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Introduction of a new topic area

© Winston Vaughan Schoenfeld

This month's article is dedicated to introducing to you aquarists out there a new Suite101 topic area that will be added in the upcoming weeks. Due to the large interest in cichlids, a new topic area centered around Cichlids and Labyrinths will soon be here. The contributing editor for this topic will be Joanne M. Harrison. Below I have included a short article she wrote to introduce herself and the new topic area.......

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There's almost nothing more relaxing than the sights and sounds of an aquarium. Early on in my life I learned the value of an aquarium for relaxation and enjoyment. As I've found happens in many cases, our first aquarium was the result of a "lucky" streak at a church carnival. My younger brother and I "won" 3 goldfish tossing ping-pong balls into tiny fish bowls. Our father felt sorry for the fish in such cramped quarters and he bought our first aquarium for their new home. Then, just like popcorn, aquariums were set up one by one, all over the house. At one time, when I was much younger, we had 42 fish tanks spread throughout the entire house, except the bathroom.

This early exposure to aquarium keeping stayed with me into my young adult life. Shortly after I was married and our son was born, my husband and I decided to get a "nightlight" for our son's room. We thought an aquarium, since we had so many stored in the basement from my childhood, would be perfect. That was all it took to get my husband and I started with aquarium keeping and eventually, fish breeding. One tank led to two then four and finally, at the height of our hobby, 68 aquariums and 250 jars ranging in size from 1 pint to 55 gallons.

My husband Jon developed a passion for African Cichlids and I specialized in Labyrinth or Anabantoid fish and Chiclid species. We joined several clubs, bought, sold, traded and showed our fish locally and nationally. Together we earned Breeder Awards, and my Bettas and I earned numerous awards and a Best of Show trophy. We also helped a friend open and manage a shop specializing in aquarium fish. Also during this time, I was working for CompuServe's Aquarium Fish Forum as Librarian, writing and cataloging monographs and articles on fish and aquarium topics. I wrote for the local fish club and the Bubble & Brood Review newsletters.

The copyright of the article Introduction of a new topic area in Aquariums is owned by Winston Vaughan Schoenfeld. Permission to republish Introduction of a new topic area in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.