Please join us on Wednesday, October 16, 2024, at 7:00 for this month's Tropical Fish Society of Rhode Island meeting.
Our speaker this month is Brian Martineau. His talk is on Licorice Gouramis - Parosphromenus.
Indonesia's peat swamp forests, the largest in the world, are under threat due to development and conversion into industrial forests and palm oil plantations. This destruction endangers many species, including the labyrinth fish genus Parosphromenus. While hobbyist-conservationists in Europe and Asia have advanced efforts to propagate these fish in captivity, the United States, so far, lags behind. I will discuss the care and breeding of this genus, along with the international hobbyist-led initiative to preserve their genetic diversity, and my efforts to expand this in the US. These efforts are crucial to the survival of this genus as their natural habitats rapidly disappear from Southeast Asia's lowland rainforests.
Brian Martineau is a professional aquarist with 15 years of experience, currently serving as the U.S. representative for the Parosphromenus Project since 2021. He leads the Parosphromenus Genetic Resource Center, a non-profit dedicated to the conservation and hobby of Parosphromenus keeping in the U.S., ensuring reliable access to healthy, location-verified livestock for enthusiasts.
Brian will also bring a few pairs of captive-bred Parosphromenus which we will auction after his talk. This is a great chance to get a pair of some fish rarely seen in the hobby.
We also have our usual meeting activities. You may bring any fish or plants you are submitting for the BAP or HAP for auction. You may also bring up to 3 lots for a Buck-a-Bag auction. We plan to have refreshments, a raffle and a short business meeting.
The address of our Wednesday meeting is 19 Mohawk Drive, Riverside, Rhode Island. Mohawk Drive is directly off of Rt 114, the Wampanoag Trail in Riverside. Route 114 is a divided road at the entrance to Mohawk Road. If you are coming from the North you need to go past it to the next turnaround, which is on the left just past the "Welcome to Barrington" Sign. After you turn around, Mohawk Road will be on your right a short distance past the "Anchor Bay Assisted Living" sign. There is a Blue and White sign at the entry of Mohawk Road for the Riverside Sportsmans Association. The building is at the end of the road.