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In our three-year history as an International Cichlid
Buyer’s group we have already become well known in the
Cichlid community as a uniquely progressive entity for the
promotion, keeping and conservation of Rift Lake Cichlids.
We operate as a buyer’s organization for the direct benefit
of our membership. As a Corporation, we use the power of our
associate members to get the best prices on Cichlid related
items and of course Wild Caught fish.
We have ready access to the worlds most respected
experts, some of whom are members (the rest we expected to
join in due course). We are adding members to CRLCA the rate
of 30 new members per month, and have an 85% renewal rate on
membership. This has made us by far the largest and most
active Cichlid group in North America. Our membership
includes beginners and experts in every species of rift lake
Cichlid. With this membership comes a wealth of knowledge
and experience in housing and breeding these wonderful
fishes…and it is almost free!
Through the facility of the Internet and World Wide Web
we are, for the first time; making it possible for the
widespread Cichlid fraternity to communicate with each other
quickly and easily. Whatever your current interest is we are
sure to have a member or two who are willing to share their
experiences with you. Our Yahoo official chat line is the
vehicle for this to happen. Our dynamic website allows you
the member to have control of you listings.
This worldwide presence has already allowed us to acquire
Ad Koning's Cichlid Press books at the lowest prices ever
offered (the money saved on only a few of these more than
covers the cost of membership) AND imported Malawi wild
caught Cichlids direct from Malawi and Tanganyika at great
savings to our members. This fish come directly from the
source on the Lakes. Our suppliers are Stuart Grant in
Malawi, and Toby Veall in Zambia. Both of these exporters
certify their exported fish to CRLCA as bonafide wild
caught specimens.
Safaris to Lake Malawi led by Cichlid experts are planned
annually to both Lakes. You can explore Cichlids in their
natural habitat and bring home your own wild-caught from our
Exporters on the Lakes!
Our auctions feature quality wild-caught and G1 species
not generally available. Our meetings feature presentations
by interesting speakers, many of who have actually been to
Africa to explore and collect.
Our own Yahoo chat in our "Member's only" section has
over 170 members’ subscribers as chat members. The Malawi
Cichlid lists and ordering instructions make wild caught
Cichlids available at reasonable "non-inflated" prices to
our membership. Annually we increase your savings by forming
a buyers group to export at even better savings. We have
acquired some of the best fish food in the Cichlid World,
formulated exclusively for Rift Lake Cichlids and sanctioned
by Ad Konings. Other agreements have led to the sale of bulk
foods from OMEGA Sea to our members as well.
CRLCA has taken the lead, the first time in the hobby, to
establish a Cichlid Authenticity program, permitting the
source of any CRLCA Cichlid sold to be positively verified
as WILD or G-1 known fry from Wild Parent. We have
established a Breeders Directory to monitor this and issue
certificates of authenticity to our wild caught buyers. We
regularly import from both Malawi and Tanganyika and keep
track of these imports and locations so the members can rest
assured of quality stock.
Another first is the Malawi internship program,
associated with the Safari. No other Association offers
this feature…not even ACA. This extended safari program
allows hobbyists to gain first hand knowledge of the
exporting business, by participating as a safari participant
and supervising at the Kambiri export station of Stuart
Grant. Through the efforts of CRLCA and Stuart Grant, a
CRLCA intern, will at his own expense, travel to Malawi for
both the Safari and the internship program of 5 months. This
is the fourth year for this internship. Any enquiries about
participating in this program or the safari should be
directed to crlca@rogers.com.
We have made numerous donations to literally every
Tropical Fish Society in CAOAC. We have supported shows with
trophy donations to many clubs in Canada and the US, as well
as free presentations to those who have requested our
presentations. We have made a $500 donation to the Toronto
Zoo Lake Victoria Education program. We have supported
continuously the activities and library of CAOAC with books
and CDS. In short, we are active in our support of the hobby
even though our purpose is a commercial buyer’s group. Other
than $ volume there is little to separate us from any of the
bigger clubs, societies and Associations in North America.
So, if you love African Cichlids you will love the CRLCA!
We encourage you to join even as an added membership to your
current Club affiliations. With only 3 meetings a year, and
two semi annual auction, this web driven association makes
sense in your busy lives.
Join now!!
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