Excitement about Aquatics Live – the new show for fish and reptile enthusiasts at London's Olympia in November – is mounting throughout the community!
The spectacular seminar schedule has been published with a wide range of topics which covers tropical, marine, aquascaping and reptiles. All the speakers are familiar names and there is a great sense of anticipation about the opportunity to meet them and take advantage of their expertise.
There will even be first-hand accounts from Heiko Bleher and Chris Lukhaup about their recent expeditions to study native biotopes and search for new species! There is a broad divide in the schedule with talks for less experienced aquarists in the mornings and for experts in the afternoon, but looking at the subjects all the sessions will be fascinating!
The large marine aquarium – the Ocean Reefscape – is stocked and the fish will be acclimatising between now and the show. Shaun Foggett is building the enclosure for his display of Nile Crocodiles and the finalists for the Aquascaping Competition have been picked from their heats and are all looking forward to the contest.
Although George Farmer has been called away for the actual event, he is still busy preparing the Aquascaping Activity Area and putting the infrastructure in place. James Starr-Marshall is going to hold the aquascaping seminar sessions and has sent details of his talks which will provide invaluable insights both for novices and experts.
Despite the constant barrage of bad news about the economy there is still a good showing of exhibitors, some of whom are choosing Aquatics Live to launch their latest innovations. Cubic will be unveiling their new jellyfish aquarium, Marine Mad will be opening subscriptions to a brand new aquatics social networking site, Sublime Acquario and Coventry Aquatics will be showing their latest tanks and lighting systems and Picture House will be introducing a fantastic development in television design.
Some of the great manufacturers will also be at the event to showcase and discuss their products, and retailers will be selling on site. Whilst sales of corals, inverts and dry goods will be allowed it has to be said that isn’t the case for fish. The organisers have been trying to change the law on this for months but without success so far.
For the first time in many years fish and reptile keepers are being given the opportunity to interact directly with the great names in the hobby. Aquatics Live is designed to satisfy both the established enthusiast and the novice and with feature areas, club and society displays, the Reptile Forum and even Air Swimmers there should be enough to engage with the whole family.
The show takes place on November 19-20.
Full details of the show are on the Aquatics Live website and tickets can still be purchased there at a discounted rate. A special rate for schools is also available on application to the organisers.
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