Breeder Award Program

BAP Levels

Breeder Award
-50 points-
30 points from Class A
20 points from Class B

Advanced Breeder Award
-100 points-
30 points from Class A
20 points from Class B
30+ points from Classes C or D
(remaining points may be selected from any class)

Expert Breeder Award
-300 points-
30 points from Class A
20 points from Class B
30+ points from Classes C or D
(remaining points may be selected from any class)

BAP Classes

Class A
Spawn and raise at least 10 fry to 60 days of age. Another club member must witness these fish after they are 60 days of age.

Class B
Spawn and bring to a club meeting at least 10 living fry reared to 60 days of age.

Class C
Class B requirements, plus a committee member must visit your home to witness conditions under which the fish spawned. You must also submit a summary of spawning procedure written for the Tropiquarium or do an oral presentation at a club meeting.

Class D
Class C requirements, plus a committee member must be notified within 48 hours of spawning time.



BAP Forms

BAP Rules (.pdf)
BAP Point Allocations (.pdf)
BAP Form (.pdf)





BAP Rules

1) Points are awarded only once for any species. Hybrids are not allowed.

2) Fish in breeder's own tanks must spawn the eggs; they cannot be obtained elsewhere and then hatched.

3) Upon request, the Breeders Award Committee will assign a point value to any species not specifically mentioned in the point schedule. The schedules are considered to be guides. The FIRST time the species is presented to the BAP Committee, species can be evaluated and assigned points different than suggested in the schedule. Once the species has been assigned points, no future changes will be made. This is to achieve fairness to all BAP participants and to maintain stability over the long existence of this forty-year-old program.

4) Following a successful spawning, it is the breeder's own responsibility to see that his or her points have been properly recorded. The individual breeder is also responsible for keeping continuous permanent records for what has been bred previously. The Committee cannot be expected to re-supply the past records repeatedly because an aquarist has "forgotten or lost" his own paperwork. Each BAP form, once processed in Committee and returned, will show the CUMULATIVE POINT TOTAL TO THE DATE OF CURRENT REGISTRY.

5) Because of existing confusion in their names, points will be assigned only once for fishes in the following complexes:
a) Astatotilapia (= Haplochromis) burtoni - wingatii - desfontainesi
 b) Cichlasoma (= Aequidens) portalegrense - bimaculatum - amazonarum (and their allies)
 c) Bujurquina (= Aequidens) paraquayensis - mariae - zamorensis - vittatus - potaroensis - syspilus
 d) Julidochromis marlieri - J. regani
 e) Julidochromis ornatus - J. transcriptus
 f) Aequidens pulcher - A. latifrons - A. coeruleopunctatus - A. sapayensis
 g) Confusion also exists regarding the proper and relationship in groups not specifically detailed
identification above; in such instances the decision of the Committee shall be final

6) The Rift Lake cichlids are increasingly becoming a problem for BAP committees as result of:
a) hybrids between species and even genera
 b) hobbyists who maintain and sell stock that is misnamed
 c) similarity between related species when small juvenile fish are involved

As a means of counteracting these problems and hopefully of encouraging aquarists to guard against hybridization, the Rift Lake cichlids (especially the mbuna and Haplochromis species) must be at least 60 days old and 1.5 inches long (snout to tip of tail) when submitted for verification. If doubt as to identity still exists, the Committee may require further growth before verification. To prevent hybridization it is strongly recommended that Rift Lake cichlids be housed as single species groups and not in community groups of different species.

7) The aquarist should be forewarned that in instances of distinct, yet scientifically unidentified fishes, points will only be considered if reference can be made to a published photograph - or if a recognizable photo is submitted for permanent retention in the BAP files. For some fishes, the committee may require the photo to be in color. The paperwork will be returned to the breeder until it is fully completed and re-submitted.

8) It is the aquarist's responsibility that all forms be supplied with LEGIBLE and accurate published documentation supplied to the Committee including full scientific name and/or any other references relevant to rule 7.

Point Transfer Between BAP Programs

Anyone joining MCAS will be allowed to transfer points from another club whose rules meet our criteria. Their points will be shown as transfer points from their old club. However, this is subject to written verification from that club's BAP committee or, if that is not available, other reasonable proof. Their points will be subject to review and adjustment by the MCAS BAP committee. In order to get this recognition of his or her points, the individual will not be allowed to duplicate species for which points have been transferred, if he or she decides to strive further to achieve the MCAS awards and Lifetime Membership. The application for transfer must be accompanied by the appropriate MCAS BAP sheets fully completed. It will not be the policy of MCAS to give awards for points earned in other societies' Breeder Award Programs.

Updated 8-10-16