Announcing the American Labyrinth Fish Association

Over the past weekend I was thinking of how to expand the Paro population here in North America. I attempted to make a comparison to the introduction of the African Cichlids to the states in the late 60’s and early 70’s. For the most part they were introduced through several of the importers. You had the introduction of the ACA which provided a way for serious breeders to communicate with each other and to share fry and breeding techniques. Eventually the fish farms, particularly here in Florida, started mass breeding programs of many of the species. This effort eventually provided the opportunity for normal everyday hobbyists who minimal experience and perhaps a single aquarium to keep these beautiful in their living room . Within a few years the industry had numerous generations of these fish reproduced in the breeding facilities the issues of stringent water quality and live food requirements became much less demanding. Eventually these fish, which were very difficult to maintain in the beginning, were able to be maintained in most household aquariums.
So the question becomes why hasn’t the Paro species taken off in the eyes of the American fish keepers? They have been successful in Europe at least with experienced aquarists, but not here. I think there are a number of issues that contribute to this set of circumstances.
To begin with we have not seen the importers bring these species into the country for whatever reason. The American public became infatuated with the Betta Splendens and we had the IBC develop which mirrored the development of the ACA and the African cichlid population. There are at least two other large factors which weigh on this issue. The retail fish industry has markedly changed in the U.S. in the past several decades. We have, for the most part, moved from the local “Mom & Pop” local stores to the “big Box” operations. With these large store operations rarely do you come across an individual that knows much of anything about fish in general to say nothing about something like the Licorice Gourami. It has been said by a number of my friends that are familiar with the large store operations, if the fish doesn’t have a SKU ( a part number if you will ) you will not see it in the store tanks. Beyond that, if a particularly fish needs special care the large store operations are not equipped to handle these fish which ultimately results in excessive mortality and the refusal to bring these fish in on a reoccurring basis.
So the question becomes is there hope for these species in North America? My assessment is somewhat reserved. I believe we will see an increased but limited interest in these fish. This increased presence will be fostered by the likes of several people in this small group we have that will hopefully continue to import and distribute the wonderful shy little fish. I think this process will be driven by individual who will be more interested in conservation and preservation of the species rather than just wanted to have something different in their fish collections. I would like this group to work at developing a list of individuals that are keeping and breeding these species. Even if they choose not to participate in the Project but at least be willing to be identified as an individual how keeps “Paros” or has an interest in them. One last word – I believe there is one area which could be of immense assistance to this whole project and that is the large (or not so large) fish clubs throughout North America. If we could encourage these groups to become involved we could see significant improvement of these species in the hobby.
As I complete my thoughts I have just seen where Mark has proposed the establishment of the American Labyrinth Fish Association. All right maybe we can get this ball moving!

I am very happy about this development and, especially, the last notes by Mark and Bill. Bill has certainly listed some of the relevant causes for the situation given, but I think there are two to be supplemented.
Licorice gouramis are small fish, but not as small characids or barbs that live in big groups and swim permanently from left to right, but they are living in pairs or small, mostly hidden groups, rather slowly moving. They are too small and shy for the average aquarist. The development of cheap larger tanks has promoted larger fish, a clear interrelation.
And the second thing: Paros are not to be fed on industrial food and not to be kept and bred in most tap water. Gnenerally, you cannot put some ingredients in your water to make it suitable for Paros; that will work for many fish, but not for licorice gouramis.
Therefore I think these fish will be always remain a speciality for those who are interested in behaviour, breeding and conservation. And I think founding that ALFA-organization was definitely the right action to be taken now! It will not change things in very short time, but I could imagine that it will change things.
Anyhow: We have about one hundred specialist for these fish in Germany and only about ten in the U.S.? The United States being much bigger and with many more aquarists? I think it’s a thing to be developed and you took the right action to get it into move.

Bill – I fully agree with your ideas.
Founding ALFA was a good decision and it will promote things, no question. But that will take time and it will be only one of more possible steps. You are fully right by mentioning others.
What you describe is more or less my program that I try to follow since 2005. There are more friends of this endangered genus on earth than we know, it’s only a matter of method how to find them. Today with the internet this must be much easier than in former times.
You are fully right in pointing out the role of our German association as a base, but that alone was not enough. It needed additional personal action (and that meant time and hard work) to collect addresses, and more addresses and more addresses. This is my business and that of some friends since 2005. If I should say what the most valuable result of the Paro-work since that time is: it’s the treasure of addresses. If someone wanted to cause a maximum damage to the Parophromenus-project he needed to steal or destroy our addresses.
Your idea to write to all the many associations and clubs is fully right. I have tried to to so in Germany, and was lucky that the German head organization of the aquarists gave support to that by opening its magazine. Unfortunately, the result was meagre up to now. But I have not done it as efficient as possible; one can do better. But I can’t, I need helpers.
And that is the problem on the American or even world-scale, too. We need helpers. I think this is the present situation: building up a group of helpers. You are one of these and Mark and some others. Now let us see what we can do precisely.
1. How should we proceed? In the world and in the U.S.?
2. What is the primary goal? What secondary, and so on?
3. How could we partition the task?
4. How could we find out the addresses of the most important associations that possibly could play a role in this?
5. In our steering groupwe have no position for a person who would work on that strategy. But we needed him (or her)! Not in the first line for Europe, but for America and for Asia!
6. Besides America the Asians are rather quiet (with the exception of Japan). We urgently needed more active correspondents in Malaysia and Indonesia.
Well, dear Bill, perhaps we should break the thing down to the nearest goal again: How to proceed for the U.S.?
More questions than answers. Perhaps you’ll have some answers?