1. Anyone may enter the show that complies fully with the rules and procedures set by MAS and the show site.
2. No limit of entries shall be imposed upon any participant.
3. Each entry can be entered in only one class.
4. Each entry must be placed in a separate tank unless the tank is divided and all fish in the divided tank are entered in same class. See tank requirements below.
EXCEPTION: A plant entry may share a tank with any fish entry.
5. Each entry must be the property of the exhibitor.
6. An exhibitor may place more than one specimen of a species in tank to improve entry display. It is a judge's discretion to select one fish from group for judging or to judge the group in aggregate. Any damage to livestock resulting from placing multiple specimens in a tank is responsibility of exhibitor.
7. No deformed livestock shall be exhibited in wild type classes. Exceptions are artificial forms of livebearers, goldfish, etc and hybrid class.
8. Aquatic plants must be displayed as grown (e.g. emergent plants may not be displayed submersed).
9. Only MAS labels are allowed to display a species name and the entry number. Exhibitors are not allowed to add any written material to an entry until judging is complete. Once judging is complete, an exhibitor may add text or illustrations to point out additional information that is relevant to the public. This material may only be placed along bottom edge of tank. The committee reserves the right to remove any information that it deems inappropriate.
10. Nothing may be added to or removed from any entry beginning at 11:00 pm Friday until the judging is complete and show opens to public at noon Saturday. Additions – see rule 9. Removals - sick, deformed or dead fish.
11. The Show Committee reserves the right to remove from public view any dead, dying deformed or obviously sick fish. The committee reserves the right to take any reasonable action to preserve the life of any fish or aquatic animal in the display which may include scratching the entry.
12. The Show Chair or committee will attempt to reclassify any miss-classed entry. However, the responsibility of placing an entry into the correct class falls upon an exhibitor.
13. All participants in the show understand that MAS, the Show Committee and any other person who may be associated with the show, shall not be held liable for accidents or for loss or damage to equipment or fish. Each person is responsible for his or her property.
Equipment/Requirements:
Commercial glass cleaners and ammonia solutions are not allowed in the show room. Aquarium glass may be cleaned with dilute vinegar or lemon juices solutions.
All aquatic entries must be displayed in flat-sided containers of good clarity. Bowfront and other tank shapes are allowed and accepted in the Creative/Artistic division. Past entries of non flat surfaces have been found in Aquascaped and Art applied
Gravel: Optional, but strongly recommended.
Backgrounds are required. (Any opaque material will suffice.) The Killifish and Betta classes are exempt from this rule.
Lighting is required for all entries. Killie fish are exempt. Judges will have flashlights available but are not required to use them.
All tanks must be covered. Food grade plastic wrap is not allowed.
Heaters are optional.
Water will be available on site. MAS does not warrant the suitability of the water that is available. Exhibitors may bring their own water.
Air will be provided for all tanks on MAS show racks. Each person must provide ample airline tubing; six ft of airline per entry is suggested. If donated airline is available, it may be used first come, first served. Freestanding tanks and dealer entries will not be provided with air.
Electricity: two outlets per tank may be enforced. Bring your own (marked) extension cords.
MAS will provide racks for tanks up to 30 gallons that are 12 inches deep or less. All 20 gal tanks (12 inches deep) will be placed on top row, 10 gal tanks (10 inches deep) may be placed on top row or lower row. All tanks of less than 10 gal will be placed on bottom row. Any tank over 12 inches deep requires that the exhibitor bring their own stand. All single species entries must be in 30 gal or smaller. This includes those entries that have additional fish in the tank to promote schooling or induce color.
Any 40 gal or 55 gal tanks that are 12 inches deep and divided may be placed on top row if prior permission is sought from show committee. Permission will be granted based on class and number of divisions in tank and type of dividers in use. Example: exhibitor would like to show three corydoras in a 55 gal divided tank. In this case permission would be deneied.
Any violation of tank size will not be allowed and show person will be asked to remove their entry during set up.
Any other violation of these rules will become a display only tank and the entry will be scratched from competition. Examples include backgrounds and lighting.
Judging:
The judges will attempt to judge each entry. Judges may, at their own discretion; move or remove a small amount of tank contents (e.g. plants, rocks, etc.) as necessary for judging. If the judge is unable to adequately judge a fish, they have the right to not judge the entry or give lower scores.
Entries are judged in accordance with the judging criteria.
Exhibitors are not allowed to discuss entries with the judges before or during judging.
Exhibitors may provide reference material for uncommon species. This material will be placed on reference table - no direct contact with the judges is allowed. Notify show committee if you have referenced material for a judge to view, show committee will notify judges the material is available.
In the case of ties, judges will be asked to rejudge only those fish that are tied.
Judges decisions are final.
DealerDisplays:
The show chair's decision is final as to what qualifies as a dealer display.
Signs or other advertising must be no larger than the front of the tank being displayed and must be in front of or next to the display.
Literature (maximum size 8.5 x 11) may be distributed immediately in front of the display.
A dealer display is considered a form of advertising. Any dealer wishing to display a tank will contact the show committee 30 days prior to the show.
Junior Entries:
Juniors must not be 18 as of the first of the month of the show.
The entry form must be marked as "Junior Participation entry" and be entered on time.
Junior Member Awards will be given to the top three entries overall by junior members of MAS.
Junior entries compete with all other entries for all other awards.
Junior Participation Awards will be given to all juniors who enter, whether they are members of MAS or not.
Awards:
Each winning exhibitor shall receive an award.
First, second and third place awards are given for each class.
Best of Division award and Best of Show award are given.
Show Master and People's Choice awards are given.
Winners will be announced, and the awards presented, at the Saturday evening Awards Banquet.
Awards and their descriptions:
Best in Show: Awarded for the display with the highest ranking entry
MAS Showmaster Award: Awarded to the MAS exhibitor with the highest cumulative "placing points".
Winners of the following awards will be awarded a society award if received from society.
Best Cichlid in Show: Awarded to the highest-ranking Cichlid entry. (A.C.A. award)
Best Livebearer in Show: Awarded to the highest-ranking livebearer entry. (A.L.A. award)
Best Rainbow fish in Show: Awarded to the highest-ranking rainbow fish entry. (R.S.G. award)
Best Killifish in Show: Awarded to the highest-ranking killifish entry. (M.K.K.A. award)
Best Discus in Show: Award to highest ranking discus in show. (N.A.D.A. award)
Best Angelfish in Show: Award to highest ranking angelfish in show. (T.A.S.)
Classes (notes to exhibitors):
SHOW FISH: This class is for a single specimen of a fish species. A species entry must be wild type. If the entry is not a species fish, there are classes for aquarium strains and hybrids. Judging is based on size, appropriate morphology and color, deportment, health.
SHOW PLANT: This class will be limited to a single species of aquatic plant. Fish may be included in the display to help show off the plant. NOTE: poor quality fish can detract from the overall effect of the plant resulting in a lower score. Plants will be judged on such qualities as size, condition, color and applicable environment.
COMMUNITY: Entries in this class contain a variety of species (at least three). Judging is based on such quantities as: variety of colors, shapes, sizes and lifestyles. Also considered are compatibility and appropriateness (such as shared water requirements).
FAMILY/BREEDER: A family entry shows parental care with all members in the same tank. A breeder entry shows fry separated from parents by a divider, in both cases, the display must include the parents and their fry. Points are awarded only to the parents, but points may be docked for poor quality fry or an inadequate number of fry from a species spawn size. Examples: 1. Discus parents are remarkable and score 95 but the fry appear deformed. Judge reduces score to 75. This entry would benefit from culling deformed fry. However, if all the fry are deformed, it would be best not to enter this class. 2. Angel fish are remarkable and score a 98 but there are less than 20 fry at 0.25 inches. Judge reduces score to 68 because of an inadequate number of fry for this entry.
CREATIVE/ARTISTIC - : These exhibits must be the work of the exhibitor and should relate to the aquarium hobby.
Aquascape is a class that is open to an artist perceptions. Any fish, plant, container, décor, lighting or any other material may or may not be used by an artist. Use of fish and plants need in an aquascaped exhibit must be a sustainable exhibit.
Fine art is created primarily for aesthetic value and includes paintings, sculpture, etc. Fine art is never used for anything other than display to stimulate thought by the onlooker.
Applied art is created as an object that may be used for a purpose. Applied art may never actually be placed into use but it could be. Applied art has aesthetic value that may stimulate a viewer just as fine art may. Examples are painted glassware, purses, towels, quilts, fish bowls.
An exhibitor may chose applied art class for a decorated bowl with fish vs aquascape if the primary objective is for viewer to see decorated bowl vs the entire display as a work of art.