Konkurs IAPLC_2011
Comment from Takashi Amano
International Aquatic Plants Layout Contest started from the dawn of 21st century, and this year’s contest marks the 10th anniversary. In our 10 year contest history, the number of participants and participating country has been increasing steadily, and we have received record breaking participants in this year’s contest. This reflects the fact that the number of planted aquarium hobbyists is globally increasing. But I feel very sorry to have seen the decline of layout originality in many applications, while many applicants are now having high layout technique. So some layouts with splendid layout idea were selected on the top prizes this year. It is also regrettable not many applications have a good combination of fish and aquarium layout. It is also very important point to decide the quality of aquarium layout. I wish to see many applications wowing our juries in next year’s contest, and I hope this contest will develop further as a stage showing your aquarium layout to the world.
Pyszczak nie dla kazdego - Wojciech Sierakowski
Biotopes of Mediterranean Sea part. II - Dr Małgorzata Bednarska, Dr Michał Bednarski
This article is a second one in the series of articles entitled “Biotopes of Mediterranean Sea” and aims at acquainting the reader with ecosystems of marine eelgrass beds. These beds are one of the most abundant among marine ecosystems with regard to the number of animal and plant species. Underwater “meadows” of marine eelgrass (Zostera sp.), are a basic element of such an ecosystem and their long ribbon-like leaves remind us of grass leaves. Despite their seemingly unexciting appearance, eelgrass beds serve as a shelter for numerous animals and observing them in their natural environment is very exciting.
Zoobotanica
Calabar python - Witold Borkowski
The shape of the tail that closely resembles that of the head is one of the snakes’ defensive adaptations, aiming at avoiding of being eaten by a predator. It is meant to confuse the predator and make him attack the tail. Calabar python (Calabaria reinhardti) is one of the species that mastered the above mentioned strategy. Calabar python lives in tropical part of western Africa. It is a secretive and nocturnal species, timid by nature. Adult specimen are not longer than 1 m. Dark brown or brown-red is a basic coloration in these snakes but black specimen were observed as well. Ground colour is speckled by easily seen lighter yellow, orange or light brown scales. These colour marks are unique and each snake has its own pattern.
Chinese water dragon - Przemysław Kwiatkowski
Chinese water dragon is the largest representative in its family. Males found in their natural environment are 1 m long, while females are smaller. They live in tropical forests of South-East Asia, mostly in southern China, Vietnam and Thailand. The reptile is active by day and spends most of its life hidden among the branches of trees growing near the water. Chinese water dragon is one of these reptiles that not only serve as a wonderful decorative element of our homes, but also are a great pleasure to keep.
Xiphophorus helleri - Andrzej Sieniawski
Nazwa „mieczyk” kojarzy się najczęściej akwarystom z gatunkiem Xiphophorus helleri, jednak pod tą nazwą może się kryć szereg innych gatunków o nieco zróżnicowanej budowie ciała, kolorystyce oraz rysunku na bokach. Cechą wspólną gatunków zaliczanych do podrodzaju Xiphophorus jest jednak obecność u samców na płetwie ogonowej omówionego wyrostka – miecza. W akwarium najczęściej spotyka się formy hodowlane wywodzące się z Xiphophorus helleri lub mieszańce noszące cechy szeregu taksonów. Inne gatunki, a zwłaszcza ich dzikie formy, należą do rzadkości. Autor przybliża nam 14 gatunków: Xiphophorus alvarezi, X. birchmanni, X. clemenciae, X. continens, X. cortezi, X. helleri, X. malinche, X. mayae, X. montezumae, X. multilineatus, X. nezahualcoyotl, X. nigrensis, X. pygmaeus i X. signum.
Magenta varietes - Ryszard Patryas
Beginning with the moment in which magenta guppy was introduced, there have been appearing new, more and more attractive colour varieties of guppy. Diversity in magenta variety is purely astonishing. A selectively bred type I call neon magenta may serve as an example here. Male’s body is dark coloured with bluish gloss and its fins are orange or red with dark marks on them. Metallic stripes are to be seen on both sides of its back – they reflect light strongly, just like in neon tetras.
Guppy Europe Championship - Lucjan Madej
Visit to the Cretaquarium - Magdalena i Przemysław Mirek
We decided to sped our holiday on Crete this year. Huge billboards advertising the biggest public aquarium of the Mediterranean region are grabbing your attention already on the airport. The aquarium is located in the vicinity of Hersonissos, 23 km east of the isnalnd’s capitol city - Heraklion. The aquarium was founded in 1995 by a Scot, John McLaren. It was the first public aquarium in Crete and third in Greece. Showing the realm of Mediterranean Sea, especially its part surrounding Crete, was McLaren’s main goal. 32 tanks holding 1 600 000 l water and 200 marine species – that is more than 2500 specimen – make Cretaquarium today.
Mistrzostwa Dyskowców we Włoszech - Andrzej Sieniawski
Drozdowo - Andrzej Sieniawski
Ogólnopolski Zlot Akwarystów w Krakowie - Paweł Łanecki
Primus Inter Pares - Paweł Zarzyński