AKA Beginner's Guide is out!

[whuntley]

The 4th Edition of the AKA Beginner's Guide has just reached me, and it is GREAT!

While I played a tiny part in getting the sections on general maintenance and water conditions rolling, the AKA has drawn on a remarkable list of experts to make this a "must have" for any serious killifish breeder who can read English.

In particular, expert breeder and recent past Chairman of the AKA, Edd Kray, has done a remarkable job of bringing it all together in a slick 76-page color booklet that has all you need to know to be a success at breeding killifish.

The old BG was such a classic that it is amazing to me that so much has been learned since then. The new edition will go on sale, I think, at the AKA Convention next weekend, and then be provided to each new member of the AKA.

The book more-or-less assumes that a killifish enthusiast has been in other tropicals for a while, so this is not as rudimentary as you might think. It is more for the experienced aquarist who is advancing to a specialty and to serious breeding from keeping ornamentals for visual enjoyment, or from breeding Bettas or other types. As a result, the booklet has a lot of very sophisticated fishkeeping information.

Chapters are:

1: The Killifish Hobby

2: General Maintenance

3: Water Conditions

4: Feeding Killifish

5: Diseases of Killifish

6: Breeding Killifish

7: Selecting Killifish
(Beginner, Intermediate, Challenging)

8: Killifish Exchanges

Appendix 1: Classification of Killifish

Appendix 2: Peat Wetness Guidlines for Incubation

Appendix 3: Suggested Peat Incubation Times

This edition has numerous great photos of habitats, fishroom equipment and fish, so you can be sure printing was done on a conservative basis. It wasn't cheap. I haven't heard a final price to non-members, but expect at least US$15+. If you want to organize a group purchase, contact:

Dick Martino
3857 Sheldon Rd.
Orchard Park, NY 14127 USA
1 (716) 648-2984
[email protected]

and he will tell you what is available. Please expect to wait about a week, as he is snowed under by the convention this coming weekend, I'm sure.

Regards,

Wright

[ruyle]

Whew, $15+ in US adjusted dollars...are the pics by Tony? He sent me
one of the older guides that have his pics in color, and published by
Kordon, a keepsake. I wonder if AKA members can buy more than one
Beginners Guide. If offered to nonmembers, I foresee this first printing
to sell out rather quickly.

Bill

[RonWill]

Wright, thanks for the update and mini review. Sounds like a neat little book to have in our killie library.

...I wonder if AKA members can buy more than one Beginners Guide...

Bill, are you thinking what I'm thinking?

[PohSan]

Hi,

Sounds like a must-have book. Please count me in if there is a mass ordering. Thanks.

Regards,
Ong Poh San

[ruyle]

...I wonder if AKA members can buy more than one Beginners Guide...

Bill, are you thinking what I'm thinking?

Yepper! Can't wait to see it offered on the AKA site!

Bill

[whuntley]

Whew, $15+ in US adjusted dollars...are the pics by Tony?

As far as I know, it will be for sale to all at www.aka.org, after the convention. The price is just my WAG and bears no relation to final reality.

All 17 (count 'em, 17) of the lovely color fish pics in Ch. 7 are by Tony, and great they are!

He sent me
one of the older guides that have his pics in color, and published by
Kordon, a keepsake. I wonder if AKA members can buy more than one
Beginners Guide. If offered to nonmembers, I foresee this first printing
to sell out rather quickly.

Bill

I have Dr. T's old book on _Killifish_ and it is a keeper, for sure. Nomenclature may change, but good pics are worth a great deal.

I'm pretty sure it will be available for the general public, as it is a great outreach tool. It is a whopping incentive for those in NA to join the AKA, too.

Wright

[PohSan]

Hi all,
I will try to contact Dick Martino regarding the book. Let wait for the reply if it is okay to sell to non-AKA members and how much.

Regards,
Ong Poh San

[PohSan]

Hi,

I have just received the reply from Dick Martino this morning. The book is USD 8 each and will be send by Global Priority Mail (GPM). The price do not include shipping but expecting to be only USD 2 to 5 depending on the quantity of the book ordered.

So let see the show of hand who is interested. Closing date will be Tuesday (5/31/05) evening .

Regards,
Ong Poh San

[whuntley]

That's as big a bargain in killy information as you are liable to find in this lifetime. Go for it!

Wright

PS. No active breeder will agree with everything in it. We all learn our own little tricks and methods, and breeders always disagree. I'm just amazed at how close Edd came to making it basically non-controversial and useful to all.

[timebomb]

Poh San,

Please put my name down for one copy. Thank you.

Loh K L

[nonamethefish]

Wright: Not too sure if I am interpreting this correctly but...

If you are a member of the AKA and haven't received the original beginners guide, they have been holding off to send this one?

Thanks!
-Joseph

[whuntley]

I don't know Joseph.

Ask the membership chair, who is sure to know. Dick Martino may not know, and all those guys will be in MD until next week, anyway, at Convention.

Search the killietalk list archives for the name of the current membership chair. I believe there was a recent change in that office.

Wright