I worked at a petstore that spurred my interest in fish. I learned about aquarium keeping and the basics and sought out more. I discovered the full depth of keeping aquariums and feel in love. Care for my current boyfriend's sick oscar made me fall in love with cichlids. I helped him get better while I could, but when school started, all the care was placed on my boyfriend and he didn't get it as much as I did. Sadly to say, the oscar died. =( Even then, I still took care of his leftover plecostomus as he pretty much ignored it because it didn't 'need care'.
Nonetheless to say, I love fish and aquariums. I continue to educate myself about them and their inhabitants and intend one day to have an Oscar of my own along with a Jack Demspey. They are my favorite cichlids and I know I have to wait for them, but I'm so up for them. I know the extent of their care and I intend to wait until I can provide all of it for them. I will start them off in the correct size tank etc.
For now I stay small for my circumstances of living and actually have introduced my parents to the hobby.
I'm teaching them and helping them out. As a family, years ago, we used to have fish, but we never knew them like this. And my parents are so into it. It feels so good to open people up to this hobby because it really is an amazing one.
Not everyone likes Oscars but after Sebastian, I can't seem to not love them. Every time I see one I just anticipate the day till I have one. My own babies. =)