Well it's time
Think most of us are here gathered together in one way or another because we all have a peaked curiosity about fish. Some of us started our journeys at and tender young age and others found tropical fish interest later on down the road. My start came at 8 years old. My Dad had a planted tank with wild discus in his room that I rarely caught a glimpse of from time to time in the early 80's. His bedroom was invite only when I was growing up and quite honestly because I wasn't allowed to just waltz in whenever I wanted those fish called to me all the more.
Feeding time was great theater and I always asked if I could watch. My eyes were glued to that tank and my focus was so intense that I couldn't even hear his voice when he would speak to me during those times. The colors were so vivid, movements were graceful and full of purpose. I had to have my own. As a child I knew nothing of cycling a tank or the inherent responsibilities of the upkeep. All I knew was how cool, how beautiful and awesome those fish were in that glass box.
My first tank was 20 gallons. Pops scooped me up from school one day as an unaware and whisked me off to the pet store. When we arrived I had no clue the day was about me, I figured we were there to pick up some supplies for his tank or possibly another discus or 3. I was lost in my own world, thinking about which fish I would love to keep in my very own glass box while he was taking care of his business. So oblivious I didn't even see him grabbing everything needed for a new tank.
We got back to the house and he told me to bring the bags of fishy stuff into the house still oblivious. My bed had a headboard with shelf on it and cupboards. My father walked in with that 20 gallon and set it right smack in the middle of the shelf above my bed, I was over the moon!
Over the next 2 months he schooled me on exactly what we needed to do to get the tank set up and ready to keep fish. I don't know how many times in that 2 month period I asked him if we could go and get some fish to put in my tank and was shot down with zero remorse. "It's not ready yet you have to be patient"...yea fine thing to tell an 8 year old. I watched that tank eagerly day after day, would fall asleep listening to my private babling brook and day dream about all the fish I was gonna have. It seemed like an eternity.
My first fish were a redtail shark, common pleco, tiger barb and a kuhli loach. It was tremendous. My own underwater fish habitat with a shark! What 8 year old boy doesn't want his very own shark and I made sure I told all my friends in school about him too. Dog? What dog? Hey boy, go feed the damn dog and stop overfeeding those fish! I was hooked.
Well almost 40 years later and im still that excited little boy. Now I'm armed with my own capital and able to begin a different journey. A journey that I have always admired others for from afar. Some people like discus, some enjoy reef tanks but my eyes have always been on plecos and more specifically hypancistrus. I can remember seeing a zebra pleco for the 1st time in the pet store. Oh boy, hey I want that one. My old man asked how much and I knew it was never gonna happen. I was crushed. Fast forward to present day and im finally at a point where I can have that zebra I always wanted, or 20!
So here is where we begin. Armed with a solid background in fish keeping, armed with everything I could read or watch on youtube, armed with the means to finally grab hypancistrus! Over the last few years I've delved into what it takes to keep hypancistrus plecos. Talked to everyone that was willing to give me 5 minutes or hours upon hours. Reading and talking about L046 led me to another, the L236 Super White. Now I was in a state of confusion, which one I want?! All these years it's been 046's and now you throw a 236 into my view? This isn't right, what kind of sorcery is this?!
Welp...I found a source that happened to have both. They had adult breeding pairs and I went way over what I had originally planned to spend. We've all been there right, I mean correct me if I'm wrong. So I purchased 8 fish, 4 of each genus, 4 total breeding pairs. Hell why not just jump in with both feet? That kick started my already heated obsession and today I had 10 more 046's flown air cargo to my local airport.
I would like to thank @TwoTankAmin . You sir have been an inspiration and great resource with your wealth of knowledge. Its great people like yourself that help to propel many of us to places we didn't think we were capable of. Your joy of fish keeping and willingness to spill the beans have kick started that 8 year old boy that I thought I left behind. He's back! You sir are a gem.
Think most of us are here gathered together in one way or another because we all have a peaked curiosity about fish. Some of us started our journeys at and tender young age and others found tropical fish interest later on down the road. My start came at 8 years old. My Dad had a planted tank with wild discus in his room that I rarely caught a glimpse of from time to time in the early 80's. His bedroom was invite only when I was growing up and quite honestly because I wasn't allowed to just waltz in whenever I wanted those fish called to me all the more.
Feeding time was great theater and I always asked if I could watch. My eyes were glued to that tank and my focus was so intense that I couldn't even hear his voice when he would speak to me during those times. The colors were so vivid, movements were graceful and full of purpose. I had to have my own. As a child I knew nothing of cycling a tank or the inherent responsibilities of the upkeep. All I knew was how cool, how beautiful and awesome those fish were in that glass box.
My first tank was 20 gallons. Pops scooped me up from school one day as an unaware and whisked me off to the pet store. When we arrived I had no clue the day was about me, I figured we were there to pick up some supplies for his tank or possibly another discus or 3. I was lost in my own world, thinking about which fish I would love to keep in my very own glass box while he was taking care of his business. So oblivious I didn't even see him grabbing everything needed for a new tank.
We got back to the house and he told me to bring the bags of fishy stuff into the house still oblivious. My bed had a headboard with shelf on it and cupboards. My father walked in with that 20 gallon and set it right smack in the middle of the shelf above my bed, I was over the moon!
Over the next 2 months he schooled me on exactly what we needed to do to get the tank set up and ready to keep fish. I don't know how many times in that 2 month period I asked him if we could go and get some fish to put in my tank and was shot down with zero remorse. "It's not ready yet you have to be patient"...yea fine thing to tell an 8 year old. I watched that tank eagerly day after day, would fall asleep listening to my private babling brook and day dream about all the fish I was gonna have. It seemed like an eternity.
My first fish were a redtail shark, common pleco, tiger barb and a kuhli loach. It was tremendous. My own underwater fish habitat with a shark! What 8 year old boy doesn't want his very own shark and I made sure I told all my friends in school about him too. Dog? What dog? Hey boy, go feed the damn dog and stop overfeeding those fish! I was hooked.
Well almost 40 years later and im still that excited little boy. Now I'm armed with my own capital and able to begin a different journey. A journey that I have always admired others for from afar. Some people like discus, some enjoy reef tanks but my eyes have always been on plecos and more specifically hypancistrus. I can remember seeing a zebra pleco for the 1st time in the pet store. Oh boy, hey I want that one. My old man asked how much and I knew it was never gonna happen. I was crushed. Fast forward to present day and im finally at a point where I can have that zebra I always wanted, or 20!
So here is where we begin. Armed with a solid background in fish keeping, armed with everything I could read or watch on youtube, armed with the means to finally grab hypancistrus! Over the last few years I've delved into what it takes to keep hypancistrus plecos. Talked to everyone that was willing to give me 5 minutes or hours upon hours. Reading and talking about L046 led me to another, the L236 Super White. Now I was in a state of confusion, which one I want?! All these years it's been 046's and now you throw a 236 into my view? This isn't right, what kind of sorcery is this?!
Welp...I found a source that happened to have both. They had adult breeding pairs and I went way over what I had originally planned to spend. We've all been there right, I mean correct me if I'm wrong. So I purchased 8 fish, 4 of each genus, 4 total breeding pairs. Hell why not just jump in with both feet? That kick started my already heated obsession and today I had 10 more 046's flown air cargo to my local airport.
I would like to thank @TwoTankAmin . You sir have been an inspiration and great resource with your wealth of knowledge. Its great people like yourself that help to propel many of us to places we didn't think we were capable of. Your joy of fish keeping and willingness to spill the beans have kick started that 8 year old boy that I thought I left behind. He's back! You sir are a gem.
