September Meeting

Andrew Blumhagen "Designing Plecos: Genetics of Fancy Ancistrus"

We hope you can join us on Saturday, September 12, 2026 for a very informative and engaging talk about plecos by our local aquarist friend and fish expert, Andrew Blumhagen. Andrew's talk is titled "Designing Plecos" and will review everything you've ever wanted to know about these cool fish!

Here are the details:

Date: Saturday, September 12, 2026

Location:
JOHN F KENNEDY HIGH SCHOOL
1901 Randolph Rd
Wheaton-Glenmont, MD 20902

Meeting Time: 12:30 PM – 4:00 PM

Schedule

• 12:30 PM – 1:00 PM: Set up
• 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM: Socializing
• 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM: Designing Plecos: Red Long and Short Fin Ancistrus
• 2:30 PM – 2:45 PM: Break
• 2:45 PM: Auction and raffles

Join us for an early meal and drinks with the speaker!

Also, don’t forget to submit your entries and vote for the Photo of the Month for a chance to win $10 in CCA Bucks!

Remaining 2026 Activities

We also have some great activities lined up for the rest of 2026. Be on the lookout for a potential garage sale opportunity as well!

• September 26: Fish Store hop: The Mad Jellyfish, House of Tropicals, and Londontowne Tropicals
• October 10: Rebecca Goldring on Puffer Fish
• October Date TBD Garage Sale Event
• November 14:Greg Gregory on Wild Bettas
• December 12: Annual Holiday Party

Speaker Details

Andrew Blumhagen

Andrew has been fascinated with aquatic life from his childhood when his father kept an aquarium with incompatible fishes (African butterflyfish with neon tetras) and blue gravel. His own first aquarium was kept while overseas in Pakistan, where the fish store ironically stocked New World staples like guppies, mollies and tetras, despite the incredible local diversity of fishes. Later in college he kept a goldfish in a plastic Tupperware bowl, until finally his roommate gave him an old 20-gallon tank which he stocked with his own incompatible fishes (baby oscars and neon tetras) and blue gravel.

In 1996 Andrew had his first fish spawn, the dwarf honey gourami. He attended his first Potomac Valley Aquarium Society auction in 1998, joined the club and was immediately drafted into service. He served as newsletter editor, at-large board member, Vice President and finally President of the club (twice). Around the same time he began work for a custom aquarium installation and service company. As President of PVAS he envisioned an event to set the club apart and attract aquarists from all over the world - the All-Aquarium Catfish Convention.

Andrew later opened and closed an aquarium store and was determined to walk away from the aquarium hobby until he met Jeanette, who fatefully asked him how many aquaria would fit into "that space under the stairs."

Now they maintain around ten low-tech aquaria and periodically (often) breed some of their favorite fishes.