Conscientious Aquarist Magazine, & Cichlid input   8/21/06 Hi Mr. Fenner, <Denise> I  am a member of SWAM, Salt Water Addicts of Maine.  I have  a member asking if this magazine is available in print. <Mmm, nope> If so, how can our club apply for a subscription? <Just link to us/it> Also is there  a program where our club will receive a portion of the subscription funds? <Heeee! Not as yet> I have another question you may be able to help me with, or if not perhaps direct me to someone else.... I am hoping to get the Asian Parrot Cichlid, aka the Jelly Bean Cichlid added to the list of legal fish to import into our state..... <Didn't realize parts of the country had fallen to this depth... there are still only "dirty lists" excluding aquatic species in most of the U.S.> unfortunately it does not have a scientific name so the state will not consider it.... How does a Latin or scientific name get  labeled to a fish? <Mmm, please read here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/taxlfecma.htm>   I never really thought about it, just thought someone discovered a SPS and then created a name...I am thinking there may be more to it than that...Can you make some suggestions? <Yes... please write the American Cichlid Association re...> Also would you know of anyone who has completed any type of research on this fish?  Habitat, diseases, breeding or any other factors that may be pertinent for the states review process? <Time to go/see at the library: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/litsrchart.htm> Regards and Thanks! Denise <Bob Fenner>

Parrot Cichlid Availability    1/21/07 I was in Singapore over the holidays and I had a look at a few aquarium shops. I was amazed by these hybrid fish called red parrots.  I saw a 12" specimen in the canal at the Chinese gardens which seemed to be surviving in semi-natural conditions, I thought they wouldn't be able to cope outside of an aquarium. They are kind of cute in am ugly and deformed kind of way but I have never seen them for sale in Australia, are they only available in S-E Asia? They were fairly cheap there, S$3 for a 10cm fish. I think I'll stick to marines but I'm definitely intrigued by parrots even though I know they're wrong. < Parrot cichlids are usually available all over the world. I know they are found all over the U.S. and in Europe. Australia has some very strict laws concerning importation of animals. They are afraid that exotics will get turned loose and outcompete the native fauna. The parrot cichlid is actually a cross between three different species of cichlid. the parrot cichlid itself would have a very difficult time surviving in the wild. But if it ever reverted back to one of its original forms then there could be real trouble. Check with a local aquarium shop for availability.-Chuck>