A family-friendly event with some special activities for kids is taking place through 5 p.m. Saturday at the Marriott RiverCenter.
“Born to be Wild” is the theme of the American Cichlid Assocation’s convention.
Cichlid, you say?
Yes — and that means fish. And it really is about family — a family of fish from the Cichlidae family. They are colorful. They are ‘intelligent.’ They are beautiful to see. They are friendly, in a fish way. And there are hundreds of them at the RiverCenter for family enjoyment.
The Greater Cincinnati Aquarium Society (GCAS) is hosting the national convention which is structured to offer families and individuals insight into the world of aquariums and fish keeping. It also gives aquarium enthusiasts an opportunity to engage with peers.
The event features approximately 200 cichlids, 10+ large decorated tanks and family-friendly activities like a kids’ tank decorating contest.
“We are really excited to be holding this event in Cincinnati again,” said Barbara Garcia, GCAS & ACA member and local publicity chair for the ACA Convention. “Keeping aquariums is such a family-friendly hobby, and we’ve strived to create a convention which emulated that – both for ACA members and for the public who are invited to several of the convention’s events.”
For aquarists (people who keep aquariums) and even those who don’t keep fish, the ACA convention offers a unique opportunity to have some fun, see some really amazing common and not-so-common fish and a chance to learn more about an exciting, family-oriented hobby.
Members of the family Cichlidae are among the most “intelligent” and behaviorally advanced of freshwater aquarium fishes. They hold and defend territories, go through elaborate courtship rituals, and then guard and rear their eggs and offspring.
The kids’ tank decorating content is Saturday from 1-3 p.m. With a $10 entry fee, kids get to decorate and take home their own fish tank.
Events open to the public include:
Show Room: largest juried cichlid show of the year – over 100 tanks on display
Vendor Room: large selection of home aquarium products & supplies
Decorated Tanks: 10+ large, decorated 50- to 300-gallon fish tanks on display. All of these tanks will be sold by silent auction.
Kids’ Tank Decorating Contest: Kids can decorate and take home their very own tank to keep – $10.00 entry fee with all supplies provided on Saturday 1-3 p.m.)
Fish auction: Live auction event featuring cichlids, catfish and more on Sunday. Registration at 8 a.m., auction at 10 a.m.). No admission charge.
