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Who the heck...

I must have been fascinated by fish from the day I was born. To be honest I can't remember and can't imagine there has ever been a day that fish did not interest me. One of the first memories I have about this fish insanity is me sitting in front of my grandmothers aquarium. It was a small tank with the wrong fish species and all the types of algae you can imagine. I wouldn't like it nowadays, but back then it was one on the most beautiful things I had ever seen. The joy when my grandmother offered me that small tank! My first aquarium! I made all the beginner mistakes of course, you can't imagine how many fish species you can simultaneously keep in a 40L tank. Those poor fish...

As years went by, the tanks grew bigger and I started to develop a slight form of MTS (for those of you that have not reached that enlightened state; Multiple Tank Syndrome). At it's peak I had around 14 tanks, most of which I had stashed in my bedroom (where did I sleep?). I kept all sorts of fish, with Chromaphyosemion growing into my favorite fish species. However, a lack of time and a broadening of interests 'cured' me from The Syndrome.

Nowadays, my life still largely revolves around fish. I still have aquaria and I turned out to be a fish biologist studying behaviour and stress physiology of fish. Although my knowledge regarding aquariology has grown quite a bit since I sat before my grandmothers tank, I do not consider myself to be an expert. I still make mistakes, perhaps more than a novice aquarist would make. So please don't consider the contents of this website to be guiding, the ultimate truth or at all relevant for that matter. It's just my two cents...

Cheers, Pascal van de Nieuwegiessen
Veen - The Netherlands