Hi, I am a 62 year old widow with 3 grown children, no grandchildren. I am an RN Supervisor by occupation, with BSN and Graduate School in Family Health Nursing. Although I didn't complete my thesis, the course work was meaningful. I have been retired for a year now and am ready for part time employment again!

Tropical fish has been my hobby for 30+ years. When the children were babies their Daddy brought them a gold fish in a bowl - I changed the water every other day with the water that came out of the tap in Montreal for 3 years. Then we moved to Maine. The fish died on the first water change. That was when I learned about chlorine in the water, got a 5 gallon tank and a couple of goldies and conditioner!

Soon after, for our anniversary my Hubby bought an 80 gallon tank and we were hooked! WOW! Had huge tank, huge filters, including a diatom filter for polishing the water, instruction and picture books -- the works! 300 gallons came fast with tanks in the parlor, dining room, kitchen and 2 bed rooms! Many exotic fish of all sizes and types (fresh water and brackish), each one a pet, eating from our hands and swimming through our fingers. The neighbor children would dig worms and come and watch the show, each having a turn to dangle a worm and see who would get it. They screamed and cheered for their favorite fish to get the worm.

After my husbands death, we moved back here where I grew up because we needed extended family. Once bitten by the fish bug, it follows you where ever you go! SOOOO, I started over again. I now have 5 tanks, 140 gallons inhabited by Pacus, African and South American Cichlids, 5 catfish, botias, clown loaches, Gold Cae's, 1 Danio, 1 tetra. I gave the gold fish their freedom this Spring. They now reside in a large deep pond. I have traded several others to the LFS to make room for the clown loaches and the Uaru.

I hope everyone who reads this loves raising fish as much as I do and makes them a part of the family.