Catfish Study Group - Annual Open Show & Auction

[Coryman]

Hi Everyone,

Especially all you UK members.

This coming Sunday the 18th September will be the Catfish Study Group's annual Open Show and Auction.

This is a show that is purely Catfish, there are 36 classes covering every know Catfish family, there are Pairs Classes and Breeders Classes. Prizes are awarded for 1st. 2nd & third places and there are a number of special awards such as best pair, best breeders and the top spot of Best in Show.

The one thing that is different to most open shows is that every exhibitor will receive a "Goodie bag" containing around £30 of sponsors donated items and all you need to get a "Goodie bag" is enter a Catfish into the show.

If you don't particularly want the hassle of catching your fish, even if they are potential winners, carting them and their show tanks to the venue, displaying them to their best so that we can see how good you can keep and grow your favorite fish and may be winning a few prizes. Or even taking the top award. No, not for you , then why not come and enjoy the day, see around 150 top class Catfish and may be buy a few of the many bargains that will be on offer in the auction, an auction that has to be one of the best in the country.

If you want to know more take a look at the show's page on the CSG website on http://www.catfishstudygroup.org

Ian

[MatsP]

I'll be there... ;)

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Mats

[Richard B]

I certainly hope to be there too.

[The.Dark.One]

Me too

[mikek]

me too with 15 to 20 show fish

[The.Dark.One]

me too with 15 to 20 show fish

Nice one Mike

[Andypex]

Apologies for saying,
i'd like to attend this show/auction, BUT there doesn't seem to be much information on the CSG page?? or at least i cant find it.....
I have found the "diary dates" pages which mentions the date with a generic venue for all meetings......but no specific date/time/location/schedule??

The "shows" page doesn't seem to mention anything about a 2011 show, instead listing results from previous years, and the only schedule i can find is from 2010??

i've also looked in the forum but cant see anything relevant.

I'd like to know where the show is taking place, i presume its the generic location but it would be helpful to confirm
I'd also like to know what time it starts or a schedule of some sort?

If i've completely missed the information, or its available to members only, i apologise for wasting your time but if you could post here to let me know or post a link to the schedule it would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance

Andy

[MatsP]

The show is indeed at the working mans club mentioned on the page (I can't remember what the exact name is). The event itself starts at 1pm, but there'll be people there well before that time.

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Mats

[The.Dark.One]

Hi Andy

The show/auction is at the Darwen venue and the classes will be the same.

[CoryWally]

For any newcomers, the CSG shows are a great place to see some fantastic fish and an opportunity to buy some rare species at knock down prices. It's at Highfields WMC off Radcliffe Road in Darwen. Benching usually finishes at 12.30 and the auction should start around 1.15 until around 4. Depending on entries, all awards should be complete by 5pm.

I plan to enter around 20 fish for the show.

See you there,
Mark.

[Jools]

Good info. Sadly I won't be there as I'll be nursing a hangover somewhere in the Scottish Highlands. Probably for the best though - wouldn't want me buying all the great fishes.

Have fun chaps, post some pics?

Jools

[Andypex]

Hey Guys

Thanks for the Info about the show/venue etc. I will definitely be attending tomorrow, maybe even with a stop of at pier aquatics depending on time and traffic etc.
Should be a good day

Andy

[MatsP]

Great! Should be fun indeed.

I'm hoping to be at Pier around 11-11.30, as I'm popping into Aqualife first (near to where I'm staying tonight)

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Mats

[N0body Of The Goat]

Anyone bagged any gems in the auction?

[MatsP]

Photos to come, but yes, I ended up with 12 plecos (6 L411 juveniles and 6 L75 [although not 100% sure they are actually all L75 - suspect it's some L147 and some L75, time will tell] - £45 and £44 for the respective groups) and 16 Green Neons (£8 for the lot), along with a few lots of food - even got some pleco food on the raffle. I also got a nice Java Fern on wood. Only just a few minutes since I put the last fish into their tanks.

A vut disappointed that there wasn't more wood available, as it's one of the things you can get very good prices on.

There sure where some good bargains to be had too, just not what I was interested in...

--
Mats

[Andypex]

I came home with quite a few 'dry' bargains, mainly food, bloodworm pellets, salmon crumb, and some live foods.
Also bagged myself 12 x

Aspidoras sp. (C118)

which have settled in nicely. I may try to breed these in a few months.
Pretty sure Mats bagged a fair few bargains tho.

I really enjoyed the day out, called at Pier this morning and then onto the CSG. Some Brilliant fish at both venues and there were some amazing fish on show, my personal favourites were........

Corydoras Undulatus
Corydoras Longipinnis
Microsynodontis sp (not 100% sure which one)
Peckoltia Braueri
and a stunning Hemiancistrus subviridis

Andy

[Andypex]

looks like we were replying at the same time Mats. The L411 you got looked very nice

Andy

[MatsP]

Having just looked at the juvenile pictures of L411, I'm not convinced they are L411. But I'm sure whatever they are, they will be nice fish when they grow up.

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Mats

[CoryWally]

A very succesful show and auction. Thanks to all who were involved.

Best in show went to Dave Speed for his Microglanis iheringi. Roy Blackburn was second BiS for Akysis prashadi and I was third BiS for a Corydoras gracilis. I had some other good successes on the show bench and was pleased with my Cory entries. Full results (and photos) will be issued on the CSG website and journal in due course.

As usual, the auction was very exciting with some cracking fish going through at very reasonable prices. I picked up a nice Dianema, some Corydoras carlae and Hylobagrus sp. Here's a complete list of all the auction cats:

Corydoras: panda, weitzmani, black aeneus, albino paleatus, albino aeneus, araguaiaensis, sodalis, diphyes, pygmaeus, hastatus, habrosus, imitator, carlae, multimaculatus, CW010, nijsenni, longipinis, C26

Aspidoras: taurus, C125, C125 ‘gold’, C118, C119, CW052

Scleromystax: C112, lacerdai

Other Callichthyidae: Callichthys callichthys, Megalechis picta, M. thoracatum, Dianema longibarbis

Loricarids: Peckoltia compta, Hypancistrus Monte Dourado L411, starlight Ancistrus L182, Hypancistrus L136c, Ancistrus LDA08, Hemiancistrus subviridis L200, Baryancistrus demantoides L200, Hypancistrus L201, Peckoltia lineola L202, Peckoltia sabaji L075, Deckeseria L052, Hypancistrus L333, red Ancistrus, Loricaria similima, Rhineloricaria lanceolata, Otocinclus sp., royal panaque, Sturisoma panamense

Others: Synodontis eupterus, Microsynodontis batesii, Orinocodoras eigenmani, Hylobagrus ornatus, Tatia intermedia, Hara miniscula

Highest price for an individual cat was around £25 for a 6" (my estimated measurement!) L200.

Apologies for any typos,
Mark.

[TP]

I bought the 3 Callichthys callichthys and 6 Megalechis picta for £4 per fish so I am pretty happy!

I would have loved the Dianema longibarbis, 5 of which went for £2 each but as always a lack of tank space stopped that!.

Tony

[N0body Of The Goat]

Must try and get to the next auction meeting, would have loved to have seen the Microsynodontis batesii amongst others. Just a shame it such a long journey from the south coast...

On the positive side though, I get the impression attenders actually get to see these wonderful fish? This was my biggest disappointment with the BCA meeting I went to in May, not a single fish on view, unless you tried to get a peek at an auction bag seconds before bidding started on it.

[MatsP]

If I'm going, I'm happy to have passengers (especially if they pay towards the fuel!)

Wasn't quite such a great oppurtunity for that this time, as I travelled up on Saturday to pick up my tanks.

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Mats

[CoryWally]

There's no preview of the fish. Half the fun is the surprise of fish on offer.

You are quite free to go up to the front and view the fish as they're being auctioned - essential for some of the dubiously identified loricarids! Or you can volunteer as a runner and get a close up peek of all the fish being sold.

Alternatively have an I.D. book at the ready!

Cheers,
Mark.

[N0body Of The Goat]

Might take you up on that offer, Mats, if timings work out (being a postman I work most Saturdays).

Mark, aren't there the show fish on display for everyone to see?

[CoryWally]

Sorry mate, thought you meant the auction fish!

Show fish can be viewed during benching (10.30-12.30) and after judging has been completed up to debenching (depends, but yesterday was around 16.30-17.30) when photos can also be taken. Public aren't allowed in the show room whilst judging is taking place.

I think there were 140 exhibits yesterday against 35 classes.

Cheers,
Mark.

[The.Dark.One]

Must try and get to the next auction meeting, would have loved to have seen the Microsynodontis batesii amongst others.

I didn't look at them but they will almost certainly have been Microsynodontis sp 1 rather than true batesi.

[N0body Of The Goat]

Must try and get to the next auction meeting, would have loved to have seen the Microsynodontis batesii amongst others.

I didn't look at them but they will almost certainly have been Microsynodontis sp 1 rather than true batesi.

That very mis-identity is going on locally to me... Romsey World Of Water have a lovely batch of ~20 Microsynodontis which they are trying to sell at £20 for two ( ), but I pointed out to the fish section manager that their caudal fin markings were wrong (these have a black patch towards the body end of each mini-fork).

Regardless of what species they are, I would love to get a group to add to my very peaceful 620T, but from what I can gather, that price is extorsionate!

[The.Dark.One]

£20 for two!!!

This is the adult M. sp 1 that won small mochokid class (belongs to Corywally)

[MatsP]

I only briefly looked at the show fish - what I saw was some very nice fish, but I came late for the auction, so didn't have time for the show part.

There will be some catfish on show in Basingstoke (about 200 miles closer to Southampton) next Sunday.

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Mats

[The.Dark.One]

Some of the cats at the show: