life.
The Eastern Cape Aquarium and Aquascaping Club proudly supports a thriving culture of learning, sharing, and responsible fish breeding. Our Breeder Awards Program (BAP) recognises the dedication of members who contribute to the advancement of the hobby, the preservation of aquatic species, and the growth of our community’s collective expertise.
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I. Purpose
Our Breeder Awards Program is designed to:
A. To encourage members of ECAAC to breed fish and share knowledge concerning the spawning and rearing of fish.
B. To recognize the achievements of ECAAC members concerning the breeding of fish.
C. To promote an interest in and make available a wider variety of fish.
D. To encourage more members to be active participants in society.
E. To reduce the environmental strain of collecting endangered fishes.
F. To share knowledge of breeding techniques
II. Lifetime Achievement Award
The Lifetime Achievement Award honours ongoing dedication to fish breeding. Members progress through five levels based on verified successful spawnings.
A. The program is made up of five levels of achievement. The levels and requirements are as follows
B. Certificates and/or Plaques will be awarded to breeders in the following categories:
Breeder — ten qualified spawnings
Advanced Breeder — twenty qualified spawnings
Expert Breeder — forty qualified spawnings
Master Breeder — sixty qualified spawnings
Grand Master — one hundred qualified spawnings
C. Attainment of any level will be recognized at the next general meeting after official verification.
D. Participants achieving the level of Grand Master will be awarded a Lifetime membership in the ECAAC.
E. Uncommonly spawned species may be considered by the ECAAC for special recognition.
III. Special (non-point) Awards
These awards celebrate additional achievements and areas of specialization.
A. No fish may be entered for a special award that has not also and/or separately been entered in the Lifetime Achievement program.
B. A species may be used in more than one Special BAP Program. The submission of Each program must be submitted separately, although they may be submitted at the same meeting.
C. Breeder-of-the-year — An award will be given to the BAP participant who has the highest BAP point total in any given calendar year. The award will be given in April. Species previously used for Lifetime Achievement may be respawned and entered in the Breeder-of-the-Year once each year. However, they only count once towards the Lifetime Achievement Award. In the case of a tie, the breeder with the newest Lifetime Achievement spawns wins.
D. Specialization Award Program (SAP) — An aquarist must spawn 6 different members of one family of fish, (e.g. Cichlidae, Anabantidae, Callichthydae) or 6 different and distinct trade recognized colours and/or fin types, (e.g. Angelfish – Koi, Gold, Black, Blushing, Silver, and Clown), or six fish that spawn similarly, (e.g. bubble-nesters, mouth-brooders, cave-spawners, etc.).
1. Before an attempt at a specialization award, the ECAAC chair, or their appointee must approve it.
2. When obtaining a Specialization Award for a similar spawning method, at least two families must be represented.
3. The participant is responsible for maintaining records to show the six species spawned for a Specialization Award.
| Achievement | Criteria | Award |
| Breeder | 10 spawnings | Certificate |
| Advanced Breeder | 20 spawnings | Certificate |
| Expert Breeder | 40 spawnings | Certificate |
| Master Breeder | 60 spawnings | Certificate and Plaque |
| Grand Master Breeder | 100 spawnings | Certificate, Plaque & Lifetime Membership |
IV. Point-Based Award Levels
Members also accumulate points based on species classifications, earning additional achievement tiers:
| Achievement Level | Points Required | Award |
|---|---|---|
| Novice | 25 pts | Certificate |
| Intermediate | 50 pts | Certificate |
| Advanced | 100 pts | Certificate |
| Senior | 200 pts | Certificate |
| Master Level 1 | 400 pts | Certificate |
| Master Level 2 | 500 pts | Certificate |
| Culture Award | 25 pts (Class F) | Certificate |
Species Classifications & Point Values
Class A: 5 points
Livebearers, Tanichthyes (White Clouds), Brachydanios, Convict Cichlids, Tilapia (mouthbrooding)
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, Rainbow fish
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, Anomalchromis, Chromidotilapia, South American Cichlids, Gobies, Gudgeons
Class D: 20 points
Synodontis, Discus, Neon Tetras, Anableps, Hatchetfish, Cardinal Tetras, Silver Dollars, Pantodon, Marine Damsel fish, Glass fish, Archer fish, Ctenopoma, Chocolate Gouramis, Axolotl, Bumblebee Goby, Monos, Scatophagus, Leporinus, Sucker mouth Cats, Pike Cichlids
Class E: 25 points
Arowana, Eels, Knife fish, Loaches, Elephant Nose, Pirana Sharks, Seahorses
Class F: 5 points
This class is 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 Culture Award.
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