Show Rules
Cichlid Fish Show Rules
Here are some general rules for participating in the ACA fish show!
- The show is open to all paid registrants.
- Entry fee is $10.00/entry. There is a limit of 3 entries per person. An entry consists of a single fish, pair, or school of fish of the same species. Only one entry per tank is allowed. Hybrids are permitted.
- The showroom will be available at 12 noon on Thursday, June 25, 2026.
- Tanks, air, and Hikari Tropical Sponge filter will be provided. Tanks will be set up with dechlorinated water (75 degrees and 7.5 pH), black sand substrate, and LED full cover lights.
- Entries will be displayed in 10-gallon and 20-gallon Aqueon tanks.
- Entries must be set up by 9:00 pm on Thursday, June 27, 2026. The Show Committee reserves the right to assign entries to a class.
- The decision of the Judges and Show Committee will be final.
- Plaques will be given to first to third place for each class and Best of Division and Best of Show on Sunday, June 28, 2026.
- Show entries will be limited to the first 50 entries received. (25 ten-gallon tanks and 25 twenty-gallon tanks).
- Entries must be removed from the Fish Room by noon on Sunday, June 28, 2026.
- Neither the ACA nor the Clarion Hotel will be responsible for loss or damage to the fish or personal injury that may occur before, during, or after the exhibit.
- Deadline for show entries on the website is set for June 01, 2026.
Cichlid Show Classes
Class 1: SMALL CICHLIDS: All cichlid species with an average total length, including tail, of under 4 inches. For example, Apistogramma, Tanganyika shell dwellers, etc..
Class 2: MEDIUM CICHLIDS: All cichlid species with an average total length between 4 inches to 8 inches in total length, including tail. For example, Thorichthys, Pseudotropheus, Discus, etc..
Class 3: LARGE CICHLIDS: All cichlid species with an average total length of over 8 inches in total length, including the tail. For example, Oscars, Frontosa, etc.
ALA 20 CLASS LIVEBEARER SHOW
The convention show is a great opportunity to show your fish. The entry fee is $3 per fish regardless of how many fish you enter. The number of tanks is limited so it is strongly suggested that you register early. You do not need to list what fish you will be bringing since the tanks are flexible.
Show Rules
1. Entries must be registered by Friday June 26 at 10pm.
2. All exhibits must be set up by Friday at 10pm and remain up until Saturday at 10pm. Entries may be removed after the banquet on Saturday and must be removed by 10am Sunday morning.
3. Tampering with any exhibit other than that which belongs to oneself is strictly forbidden. If an entry needs to be moved for any reason the Show Committee will do so.
4. No extensions or early teardowns without prior permission of the Show Committee.
5. All exhibits will be under the full control of the Show Committee while in the show, they must remain there for the duration of the show.
6. Items not claimed by 10am on Sunday will become the property of ALA.
7. Neither the Hotel, nor the American Livebearer Association, nor the host club will be held responsible for any loss or damage incurred during the show. Exhibitors do have a responsibility to be careful with water.
Show Classes
1. Guppy – Male Solid Color Tail, Delta Tail
2. Guppy – Male Variegated Color Tail, Delta Tail
3. Guppy – Male Other Tail Types
4. Guppy – Female
5. Mollies – Domestic Varieties and Hybrids – Color and/or finnage variations of either sailfin or shortfin type mollies
6. Mollies – Natural Species: Poecilia butleri, caucana, chica, gilli, gracilis, latipinna, mexicana, orri, petenensis, salvatoris, sphenops, velifera, etc.
7. Swordtails – Domestic, Common Finnage Xiphophorus helleri
8. Swordtails – Domestic, Fancy Finnage Xiphophorus helleri
9. Swordtails – Wild type: Xiphophorus alvarezi, birchmanni, clemenciae, cortezi, continens, kallmani, malinche, mayae, mixei, montezumae, monticolus, multilineatus, nezahuacoyotl, nigrensis, pygmaeus, signum, and helleri (with collection site information)
10. Variatus & Platies – Domestic, Common Finnage Xiphophorus variatus & X..maculatus
11. Variatus & Platies- Domestic, Fancy Finnage Xiphophorus variatus & X.maculatus
12. Platies – Wild type: Xiphophorus andersi, couchianus, evelynae, gordoni, milleri, meyeri, xiphidium, and variatus & maculatus (with collection site information)
13. Limias: caymenensis, dominicensis, melanogaster, miragoaensis, nigrofasciata, ornata,
perugiae, sulfurophila, tridens, versicolor, vitatta, zonata, etc.
14. All other Poeciliid species: Alfaro, Belonesox, Brachyrhaphis, Carlhubbsia, Cnesterodon, Flexipinnis, Gambusia, Girardinus, Heterandria, Heterophallus, Neoheterandria, Phallichthys, Phallocerous, Poecilia (other than guppies & mollies listed above), micro-Poecilia, Poeciliopsis, Priapella, Priapicthys, Pseudopoecilia, Quintana, Scolichthys, Xenophallus, etc.
15. Goodeids – Torpedo Body Shape Allodontichthys, Allotoca, Ataenobius, Characodon, Girardinichthys, Goodea, Ilyodon, Xenotaenia, etc.
16. Goodeids – Deep Body Shape Alloophorus, Ameca, Chapalichthys, Skiffia, Xenoophorus, Xenotoca, Zoogoneticus, etc.
17. All Other Livebearers: Halfbeaks (Dermogenys, Nomorhamphus, Hemirhamphodon, Zenarchopterus, etc.), Anableps, Jenynsia, Stingrays, etc.
18. Pairs Class – Livebearers only male and female of the same species
19. Family Class – Livebearers parents and 10 or more fry under three months old. The fishes must have been bred by the exhibitor.
20. Photography class:
a. Judging will be based on art, technical skill, and the ability of the Judge to identify the subject fish.
b. No photos of photographs will be allowed.
c. All prints must be of a living animal.
d. All entries must have been taken by the exhibitor.
e. Digital prints should be as close to the original image as possible, (non-manipulated). These are photographic images that haven’t been wildly altered from the originals with software tools (like Photoshop, In-design, Illustrator etc.), prior to printing or scanning. Exhibitors may use these computer editing tools to adjust for contrast, exposure, cropping and other traditional adjustments that could be obtained through a traditional darkroom process. Only basic image corrections such as sharpening, saturation, cropping, color balance and removal of dust, scratches or water spots are allowed.
f. All photos should be at least 5”x7” or larger.
g. Title of print or fish identification should be clearly marked on the back of the image or mount. Nothing should be on the photograph though that would identify the photographer. It is suggested that the prints be mounted on stiff backing or matted but is not required.
Judging
- The following standards will be used in judging show fish.
- Guppy classes will use IFGA show standards. A link to those standards is available on the ALA website.
- Cultivated Strains of Xiphophorus will use the Judging Standards for cultivated strains of Xiphophorus available for download from the ALA website.
- Cultivated Strains and wild species of Poecilia (other than Guppies) will use the Judging Standards for cultivated trains and wild species of Poecilia available for download from the ALA website.
- Wild Goodeid species will use the Judging Standards for Wild Species of Goodeids, available for download from the ALA Website (note: this standard is currently undergoing review and revision).
2. Judging will take place on Saturday morning. No unauthorized people will be permitted in the show room during the judging. The show room will be open to the public on Saturday after completion of the judging.
3. Decisions for the awards will be final and are not subject to appeal.
4. Classification and size of fishes to be determined by references chosen by the Show Committee.
Equipment
1. Containers: All non-photography entries will be displayed in flat-sided containers. The ALA will have approximately 100 tanks for use by entrants. These are on a first come first available. All containers should be bare. Plants or decorations are not recommended.
2. Stands: Tables will be provided for all exhibit tanks up to 2.5 gallons. Exhibits over 2.5 gallons will be required to provide their own stands and tanks. If you need a tank larger than 2.5 gallons you must make prior arrangements with the show committee. Exhibits are not permitted to sit on the floor.
3. Lighting: No lights or reflectors are required.
4. Covers: All exhibits are to have full covers.
5. Heaters: The show area is normally maintained at a minimum of 70 degrees. Heaters are not permitted.
6. Water: The Host committee will ensure all supplied tanks will have de-chlorinated city water at room temperature.
7. Sprays: NO SPRAY TYPE WINDOW CLEANERS PERMITTED IN THE SHOW AREA.
Major Awards
Chairman’s Award “most points”
Points are awarded as follows;
First place entries receive 3 points
Second place entries receive 2 points
Third place entries receive 1 point
Joanne Norton Award “Best Domestic”
Frances Hubbs Miller Award “Best Goodeid”
Robert Rush Miller Award “Best Wild-type” (other than Goodeid)
By entering fish into the Bluegrass Bash Convention Fish Shows or bringing fish to the Convention for Sale, you are certifying that these fish have been obtained, imported, or bred within the parameters of the United States and Kentucky laws.
Members are encouraged to review the Lacey Act, the Endangered Species Act (ESA), and other relevant legislation before displaying or distributing wildlife. The Convention host organization, The American Livebearer Association, will not accept any fish prohibited by the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA) or in violation of applicable laws in our shows.
Lacey Act – Lacy Act Amendments of 1981 – Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
ESA – Endangered Species Act –Endangered Species Act | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Kentucky Law Concerning Nuisance Species
Betta Fish Show Rules
INTERNATIONAL SHOW CLASS LIST FOR 2026
Effective 2025
Discard all previous class lists!
GROUP A: BREEDER
Variety A: Halfmoon – Long’n Singletail
A1. Red STM
A2. Black STM & Black Lace STM
A3. Light Solid Non-Metallic STM – yellow, cellophane, white, pastel, orange
A4. Royal Blue STM
A5. Steel Blue STM
A6. Green/Turquoise STM
A7. Dark & Light Body Metallic STM – All Solid Colors
A8. Marble, Multicolor, Grizzled, and Orchid STM
A9. Butterfly STM
A10. Dragon & Bicolor STM – Light Body BiColor with any colored fins
A11. OCV STM (Area 6 Trial)
A12. Non-Iridescent Dark STF – red, black, black lace
A13. Light Solid STF – yellow, cellophane, white, pastel, orange
A14. Royal Blue STF
A15. Steel Blue STF
A16. Green/Turquoise STF
A17. Metallic STF – All Solid Light and Dark Colors
A18. Marble, Multicolor, Grizzled, Orchid, and other patterns STF not listed elsewhere
A19. Bicolor & Dragon STF (Light Body & Dark Body)
A20. OCV STF (Area 6 Trial)
Variety B: Short’n (Traditional & Show Plakats; Symmetrical Short’ns)
B1. Show Plakat STM – Solid Dark Non-Iridescent
B2. Show Plakat STM – Dark Iridescent
B3. Show Plakat STM – Light Non-Metallic (see A3 above)
B4. Show Plakat STM – Metallic, All Solid Dark & Light Colors
B5. Show Plakat STM – Patterned (Pineapple, Grizzle, Orchid, Non-Marbled)
B6. Show Plakat STM – Multicolor & Marble
B7. Show Plakat STM – Butterfly
B8. Show Plakat STM – Bicolor & Dragon (Light & Dark Body)
B9. OCV Show Plakat STM (Area 6 Trial)
B10. Traditional Plakat STM – Solid Colors
B11. Traditional Plakat STM – Patterned (Includes OCV)
B12. Symmetrical STM – All Colors (Includes OCV)
B13. Sym. & Plakat STF – Dark Solid Non-Iridescent
B14. Sym. & Show Plakat STF – Dark Solid Iridescent
B15. Sym. & Show Plakat STF – Metallic Solid Dark & Light
B16. Sym. & Show Plakat STF – Light Solid Non-Metallic (yellow, cellophane, white, pastel, orange)
B17. Sym. & Show Plakat Patterned STF – Includes All Patterns & OCV
Variety C: Other Recognized Forms
C1. Crowntail HM STM – All Colors (Includes OCV)
C2. Doubletail Male – All Types, All Colors (Includes OCV)
C3. Veiltail STM – All Colors (Includes OCV)
C4. Crowntail Plakat STM – All Colors (Includes OCV)
C5. Large Pectorals – All Long & Short STM
C6. Crowntail HM STF – All Colors (Includes OCV)
C7. Doubletail Females – All Types, All Colors (Includes OCV)
C8. Veiltail STF – All Colors (Includes OCV)
C9. Large Pectoral – All Long & Short STF
C10. Crowntail Plakat STF – All Colors (Includes OCV)
C11. Giant Plakat Male & Female – Includes OCV
(Males: minimum body 6.0 cm; Females: 5.0 cm minimum, nose to peduncle)
Variety D: Breeders Division
Now earns its own BOV instead of moving to Varieties A, B, or C.
D1. Color/Form Variations Male – Must label variation clearly
D2. Color/Form Variations Female – Must label variation clearly
D3. Form & Finnage Male
D4. Form & Finnage Female
D5. Pairs – Long fin (Halfmoon, VT, CT, DT, LP, etc.)
D6. Pairs – Short fin & mid-length fin
D7. Hybrids & Aliens (Male & Female) – Not eligible for BOV or BOS; must label species
Variety E: Wild Type Bettas
Not eligible for BOS or RBOS. All entries must label species.
E1. Bubblenester Pairs or Trios – Large & Small
E2. Mouthbrooder Pairs or Trios – Large & Small
E3. Single Entry Bubblenesters or Mouthbrooders – may be divided by type
GROUP B: NEW BREEDER
NB1. HM STM – All Colors & Patterns
NB2. Plakat/Short fin – All Colors & Patterns
NB3. DTM – All Types, All Colors & Patterns
NB4. CT, LP – All Colors & Patterns
NB5. VT STM – All Colors & Patterns
NB6. HM STF – All Colors & Patterns
NB7. Plakat & Symmetrical STF
NB8. All Other Females – CT, VT, DT, LP, All Colors
NB9. Any Other Type – Giant, Variations, etc. Must label color or form variation
NB10. Hybrid, Aliens & Wild Types – Must label species
GROUP C: COLLECTOR
(Purchased, Gifted, or Wild-Caught by Entrant)
Note: GloFish® fluorescent ornamental are illegal in all shows and will be automatically disqualified.
CC1. HM STM – All Colors & Patterns
CC2. Plakat/Short fin – All Colors & Patterns
CC3. DTM – All Types, All Colors & Patterns
CC4. CT, VT, LP STM – All Colors & Patterns
CC5. HM STF – All Colors & Patterns
CC6. Plakat & Symmetrical STF – All Colors & Patterns
CC7. DTF – All Colors & Patterns
CC8. Other Females – CT, VT, DT, LP, All Colors & Patterns
CC9. Any Other Type – Giant, etc. Must label color or form variation
CC10. Hybrid, Aliens & Wild Types – Must label species
ARTS AND CRAFTS
AC1. Photography
AC2. Illustrations
AC3. Crafts
OPTIONAL CLASSES – Juvenile Betta Classes
(Self-bred. Minimum 2.5 cm body up to 3.25 cm max.)
JB1. Halfmoon STM – All Colors/Patterns
JB2. Other Long Fin Males – Doubletail, Crowntail, Veiltail, Large Pectorals
JB3. All Short-Finned Males – All Colors & Patterns (Show, Traditional, Symmetrical, CTPK, DTPK, LPPK & Junior Giants. Junior Giant size: 5.0–5.9 cm tip of mouth to peduncle)
JB4. All Females – Include Junior Giants up to 3.25 cm (List tail type on entry form)
ABBREVIATIONS
SF – Short fin
CT – Crowntail
STF – Singletail Female
DT – Doubletail
STM – Singletail Male
HM – Halfmoon
SYM – Symmetrical
LP – Large Pectoral
VT – Veiltail
PK – Plakat
WT – Wild Types
BOV – Best of Variety
RBOV – Reserve Best of Variety
BOS – Best of Show
RBOS – Reserve Best of Show
OCV – Other Color Variety
58 Group A Classes (Breeder – Self-Bred)
10 Group B Classes (New Breeder – Self-Bred)
10 Group C Classes (Collector)
🐠 IBC 2026 General Convention
Hosted by:
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American Cichlid Association (ACA)
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American Livebearer Association (ALA)
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Oklahoma Betta Breeders Association (OBBA)
📅 Dates: June 25–28, 2026
📍 Location: Clarion Hotel Conference Center North
1950 Newtown Pike
Lexington, Kentucky 40511
📞 (859) 233-0512
Convention Details
Event Name: ACA – ALA – IBC Convention
Show Chair: Kayla Griffin
📧 Email: KaylaGriffin63@yahoo.com
📞 Phone: 918-586-2875
Mail Entries to:
Kayla Griffin
Clarion Hotel Conference Center North
1950 Newtown Pike
Lexington, KY 40511
Important Shipping Information
🚫 Do NOT label your shipping boxes “Live Fish.”
Certain shipping companies may hold or delay boxes marked this way.
Preferred shipping method: United States Postal Service (USPS).
Using UPS or FedEx may result in mishandling or delays.
Show Fish Guidelines
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Mail-in entries must arrive no later than 5:00 PM, Wednesday, June 24, 2026.
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Include:
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Entry form
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Entry fees
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Return postage (if applicable)
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Return mailing label
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Empty bags and heat packs (if desired)
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Note: Return postage and entry fees cannot be deducted from auction proceeds.
📧 Email your entry form to the show chair by Tuesday, June 23, 2026.
Walk-in Entries
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Must arrive by 10:00 AM, Thursday, June 25, 2026.
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Notify the show chair in advance if you plan to bring walk-in entries.
Entry Fees
💲 $3.00 per single entry
💲 $5.00 per pair
Make checks payable to: Gerald Griffin
PayPal payments accepted at: herpchat@yahoo.com
Convention Tickets
Bluegrass Bash
$75
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