Welcome to one of my favorite rooms in The Hobby House. Most of my life, I've been allergic to animals with fur or feathers. As a result, I've spent considerable time amongst my 'finned friends.'
Keeping aquaria can be very rewarding. It is also not as easy as some would like to think. Many people start with the classic fish bowl and one goldfish. They go through a series of fish, watching them all die fairly quickly, before putting the bowl away or using it for some decoration piece. That is a real shame, because a little more effort (and money, this isn't cheap) will reward the hobbiest handsomely.
Don't be frightened by the prospect. Once you get your tank set up and going, you'll find the rewards to be handsome. At night, I can think of little more soothing than listening to the water gurgle in the aquarium nearby. You can also think of aquaria as 'living art' that is constantly changing in your home as you look at it. Another great reward is that many fish have their own personalities, and you would be amazed at how such simple creatures can have complex social interactions.
Different fish have different needs. As lovely as it might be to mix some fish together (such as with the slide show below), their differences can mean serious problems. Factors such as water temperature, salinity, hardness, and the peacefulness of fish affect the choices that we make. It also provides us with opportunities to set up more tanks. *s*
I've been keeping aquaria for nearly 30 years now. I'm by no means an expert, but I have picked up enough knowledge and experience over time to be able to speak with some authority on some subject. Let me say right now that I've never kept salt water fish. While beautiful, they are a little out of my price range in terms of the fish and the set-up. Therefore, my experience is with freshwater fish.
At the present time, I have three aquaria operating. One is a 55 gallon tank with Goldfish, another is a 26 gallon with a mixed community tank, and the third is an 18 gallon with African Cichlids. Below you'll find links to pages where I'll talk about all three tanks. I'll also talk about the fish themselves, their care and maintenance, and provide some links here and there. I hope that you find this guided tour to be enjoyable!
The guestbook, elevator, and french doors are below. Make yourself at home here in The Aquarium Room, and let me know your thoughts and opinions.
 Goldfish |
 Tropical Fish |
 African Cichlids |
