My name is Scott. As an amateur freshwater aquarist for more than 25 years, I’ve kept many types of fish. However, I’m just a hobbyist whose fish keeping interests focus on cichlids, specifically dwarf species.
I have written articles for cichlid publications (Cichlid News Magazine and the Buntbarsche Bulletin), provided consulting services to several aquarium vendors, and served as a beta tester for the FishGuru AI app (which was shut down effective 8/25). Years ago, I was also moderator/admin on a couple of online fish forums, where I helped direct traffic on mostly dwarf cichlids.
Though I’ve kept various species of Central/South America dwarves (and still do), I’m partial to the smaller cichlids from the Rift Lakes of Africa, especially Lake Tanganyika. I have specific interests in lamprologines, so I work mostly with julies, shellies, and telmats. I’m on municipal water, which is quite hard and alkaline, so it’s naturally better suited to these fish.
Currently, I maintain 10 tanks – 45g (x3), 40g breeder (x2), a 36g, a 33g long, and 20g long (x3). These tanks and their occupants are listed below:
- The 33g and two of 20g longs are species only – the 33g contains two males and one female Coelotilapia joka, while the two 20g tanks contain Amatitlania nanolutea. One 20g is a grow-out tank with a pair of Amatitlania nanolutea (two females). The other 20g also contains a trio of Amatitlania nanolutea (all females).
- The third 20g long is currently empty awaiting some dither fish.
- One of the 45g tanks houses four adult Julidochromis dickfeldi, one contains a single adult female ‘Lamprologus’ similis, three juvenile Altolamprologus compressiceps “Kagunga” (redfin), three juvenile Altolamprologus compressiceps “Kikote” (black) and some pearl danios, and the last 45g tank contains 10 giant danios.
- One 40g breeder is a planted tank, which currently houses three female and one male Amatitlania nanolutea. The other contains a breeding pair of Amatitlania nanolutea.
- The 36g contains six juvenile Neolamprologus brevis “Katabe” and some pearl danios
Updated: 9-14-26