Breeder Award Program (BAP) &

Horticultural Award Program (HAP) 

A woman and a man shaking hands in a room. The man is holding a certificate and wearing a headset microphone. A person in a plaid jacket and cap is taking a photo. A drawing of a fish is projected on a screen in the background.

How to get started:

Simply submit a BAP form or HAP form using the appropriate link found below before bringing the donated fish or plants to the next meeting to earn points.

Feel free to contact the BAP/HAP Coordinator with any questions or approach our auction team at the next meeting!

School of red hooks swimming in a blue aquarium with green plants.

Breeder Award Program (BAP):

The SAS Breeder Award Program (BAP) recognizes members for successfully breeding fish and sharing their breeding knowledge. Participants can earn points by submitting fish, articles, photographs, and giving talks on their breeding experiences.

How it works:

  • Earn Points: Gain points for each verified spawn, article, photograph, or 15-minute talk.

  • Fish Submission: Donating at least 6 fish per species, with saleable size and proper labeling.

  • Awards: Members earn certificates or personalized plaques as they accumulate points.

  • Full rules are listed below.

Aquarium with lush green and red aquatic plants, featuring small neon tetra fish swimming throughout.

Horticultural Award Program (HAP):

The SAS Horticultural Award Program (HAP) encourages the propagation and care of aquatic plants, enhancing members' enjoyment of their planted aquariums. It recognizes and rewards members for their efforts in plant propagation.

How it works:

  • Earn Points: Gain points for each distinct species or sub-species donated, with additional points for donating multiple bags. Earn additional points for articles, photographs, and 15-minute talks on plant care.

  • Submission Requirements: Donate a minimum of three plant stems (or one saleable-sized plant for slow-growing species like Anubias). Each submission must include the correct nomenclature and growing conditions.

  • Awards: Members earn a certificate at 50 points (Novice Gardener), a personalized plaque at 100 points (Intermediate Gardener), and further updates for higher levels (Senior Gardener at 200 points, Master Gardener at 400 points).

  • Full rules are listed below.

BAP Rules

PURPOSE

The Sacramento Aquarium Society's (SAS) Breeder's Award Program (BAP) encourages the propagation and dissemination of fish species, promotes the dissemination of information regarding their propagation and husbandry, and serves as a means for recognizing the accomplishments of SAS membership toward these goals. Participation in the BAP should enhance member's enjoyment of their fish.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS

The SAS BAP is dependent on the integrity of its members to acknowledge the authenticity of their own fish breeding activity.

  1. Participants must be a current and active member in good standing with SAS at both the time of spawning and at the time of submission.

  2. Points are earned by submitting fish, and may also be earned with the submission of an article, talk and /or a photograph of the fish. The member must have first turned in the fish for credit. Articles and/or photos CAN be turned in the same month as the fish, just not in advance of the fish being credited. Participants are encouraged to keep track of their points; however, the BAP Chair and SAS Board have the final say on any disputes regarding points.

  1. When submitting fish for credit, a minimum of six (6) fish must be donated to the SAS unless other PRIOR arrangements are made with the BAP Chair.

  2. Articles must describe the maintenance and husbandry of the respective fish. In addition, breeding and fry rearing information are also required. Articles must be readable, informative and publishable in the newsletter. Article will be provided to the BAP Chair and will be given to the editor of the Tropical News for publication, at the editor's discretion. Each article must be a minimum of 500 words.

  3. Photographs must be publishable (i.e., in focus) and submitted as prints or in a digital file suitable for publication. Furthermore, the photos will be substantially composed of the fish spawned. The BAP Chair will make the judgment on the acceptability of the photographs. Photographs may be taken using print film, slide film, or using a digital camera. These pictures will also be provided to the editor of the Tropical News for publication, at the editor's discretion.

  4. Contact the BAP Chair if you want to do a 15 minute talk at the Sacramento Aquarium Society meeting. Arrangements will be made with the President in advance of the talk.

  1. The BAP Chair is responsible for awarding points. Disputes must be brought to the attention of the BAP Chair. If resolution cannot be reached, the BAP Chair shall bring the matter to the attention of the SAS Board. Decisions of the SAS Board are final.

POINTS

General breeding credits are given to members on the basis on one (1) verified spawn per species. No consideration is given for difficulty. Addition credit will not be given for different color morphs (including type localities), variations in finnage, or subspecies. (Any deviation from this standard MUST be cleared with the BAP Chair in advance of submitting the fish for credit.)

Points are awarded as follows:

  1. Fish via a verified spawn 5 points

  2. Article 5 points

  3. Photograph 5 points

  4. Talk (15 minute minimum) 5 points

A verified spawn will consist of the following:

  1. A donation of two (2) bags of at least (3) fish each to SAS. The breeder should make all reasonable efforts to ensure an appropriate mix of males and females whenever possible. All juvenile fish turned in for credit must be of "saleable size." "Saleable size" is defined relative to the adult size as follows:

  1. Each bag MUST be labeled with the most current scientific name as well as any synonyms or common names known to the breeder. The breeder's name should also be clearly listed.

Disputes as to the "Taxonomical Distinction of Forms" will be acceptable if the following rules are observed: Breeder must provide reliable references as to the taxonomical distinctness of the species. The BAP Chair currently uses the Aquarium Atlas by Baensch as the primary reference, and uses other books and area experts for double checking information and for more specialized information.

The SAS BAP Chair may also correct species names based upon incorrect spelling, inappropriate designation or when the Chair is aware of a more current name of the species.

AWARDS

  • Novice: For the accumulation of fifty points (50), a certificate will be awarded.

  • Breeder: For the accumulation of one hundred point (100), a personalized plaque will be awarded.

  • Senior Breeder: For the accumulation of two hundred points (200), plaque will be updated.

  • Master Breeder: For the accumulation of five hundred points (500), the personalized plaque previously awarded will be updated to contain the names of all species spawned.

INACTIVE MEMBERS

Only active members may participate in the BAP. The BAP Chair will make all reasonable efforts to maintain a copy of all spawning records. Points will be posted for 12 months after membership expired; however, point totals will remain on record with the Chair. Participation can resume when the member rejoins, and points will then be posted.

Table comparing sizes of adult fish to saleable sizes. The columns are labeled 'Size of Adult Fish' and 'Saleable Size of Fish'. Rows list: 0.05" to 1.50" correlates to 0.50"; 1.60" to 3.00" correlates to 1.00"; 3.10" to 6.00" correlates to 1.25"; over 6.10" correlates to 1.50".

HAP Rules

PURPOSE

The Sacramento Aquarium Society's (SAS) Horticultural Award Program (HAP) encourages the propagation and care of aquatic plants and other living parts of the aquarium environment and serves as a means for recognizing the accomplishments of SAS membership toward these goals.  Participation in the HAP should enhance member's enjoyment of their planted aquarium.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS

The SAS HAP is dependent on the integrity of its members to acknowledge the authenticity of their own plant propagation activity.

  1. Participants must be current and active member in good standing with SAS at the time of submission.

  2. Points are earned by submitting plants with a completed HAP Form, and may also be earned with the submission of an article, talk and/or a photograph of the plant. The member must have first turned in the plant for credit.  Articles and photos CAN be turned in the same month as the fish, just not in advance of the plant being credited.  Participants are encouraged to keep track of their points; however, the HAP Chair and SAS Board have the final say on any disputes regarding points.

  1. When submitting plants for credit, a minimum of three (3) stems must be donated to the SAS unless PRIOR arrangements are made with the HAP Chair.  Such exceptions may include slow growing plants such as Anubias, where the requirement may be modified to be one plant of saleable size.  Again, check with the Chair first.

  2. Articles must describe the maintenance and propagation of the plant.  Articles must be readable, informative and publishable in the newsletter. Article will be provided to the HAP Chair and will be given to the editor of the Tropical News for publication, at the editor's discretion.  Each article must be a minimum of 500 words.

  3. Photographs must be publishable (i.e., in focus) and submitted as prints or in a digital file suitable for publication.  Furthermore, the photos will be substantially composed of the plant.  The HAP Chair will make the judgment on the acceptability of the photographs.  Photographs may be taken using print film, slide film, or using a digital camera.  These pictures will also be provided to the editor of the Tropical News for publication, at the editor's discretion.

  4. Contact the HAP Chair if you would like to do a 15 minute talk at the Sacramento Aquarium Society meeting. Arrangements will be made with the President in advance of the talk.

POINTS

Points will be earned for each species or sub-species.  Species and sub-species will be considered different taxonomically if a sub-specific name has been designated.

Points are awarded as follows:

  1. For each distinct species 5 points awarded for donation to the society auction, and an additional 5 points can be earned when donating a second bag for auction on a different month, for a total 10 points

  2. For each distinct sub-species 5 points

  3. Article 5 points

  4. Photograph 5 points

  5. Talk (15 minute minimum) 5 points

All species must be grown and propagated at the HAP participant's own home.

Each bag MUST be labeled with the correct nomenclature and any specific growing conditions.

AWARDS

  • Novice Gardener: For the accumulation of fifty points (50), a certificate will be awarded.

  • Intermediate Gardener: For the accumulation of one hundred points (100), a personalized plaque will be awarded with individual species propagated listed on plaque.

  • Senior Gardener: For the accumulation of two-hundred points (200), the personalized plaque previously awarded will be updated with new individual species propagated listed on plaque.

  • Master Gardener: For the accumulation of four-hundred points (400), a new plaque will be awarded showing new species, since last level.

INACTIVE MEMBERS

Only active members may participate in the HAP.  The HAP Chair will make all reasonable efforts to maintain a copy of all spawning records.  Points will be posted for 12 months after membership expired; however, point totals will remain on record with the Chair.  Participation can resume when the member rejoins, and points will then be posted.

Any Questions?

We’d love to talk about the BAP and HAP programs at our General Meetings!
If you have any questions or would like more information, feel free to use this form to reach out to us.