Greater Akron Aquarium Society

Save the Date for the Spring Auction—March 1, 2026

Please make plans to attend the GAAS Spring Auction on Sunday, March 1, at the Tallmadge Community Center. Doors will open at 10 am for registration, and 11 am is the start of the auction. The event is free admission for the public. There is no cost to register to enter auction items into the auction. The auction is a 70/30 split for the seller. Click here for spring auction rules.

Next Meeting Is on Friday, February 13, 2026

Please join us for our next meeting, on Friday, February 13, 2026. The meeting starts at 8 pm and is held at the Ritchie Memorial Shelter House, 109 West Avenue, Tallmadge, Ohio. We will have refreshments, a mini-auction that includes BAP/HAP submissions, and a product raffle. The Bowl Show classes for February will be Suckermouth Catfish; Male Bettas; Female Guppies. The meeting is free and open to the public.

The February program, titled Colors and Conflicts: The Social Lives of Cichlids, will be provided via Zoom (not in-person) by Dr Peter Dijkstra, faculty member in the Department of Biology at Central Michigan University, in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. Dr Dijkstra’s lab studies fish brains and the fascinating inner workings of Lake Victoria cichlids. His research uses state-of-the-art tools to understand how social dynamics shape a cichlid’s physiology and brain.

Program Description: Cichlid fish are some of the most colorful and fascinating freshwater fish, known for their striking patterns and vivid colors. In this talk, I’ll explore how competition for mates and territory influences the colors, behavior, and health of cichlids. I’ll share how we study these questions in my laboratory at Central Michigan University, highlight some exciting new projects on color evolution in Lake Victoria cichlids, and explain how these fish can even be useful in biomedical research. We’ll also see how social interactions shape not only individual behavior but also the amazing diversity of colors and patterns across cichlid species.

Lake Erie Advanced Reefers’ Frag Fest Is Saturday, February 28, 2026

The Lake Erie Frag Fest is once again set for Saturday, February 28, 2026, at the Best Western Plus, 15471 Royalton Rd, Strongsville, Ohio 44136. Doors open at 11:00 am, and the event ends at 4:00 pm. Cost for admission is $10 for adults; free for children 12 and under.

GAAS Christmas Party and Gift Exchange

Here are a few pictures from the 2025 Christmas Party held at the Ritchie Memorial Shelter House on December 12.

2025 BAP and HAP Awarded to Adam Fox

GAAS BAP Awards—2025

GAAS members Thomas Utt, David Girard, David Williamson, and Adam Fox reached BAP milestones in 2025. Congratulations to all!

2025 Bowl Show Final Point Totals / Final Standings         

Here are the top four participants in the 2025 Bowl Show Standings: Wayne Toven, 122 points; Dave Williamson, 103 points; Emilie & Travis, 25 points; Mike & Elsie Swanson, 15 points. Click here for a list of the final 2025 Bowl Show results.

2025 Bowl Show Pictures

The Fall Auction (2025) Was a Success

Thanks to all the hobbyists who traveled from near and far to attend and participate in Akron’s fall auction on Sunday, November 2, 2025. We were fortunate to have over 120 registered buyers along with many sellers and volunteers who made the magic happen. A good crowd stayed until the very end, and the items up for auction were of good quality and variety. Especially nice were the donated plants from wholesaler, Florida Aquatic Nurseries. The club is grateful for auctioneers, Randy and George, for keeping the auction moving with their enthusiastic knowledge and skills. Thanks to everyone who made it a very successful auction. We will do it again on March 1, 2026

Here are a few pictures from the Fall Auction on November 2, 2025.