Saying Goodbye to the Fishies.

Psuedotropheus demasoni.

Five years old .

If you told me one year ago that I would no longer own fish, I would have snickered and asked you if you could live without such a necessity. Sure, human beings need the the basics of food, water, and shelter, but I also needed fish. I've  killed and bred thousands of fish in the past twenty years plus of this craze. My earliest memories spent with my father was going to fish stores and wishing we had the money and practical skills to afford a 100 gallon tank. That was our dream. Of course, now I laugh at 100 gallon tanks and call them amateur toys, but to just note the progress that I've made in the past five years alone in this hobby has been compelling. I went from a guy who couldn't keep a guppy alive to the first person to introduce Cynotilapia sp. "white top hara" into the Southern California gene pool. I remember when my dad used to ride his bike to the fish store and we were only able to afford to keep feeder goldfish - one dollar for eight or so - no selection. We always begged for the ones with the most colors. Then suddenly, in a blink of an eye, I found myself as one of the younger member of the largest freshwater fish club in Southern California- mingling with people whose gallon totals are up to the thousands. As for me, I was purely a minion compared to some of the top tier fish keepers- I only had eight tanks at most in one time, not including a dozen bettas.  As the time of this writing, I only have one tank left and will be getting rid of it too before I leave next month. If I were to sit down and try to recalculate how much funds have gone towards fish in my life, I would have to consider myself a highly spoiled child. My parents were never entirely supportive of this lifestyle choice, but they encouraged me initially. But they never wanted me to contract MTS, "Multiple Tank Syndrome," The space crippling disease where every inch has to be occupied by a fish tank. I haven't had a TV in my room for ten years. Oh the constant hums of the filtration systems and the fluorescent lights that replaced ambient lights to weekly water changes -oh how I won't miss them.  I'll admit-  life sucks without fish, but I can get over it. It hurts to sell or give them away, but I'm okay with it. I know that in the future I can always restart this passion. Fish will always be a part of my life, but for now, in this transitional period- it's best to let things go. I've really grown up. I can breath without fish for the first time in my life.

F1 yellow lab.

Cynotilapia sp. "white top hara."

Thirteen years later and working at my first job. 

Bettas are cheap and easy to care for.

Crown tail varieties are more expensive but still affordable.

Tropheus, one of my all time favorite fish to keep.

Brevis shell dwellers, males and females share one shell.

Short tail bettas require minimalist care.

No two fancy goldfish are identical, however they are not very hardy at all.

Tropheus/Lab setup.

Mbuna mix setup.

Planted tanks are awesome, but require a lot of maintenance.

Gold occie, shell dweller from Lake Tanganynika.

Albino bristlenose pleco.