The 2024 PVAS Bowl Show is coming soon! The event will be held on Sat., July 13 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 15 Classes...that's two more than last year!
Plus:
Best in Show
People’s Choice
1. ANGELFISH and DISCUS
2. DWARF CICHLIDS - Cichlids under 4" Standard Length (snout to farthest edge of the caudal peduncle) at full size
3. CICHLIDS over 4" Standard Length at full size
4. CORY CATFISH (and cory-like catfish, for example Brochis and apistodoras)
5. SUCKERMOUTH FISH (ancistrus, plecos, etc.)
6. GUPPIES
7. LIVEBEARERS (swords, platys … [guppies have their own class] )
8. PAIRS of LIVEBEARERS (GUPPIES, SWORDS, PLATYS, VARIATUS, ANY OTHERS)
9. SCHOOLING FISH (tetras, rasboras, danios, white clouds, rainbows …) You can show up to six (6) fish as a school.
10. ANABANTOIDS (bettas, gouramis, etc.)
11. GOLDFISH AND KOI AND OTHER POND FISH
12. KILLIFISH (killies must be shown in pairs, males and females are usually quite different)
13. ALL OTHER FISH (natives and oddball fish, all other catfish …)
14. SHRIMP (neocaridina, caridina, etc.)
15. OTHER INVERTEBRATES (snails, leaches, worms, etc.)
Registration/FAQ
Registration will work a little differently this year. BEFORE you register, you will need to check-in with Susan at the membership table to verify membership. Once verified, head to the registration table.
Do I need to be a club member to participate?
To register in the event, YES, you do need to be a member. You can sign-up the day of the event.
To vote in the event, you do not need to be a member.
What time does registration start? Is there a cutoff time?
Setup starts at 12:30pm. Once it is complete, you will be able to register. We aim for 1pm to start. ONCE JUDGING HAS STARTED, NO NEW ENTRIES WILL BE ALLOWED. Judging is planned to start at 2pm.
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
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.
#10 ONCE JUDGING HAS STARTED, NO NEW ENTRIES WILL BE ALLOWED. Judging is planned to start at 2pm.
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 15 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.
We will also need a few judges. If you have a good eye for what a fish is supposed to look like, let us know.
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 or anything else.
This is my second year running this event. Thank you everyone who helped with the last one. I hope this event is even better than last year!
-Randall Blancard
I sponsored dwarf cichlids and killifish
I am actually going to be able to make it this year and was wondering how many shrimp per entry? Is it a single shrimp in the bowl or are more allowed?
Can't wait to see everyone's wet pets.
Anyone else interested in sponsoring at bowl show class/award? This can be done on the part of yourself, anonymously, or on behalf of a business. We need your help to make this a great bowl show!
I will sponsor the Best in Show prize myself.