One of the best ways to get to know fellow hobbyists and even people who sell fish, supplies, and other related items is to join a local aquarium club. In fact, consider joining a club that isn’t local.
Join an aquarium or cichlid club!
New England Cichlid Association
Mike Helford interview
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 McKinney interview
Today’s interviewee comes by way of a dinner gathering back in November, 2025. I didn’t know Mike McKinney until a group of hobbyists attending the 2025 OCA Extravaganza met for dinner at a restaurant in Strongsville, OH just outside Cleveland. Though the meal itself was a highlight, getting to meet Mike that evening was the real reward.
Consider joining an organized cichlid group, whether you have one near you or not
Want to be part of an organized cichlid group but you don’t have one near you? No problem. Most of these groups welcome anyone – local or not.
CARES Fin Clip Genomic Study
If you keep Lake Victoria cichlids, there is a new research initiative that could use your help. Called the CARES Fin Clip Genomic Study, the purpose of the effort (among other things) is to more accurately identify Lake Victoria cichlid species kept by hobbyists.
Craig Storms interview
This past July at the annual American Cichlid Association (ACA) convention in Cincinnati, OH, I was introduced to Craig Storms. He is a bit of an outlier in the fish keeping hobby because he is the only long-time fish keeper I know who maintained multiple tanks before he was 10 years old. Since that time, he has mostly focused on cichlids, primarily Tanganyikans.
Mike Liu interview
In July of this year, I attended the annual American Cichlid Association (ACA) Convention, which was held in Cincinnati, Ohio. As with every ACA convention, there is ample opportunity to meet fellow cichlid keepers and to even acquire fish. Registered attendees can sell fish at the convention and, historically, have done so out of their hotel room at the convention hotel. Yes, the sight of numerous tanks set up in hotel rooms is very interesting, to say the least.
Peter George interview
At this year’s annual ACA convention in Cincinnati, I was able to meet many well-known cichlid keepers who I have not met. Never passing up an opportunity to score some new interviews, I eagerly searched out a few folks who I knew were attending.
Super Cichlids Interview
Where do you go when you need to purchase products for your aquarium? If you’re like many hobbyists, you frequent your local fish store or chain pet store. If you don’t have a store nearby, you probably purchase online. Though there are numerous online retailers for cichlid hobbyists, there aren’t many like Super Cichlids of Dover, Delaware. The business began with fish, specifically breeding and selling African cichlids, something they still do today. They have built a considerable online presence where they offer some of the best deals, especially with their large selection of premium cichlid foods.
If you attend cichlid conventions, shows, expos and other such events, then you have seen Super Cichlids. You can’t miss their booth in the vendor area. It’s always one of the largest and certainly liveliest booths you’ll visit. They don’t sell fish at their booth (yet), but they provide a huge selection of other products that will interest any cichlidophile. Don’t miss their raffles, by the way!
I met owners Lisa and Martin Hoeber a couple of years ago, and they are honestly two of the friendliest people you will ever meet. At this year’s ACA convention in Detroit, I asked them if they’d be interested in doing an interview for the blog. Thankfully, they didn’t hesitate to say yes, and Lisa graciously answered a few questions.
Let’s get going!