Earlier this November 2019 saw the Greater San Diego Betta Chapter (GSDBC) host its first district show – which it co-hosted with the San Diego Tropical Fish Society (SDTFS). This Betta District Show was sanctioned by the International Betta Congress (IBC).
SDTFS is one of the oldest fish clubs in the nation, having been founded in 1948. Since the 1970s, during every first weekend of November, SDTFS holds its Annual Fish Show at San Diego’s Balboa Park. This year’s SDTFS Annual Fish Show featured over 200 fish tanks – including 77 betta tanks in the GSDBC District Show. Foot traffic was estimated to be in the ballpark of 2000 attendees during the two-day event.
Judges for this GSDBC District Show included Mike Cuaresma as head judge, assisted by Luis Navarro and Holly Rutan. Ms. Rutan and Mr. Navarro are also the current IBC President and IBC Vice-President, respectively.
The GSDBC District Show appealed to many who attended the event. Because of the growing interest in this Southern California region, GSDBC is scheduled to have its next IBC-sanctioned Betta District Show in March 2020. GSDBC will once again partner with SDTFS in November 2020 as well, hosting an IBC-sanctioned Betta International Show at Balboa Park with the SDTFS Annual Fish Show next year.
