The year was 1990, I worked at a LPS. The owner there had everything from puppies to kittens to reptiles and herps to small mamals to birds and fish. That guy had evvvverything and could get annnnything imaginable. He had both, SW and FW. His SW sysyem was like nothing I've never saw. Of course, that was the first SW system I'd ever saw (LOL!!!). I found fish to be interesting, especially the SW. So one day I asked the boss if he could teach me about SW and "The Secrets" to fishkeeeping, I mean other than what I needed to know to make a sale. He looked at me with a surprise look in his eyes and said, "Kid, stick with and I'll take you under my wing." And after 3 months, he made me store manager. That was the first and highest postion and title I ever had, and at age 21, my friends looked at me with envy....they were still in college and working at places like department stores. While I was making the mucho bucks or it felt like I was back then.

Anyway, as I was learning about fishkeeping, I was also setting up my first SW tank. But I didn't stop there. I was setting up, not only SW, but FW as well.

After a year and 10 months, the boss came to me with some disturbing news. He told me that the Msr. and him were getting a divorce. And that the store had to be closed down. So I gave the poor guy my sympathies, as I felt bad for him and his family.

About two weeks later and after thinking and thinking and trying to come up with some brilliant idea. I asked the boss what he was going to do with the inventory, livestock, SW system racks and FW racks. He said he had to sell everything. So I asked him if he would be willing to sell all or some of it to me. So he did. And that was when I opened my own LPS business.

I was 21 yrs. old, hard in training to be a law enforcement offer and training others, my dad was helping me with the rent. After a year or so, my dad could no longer help me. I sold 90% of what I had and kept the rest...mostly tanks. I then got another bright idea to start an aquarium maintenance service and sales business. That went good for a while, but then one thing lead to another and had to clear out all my fish and tanks. After that I managed another two separate LPS, they had their problems too....so I left them. After that I decided to try other completely different business and between trying different businesses, I traveled from IL to CA to TX to WI and tried making a life everythime.

Now I just want to have a steady successful business or businesses, start a family and really settle down....hopefully in California. At least that is what my plan is. But I'm getting off topic here. So I'll leave it at that.

But yeah, I love fish among other animals/pets. And plan to stay in the hobby once I get back into it again once I settle down.......somewhere. LOL!!!

Thanks,
Diego

Sorry, didn't mean to bore you with such a long story but I sure could've made it a lot longer....lol Anyway, I would love to know how and when you got into fishkeeping. Look forward to reading your story.

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My Motto: "Why make someone else rich when you can make yourself rich?"

WoW bud, you dont say much but when you do its a mouthful VERY interesting story thanks

very nice...you starting a book there...lol

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Celebrating 500 posts



Planted 20 gallon
2 emerald corydoras
2 gold barbs
2 cherry barbs
4 swordtails
2 platies
1 balloon mollies