Retirement and forum shutdown (17 Jan 2022)
Hi,
John Howell who has managed the forum for years is getting on and wishes to retire from the role of managing it.
Over the years, he has managed the forum through good days and bad days and he has always been fair.
He has managed to bring his passion for fish keeping to the forum and keep it going for so long.
I wish to thank John for his hard work in keeping the forum going.
With John wishing to "retire" from the role of managing the forum and the forum receiving very little traffic, I think we must agree that forum has come to a natural conclusion and it's time to put it to rest.
I am proposing that the forum be made read-only from March 2022 onwards and that no new users or content be created. The website is still registered for several more years, so the content will still be accessible but no new topics or replies will be allowed.
If there is interest from the ITFS or other fish keeping clubs, we may redirect traffic to them or to a Facebook group but will not actively manage it.
I'd like to thank everyone over the years who helped with forum, posted a reply, started a new topic, ask a question and helped a newbie in fish keeping. And thank you to the sponsors who helped us along the away. Hopefully it made the hobby stronger.
I'd especially like to thank John Howell and Valerie Rousseau for all of their contributions, without them the forum would have never been has successful.
Thank you
Darragh Sherwin
May 17 - 2009 ITFS Fish Show
- JohnH (John)
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It's finally going to happen - another Fish Show!
This is most definitely a date (May 17) to put in your Diaries, the last one, two years ago was a really great day out - I'm sure everyone who came along would agree.
More details will, we are assured, follow...if anyone has any questions - particularly any newcomers - please, don't be bashful, ask away.
It will be nice if we can all work to making this year's Show even more successful than the last one was!
John
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Hi Daragh
any chance of you reposting some of the photos.
and thanks again to the ITFS for the day out and counting the days to the next.



































Mickey
Mickey Wallace & Cath Woods
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- Daragh_Owens (Daragh Owens)
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www.flickr.com/search/?s=int&ss=2&ct=6&w...71@N00&q=ITFS&m=text
Daragh
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there were so many prime specimens that day and i came home with two beauties, bristle nose plecs they were a steel at the price i still feel guilty.
















Mickey Wallace & Cath Woods
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- goldy (goldy .)
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The local papers where there and I think there was something for everyone. Even the poor mothers who came along with kids on the day could have a cup of tea and a sandwich while looking at the brilliant planted tank in the foyer and the kids coloured in kids corner. so it was not just for us fishy folk.
The lfs shops and other sponsors who were present in the hall on the day seemed to do very well and they gave some great bargains including putting in several tanks into the raffle. I think in all 9 tanks were raffled not to mention all the other prizes that some of the sponsors went to great lengths to bring.
It was a lot of hard work and we had a lot of laughs so I am sure this time round more people will be involved as it is a great day. I am looking forward to it anyway. From the benching point of view I had never benched a fish before but it is not difficult so if you were worrying about showing a fish dont be. Not one fish was lost at the 2007 show and they were all looked after like they were in their grannys.
See you there.
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- sheag35 (Seamus Gillespie)
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Fishkeeping the Only way to get wet and wild
currently 25 tanks, and breeding is the aim of everything i keep
location:Limerick
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- Ian (Anthony Ramirez)
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Fishkeeping CV: Co-founded, 1st President of the only surviving Fishkeeping Club (Accredited by Dept. of Fisheries) in the Philippines (mypalhs.com). I have mostly reared tropicals - Arowanas and monster fishes. My oldest arowana is 13years old (died in a tropical storm). Ive since reared a Black,...
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someone dropped in the leaflets to us today!!



If you're going to be crazy, you have to get paid for it or else you're going to be locked up.
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- convict84 (sean farrell)
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As I am nothing to do with the actual organising of it I'll leave the full description of the forthcoming one to the appropriate party(ies).
On the previous occasion all Competition entries were put into categories - for example, Catfish, Cichlids, Livebearers, Anabantoids etc etc and each entry of a given group of fish was judged against the rest in that group. Each group was given placings and then the First, Second and Third were awarded plaques and prizes.
The winners of each group were then adjudged against winners of each other group to find the winner of the 'Best Fish in Show' award. Given, as I recall, to a very fine Discus last time.
As to what the Judging Standards are - well, I'll leave that to someone with more expertise in the matter than I - I'll just tell you that it appears to me that the closer the maximum size for any given species an entry is, the more points it's awarded. But don't let that put anyone off - it's merely an observation of mine.
Here are a couple of previous threads to point any potential entrants in the right direction:
Firstly a thread started by Derek, one of the Judges last time (some valuable advice here):
www.irishfishkeepers.com/cms/component/o...w/id,13600/catid,39/
Then a general discussion on FBAS Standards (quite enlightening)
www.irishfishkeepers.com/cms/component/o...w/id,25633/catid,19/
Here's some threads from after the Show:
www.irishfishkeepers.com/cms/component/o...w/id,14076/catid,39/
www.irishfishkeepers.com/cms/component/o...mit,10/limitstart,0/
www.irishfishkeepers.com/cms/component/o...mit,10/limitstart,0/
I hope this starts to whet people's appetites...for myself I can't wait - spending a day amongst like-minded people will be excellent.
Setting up of everything was done on the previous afternoon/evening and all willing helpers were gratefully welcomed with open arms. The fish were constantly monitored overnight and every fish left at the end of the Show as healthily as it arrived the evening previously. There were facilities for changing the perameters of the water on site to match the needs of the Fish being shown but some people actually brought their own water too - not a bad idea, I thought.
A really good chance to put 'faces to names' so to speak.
John
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We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl - year after year.
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Mickey
Mickey Wallace & Cath Woods
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the info was great,thanks,do u have to bring ur own tank,
Not totally necessary, but it wouldn't be any harm, especially if you are bringing larger fish.
Another good thing would be if you had cover glass to fit (Nessa) ;0) but again not altogether essential, apart from for 'jumpy' fish.
More should be revealed in the due course of time, I'll try to help with my limited Show knowledge but any questions shall ultimately be dealt with by the Show committee of the Club, I expect.
John
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We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl - year after year.
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- platty252 (Darren Dalton)
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B - Barbs
C - Characins
D - Cichlids
E - Siamese Fighters, Gouramies
F - Killifish
G - Catfish
H - Corydoras, Brochis etc
J - Rasbora
K - Danio
L - Loaches
M - Any Other Species Egglayer
N - Pairs of Fishes
O - Guppies
P - Cultivated Livebearers
Q - Swordtails
R - Platies
S - Mollies
T - Any Other Species Livebearer
U - Single-tailed Goldfish
V - Twin-tailed Goldfish
W - Any Other Species Coldwater
X b-m Breeders Teams Egglayers
X o-t Breeders Teams Livebearers
e.g. If you were to bring a tiger barb, this would be judged against any other barbs entered and not just other tiger barbs. So it could be up against butterfly barbs, dennison barbs, tinfoil barbs etc.
X b-m and X o-t are breeders teams. That is a group of 6 fish from the same spawning, 3 males & 3 females. Minimum 3 months old and maximum 1 year old.
Date of birth must be displayed.
There will be a section for Furnished Aquaria & Aquascapes not listed above. It is undecided weather to get the public to vote for these or have them judged. Any thoughts on this?
There will be a panel of qualified judges on the day.
Entry forms will be available in the coming weeks.
@ convict84 Yes there are a number of tanks available. On the entry form you just fill out weather you need a tank or not.
I would just like to repeat this is a great day out. I dont think anyone left empty handed last time.
A lot of the time you see young fish in the shops so it is great to see adult fish in there full glory (colour/size).
The utmost care is given to all fish entered. They are constantly monitored to assure they are safe and well.
Any questions dont hesitate to ask.
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- giunceris (gintaras barbsys)
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hi,can go everyone who wants in this show or just some members?because i'm intresting to see this show!
Not at all, it is open to the Public, all are welcome.
Platty will answer with more information later, I just saw that you are online now so here is just a quick answer from me to tell you that you will be very welcome.
John.
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where is this show going i'm really intrested to come to this show!need get some invite or no?
No, no invitation required, just arrive on the day and pay at the door, I'm sure better directions to the venue will be posted in due course but I can tell you it's in Dublin - well, Tallaght to be more precise.
John
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how much cost ticket,and whats happen during a day in this show?
I think this will be answered in due course by the Show Secretary, it will be best for someone from the Club Committee to tell you.
Sorry I cannot help you more than this.
John
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- goldy (goldy .)
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If you want to enter a fish in the competition you can fill out an entry form. This can be downloaded from the site or you can send me your email address by Private message and I will send you one. You must bring your fish along the day before (times are on the form) with water from your own tank. You have an option to use one of the club tanks or if you have a small tank you can bring your own. There is a section on the form for this. The entry fee is also on the form. If you cant bring your fish the day before you must make special arrangements with the show committee to bring the fish on the day of the show. We discourage this as far as possible because the judging starts quite early on the morning of the show.
On the day the judging is done before the show is opened to the public. The doors open at 2.oopm and you pay in at the door. The fish are all on display and you can walk around the hall and look at them all. There will be stands in the hall where some of the local fish shops and sponsors have a display of their goods. There is a raffle and also a prizegiving. When the show is closed to the public then you can debench your fish and bring him home.
I hope this helps you.
Nessa
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- keitho (keith o reilly)
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well done to all who put the show i blame you guys 4 getting hooked
thanks keitho
Dublin 24
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- nonie (leonie troy)
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i take it this is open to non club members?
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Fishkeeping the Only way to get wet and wild
currently 25 tanks, and breeding is the aim of everything i keep
location:Limerick
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- platty252 (Darren Dalton)
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Nonie just go for it. It is all about people participating and showing fish.
The last show was in 2007. Up to this there hadn't been a show for a few years.
I am nearly certain that all the people who entered fish the last time had never shown fish before.
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- platty252 (Darren Dalton)
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Just across from the basket ball arena.
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- Acara (Dave Walters)
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Its a great afternoon out,and well worth benching fish.
I think I might've even won a raffle...
always on the lookout for interesting corys.pm me if you know off any!
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- mrsFishpatrick (Astrid Fitzpatrick)
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would you have to bring your own filters or are there no filters, sorry very new at this and I haven't got a clue.
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- platty252 (Darren Dalton)
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When fish are been shown it is one fish per tank.
The only classes that have more than one are N pairs of fish, X b-m breeders team egglayers and X o-t Breeders Teams Livebearers.
There are no filters used. The fish are not fed for a minimum of 24 hours before showing. This way they dont produce waste to foul the water.
The tanks are aerated and the room is heated.
Any other questions just ask.
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- Ian (Anthony Ramirez)
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Fishkeeping CV: Co-founded, 1st President of the only surviving Fishkeeping Club (Accredited by Dept. of Fisheries) in the Philippines (mypalhs.com). I have mostly reared tropicals - Arowanas and monster fishes. My oldest arowana is 13years old (died in a tropical storm). Ive since reared a Black,...
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