One of the first questions we ask visitors to Aquarium Fish Depot is “What kind of fish do you keep?” That’s our way of starting what we hope will be a life long relationship, not only with us, but with the hobby and art of fish keeping. And it really is art, once you get the basics down.
Fishkeeping VS. Fish Displays
So many fish hobbyists start their dive into the hobby after seeing a beautiful tank in a dentist’s office or hotel and thinking, “that would look great at my house.” They may or may not be interested in the myriad levels of behavior on display or the requirements to maintain what they desire, but they recognize the beauty and allure of these fish aquariums. A well assembled and maintained fish tank is a gorgeous and compelling addition to almost any space. Excellent displays pull people into the hobby, but the world of information to learn about these cool fish keep them coming back for more. The only requirement for becoming a successful fish hobbyist is curiosity!
As a new hobbyist becomes more familiar with the requirements of keeping the species they’ve selected, they inevitably get curious about the ecology of their fish, the fishes’ lifecycle, and compatible tank mates. This also often leads both new and old fish enthusiasts into the practice of breeding their new aquatic pets.
One thing you will notice when you visit AFD is that there are dozens of tanks filled with baby fish. There are also many tanks with the letters NFS (not for sale) next to rare and exotic fish we breed. We are not your typical neighborhood fish store. We are a national fish distribution warehouse owned and operated by passionate fish enthusiasts. AFD is the result of a long-held dream by Ron and the AFD team, as well as an investment into quality fish care.
Diving Into Being a Fish Hobbyist
If you want to learn how to set up your own system and observe these beautiful animals in your own home, your friends at Aquarium Fish Depot can help. We want to help you learn how to do it all yourself, raising and breeding the kinds of fish that we have come to love, and we will bend over backwards to teach you from our experience. We don’t pretend to know everything and we often learn just as much as we teach at AFD, but we know plenty to get you started on your freshwater fish aquarium journey of discovery.
You’ve probably heard the saying, “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” For us, it goes, “Give a person a fish and they enjoy it for a day, teach them to raise fish and they become a lifelong hobbyist.”
Happy Fishkeeping!
If you’re just getting started in the freshwater fish aquarium hobby, we can help you pick the right fish and equipment for the display you’re imagining. You can ask Ron and the AFD team questions you have about jumping into the hobby in the comments below, and be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram, where we post about the cool, new fish at AFD, with a big post every Friday for our newest batches of freshwater fish.