Yesterday, I was thinking about writing a piece for the Buntbarsche Bulletin. I haven’t submitted anything to them in a while.
From beginner to hardcore, a wide gap exists between cichlid hobbyist information needs
Buntbarsche Bulletin
Dr. Paul Loiselle video tribute
For those of you who, like me, still think about Dr. Loiselle and his tremendous impact on the cichlid hobby, you might be interested in the video tribute to him presented by the New Jersey Aquarium Society (NJAS) in March (2026). It is well done!
Larry Johnson interview
Though I haven’t yet had the pleasure of personally meeting today’s interviewee, I certainly know who he is. You probably do too, if you read Cichlid News magazine, the Buntbarsche Bulletin, or have ever visited his website – Malawi Cichlid Imports.
Amazonas magazine and rheophilic cichlids
Interested in rheophilic cichlids (i.e., cichlids that inhabit fast moving water like rivers/streams)? This month’s issue of Amazonas magazine (July/August 2025) has a couple of great articles about two such species – Orthochromis torrenticola and Teleocichla centrarchus. There are many cichlid species endemic to these waters, some of which are available in the hobby.
Buntbarsche Bulletin archive
Over the years, I have posted many times about the Buntbarsche Bulletin, the official journal of the American Cichlid Association (ACA). Published several times annually, there are 320 total issues, as of today’s post.
Sparse content in the latest Buntbarsche Bulletin issue
As always, I was really excited when I received notification that the latest issue (March) of the Buntbarsche Bulletin (BB) had been published. I downloaded my digital copy yesterday morning (yes, it is available both electronically and in print) with great anticipation.
Richard Stratton interview
Today’s interviewee is a really special guest. It’s not every day that you get to converse with the pioneers of home aquaria, the very people who helped establish the hobby. Fish keepers are in debt to people like this man, who helped lay the groundwork for tank manufacturers, livestock importers, fish sellers, and hobbyist organizations.
If you have been in the hobby for any length of time, the name Richard “Dick” Stratton should be familiar. Though I have known of Dick for years, I have never had the privilege of meeting him. That all changed several weeks ago when a mutual friend, Mo Devlin, introduced us.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Every year at Thanksgiving I post about things that I am thankful for in the hobby. To start with, I want to thank all of the great folks who have done interviews for the blog. You all have been very gracious with your time, and I really appreciate it.
The Buntbarsche Bulletin revisited
As a regular reader of various cichlid-specific publications, I often take the opportunity here to promote them. However, it seems that the last time I posted about the Buntbarsche Bulletin was back in 2018.
Bare tanks or no?
If you’re not a member of the American Cichlid Association (ACA), you should consider joining. Among the many benefits is a subscription to the Buntbarsche Bulletin, the official journal of the organization. If you’re a true cichlid lover, the journal is a must. In my opinion, it is worth the $35 annual ACA membership all by itself. What does the journal have to do with this post? Read on.