I don't believe that there was ever a time in my life

that I wasn't interested in the fish keeping hobby.

Growing up, we always had my mother's aquarium where we kept freshwater fish such as: Angel Fish, Mollies, Tetras, Hatchet Fish, Silver Dollars, Barbs, Platies, Cory Cats, Plecos, etc. Since we are farmers and live in the country, whenever we went to the nearest city (not town, a town is much smaller with very little variety) we would always go by our favorite Fish Store, (it's long gone now) and purchase some new fish and aquarium supplies. Some fish lived for quite a long time but I'm sure as you all have experienced, some only lived a short time.

Since we lived on the farm our tap water was perfect for aquariums, we had well water which is pretty much natural water that comes from the rivers and lakes. It hasn't been diluted with chemicals like chlorine and such. We pretty much just made the tap water's temp. close to the tank's temp. and put it straight into the tank and everything was fine. But now, even though I still live on the farm, I no longer have well water coming into my home and I am amazed at all of the bottles of powders, liquids and such that I must keep and use in order to keep my fish healthy and happy. Really makes me wonder what it's doing to all of us, all while they tell us it's not hazardous to us at all.

At age 11  I got to keep a fish bowl in my room and in it I kept a male Betta named Fido the Fighter Fish. Once he passed on, I then kept a goldfish in it and his name was Jose Quervo Goldfish. Then when I turned 16, my mom bought me my own aquarium. While I was in college a friend of mine had an angel fish that was an adult and was huge. Anyway my friend was moving quite a distance away and preferred not to put the angel fish through so much stress and so gave it to me. Well, slowly during the first week I noticed that his fine had little chunks missing so I sat up one night and kept watch. My Red Tail Shark stayed in a little lighthouse nearly all of the time, in which he was doing so this night also. But suddenly he peeked out of the lighthouse and like lightning darted out and up to the angelfish, took a big bite and just as fast as he came out, went back into his lighthouse. Needless to say, that was the last bite he took in his little fish life, and from that day forward I have never had another Red Tail Shark.

My early twenties I had to move alot and had to get rid of my aquarium, I missed it every day after that and vowed to get another one a.s.a.p. Now married, my husband wasn't thrilled about the idea but I got one anyway. I promised him that he would find that your fish become just like your cat and dog, a member of the family. Well, it didn't take long and he would come home from town with a smorgasbord of foods for them, decorations, and more fish. It took some time but I made him realize that you have to do some research when it comes to getting new tank mates. This mainly occurred when he came home with 2 Jack Dempsies. When they got big enough(which was in no time at all) they began eating on my other fish and so I was forced to get rid of them. Now he lets me help him in the new fish department. Oh, and I have another 10 gallon tank that has his 2 new Jack Dempsies in and we are presently shopping for a 75 gallon tank for them to move into. Along with them we have a pleco and they don't bother him at all. Although, the aggression, mating behavior, and territorial-ism is new to me and is taking some getting used to. Not to mention the way they can instantaneously change their color, it is simply amazing.

In my 29 gallon tank I have 2 Angel Fish, a pleco, a Cory Catfish, a male Betta, and a Pleco. I am hoping to get some more Angel Fish and perhaps start breeding them. Without Andre's Club I could not imagine the nightmare I would be facing. With quality water coming through my tap, I've had to purchase a reverse-osmosis system in order to keep my fish healthy, and the only reason I knew to do this was because of Andre's. This website has gotten me through so many problems that I must say I have learned more during the last 6 months then I have learned all of my life as a fish hobbiest. So often I would look endlessly through a stack of books and ask countless pet store people what my problem could be and how could I get it under control, and of course I would come up empty handed or else lied to when I would know they had no idea and were only telling me a lie.

Having a saltwater tank has always been in the back of my mind and with the help of Andre's club I just might take the challenge on. I will be sure to keep  everyone busy doing their job of handling crisis es when I do because I am sure I'll be looking for guidance alot. Thank you sooo much, Andre.  Finally, I don't have to be a fish abuser. I am a fish adorer and they know it now too. Oh, and they said to give their appreciation to you too. And to all the rest of the Fish Hobbiests out there, even though caring for your fish and their tank takes a lot of work, dedication, and money tends to be a good chunk of it, but for the beauty and all they give back, Everything is well worth it. Gurgle...Gurgle...Gurgle!

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