| Class A | 5 points |
| Livebearers: | Xiphophorus helleri, Xiphophorus maculatus |
| Cichlids: | Cichlasoma nigrofasciatum |
| snails: | all species unless specifically noted elsewhere as an exception Note: BAP does not give credit for species that are deemed 'weed' species (pond snails) or nuisance (trumpet). |
| shrimp: | all species unless specifically noted elsewhere as an exception |
| Class B | 10 points |
| Livebearers: | Xiphophorus (except helleri & maculatus), Limia, Phallichthys, Heterandia, Goodeadae family ...all others except those listed elsewhere |
| Rift Cichlids: | Aulonocara, Chalinochromis, Cynotilapia, Iodotropheus,Julidochromis, Labeotropheus, Labidochromis,Melanochromis, Pseudotropheus, Sarotherodon,Telmatochromis, Tilapia, Trematocranus,Lamprologus(except those listed elsewhere), Haplochromis, Malawian Haplochromines (except those listed elsewhere) |
| South American Cichlids: | Aequidens sensu strictu, 'Aequidens' (pulcher type), Bujuraquina, Cichlasoma sensu strictu, 'Cichlasoma' (fasciatum type), Celithracara, 'Geophagus' (brasiliensis type), 'Geophagus' (steindachneri type), Guianacara, Heros, Krobia, Laetacara,Mesonauta, Nannacara, Pterophyllum scalare |
| Other Cichlids: | Hemichromis, Pelvicachromis, Herotilapia |
| Catfish: | Corydoras aeneus, paleatus, habrosus, Ancistrus spp. aff.temminckii (tank raised) |
| Killifish: | Mop-spawning killifish |
| Anabantoids: | Macropodus, Trichogaster, Betta splendens |
| Characins & relatives: | Nematobrycon, Gymnocorymbus |
| Barbs and relatives: | Puntius, Barbus, Danio, Brachydanio, White Clouds, Capoeta |
| Rainbows: | Melanotaenia boesemani, sexfasciatus, praecox, Bedotia |
| Class C | 15 points |
| Livebearers: | Nomorhamphus, Dermogenys, Jenynsia |
| Rift Cichlids: | Eretmodus, Haplochromis linni and rostratus,Altolamprologus calvus and compressiceps, Lamprologus(toae, tretocephalus, tetracanthus, moorii, cylindricus,buesheri), Cyprichromis, Spathodus, Xenotilapia,Aulonocranus |
| South American Cichlids: | Acaronia, 'Aequidens' (rivulatus type), Apistogramma,Caquetaia, Chaetobranchopsis, Chaetobranchus. 'Cichlasoma' (Amphilophus), Crenicara, Crenicichla (<10"), Geophagus,Gymnogeophagus, Hypelacara, Papiliochromis, Retroculus,Tahuantinsuyoa |
| Other Cichlids: | Etroplus maculatus, Teleogramma, Steatocranus |
| Catfish: | All corydoras not listed elsewhere |
| Killifish: | African bottom spawners, Cynolebias whitei |
| Anabantoids: | Betta species, Trichopsis, Colisa |
| Barbs and relatives: | Any Barb or similar species with adult size greater than 4 inches |
| Rainbows: | Glossolepsis, Pseudomugil, Poppendetta, Iriatherina,Chilatherina, Melananotaenia |
| Characins and relatives: | Hyphessobrycon, Moenkhausia, Megalamphodus,Phenacogrammus, Hemigrammus, Nannostomus |
| Others: | Small gobies, Badis badis |
| Class D | 20 points |
| Livebearers: | Belanesox, Anableps |
| Rift Cichlids: | Tropheus, Lepidiolamprologus spp., Lamprologus sexfasciatus "Gold", Petrochromis, Simochromis,Cyphotilapia, all Featherfins (Cyathopharynx, Cunningtonia,Opthalmotilapia) |
| South American Cichlids: | Acarichthys, Apistogrammoides, Astronotus, Biotodoma,Biotoecus, Crenicichla (<10"), Dicrossus, Hoplarchus,Mazarunia, Pterophyllum (all other species), Satanoperca,Symphysodon, Taeniacara, Teleocichla, Uaru |
| Other Cichlids: | Etroplus not previously listed |
| Catfish: | Ancistrus (wild-caught, Honor System Please!), Otocinclus,Loricaria, Ricola, Sturisoma, Sturisomatichthys, Corydoras barbatus, macropterus, robinea, and all long-snouted species |
| Killifish: | South American bottom spawners |
| Anabantoids: | Parosphromenus, Pseudosphromenus, Ctenapoma,Helostoma, Osphromenus |
| Barbs and relatives: | Barbs (>12"), any Rasbora, Goldfish or Koi |
| Others: | Gobies >6", Blennies, Channa, Stickleback |
| Characins and relatives: | Nannobrycon, Pyrrhulina, Copella, Paracheirodon |
| Class E | 25 points |
| Miscellaneous: | Brochus, Hypostomas, Farlowella, Lamprologus sexfasciatus"Blue", Sphaerichtys, Polpterus, Leaf fish, Puffers, Pantadon, Silver Dollars and their relatives, Hoplosternum and related genera, Eutropiellus, Auchenipterids and related families,Cyprinodon, and all marine fish, invertebrates, and soft-bodied animals |
Notes:
Point levels reflect an increasing challenge to the aquarist in successfully breeding a species in captivity. By "breeding" we refer to the entire effort required of the aquarist from providing conditions to elicit a spawning to rearing the fry to at least 60 days of age. We consider various criteria that contribute to this challenge:
- special tank or water needs (e.g. large tank, special tank set-up)
- food requirements for both adults and fry (from the ease of flake food to a need to culture live foods)
- effort required to trigger a spawn
- effort that leads to healty egg hatches
- effort to nurture newly hatched fry and then the rearing of fry to a sellable size
- known history of captive spawnings & rearings (compared to how frequently the species is kept)
- etc. ...criteria that suggests effort and challenge as they correspond to success
As seen in the table above, points are assigned primarily at the 'family' and then 'genus' level, and only in rare cases is a species singled out for a different point level. BAP does not attempt to micro-manage point assignments on a species-by-species basis (a time-consuming and an almost impossible task). Rather a species is assigned points based upon the general challenge of its genus. As a result, we acknowledge that some species within one genus may be easier or harder to spawn that some species in a differently classified genus.
Information sources used to determine characteristics: other clubs' systems, FAAS, books and other publications accepted by the BAP Chair, and fishroom experiences demonstrating the ease or difficulty of species.