Auction Schedule for 2026
GAAS plans to conduct three annual auctions in 2026 to promote the aquarium hobby. Please save the following dates for Akron’s auctions in 2026, which will be held at the Tallmadge Community Center.
- Spring Auction on Sunday, March 1, 2026
- Ultra-Aqua Auction (Live animals and plants only) on Sunday, June 14, 2026
- Fall Auction on Sunday, November 1, 2026
Doors will open at 10 am for registration, and 11:00 am is the start of the auction. The event is free admission for the public. There is no cost to register to enter auction items into the auction. The auction is a 70/30 split for the seller.
Items Typically Seen in the Auction
We typically see the following items up for bid at our auctions: freshwater fish, aquatic inverts, amphibians, live foods, live aquatic plants, used tanks and stands, used aquarium equipment and accessories, gravel and substrate, plastic plants, tank decorations, unopened food, unopened water treatments, unopened medical treatments, used books and magazines, and hobby-related home decorations and artwork. Brackish and marine livestock are welcome.
Paying Methods for Buyers
Buyers can either pay cash directly to the runner on each winning bid (see below) or buyers can choose to run a tab to pay by cash, check, or credit card when they are ready to leave the auction. To set up a running tab to pay for your winning bids before you leave, please first stop by the registration table and ask for a bidding number. At the registration table, you will be asked to have your driver’s license or photo ID scanned. Your driver’s license will be immediately returned to you. You will be asked to fill out a registration card with your contact information. Only buyers who set up a tab and complete the registration card will be able to use their credit card or write a check at checkout. There will be a charge for any check retuned for nonsufficient funds.
Buyers can simply pay cash as they go, without registering to run a tab. That is, raise your hand to bid (no bidding number needed), and then pay the runner cash for the amount of your winning bid. The runner will bring you change if needed. Click here for a list of local ATMs.
Express bids can be arranged at any time during the auction. Express bids are arranged at the registration table, for $3.00 per express bid. The $3.00 can be either paid in cash at the registration table or can be added to a running tab at the registration table.
Auction Details
Where: At the Tallmadge Community Center, 80 Community Road, Tallmadge, OH 44278
When: Registration opens at 10 AM, and the Auction begins at 11 AM. Sunday, March 1, 2026.
Cost: Admission is free and open to the general public. There is no cost to bid on auction items. There is no cost for sellers to register.
All sales are final. Buyer beware. Inspect all items before bidding.
The Greater Akron Aquarium Society does not guarantee any item and is not responsible for any loss.
Neither the Tallmadge Community Center nor The Greater Akron Aquarium Society will be held responsible for any loss or damage incurred during the auction,
Sellers
Sellers, please read and follow the auction rules below. There is no cost for registration, but please register at the registration desk by completing a registration form and by addressing an envelope that will be used to mail your check. Please use regular fish-safe bags for fish and plants. Larger fish can be entered in the auction in containers, such as a bucket with a lid. Press-and-seal or mechanically sealing food bags tend to leak and may be rejected from the auction.
Auction Rules
Sellers, when you arrive, before placing your items on the auction tables, please register in person at the registration table. This will involve you filling out the registration form and envelope. You can also set up a running tab to be a buyer by providing your driver’s license or photo ID. Volunteers at the registration table will assist you with this registration process.
You will be given colored stickers to apply to your items. This four-color “dot” system will be used to ensure a fair mix of each seller’s items throughout the duration of the auction.
Once an item is registered in the auction, it cannot be withdrawn.
All items for the auction should be clearly marked with (1) the seller’s unique 3-letter code (eg, use your initials), (2) item ID number (ie, each of your items should have it own unique number; ie, 01, 02, 03, etc), (3) seller’s name, phone number or email address, and (4) Details that describe the item. Common name, Latin name (this helps the auctioneer and buyer, if known), quantity, and sex (if known). Equipment should be labeled as to its condition (eg, “Works,” “Leaks,” “New,” “Needs repair,” “Noisy,” etc.)
►Items without proper identification will be considered donations.
AUCTION ITEM LABELING EXAMPLE:
JJT-03
Diamond Tetra (Moenkhausia pittieri)
6 unsexed juveniles
John J Tuxedo
330-296-8799
jjtux@gmail.com
The auction is a 70% / 30% split (That is, for every item sold at auction, 70% of the proceeds go to the seller, and 30% of the proceeds go to The Greater Akron Aquarium Society).
Minimum bids: In the event that an item is auctioned for $1.00, then that money is a 100% donation to the club. If an item is not sold, then that item is a donation to the club.
The Greater Akron Aquarium Society reserves the right to sell multiple items from the same seller as lots to group items.
Items with illegible labels will be auctioned and considered as donations to The Greater Akron Aquarium Society. (We will try to track down sellers to prevent this situation.)
The Greater Akron Aquarium Society will refuse to sell animals and live plants that are diseased, deformed, trademarked, or regulated in the State of Ohio. Fry that are too young to survive will be refused.
Equipment that is hopelessly damaged will be refused. Food containers that have been previously opened will be refused.
Do Not Bring Invasive Aquatic Plants or GlowFish®
Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) Rule 901:5-30-01 defines and lists invasive plant species in Ohio, prohibiting their sale, propagation, distribution, import, and intentional dissemination to protect native ecosystems.
Specifically, please do not bring GlowFish® to the auction. Such trademarked fish will be refused.
Raffles During the Auction
Item Raffles usually include a selection of value items or live stock. You purchase tickets and then place the tickets in containers in front of the items you hope to win!
Item Raffle Ticket Prices are…
1 for $1
6 for $5
15 for $10
40 for $20
150 for $50
50/50 Raffles Tickets are sold at $1 each, and the winner who is drawn receives 50% of all the ticket sales for that particular 50/50 Raffle.
Refreshments During the Auction
Our excellent kitchen volunteers provide a very reasonably priced selection of food, drinks, and desserts for cash purchase.
Safety for Live Animals
Re-bagging Station: We provide a re-bagging station with dechlorinated water and supplies for re-bagging emergencies. Ask at the registration desk for assistance to use the re-bagging station.
Helpful Tips for bagging your fish! Fish and aquatic livestock are in bags for many hours. Please be aware, especially with large fish, that water can foul quickly. Make sure you have enough water and air available in a large enough container to preserve the fish’s health for the duration of the auction. Ideally, bags should contain more air than water. Bags should also be as “blown up” with as much air as possible to form a tight tube. This helps keep fish from getting stuck in corners or crushed by other bags. Double bagging your fish offers more protection against leaks than does a single bag. Tying or banding double bagged fish at opposing ends helps protect your fish from getting stuck in the corners as well. Please do not use sandwich bags for fish, which can leak or collapse.
ATM Locations
For a list of local ATMs, please check here.
Pictures From Spring Auction 2025
We thank all of the sellers, buyers, auctioneers, and volunteers who participated in the Spring 2025 auction, on March 2, to make it a great success. Many first-time buyers attended this auction, and a sturdy crowd stayed to the very end.