The IG BSSW was founded November 8th, 2008 as the successor organization of the VDA-Arbeitskreis “BSSW” (the VDA workgroup “BSSW”) in Lehrte (district Sievershausen).
We are an association of specifically interested hobbyists. In this group, people gather who focus on care and breeding of barbs, characins, loaches and catfish. Besides intense aquaristic engagement with these groups of fishes, scientifically oriented observation of them is part of our chosen field of activity.

The IG BSSW is an independent, nonprofit association.
We intend to accrete available knowledge about the fish groups of interest through contacts to fellow national as well as international hobbyists and support the spreading of these species through breeding and exchange in the hobby as well as science.
We also respect animal welfare and refuse to keep either genetically modified specimen or bred varieties that significantly suffer due to the bred alterations.

First of all, every member receives the quarterly “BSSW-Report”. This is our periodical where members report on their experiences with care and breeding of their fishes. But also reports on tricks and ruses regarding aquarium technology or experience about fish food and its preparation can be published. Reports on events are also published occasionally.

Just as important are notifications about organizational affairs related to the association. Also, the “BSSW-Report” serves as a contact link between the members. Here, sales offers and buy (or trade) requests can be placed or contacts can be made to hobbyists keeping the same fish.

Finally, special issues are released on an irregular basis, focusing on specific topics. In these special issues, extensive reports about small groups of fish are published which tend to reach scientific character.

Interested members can also get a CD with slides for an additional charge. This CD contains, among other things, twelve pictures of fish from our area of interest, the tables of contents of the current years´ “BSSW-Report” as well as additional reports of interest.

In the framework of our association, the members will be supplied with the necessary knowledge and information through the described ways. Also, they are kept up-to-date regarding scientific knowledge and publications.

The four coordinators for the respective fish groups are of help if necessary in a direct or indirect way or arrange contact to experts for specific questions, be they other members or scientists and experts the association is working with.

Of special importance is, however, the contact and exchange among the members. This is largely takingplace during the annual meeting of the members as well as through the “BSSW-Report”, but also preferably during the regular meetings of the regional groups. Here, members can exchange on a regular basis. This diverse offer of information is accompanied by talks.

The annual charge for our association is 26.00 Euro at present. Included herein is the quarterly “BSSW-Report”. Members who wish to also obtain the annual CD with slides are charged an additional 7.50 Euro . Finally for admission, a one-time charge of 5.00 Euro is to be paid.

More information regarding the association, its institutions and regional groups as well as an event program can be found at our Homepage. For additional questions, you can of course also contact our executive secretary.