Below is a short overview of the talk I gave at SEMAS (Southeast Marine Aquarium Society), or more acurately the Aquarium Society of Atlanta, on July 15, 1997.

The topic of the talk was geared to make hobbyists understand how important it is for them to know as much as possible about the animals they already have in their aquariums, and any new ones they plan to purchase.

Reasons for obtaining and having this kowledge are multiple:

• Compatibility issues
• Knowing how to care for animals in the tank
• Understanding feeding and lighting requirements
• Knowing how to acclimate a particular animal
• Water quality requirements
• Nettling ability
• Types of food needed
• Is supplemental feeding necessary
• Will they affect other corals in the tank
• How will they adjust to existing lighting or to new lighting
• Can several be kept or should they be kept on their own
• What to do if they do not appear in good condition
• What makes them perk up
• What water current do they require
• Do they need supplemental additives
• What general tank conditions are needed
• Do they have any specific requirements
• How to deal with disease should it come about
• and so on

Too often, and I am not saying that you fall in this category, hobbyists will buy corals or fish and find that they do not survive regardless of what they try. Probing them for knowledge about the animal reveals, in many cases, that it is just about nil. This is unfortunate, as lack of knowledge often leads to coral and fish losses.

This is, of course, not the correct approach to take. One should know as much as possible about all animals one already has, and certainly about the ones that are planned as additions to the tank before they are purchased and added.

Having this knowledge will prevent a lot of animal deaths and will also save a great deal of money.

There are many sources where one can look at for such information. I have listed a number of them below that you certainly may wish to consider in our quest to gain more knowledge and become a better hobbyist:

Besides the Internet searches (which I will get into as well in this talk, one can go there are many other sources of information, some are listed below:

• Books available in pet stores
• Books available at libraries
• Microfiche on specific topics from articles in newspapers and magazines
• Abstracts of articles
• Videos (commercial and TV ones)
• Books in foreign languages
• Magazines for hobbyists
• Journals for the academic community
• Specialized books, e.g. from university book stores on specific topic
• Aquarium club libraries
• Interaction with members of aquarium clubs
• Email to hobbyists you know have specific knowledge in certain areas or in multiple ones. Authors who maintain an on-line presence are an excellent source of information. Some reply rather quickly and some take their time. Do not get discouraged if you do not get an answer within hours of sending your message.
• Joining mailing lists on the Net (e.g. Thiel Tech at htt://www/athiel.com, but there are many others. There is even a list of lists from which you can select.
• Database searches of mailing lists on such lists
• TV programs such as the Discovery Channel. Nature etc.
• Conventions and meets such as Macna and many others
• Lectures
• Books by authors who write for the hobby
• E-zines or on-line magazines (AquaScape, AquaWorld etc.)
• Chat roooms (the Fishroom, #reefs, TT chat, Muds, etc.)
• Magazines in foreign languages
• Interaction on the net via email with other hobbyists directly, rather than via mailing lists (meaning email them directly)
• Conversations with breeders and commercial organizations (e.g. TBS, GARF etc.)
• Personal web pages on the net and their link to other web site sections
• Commerical web pages on the net and the articles they publish on their sites
• Academic books (more difficult to find but books in print is usually a good starting point, perhaps with the help of a librarian who is more familiar with how to do searches for specific topics)
• Talk to pet store owners who specialize in corals etc.
• Talk to breeders and individuals in the commercial end of the hobby
• etc.

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