The purpose of the Breeder Award Program (BAP) is: to promote the keeping and breeding of aquarium animals, to recognize and motivate achievement in the hobby, to encourage research into the breeding of more difficult species, to share knowledge about different techniques, and to document accounts of breeding.
Rules
All fish are divided into twelve (12) classes:
- Livebearers
- Anabantoids
- Cyprinids
- Catfish
- Characins
- Cichlids (Old World)
- Cichlids (Rift Lake)
- Cichlids (New World)
- Killifish
- Rainbowfish
- Invertebrates
- Other fish
Each class is subdivided into 4 point-groups:
- A = 5 points
- B = 10 points
- C = 15 points
- D = 20 points
To earn points the aquarist must spawn (in their own tanks) and then raise at least 4 fry to at least 30 days of age, and then auction off the 4 fry at a monthly meeting/ACM auction. (See ACM BAP Chairperson if your fish normally has less than 4 fry.)
- “30 days of age” = # of days after hatching for egg layers
- “30 days of age” = after normal release for mouthbrooders
Documentation is necessary to receive BAP points. It is the responsibility of the aquarist to either 1) complete the online BAP Entry form BEFORE the auction in which the fry are submitted, or 2) give the BAP Chairperson a printed form AT THE TIME of the auction. Points will not be awarded without either online or printed documentation. It is also the responsibility of the aquarist to check the appropriate box on the auction website to indicate that the fish are a BAP entry lot.
Identification is also necessary. Bags of fry submitted for auction must be clearly labeled with the following:
- Aquarist’s name
- Scientific name of the fish
- Common name (if applicable)
- Other relevant information (first time spawned, second generation, etc.)
An additional 10 points can be earned by submitting an article of at least 150 words to the MD Finquirer for publication in the monthly club newsletter. This is optional for Groups A, B, and C. Articles should be submitted to: HungryChessieJr@gmail.com. Articles should center around the aquarist’s experience with the fish, both spawning and raising the fry.
Group D has an additional requirement. Within 30 days of the auction, an article regarding the spawning procedure must be submitted to the Newsletter Editor. Without this, the 20 points WILL NOT be awarded. (The additional 5 points for article submission will still be added!) Articles for second, third, or fourth generation Group D spawns are not required.
Achievement Awards
Breeder of the Year Prize: $50 and an Award Certificate
- Novice Breeder: 25 points – earned by breeding fish from any class.
- Hobbyist Breeder: 50 points – earned by breeding fish from at least 2 classes.
- Accomplished Breeder: 100 points – plus 1 completed class.
- Advanced Breeder: 200 points – plus 2 completed classes.
- Expert Breeder: 300 points – plus 4 completed classes and a 2nd generation spawn.
- Master Breeder: 600 points – plus 10 completed classes and at least two 2nd generation spawns from any class.
- Grand Master Breeder: “Master Breeder” status – plus at least 5 species spawned from target groups, completion of all classes, and at least 4 generation spawns from any class.
Class Awards
Each submission will automatically be applied to Class Awards earned by the aquarist, and running totals will be kept by the BAP chair and published in the monthly newsletter.
The number of species needed to complete a Class Award are listed below. A Class Award may be earned more than once – members will received a certificate for each Class Award they have completed.
- Class 1: Livebearers – 6 species
- Class 2: Anabantoids – 5 species
- Class 3: Cyprinids – 6 species
- Class 4: Catfish – 5 species
- Class 5: Characins – 5 species
- Class 6: Cichlids (Old World) – 6 species
- Class 7: Cichlids (Rift Lake) – 6 species
- Class 8: Cichlids (New World) – 6 species
- Class 9: Killifish – 6 species
- Class 10: Rainbowfish – 5 species
- Class 11: Invertebrates – 5 species
- Class 12: Other fish – 3 species
Additional Criteria
- Membership: The aquarist must be a member in good standing of ACM in order to participate in the BAP.
- Second generation spawns, in any class, will be awarded an additional 5 points. An aquarist may then submit third generation spawns, and fourth generation spawns. Each of the generation spawns must utilize fish that have been raised from the previous spawn.
- Hybrids are ineligible. No points will be awarded for hybrids. No deformed fish will be accepted for points or auction. Albinos, fish selectively bred for color, body form or finnage, and transgenic fish are accepted.
- CARES Fish earn 5 additional points. Fish that are on the CARES Species List at the time of the auction will be awarded the normal class/group points plus 5 additional points at the successful completion of the breeding requirements.
- Points are only awarded once to each breeder for each species, with the following exceptions:
- Uniquely maintained color varieties.
- Uniquely maintained shape varieties.
- Uniquely maintained wild populations.
- Second generation points.
- Third generation points.
- Fourth generation points – In the cases of groups A, B, and C, points will be awarded for a maximum of 3 varieties per species per calendar year.
- Wild populations must have collection information included with the fry.
- Second generation spawns in group D are not considered to be two group D fish.
- You need to spawn completely different species of fish in order to be eligible for the advance awards.
Certificates will be awarded at the completion of the breeding requirements. Plaques or Gift Cards will be awarded at opportune times.
Additional Recognition
Most Difficult Fish
This award will be presented to the aquarist who has bred the most difficult BAP fish during the past year. Nominations will be made at the November meeting. The recipient will be chosen by ballot vote by a majority vote of the members present at this meeting.
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 January. A participant may be awarded both the Rookie-of-the-Year and the Breeder-of-the-Year awards in the same year.
Rookie of the Year
An award will be given to the new BAP participant who successfully spawns and BAPs the most fish in the first 12 months starting with his/her first BAP entry. [For example: The eligibility of a rookie participant whose first BAP occurs in January will end in December. The eligibility of a rookie participant whose first BAP occurs in February will end in January of the following year. Etc.] The winner of this award will be determined at the end of each calendar year. It will consider those participants whose eligibility ends during the previous year. However, if a ‘rookie’ who has yet to complete his/her first year has already accrued the more points, that participant will be eligible to win
the Rookie award. (A person who wins the Rookie award early is not eligible for it the following year.)
Tie-Breakers
For either Rookie-of-the-Year or Breeder-of-the-Year: A tie will result in co-winners of the award. But if the tying point level is less than 100 points, the BAP Chair may select a single winner if one of them has a higher points-per-submission.
Specialization Award
This award offers a breeder the chance to specialize in the same or similar species that differ by location or color variety, such as angelfishes or guppies. It also allows one to specialize in a related group of species. To begin, an aquarist must declare a logical grouping of fish to specialize in – the BAP Chair needs to approve the declared specialization. Then, in order to earn the award, a bag of at least 4 fry must be submitted to an ACM auction from at least 6 different varieties or species from that logical grouping.
Examples of Logical Groupings
- Varieties based upon color or location, such as angelfishes, guppies, or a species of shrimp.
- A genus of fish such as Hyphessobrycon, Cichlasoma, Poecilia, etc.
- A family of fish such as barbs, tetras, cichlids. However, for a larger and relatively easier group, we would encourage the specialization be more specific such as dwarf cichlids, lake cichlids, or earth eaters.
- Species from a particular river system.
Qualifications for the Specialization Award
- The breeder should have first submitted a species through regular BAP before submitting it as part of a specialization project.
- Specialization fry may be from the same spawn as those turned in for BAP points but must be in a separate bag (two bags with a minimum of 4 fry in each will cover both awards).
- There is no time limit on the attempt.
Diversification Award
An award will be given for diversity in breeding. To receive this award, the participant must have received BAP points for at least one fish from each of the following divisions:
- Livebearers/Rainbowfish/Cichlids (Rift lake)/Catfish
- Anabantids/Cyprinids/Cichlids (New world)/Killifish
- Characins/Invertebrates/Cichlids (Old World)/Other Fish
- The participant is responsible for informing the BAP committee that they have completed the requirements for the Diversity Award from their submissions in the regular BAP program.
Classification Questions/Concerns
Aquarists are encouraged to submit any fish that they feel should be classified OR reclassified to the BAP Chair with a request. Please include the keyword “ACM BAP” in the subject line. BAP Chair retains the final say in if requirements are met and points are awarded.
Amendments/Additions
The BAP committee may make changes to these rules as they deem necessary, subject to the approval of the Board of Directors. Changes will be published to members.
BAP Rules Published September 2024. Updated 01 January 2025.