So it seems we have a lotta folks visitin' our little site here, and quite a few new members. While I was thinkin' on it, well, it dawned on me that it's been a while since any of the staff had really posted anything about ourselves. Not talkin' 'bout our latest adventures in fishkeeping, but a little info about our backgrounds. It's always easier to stop and say hi or ask questions when ya know a little bit 'bout the people yer talkin' to. So thought I'd reintroduce myself.

I find it discouraging when beginners get bad advice, fail in their attempts at fishkeeping, and then throw away the tank or toss it in a yard sale. I thrive on the excitement others have when they first start settin' up a tank, and my heart sinks when that enthusiasm fades to disgust and frustration because they weren't prepared and informed properly from the start.

So, here I am. I've been keepin' fish since I received my first 10 gallon tank for my 15th birthday. Over the years I've gone through my phases, and have kept a ton of different species, from hardy species like white cloud mountain minnows and convict cichlids to more advanced cichlids and brackish species. I've at least dabbled in every aspect of the hobby at least once (okay at least two or three times). I've bred over 100 species of fish, approximately 60 of which have been cichlids. I currently have 52 tanks ranging from 5 1/2 gallons to 225 gallons, not counting frogs and the turtle, with fish in a dozen or so. I'm being picky, I know exactly what I want and am in no hurry to fill the other tanks just because they're empty. I have a Bachelor's degree in Zoology from the University of Wyoming, and have experience in a wastewater treatment plant. My main interests in the hobby are cichlids, gobies, brackish fish and the so-called "oddballs", like puffers and arowanas.

As my screenname suggests, I live in Wonderful Windy Wyoming. Some of my other interests include hunting, gardening, and collecting/painting miniatures. Oh, and I LOVE ice cream.

So, that said, the above is not meant to come across as bragging. I'm tryin' to encourage other individuals with experience in the hobby to contribute and share your experiences, and tryin' to inspire a bit of faith in beginners that their questions will be answered honestly and completely. I want everybody who visits and/or joins Freshwater Madness to succeed, to come to enjoy fishkeeping as much as I do. It wouldn't break my heart at all if I never saw another fish tank in a yard sale.

Welcome to FWM, happy fishkeepin' and hope to see ya postin' soon!

Wyomingite

Welcome to FWM!

Great post Ivan!

Hmm, nice post! I will post about me but I have to think hard to really out do myself...lol!!!

Hi Im Brittany
I have a sickness called MTS
Its is hard to get rid of but maybe one day
first step is admitting my problem.
Anyone else have Multiple Tank Syndrome?

me too !!! I have MTS..but i dont have the cure...i.e. space at home to put more tanks . and i have an ever growing need of getting bigger and bigger tanks

Don't worry it won't go away but you will eventually learn to live with it

LOL good one

Extreme sufferer of MTS and the dr says there are no meds to cure it LOL

Winter is around the corner and I will be back as a species profile maniac!!! I know about 35 years worth of African cichlid breeding and care if anyone needs any help with them!

O O O O !!!! Grumpa.......all my africans have stopped breeding for some bizzare reason.....all are healthy, water parameters are in check...HELP MEE!

What do you keep you water temp at? Try the usual setting for awhile then try dropping the temp 3 or 4 degrees to trigger breeding. They think it is spring runoff water and it triggers breeding sometimes in Africans.