Do You Belong To A Local Aquarium Club?

Just wondering how popular local aquarium clubs are still? Back in the day, when I had to walk uphill to school in the snow, while in shorts and flip-flops, 5 miles one way, hobbyists belonged to aquarium clubs and they were cool.

Do you belong to a local club? If you do, give your club a shout out here.

 

To be honest, I’m not even sure how you would join one.

 

I would join, but I'm not sure if there is 1 around here.

 

Me!!!
I'm a member of the Minnesota aquarium society! It's a great club! Its wonderful having connections with local hobbyists! Everyone in this hobby should join their local club if there is one!!

 

I've never even heard of a local aquarium club.

 

I don't have any around here, but there are some in NY but I can't drive.

 

I’m not apart of one but the one near me if you join $20/year you get 15% off everything at the lfs. I’m going to join mine one day

 

There are so many great reasons to be a part of a local club. A 15% discount at the fish store is great...but that's nothing compared to all the other benefits in my opinion! lol

The clubs usually have lots of private breeders. The best people to get fish from! That alone is a great reason to join. The fish are typically less the LFS prices and MUCH MUCH healthier. I am a breeder, so I also like to make trades with other breeders in the club.

The clubs are an excellent way to meet new people. Fishlore is a great place to go to geek out about fish with other hobbyists, but there is something to be said about face to face contact with other hobbyists!

Also, club members often tend to look out for one another. If you are in need of something, someone else probably has a spare laying around that you can have.

I am sure all the clubs are a little different. Some offering more than others. Some having many more members than others. I would guess my Minnesota club is somewhere in the middle. But its all I know.

We have shows, auctions, plant expos, monthly speakers (that once included Cory from aquarium co-op) breeding programs etc. Its great. I wish I had joined much earlier than I did! I have been a member now for 2 or 3 years.

I don't know how common aquarium clubs are....but I would guess if little Minnesota has a decent sized club...there must be many others out there!! Those who haven't looked into it locally, do so now! Its so worth it!

 

I'm not a part of a club. Hadn't thought to check for one, granted the internet is older than I am... how'd I not think to check with the best tool for checking at my fingertips since I had the mental capacity to use it?

 

To be honest it is because I'm a little awkward about it... there is one near me, but the average member age is somewhere between 50 and 60.. I'm in my twenties. I tried to join a dog club under the same conditions... it didn't work out. At first people are enthusiastic about "new blood" and the "next generation" but that soon turned to subtle condescension and the "you can't possibly have any valuable insights without 30 years of experience". It turned me off.
So I am a little hesitant to try it. I know it is a popular hobby around here, there are loads of serious breeders all over that aren't part of a club and it seems age and social standing play a big role in whether people do or don't join a club. Weirdly enough.

 

To be honest it is because I'm a little awkward about it... there is one near me, but the average member age is somewhere between 50 and 60.. I'm in my twenties. I tried to join a dog club under the same conditions... it didn't work out. At first people are enthusiastic about "new blood" and the "next generation" but that soon turned to subtle condescension and the "you can't possibly have any valuable insights without 30 years of experience". It turned me off.
So I am a little hesitant to try it. I know it is a popular hobby around here, there are loads of serious breeders all over that aren't part of a club and it seems age and social standing play a big role in whether people do or don't join a club. Weirdly enough.

You sound just like me a couple years ago!! And if all of us younger folks keep having that attitude, we will never be represented or respected in the hobby AND the clubs will fade into non existence!! More young people need to get involved in this hobby outside of just social media!

My first couple trips to my aquarium club meetings didn't go the best either. I am a woman in my 30s and the majority of the club are men 50 and older. I felt the same exact way that you did. I had my age and my gender working against me. And I almost didn't continue participating in stuff. But eventually I began to earn the respect of the older members and have developed great relationships with many of them.

To be honest...I think a lot of it was in my head. I don't think there was a lack of respect. I think I just felt that because I was a young woman, they weren't taking me seriously. But most of them were. You are always going to have the bad apples though. And those are the ones that took a little while to come around....the ones I had to "earn" the respect of. Which we shouldn't have to do. But my point is, I think sometimes it is in our heads....I just didn't feel like I fit in there. But my attitude has completely changed about that.

 

What is a local aquarium club?

 

Here you go guys!!!! Go find one near you!!

 

You sound just like me a couple years ago!! And if all of us younger folks keep having that attitude, we will never be represented or respected in the hobby AND the clubs will fade into non existence!! More young people need to get involved in this hobby outside of just social media!

My first couple trips to my aquarium club meetings didn't go the best either. I am a woman in my 30s and the majority of the club are men 50 and older. I felt the same exact way that you did. I had my age and my gender working against me. And I almost didn't continue participating in stuff. But eventually I began to earn the respect of the older members and have developed great relationships with many of them.

To be honest...I think a lot of it was in my head. I don't think there was a lack of respect. I think I just felt that because I was a young woman, they weren't taking me seriously. But most of them were. You are always going to have the bad apples though. And those are the ones that took a little while to come around....the ones I had to "earn" the respect of. Which we shouldn't have to do. But my point is, I think sometimes it is in our heads....I just didn't feel like I fit in there. But my attitude has completely changed about that.

That is nice to hear! Great to see that you made it work out after all
I'm not really someone who is afraid to mingle - I have worked through similar situations in other hobbies and that wasn't really a problem. Perhaps my local club is just different but looking around on their website and their yearly activities and such. I just am getting a vibe .. I don't know. Pretty sure it is my bias x3 Eh.
I wouldn't say that the hobby and these sort of relations will die out though. It seems there are a lot of informal networks going on these days of easy communication (which is what clubs were originally designed to me, maybe that function has become a bit obsolete? Though it is still easier for specialist stuff). For instance when I recently bought some bettas from a breeder that was even younger than me, she named a bunch of other breeders including ones I was familiar with, that she all knew in person. There are all sorts of social media groups and since everyone in this country is close together, people just pop over and visit each other, exchange fish, go and meet at shows and who knows what.
Or at least I have that impression. I'm sure the clubs are invaluable networks for people who specialise in less common fish or who are real experts. And for research and new insights and the sharing of both.
I will consider it in the future I don't feel quite ready yet.

 

The only ones by me are in Columbus ohio and parkersburg wv. That's a good hour and a half to parkersburg and 2.5 to Columbus. Gotta love wv. That's what this site is too me. This is my club. But I would like to meet others close that share the interest also.

 

I don't belong to one, but I'd like to. I checked the list and there's nothing anywhere close to me. I've heard there's a local Facebook aquarium group, but so far I've managed to avoid having a Facebook account.

If my current aquarium interest level stays where it is I might have to consider finally breaking down and joining.

 

JettsPapa : There are several aquarium clubs listed for Houston, and you aren't that far out from there.

I've never been a member of a club that didn't require at least an hour's drive to attend. I used to attend Greater Detroit meetings, and that's a 3 hour drive. (of course, gas was a lot cheaper back then) I've also been a member of some specialty groups, such as Chicago Killifish Association, Greater Chicago Cichlid Association, Michigan Cichlid and Michigan Killifish in Detroit. I have been a member of 4 local clubs in NW Indiana and Saltwater Michigan.

Finding clubs is more difficult than it used to be. You would go to the LFS, which was not a chain store, and they would usually be aware of clubs in your region. Now even the real LFS types don't even know about clubs any more.

Even if you don't plan to join the club, getting on their mailing list will inform you of auctions, shows, and special events.

 

I don't think I would, don't get me wrong I think it's a great Idea and would be great eventually but the amount of stress I put myself in joining Fishlore, i'm not an outgoing guy.

 

Here you go guys!!!! Go find one near you!!

Aww man...none listed for North Texas.


I was just yesterday talking to my counselor about joining an aquarium club!

 

Yes, as mentioned had no idea they existed. I did a search for fish auctions. Here is my club. Joined about 2 years ago. Best resource for quality home grown fish, plants, etc...
NEOfish | Northeast Ohio Fish Club
We have a thread here:
https://www.fishlore.com/aquariumfishforum/forums/usa-aquarium-clubs.219/
Also try a search Aquarium Fish Clubs or Auctions near me, I did find a list here:
https://curlie.org/en/Recreation/Pets/Fish_and_Aquaria/Organizations/North_America/United_States

Find an Auction if you can and attend, you will not regret it.

Learning all the Time.

 

We have a pretty huge one here in Raleigh. I have tried to join a few times. I can't make time for monthly meetings so I tried to join the FB group, and got a lot (a LOT) of snark and sarcasm. If you don't know the Latin names for everything in your tank you're just a noob and unworthy of remark. The last straw was a post of my outdoor tub, which is 6" vertically downhill and over a foot from my house, and the only comment was "You need to get that away from your foundation or it will cause it to collapse." I'm just not a people person I guess.
ETA: My house is on a slab lol

 

The closest one is about 2-hours away or I would join..

 

There is a local aquarium face book group I have joined.

 

The closest I get to live folks is through my computer screen other than a handful of close friends. Even if there was a club within driving distance I am sure I wouldn't join it. I don't do well in a room face to face with strangers.

 

The closest I get to live folks is through my computer screen other than a handful of close friends. Even if there was a club within driving distance I am sure I wouldn't join it. I don't do well in a room face to face with strangers.

What if it was a room with just me? (And my fish).

 

I just joined an online club. I didn't know such things existed until this thread. They meet about an hour from my house and I will probably not go because my schedule is crazy.

 

Don't feel bad, I'm in the northwest side of the state and nothing here too! Oklahoma doesn't have anything here too...

 

I don't currently, but I'd like to.

The reason I don't personally; I think it's a mix of feeling intimidated, the lack of information on current clubs locally, trying to adapt my schedule, and the biggest one, which is finding out if your local club typically vibes with you well, and if others will be receptive to you joining and introducing new species/fish to the mix.

 

I belong to one. It is 4hrs away, so I am more a satilite member. Pay my dues, get the newsletter and the ability to meet people and sell and buy items at the twice yearly auctions. Belonging to the local aquarium club also allows me to sell items at the other local clubs. I love going to the auctions as they are my people- you can talk fish, plants, tanks, ideas and people don't go cross eyed. LOL

 

To be honest it is because I'm a little awkward about it... there is one near me, but the average member age is somewhere between 50 and 60.. I'm in my twenties. I tried to join a dog club under the same conditions... it didn't work out. At first people are enthusiastic about "new blood" and the "next generation" but that soon turned to subtle condescension and the "you can't possibly have any valuable insights without 30 years of experience". It turned me off.
So I am a little hesitant to try it. I know it is a popular hobby around here, there are loads of serious breeders all over that aren't part of a club and it seems age and social standing play a big role in whether people do or don't join a club. Weirdly enough.

Honestly this is why I have not joined a club. I'm hesitant because (this sounds bad) I want to be around people who are my age and engaged and passionate about aquaria. Don't get me wrong, I really like and value the insight of those who are older and more experienced, but I don't want to stick out because of my age. I enjoy connecting people closer in my age (twenties). I like talking with people who are working through a similar path in life as myself and venting about things. Not that I cannot and do not do that with people from many walks of life already. I just want to be able to feel like I fit in and am understood.

I do plan to join a club at some point because I want to have that experience. It's just a matter of timing. If the local club were a little closer it would be really easy, maybe too easy. Though I would only have a 45min drive... College life really limits what I can do at this point! lol Time is a bit sparse.

 

At the very least, join long enough to get on the mailing list so that you know when the auctions and swap meets are happening. Even if you are too introverted to attend meetings, the fish that you will find at auctions are often not available through stores or even online sellers. Not to mention that the prices are often a fraction of what you pay in a store! When Electric Blue Acaras were still $15 apiece in the store for 1.5 inch fish, I saw bags of 6 EBA at about 2 inches going in auctions for $10. African Cichlids are way overpriced in stores, and bags of young can be had at auctions for a song. Our local clubs have a lot of livebearer enthusiasts. I've seen rare Goodeids that are never sold, even online, available to the highest bidder. (Of course, sometimes fish like this can go pretty high!)

And BTW, if you get to an auction where selling equipment is allowed, you can find really good deals on used equipment. Most auction rules say that equipment must be working to be sold. Tanks tend to go really cheap.

 

This is not something I had considered lately. The idea has some appeal to me. I enjoy my time here with this site. A more personally engaging opportunity would be welcome. I wonder how a core group of local Aquarium Hobbyists could be identified.

 

Unfortunately there is no aquarium club around me, I’d love to join if there was. I don’t even have a LPS besides the “general” pet stores like petco. I guess you could say I do a lot of online shopping. Lol

 

Unfortunately there is no aquarium club around me, I’d love to join if there was. I don’t even have a LPS besides the “general” pet stores like petco. I guess you could say I do a lot of online shopping. Lol

Don't we all?

 

I'm pretty sure I gonna be bullied if I join xD, ok no , idk if in my country even exist a aquarist club

 

Aww man...none listed for North Texas.


I was just yesterday talking to my counselor about joining an aquarium club!

I just checked the site for one in NTX too, what a shame

 

Aww man...none listed for North Texas.


I was just yesterday talking to my counselor about joining an aquarium club!

Start 1? Or you can mabee see if there's any interest in your area. Old school fliers at the pet store or new wave face book page.