Seems that it was destiny, OM. 
I was living in Vancouver, WA. I have always been interested in the natural world. Some of my fondest childhood memories were spent watching Nature and National Geographic with my dad.
When I was five, after watching probably a documentary on fish, my parents purchased two goldfish for me and a bowl. I know, bad idea, but hey, I was five. When the golfish started looking poorly, I told my mom "fish need oxygen, plants need carbon dioxide, put a plant in". Of course the golfish died. I didn't know that they also need dechlorinator.
I was about 12 when I really first started. I drew birds and other animals as a child and used to sell my art to my parent's coworkers. I had saved up quite a bit of money and wanted to do something with it. One day, I was at the mall and for the first time, I saw tropical fish at a local fish store. I was fascinated with all the beautiful colors and shapes of the different species, and I asked my parents if I could start a tank. They said yes and the rest is history.
It was a very ugly 10g with bright blue gravel with angelfish and rasboras. On the flip side, I grew crypts and swords successfully and the angelfish spawned, which prompted me to setup another tank. That one had swordtails, which also bred.
I moved to Florida and bred kribensis for a while, then kept a mish-mash of species. When I moved to IL to pursue my doctoral studies, I discoved this forum and then Planted tanks became my thing. Still my thing.
I should get back to the drawing, though. That was a very relaxing thing to do.
llj
I was living in Vancouver, WA. I have always been interested in the natural world. Some of my fondest childhood memories were spent watching Nature and National Geographic with my dad.
When I was five, after watching probably a documentary on fish, my parents purchased two goldfish for me and a bowl. I know, bad idea, but hey, I was five. When the golfish started looking poorly, I told my mom "fish need oxygen, plants need carbon dioxide, put a plant in". Of course the golfish died. I didn't know that they also need dechlorinator.
I was about 12 when I really first started. I drew birds and other animals as a child and used to sell my art to my parent's coworkers. I had saved up quite a bit of money and wanted to do something with it. One day, I was at the mall and for the first time, I saw tropical fish at a local fish store. I was fascinated with all the beautiful colors and shapes of the different species, and I asked my parents if I could start a tank. They said yes and the rest is history.
It was a very ugly 10g with bright blue gravel with angelfish and rasboras. On the flip side, I grew crypts and swords successfully and the angelfish spawned, which prompted me to setup another tank. That one had swordtails, which also bred.
I moved to Florida and bred kribensis for a while, then kept a mish-mash of species. When I moved to IL to pursue my doctoral studies, I discoved this forum and then Planted tanks became my thing. Still my thing.
I should get back to the drawing, though. That was a very relaxing thing to do.
llj
and lost 5 of the 11 goldfish to whitespot. The other 6 have been donated to a large and privately kept pond and all reports are that they are doing well. So at this point in time I don't actually have any fish. I have a planted aquarium and am waiting on a new ehiem filter to start my fishless cycle.
