By Kevin Thurston of the Colorado Aquarium Society.
My presentation is on collecting fish around Iquitos, Peru. I wasn’t searching for any particular species, except when we went out after discus. This is an informal survey of fishes to be found in the rivers around Iquitos: Rio Nanay, Rio Itaya, and the Amazon.
Here is a brief rundown of my 59 years of experience in the hobby and in the retail and wholesale business.
1963 - Got my first aquarium at Christmas.
1969 - Bred Bettas after buying a new 20 long aquarium (metal frame).
I then bred many different species including Catfish, Cichlids, and Gouramis.
1975 - Started working in a pet shop and managed the fish department
1977 - Started working in a pet shop in Ft Collins while going to college. I worked there 3 years.
1981 - Graduated from Colorado State University with a BS Degree in Fisheries Biology. My course work included Ichthyology/Advanced Ichthyology, Aquaculture, Fish Diseases and Fish Nutrition.
1983-1987 – I operated a Tropical Fish Wholesale business selling to independent stores in Colorado
During my time in the hobby, I have published articles and photos in Tropical Fish Hobbyist magazine and done dozens of presentations for local aquarium clubs and achieved the master breeder level in the Breeder Award Program administered by the Colorado Aquarium Society.