Raleigh Aquarium Society (RAS)
The Raleigh Aquarium Society (RAS) was founded in 1981 to "encourage and enhance the education, knowledge, and enjoyment of Society members at all levels of experience about the many aspects of the home aquatics hobby". Our members range from high school students to enthusiasts with decades of experience and includes (and has included) world-recognized experts that have collected fish from throughout the world, written books and articles and given talks across the world. Some of our founding members (e.g., David Herlong, Neil Frank, Gerald Pottern) are still active members today!
We welcome participants at all levels of experience (including none - we all started that way!). Conversing with RAS members and participating in the club is an excellent way to learn about fish and plant keeping from parties with a wealth of practical experience. We have members with just one or two "nano tanks" all the way up to "fish rooms" with more 50 or more tanks! (And yes, some of our members have outside ponds with Koi!)
RAS holds regular monthly meetings on the first Thursday of the month at the NCSU Vet School. Each meeting features a special speaker (sometimes local, sometimes from further away), a mini auction of fish, plants or other donations, as well as a roundup of club business. Over the last year, participation in the monthly auction has ramped up to as many 100 items brought in for auction. The auction is an excellent way to obtain fish and plants, many of which are not available at local fish stores.
Approximate monthly meeting agenda:
7:00-7:30 PM Sign in and informal discussion with members
7:30 PM Introduction and welcome of new members and visitors
7:40 PM Summary of board meeting and any club business
8:00 PM – 8:45 PM Speaker
8:45 PM – 9:00PM Break and time to view the auction items
9:00 PM Door prizes followed by auction
RAS also holds a yearly (spring) workshop, a weekend event consisting of a collecting trip, a full day of talks from aquatic experts and a full day fish and plant auction that brings in items and buyers from all across the southeast.
RAS also holds a second standalone one-day fall auction.
Major activities of the Raleigh Aquarium Society:
Monthly meetings, first Thursday of the month @ 7:30PM at the NCSU Vet School
Annual Spring Workshop and Auction
Annual Fall one-day Auction
Collecting trips: collect fish/plants from native waters in NC and surrounding areas.
Group buys (Club pays for shipping) for fish food (frozen and live), as well as fish and plants. An excellent way to obtain items not generally available from local fish stores.
Fish Breeder Award Program (BAP): Obtain recognition and credit for breeding fish
Horticulture Awared Program (HAP): Obtain recognition and credit for growing plants
Annual picnic (plus collecting trip and stream cleanup)