Getting the opportunity to capture a piece of a hobbyist’s cichlid journey is a privilege that I don’t take lightly. And today’s interviewee, Mike Helford, has had quite the journey.
Mike Helford interview
Cichlid Room Companion
Engage with other hobbyists
One of the best ways to not only learn about cichlids but also stay abreast of the latest cichlid news is to engage with fellow hobbyists. There are multiple ways to do this.
Hybrid cichlids
Talk to any cichlid hobbyist or ichthyologist about hybrids and you’re sure to start a passionate conversation. Are hybrids problematic in the hobby? Depends. Are there many in the hobby? Yes, lots. What exactly are hybrids? Read on.
Lew Carbone interview
When I started the The Cichlid Stage, I gave a lot of thought to the type of content I wanted the site to include. I determined that interviews with anyone associated with cichlids were a must. As such, I have been fortunate to communicate and make friends with business owners, scientists, breeders, and hobbyists, just like me. Occasionally, I have the privilege of interviewing some of the fantastic individuals who bring you great events like the annual American Cichlid Association convention and Ohio Cichlid Association’s (OCA) Extravaganza. If you’ve attended the latter, then you should recognize today’s interviewee.
Pam Chin interview (#3)
Many of you already know today’s interviewee, Pam Chin. She’s no stranger to the cichlid community. In fact, she’s probably already forgotten more about cichlids than many of us will ever know.
Among her many accolades, which you can read about in the two previous interviews I’ve done with her (see the Interviews section of the blog or enter “Pam Chin” in the search box above), you can add the distinction of being the only person to have now done three interviews with The Cichlid Stage.
The Cichlid Room Companion
Whether you’re new to cichlids or a seasoned veteran keeping these wonderful fish, you can always learn something new. A really cool resource for learning about these fish is The Cichlid Room Companion (CRC). Chock full of species profiles and other great information, including authoritative articles, the CRC is a tremendous resource that everyone should take advantage of. Back in 2018, I did an interview with the man responsible for the CRC, Juan Miguel Artigas Azas.
Juan Miguel Artigas Azas interview
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Juan Miguel Artigas Azas |
Where do you go for information about cichlids – species profiles, articles, etc.? If you’re like many cichlidophiles, you use multiple resources to satisfy your craving for cichlid knowledge. However, if there is one resource that I would recommend to any and all cichlid keepers, it would be the Cichlid Room Companion (CRC). As one of the largest, oldest, and most comprehensive databases for cichlid information, CRC is perhaps the best online site for cichlid aquarists. Today’s interviewee is the man responsible for it. |
For those of you who’ve been in the hobby for a long time, Juan Miguel Artigas Azas really needs no introduction. Not only is he the creator of CRC, but he’s also an expert on Central American cichlids, especially those from his native Mexico. In addition, he is a regular speaker at various tropical fish events around the world. If you’ve ever attended the annual convention of the American Cichlid Association (ACA), you’ve probably also seen him and his extremely informative presentations. Without further ado, let’s gets started.
The Cichlid Stage: As a long time aquarist, how did you first become interested in cichlids?