Good Morning Everyone!
The 2025 PVAS Bowl Show is coming soon! About one month away! The event will be held on July 12, 2025 at the Green Acres Center from 1pm - 5pm. Every member has some wonderful fish in their hobby, so lets show those amazing fish off by entering them into the show. Please take the time to read through this entire post for all the details regarding registration, rules, the list of classes, and volunteer opportunities.
CLASSES:
This year we will have 13 Classes as well as a Best of Show and People’s Choice!
Best in Show – Sponsored by ___________
People’s Choice – Sponsored by ________
1. ANGELFISH and DISCUS – Sponsored by Manuel
2. ALL CICHLIDS - Sponsored by Chris Cullens
3. CORY CATFISH - Sponsored by Nicole and Robert Coleman
4. SUCKERMOUTH FISH - Sponsored by ________
5. GUPPIES - Sponsored by ________
6. LIVEBEAERS (swords, platies, mollies, etc.) - Sponsored by Sherri Norris
7. PAIRS of LIVEBEAERS (guppies, swords, platies, etc.) – Sponsored by Sherri Norris
8. SCHOOLING FISH (tetras, rasboras, white clouds, rainbows, etc.) May show up to six (6) fish as a school – Sponsored by ________
9. ANABANTOIDS (betta, gourami, etc.) – Sponsored by Nicole and Robert Coleman
10. GOLDFISH, KOI, and OTHER POND FISH - Sponsored by ________
11. KILLIFISH (shown in pairs, male and females look very different) – Sponsored by ________
12. ALL OTHER FISH (natives, oddballs, other catfish, etc.) – Sponsored by ________
13. ODDBALL INVERTEBRATES (shrimp, snail, leaches, worms, etc.) – Sponsored by ________
REGISTRATION:
Registration will work as it has in the past. You will register your fish at the door.
Do I need to preregister?
No, you do not. There is no preregistration for this event. Just bring your fish and register when you arrive at the door!
When I get to the Bowl Show, how do I register my entries?
There will be a registration table with sign-up sheets when you walk in from the hall. Each of the classes will have their own sign-up sheet. So, if you bring a fish in class 5, please find the sheet titled class 5. You must find the correct Class for your entry. Enter your name and the fish ID (common name/scientific name) of your entry on the first available line on the registration sheet for that class. If you have more than one entry for a class, use a different line per entry.
How do the bowls get identified?
Once you have signed in each of your entries, the class number and line number will serve as the entry number for the fish/bowl. For example, if you entered class 7 on line number 10, your bowl ID would be 7-10. You will use a magic marker and blue painters’ tape to write your ID number on your bowl/aquarium.
Why do we use blue tape?
Blue tape will come off easily and not leave marks on your bowl, tank, or critter keeper.
Will PVAS provide bowls?
Unfortunately, PVAS will not be able to provide bowls for the annual bowl show. Please bring your own bowls as the club is getting low on critter keepers from years past.
On which table do I place my entry?
Once you have finished registering and labeling your bowl, take your bowl over to the display tables and find the one that is labeled for the class that you entered. Please pay close attention as sometimes more than one class will be on the right or left side of the same table.
What does the registration sheet look like?
Here is an example of the registration sheet:
Class 9: ANABANTOIDS
OWNER NAME ENTRY # FISH COMMON NAME FISH SCIENTIFIC NAME (If known)
9-1
9-2
9-3
9-4
9-5
RULES:
YOU MUST BE A MEMBER OF PVAS TO ENTER THE BOWL SHOW!
You can sign up to be a member at the Bowl Show or by using the website.
#1 You must be a PVAS Member to enter fish into the bowl show. We will be handing out cash prizes and certificates!
#2 Only one fish per bowl is allowed. UNLESS the class requires a pair or more than one fish. The classes that allow more than one fish include: School fish – 6 fish per bowl & Invertebrates for shrimp – 3-5 per bowl.
#3 The bowl must have at least one flat side so the judges can see an undistorted view of your fish!
#4 No decorations are allowed inside or outside of the bowl. EXCEPTION is for shrimp; you may include a small sprig of java moss or other plants.
#5 No painted sides or bottoms of bowls are allowed. Only bare bowls, tanks, and critter keepers. Lids or clear plastic wrap as a lid are recommended to keep fish from jumping.
#6 A bowl is defined as a regular all glass fishbowl or plastic aquarium. If you want to use a 10 gallon or larger tank, you must bring your own tank and stand to the event. PVAS will use the available tables for all bowls and tanks under 3 gallons.
#7 Lights are not allowed at the event.
#8 Heaters are allowed only IF you have a way to secure the heater and have your own power source. PVAS will not be providing power source for the event. The showroom should be around 70 degrees. Before the event, it would be best to acclimate your fish to 70-75 degrees for the show since the room will reflect that temperature.
#9 No air will be provided by PVAS. If you need an air stone, you must provide the equipment and power source. But you should not need it for the show. You can maximize the oxygen getting to your fish by having clean water, adjusting the water level to provide maximum surface area in your bowl, and adjusting the water depth.
#10 You can provide a cover for your bowl if you would like to. PVAS will supply a tube of clear plastic food wrap to help cover the container. This will help keep fish from jumping out of the bowl!
#11 Decisions from the judges are FINAL.
Sponsorships:
We will need sponsors for the 13 classes, along with 2 sponsors for best of show and people’s choice. If you would like to sponsor any portion of the bowl show, please reach out to Nicole Mangold-Coleman at nmmangold0@gmail.com
People’s Choice and Best of Show are $50 to sponsor.
All Classes are $35 to sponsor.
Once we have sponsors, I will update the classes with sponsors that have been listed above.
**I have reached out to multiple local fish stores in Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania to see if they are willing to sponsor as well, waiting to see if I get any responses back.**
Prizes
We will continue with the same cash prizes as we have in years past. We do need sponsors in order to make this a success!
Award for 1st place in each class: $20 plus a certificate
Award for 2nd place in each class: $10 plus a certificate
Award for 3rd place in each class: $5 plus a certificate
Best in Show: $50 plus a certificate
People’s Choice: $50 plus a certificate
Volunteers Needed!
If you can assist and help in any way, we would greatly appreciate it!
We will need help setting up the event in the morning on July 12. Please see previous years table setup https://www.pvas.com/forum/news-events/bowl-show-room-setup-and-schedule
We are also in need of a few judges, so if you have an eye for what a fish is supposed to look like, please message Nicole at nmmangold0@gmail.com or speak to Bob Bock.
We will need a few people to help get people registered. Please email Nicole at nmmangold0@gmail.com if you are interested in helping out!
Thank you all for your time and patience, I know this is a lot of information all at once! Please know that I am super excited to help coordinate this event and hope that it’s going to be amazing! This is a big project to take on and any feedback is welcome.
-Nicole Mangold-Coleman
Bowl Show Coordinator!