Rebecca Bentley
Presentations
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The Unusual Anatomy of Plecos
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Fri Oct 4, 9AM - 10AM
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Aquarium Fish Diets
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Sat Oct 5, 10:15AM - 11:15AM
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Background
Biography:
Rebecca Frances Bentley is a freshwater ichthyologist (fish biologist) and a doctorate (PhD) student specializing in the evolution of morphology of Loricariid catfishes also known as plecos. Her academic background additionally includes an undergraduate degree with honors in Biology with a final thesis on the evolution of Callichthyid catfishes (Corydoras and relatives) and a research masters degree in biosystematics (Evolution, taxonomy and phylogenetics) with projects specializing in Loricariid catfishes. Much of her research and studies has been conducted at the Natural History Museum, London with their extensive fish collections.
Rebecca's passion for fishes doesn't just include the world of science and academia, she has 6 years experience in the aquarium trade where she specialized in rarer fishes and catfishes. She has been keeping fishes over 17 years and has a strong interest in the Loricariid catfishes and discus fishes. Over the years Rebecca has written articles and given talks on the other side of the pond in the UK. She never tires from talking about fishes or Loricariids so additionally manages multiple pleco Facebook groups, the Youtube channel "Freshwater Ichthyology" and a website "The Scientific Fishkeeper".
Using this combination of hobby and academia Rebecca is enthusiastic about improving our understanding of the fishes we keep through discussion and using science.
Sponsored By
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Charles Hutchinson
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The Pleco Feeder
Jessica Bullock
Presentations
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What can you learn from fish?
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Fri Oct 4, 5 PM - 6 PM
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Good Things Come In Small Packages
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Sat Oct 5, 2:30PM - 3:30PM
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Background
Biography:
Jessica is a Canadian aquarist-turned-scientist from Hamilton, Ontario who has spoken on topics ranging from fish disease to collecting in the Amazon. She currently works and studies at the University of Toronto in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. She manages a laboratory of wild-type Trinidadian guppies, but her research focus is on the behavioral ecology of Apistogramma.
She began her journey with aquarium fish as a young child and caught the cichlid bug during her first collecting trip to the Peruvian Amazon at age 16. Over the years she has learned the importance of understanding the natural history of a species for success in captive management.
Jessica keeps fish for the challenge of figuring out what makes each species tick. She currently specializes in blackwater fishes but has an interest in all species, especially those with complex reproductive behavior. She might *possibly* have a soft spot for little brown grunty things like banjo cats.
When she isn't stuck in a basement or at a computer, she enjoys escaping humanity with long runs into the woods.
Sponsored By
Dr. Anton lamboj
Sponsored By
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No one yet - be first
Presentations
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The C.A.R.E.S Program - Why Such A Program Is Useful and How should It Be Done
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Fri Oct 4, 10:15 AM - 11:15 AM
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Beautiful Foamers - Anabantoid Fishes in The Aquarium
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Sat Oct 5, 9 AM - 10 AM
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Background
Biography:
Dr. Anton Lamboj is an ichthyologist, associated scientist and lecturer at the University of Vienna. He is an addicted aquarist for more than 55 years, and in both aspects of interest his main focus is on cichlid fishes of Western Africa. He mainly works with systematics and evolutionary biology of these fishes, but another strong interest is conservation biology of riverine cichlids of this region. A second love is for anabantoid fishes from Asia, but in general he is interested in any fish.
He has made numerous field trips to Africa, South East Asia, Australia, North, Central and South America, to study and to collect fish in the natural environment, to understand ecological needs and the situation of fish. He has authored more than 500 papers (academic and aquaristic) in eleven languages, including six books and contributions to about 40 other books. He is an honorary member of several aquarium organizations.
Additionally he is promoting several ex-situ conservation programs, in cooperation with public aquariums as well as with private groups and clubs.
Mo Devlin
Presentations
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Fishy Photohraphy
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Fri Oct 4, 3:45 PM - 4:45 PM
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Evolution of Aquatic Photography
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Sat Oct 5, 1:15 PM - 2:15 PM
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Background
Biography:
Mo “Aquamojo” Devlin has two genuine passions, photography and enjoying his cichlid fish. The two dovetailed nicely and for over forty years he has shared aquatic photos with the online community. His website, Aquamojo.com and Aquamojo Facebook page continues his photo blog, Today in the Fishroom. His fish photos have been published in numerous publications like Tropical Fish Hobbyist, Amazonas Magazine, Cichlid News and National Geographic. On the internet he is known internationally for his photographic contribution to the hobby.
Mo was previously the Publicity Chairman for the ACA for eighteen years and has served several terms on the Board of Trustees including past board president. He was instrumental in guiding the initial development of an online presence for the club and assisted in revamping of the ACA Website.
“One of the things that continue to drive me forward and be active in the hobby is when I hear from someone that one of my photographic contributions inspired them to go out and get that fish…or led them to discover more about the species. I believe wholeheartedly that one of our missions isn’t only to just grow the club, but also to reach out and engage the younger generation. They are the future of the hobby, and we should do whatever we can to not only educate, but also involve them in participating in local clubs.”
Sponsored By
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No one yet - be first
Grant Eder
Presentations
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The Art Of Shrimp Keeping
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Fri Oct 4, 7:30 PM - 8:30 PM
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The Powerhouse
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Sat Oct 5, 8:15 PM - 9:15 PM
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Background
Biography: Grant Eder, owner and operator of The Garden of Eder, has been breeding shrimp for 10 years, and has won several awards for this. Him and his Fiance(Shelby Brown) take care of 400+ tanks and 70+ ponds dedicated just for freshwater shrimp. They have over 140 different varieties of shrimp and are working on new ones as we speak. You can check them out on their YouTube channel The Garden of Eder.
Sponsored By
Shelby-Kaye
Presentations
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Florida Native
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Fri Oct 4, 1:15 PM - 2:15 PM
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The Powerhouse
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Sat Oct 5, 8:15 PM - 9:15 PM
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Background
Biography:
Shelby-Kaye, Co-Operator of The Garden Of Eder, has kept aquatics for 24 plus years with a variety of fish ranging from Oscars and cichlids, but is known more for her nano fish and invertebrates. She always had an interest in the outdoors and all aquatic life. She enjoys collecting all over Florida and making fun videos of Biotopes, gathering knowledge of diverse habitats and species of Florida native fishes. Grant Eder and her go on collecting trips at least every month with their 2 children to educate them on the natives and how to preserve nature. This talk is on the collecting of native fish and plants in Florida.
Sponsored By
Steve Bitter
Presentations
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Keeping Killifish in 2024 and Beyond
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Fri Oct 4, 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
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A Deep Look at Fish Health
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Sat Oct 5, 3:45 PM - 4:45 PM
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Background
Biography:
Steve Bitter has been a hobbyist for over 25 years. He has worked in public aquariums since 2010. He has worked in Florida, Arizona, and Missouri, as well as opening public aquarium facilities in Asia, Europe, and the United States. He lives in southern Missouri, where he does aquarium design and consulting and still maintains a small fish room.
Sponsored By
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No one yet - be first
Chris meckley
Sponsored By
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No one yet - be first
Presentations
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Reef Aquarium Beginners: What Not To Do
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Fri Oct 4, 12 PM - 1 PM
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What it Takes to Farm Corals Commmercially
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Sat Oct 5, 5 PM - 6 PM
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Background
Biography:
Chris Meckley is a passionate aquarist with extensive knowledge of coral reef aquarium habitats. He specializes and consults on commercial set-ups, long-term coral husbandry in captivity, as well as coral propagation and techniques. He has worked professionally in the aquarium industry for 28 years.
Chris started his aquarium keeping journey at the age of seven with freshwater tanks and eventually sold his captive bred African cichlids to his local fish store. Prior to engaging professionally in the saltwater aquarium industry, he worked for one of the largest freshwater fish farms in Florida where he set-up a new holding facility and managed the stocking, sales, and shipping for their local client base. Since 2007, he has owned and operated ACI Aquaculture, a state-certified wholesale aquaculture facility in Plant City, Florida with his wife, Amanda Meckley. They both have over 25 years experience in reef keeping. Their wholesale facility is equipped with nine large holding systems equivalent to approx. 20,000 gallons. Five systems are dedicated to wild coral and mariculture coral imports. The remaining four systems are strictly dedicated to coral cultivation and house a large variety of SPS, LPS and soft coral species. ACI Aquaculture partners exclusively with public aquariums, wholesale distributors and stores across the country where their focus is providing healthy quality livestock to their customers.
Chris Meckley has collaborated with various industry professionals over the years. He has made numerous educational videos and has been a guest speaker on many live streams, podcasts, and local reef-clubs across the country. In addition, he has hosted educational tours at his facility for government officials as well as interns from the University of Florida Veterinarian Tropical Aquaculture Lab.
Lily hwang
Presentations
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Modern Conservation - What Hobbyists Know and Why We Should Listen
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Friday Oct 4, 6:15 PM - 7:15 PM
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Background
Biography:
Lily Hwang is a 22 year-old fish enthusiast and the founder of the Lily Ichthyology non-profit organization. She is dedicated towards increasing the role of hobbyists in research and conservation, and focused on creating a centralized place for everyone to find and share information. Additionally, she hopes to launch a related project around encouraging artists to participate in storytelling through various formats and increase the available information about endangered freshwater species.
Her love for the hobby began like many others, starting around six years old with a single bowl and quickly devolving into MTS and a love for unusual species. Besides the non-profit, she is working on figuring out inheritance and color patterns for P. clarkii varieties, as well as setting up some new tanks after moving back to Denver after finishing university.