Children enjoying the display of fishes by Imperial Tropicals at the 2015 Aquatic Experience – Chicago. Image by Dan Woudenberg
World Pet Association’s fourth annual Aquatic Experience – Chicago returns with “everything aquatic under one roof”
November 4-6, 2016
Show includes:
Sea Lion Splash live show and exhibit
Fish from Around the World displays
American Cichlid Association Fish Competition
AGA Aquascaping Live! Contests
1st International Shrimp Competition
Educational seminars with industry experts
Kid’s Aquarium Contest
Win A Betta Fish Toss
Daily Show Floor Raffle
Touch tank…and more!
CHICAGO (October 11, 2016)—The World Pet Association’s fourth annual Aquatic Experience – Chicago returns to the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center with “everything aquatic under one roof”—from saltwater and freshwater fish to marine plants and mammals, Nov. 4 – 6, 2016. Show attendees will have the opportunity to witness the only traveling sea lion experience in the United States, Sea Lion Splash; see displays of fish from around the world to delight and inspire aquarists of all levels; and enjoy other exhibits such as a touch tank with small sharks and starfish, a Kids Aquarium Contest and more.
Sea Lion Splash will debut at the 2016 Aquatic Experience – Chicago.
Tickets for Aquatic Experience – Chicago, Nov. 4-6, 2016 at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center (1551 Thoreau Drive N, Schaumburg, IL) are currently on sale. Daily family passes are $25 and individual tickets start at just $10. Children ages five and under are free. For more information, please visit www.aquaticexperience.org.
Sponsored by Aqueon, Coralife, & Kent Marine, Sea Lion Splash offers guests of all ages an up-close experience with sea lions, as well as the opportunity to learn about these amazing mammals through a thirty-minute spell binding show hosted by trainer Surfer Joe. A thriving show floor of exhibitors showcases the latest in aquatic trends and products; educational seminars on hobbyist and retail topics feature aquatic experts addressing intermediate level information to advanced issues.
Additionally, attendees will have the option of watching the American Cichlid Association Fish Competition, Aquatic Experience Aquascaping Live! Contests and the 1st International Shrimp Competition take place on the main floor.
EDUCATIONAL SEMINAR SCHEDULE
Friday, November 4:
Retail Sessions
12-1:00 p.m.
- Coral Fragging Tips and Tricks for Retailers, presented by Justin Credable
- Millennials are Coming—Is Your Marketing Ready?, presented by Michael Johnson
1:15-2:15 p.m.
- Selling Oddball Fish, presented by Joe Olenik
- More Marketing, More Sales on a Budget That Won’t Break the Bank, presented by Lynn Switanowski
2:30-3:30 p.m.
- Shrimps & Freshwater Inverts in Freshwater Nano Tanks—A New Trend in the US Market, presented by Chris Lukhaup
- Staffing Made Simpler: Recruiting, Training and Retaining Staff, presented by Lynn Switanowski
3:45-5:15 p.m.
- Retail Panel Discussion, moderated by Chris Clevers with panelists Joe Olenik, Patrick Donston, Bill Trufant and Sandy Moore
Hobby Sessions
1:15-2:15 p.m.
- Phosphate—It May Not Mean What You Think it Means, presented by Richard Ross
2:30-3:30 p.m.
- How Optimal Nutrition Can Minimize Disease Outbreaks, presented by George Blasiola
3:45-4:45 p.m.
- South American Dwarf Cichlids of the Genus Apistogramma, presented by Wolfgang Staeck
Speaker Sanjay Joshi always offers not-to-be-missed insights on lighting for reef aquaria, and is one of the several well-known presenters speaking at this year’s Aquatic Experience – Chicago
Saturday, November 5:
Hobby Sessions
11 a.m.-12 p.m.
- Oliver Knott Plant Demo, presented by Oliver Knott
- New Trends in Lighting & Their Effectiveness & Efficiency, presented by Sanjay Joshi
12:30-1:30 p.m.
- Danios & Devarios, presented by Mike Hellweg
- Coral Reproduction and Restoration in Tanks and in the Wild, presented by Richard Ross
- Freshwater Shrimps in the Wild and Aquarium, presented by Chris Lukhaup
2-3 p.m.
- An Aquarist Visits Ghana, presented by Lawrence Kent
- Effective Marine Fish Disease Identification and Control, presented by George Blasiola
3:30-4:30 p.m.
- Forest Fishes of the Peruvian Amazon, presented by Liz Marchio
- Little Stories: Fascinating, Gratifying, Amusing Topics About our Hobby, presented by Julian Sprung
Speaker Wolfgang Staeck will offer educational presentations on both South American and East African Cichlids at the Aquatic Experience – Chicago 2016.
Sunday, November 6:
Hobby Sessions
11 a.m.-12 p.m.
- Tanganyika: A Lake and its Fishes, presented by Wolfgang Staeck
- Reflections from the Inside: 20 Years of the Marine Aquarium Trade, presented by Chris Buerner
12:30-1:30 p.m.
- Takashi Amano: His Life and Work, presented by Oliver Knott
- Breeding Loricariids, presented by Barbie Fiorentino
Aquatic Experience – Chicago 2016 is generously supported by: Platinum Level – Aqueon, Coralife, & Kent Marine; Gold Level – Fluval, Hikari Sales USA, Inc., Seachem Laboratories, Segrest Farms; Silver Level – DrTim’s Aquatics, Fritz Aquatics, Reef Nutrition, Southwest Cargo, Spectrum Brands Pet, Home & Garden, Two Little Fishies. Media Partners include: BlueZoo TV, Pet Age, Pet Business, Pet Product News, Reef Builders, Reef Hobbyist Magazine, Reef to Rainforest Media (Amazonas/Coral) and Tropical Fish Hobbyist.
The World Pet Association (WPA) is the oldest industry organization promoting responsible growth and development of the companion pet and related products and services. WPA works to inform and educate the general public in order to ensure safe and healthy lifestyles for our animal friends. WPA is the host of America’s Family Pet Expo, the world’s largest consumer pet and pet products expo, held annually in Costa Mesa, California. The organization also produces SuperZoo, an annual pet industry trade show that showcases a comprehensive collection of exhibits and offers a variety of informative educational seminars, and Atlanta Pet Fair, the Southeast’s largest competition and trade show for the professional pet stylist. For more information, please visit www.worldpetassociation.org.
Hours
Friday 11/4: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Saturday 11/5: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Sunday 11/6: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
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