2023 PVAS Bowl Show

The 2023 PVAS Bowl Show is coming soon! The event will be held on Sat, Jul 8 at the Green Acres Center from 1 - 5 pm. We all have wonderful fish, and what better way to show them off than entering them in to the show. Please read through this post for all the details regarding registration, rules, classes, and if you are interested in volunteering.

Classes

This year there will be 13 Classes.

Best in Show is sponsored by John Mangan

People’s Choice is sponsored by Randall Blancard

1. ANGELFISH and DISCUS (Sponsored by Aquatic Life Farm)

2. ALL CICHLIDS (rams, apistos, etc... [ANY SIZE] (Sponsored by Aquatic Life Farm)

3. CORY CATFISH (and cory-like catfish, for example Brochis and apistodoras) (Sponsored by Lee Agin)

4. SUCKERMOUTH FISH (ancistrus, plecos, etc.) (Sponsored by Linus Chen)

5. GUPPIES (Sponsored by Sam Blancard)

6. LIVEBEARERS (swords, platys … [guppies have their own class] ) (Sponsored by Fish Fam Auctions - https://www.youtube.com/@SkippersAquariums)

7. PAIRS of LIVEBEARERS (GUPPIES, SWORDS, PLATYS, VARIATUS, ANY OTHERS)  (Sponsored by Fish Fam Auctions - https://www.youtube.com/@SkippersAquariums)

8. SCHOOLING FISH (tetras, rasboras, danios, white clouds, rainbows …) You can show up to six (6) fish as a school.  (Sponsored by Fish Fam Auctions - https://www.youtube.com/@SkippersAquariums)

9. ANABANTOIDS (bettas, gouramis, etc.) (Sponsored by Carol Shin)

10. GOLDFISH AND KOI AND OTHER POND FISH (Sponsored by PVAS)

11. KILLIFISH (killies must be shown in pairs, males and females are usually quite different) (Sponsored by PVAS)

12. ALL OTHER FISH (natives and oddball fish, all other catfish …) (Sponsored by PVAS)

13. ODDBALL INVERTEBRATES (shrimp, snails, leaches, worms, etc.) (Sponsored by PVAS)

Registration

Registration will work the same as in years past. You will register at the door.

Do I need to preregister?

No. There is no preregistration. Just bring your fish or shrimp and register at the door.

When I get to the BOWL SHOW how do I register my entries?

There will be a registration table with sign up sheets where you walk in from the hall.

Each class will have its own sign up sheet. So if you have a fish to be entered in CLASS 9, you look for the CLASS 9 registration sheet. Find the sheet with the correct CLASS for you entry. Just enter your name and the ID (common name or scientific name) of the entry on the next available line on the registration sheet for that class. If you have two entries in a class use two lines.

How do the BOWLs get identified?

Once you have signed each entry, the class number and line number for the entry serves as the entry number for the fish/bowl. Thus, an entry in class 7 on line 10 gives the entry the ID of 7-10. Using a Magic Marker write this ID (7-10) on a short piece of blue tape and place it on the bowl or aquarium.

Why do we use blue tape?

Blue tape will come off easily and not mark your bowl or tank or critter keeper.

On which table do I put my entry?

You are not done yet. Once you have registered and labeled the entry, take the bowl to the display tables and find the one that is labeled for the CLASS of your entry. Sometimes the left and right sides of the tables have different class designations.

EXAMPLES of registration sheets are shown below:

CLASS 9 ANABANTOIDS (betta, gouramis, etc.)

ENTRY #, OWNER FISH ENTERED (scientific and/or common name)

9-1 Sam Aquaman Blue gourami -- TRICHOGASTER TRICHOPTERUS

9-2 Cal Backfin Purple crown-fin betta

9-3

9-4

CLASS 2. ALL CICHLIDS

ENTRY #, OWNER FISH ENTERED (scientific and/or common name)

2-1 Aqua Marine Firemouth cichlid -Thorichthys meeki

2-2 Cory Doras Parachromis managuense -- Jaguar cichlid

2-3

2-4

Rules

You must be a member to enter fish in the BOWL SHOW and to be eligible for prizes.

You can sign up to be a member at the BOWL SHOW, or on the website. PVAS Membership is available for individuals and families. See PVAS home page for the “JOIN” button.

BOWL SHOW RULES

# 0 – You must be a PVAS member to enter fish in the BOWL SHOW. After all we are giving cash prizes as well as ribbons.

#1 – Only one fish per bowl is allowed UNLESS the class requires a pair or allows more than one fish. The schooling fish class allows up to 6 fish per bowl.

#2 – The bowl must have at least one flat side so judges can see an undistorted view of your fish.

#3 – No decorations are allowed inside or outside of the bowl with the exception of a small sprig of Java moss or other plant when showing shrimp.

#4 - No painted sides or bottom of the bowl are allowed. Only a bare bowl or a bare tank or critter keeper are acceptable. Lids or clear plastic wrap as a lid are recommended to keep fish from jumping.

#5 – A bowl is defined as a regular all-glass fish bowl or any normal glass or plastic aquarium. If you want to use a 10-gallon tank or larger, you must bring your own tank and stand. PVAS will use the available tables for all bowls and tanks under 10 gallons.

#6 – Lights and heaters are not allowed. As long as the show room is about 70, heaters should not be needed. You might want to acclimate your fish for a day or two to 70 - 78 for the show since the room will be about this temperature.

#7 – No air will be provided by PVAS. If you need to have an air stone for your fish, you must provide the equipment including extension cords or a battery-powered air pump. But you should not need it. You can maximize the oxygen getting to your fish by having clean water, adjusting the water level to provide the maximum surface area in your bowl, and by adjusting the water depth as low as possible while allowing the fish to swim normally.

#8 – You can provide a cover if you want, and it is recommended to do so to prevent your fish from jumping out of the bowl. PVAS will supply to tube of clear plastic food-wrap, which you can use to cover the container.

#9 – Decisions of the judges are final.

All attendees, even if you are not showing fish, can participate by voting for the PEOPLE's CHOICE award. The fish that wins this award earns $50 cash for its owner.

Sponsorships

We will need sponsors for the 13 classes, plus two for the Best in Show and People's Choice. If you would like to sponsor any portion of the BOWL SHOW, please send a note as to what award or awards you are sponsoring along with the money via PayPal to PVASTreasurer@gmail.com and send an email to Randall Blancard at randall.blancard@hotmail.com

$50 will sponsor either of the big awards or $35 will sponsor a whole class. Once we have the names of sponsors, they will be added under their class listed above.

Prizes

We will continue with the same prizes as years past. We do need sponsors in order to make this a success!

Awards for First place in each class: $20 plus ribbon

Awards for Second place in each class: $10 plus ribbon

Awards for Third place in each class: $5 plus ribbon

Best in Show: $50 plus ribbon

People’s Choice: $50 plus ribbon

Volunteers Needed!

If you are able to assist in helping out, we would greatly appreciate it!

We need people to help setup the morning of the event. Please see last year's table setup at https://www.pvas.com/forum/news-events/bowl-show-room-setup-and-schedule

We will also need a few judges. If you have a good eye for what a fish is supposed to look like, talk with Bob Bock.

We will need a few people to help get people registered and to assist in handing out prizes. Please email Randall Blancard at randall.blancard@hotmail.com if you are able to help with this.

Thank you all for what I hope to be a great event. This is my first year organizing the Bowl Show, so if you have any feedback, please let me know. And a special thank you goes to Frank Cowherd for organizing the event in years past and helping me put this event together.

-Randall Blancard