Any time that you share any information on the hobby - from husbandry, breeding, species-specific information and history of fish keeping in general is not just welcome and appreciated, but also incredibly important to the hobby as a whole. Thanks for taking the time to share your experience, and I hope that you continue to do so!
Love the history lesson! Really appreciate you taking the time to share your knowledge. It's so interesting to hear from an early pioneer in the hobby.
I've kept tropical fish my entire life and planted aquariums with small tetras and guppies for over a decade now. I most recently started a small reef tank and am hooked. I've never had much interest in cichlids, but I watched the interview Cory from Aquarium Co-op did with you and now can't stop watching your videos. You are fascinating to listen to and I thank you for sharing your lifelong passion for these fish and history of the hobby. I hope you continue to post videos and share your knowledge and love for your hobby! I'm glad you finally got your hand on some Red Dovii!
Daniel, thank you for your kind reply. I am glad you enjoy the videos. I love all kinds of fish and find tetras quite interesting. Reef tanks are a real challenge and I am sure you will enjoy that aspect of the hobby.
Watching this video now is like finding gold. This is the single most educational video I've ever watched about these cichlids. I wish you were still active on RUclips, this content is all incredibly interesting and helpful.
First and foremost Thank you for the highly informative video...and more importantly a big thanks for taking the time to share your admiration of the the umbee and it's history as well as all your tanks and fish you owned in the hobby, greatly appreciated brother👍
Mel, it's awesome that we now know the background how Umbee got into this hobby world. And because of you, I fall into Dovii and Umbee and keep both now in my tanks. Please keep telling us more story and sharing videos. I really love to see them.
Mel, this is a priceless historical/archival view of the hobby. I was 15 in 1985 and full bore in Central and South American cichlids. I remember the Umbee quite well, and wanted one very badly. As a young teenager, not enough funds for the size of the tank needed to properly care for a pair. Never did get that Umbee, but now that I older and financially sound enough, I may indeed do just that. Thanks for planting the seed again! :D
I absolutely love this style of video. There's not many people with the knowledge you have I'd love to see any other fish hobby history related anything!
No it's all very interesting Mel and thank you for taking the time for telling us. Some times good things always come just by chance, same with me and my Frontosas. A chance buy 13 years ago and I still have them. I love hearing the history of your own hobby as it's fascinating to me, and the photos were just fab!
Awesome Mel! Always have some interesting videos. I like learning from people who learned before the internet. You are the reason i keep the fish i do. Thank you!
I would like you to keep these kind of vids. I like the history of central american cichlids. Because of how rare they are in the hobby, even now. My profile pic is the umbee I had purchased from tommy. Not knowing even what it was I went to him for a female festae he threw in splendida both times I went to his house the 2nd time was for his fenestratus And he told me stories of keeping fish in the past I spent hours in his garage just talking fish. So definitely love these kind of videos but never seen a bad one from you either (you and andy woods) and I will always be envious of your aquariums. Thanks and have a wonderful day
My fish photos from the late 70's and into the 80's ...some are losing color too-ha. It's all temporary Mel. One day when we are gone,somebody will toss the last of our photos in the trash and that's that. I always thought the P.managuense was king of Cichlids..with that silver and black and dash of blue.. a pair is worth a huge aquarium. I myself won't be keeping large cichlids again Mel,as I know to really enjoy them takes at least a 500 gallon..or else its watch them do circles like kids in a hot rod in a smaller tank. But! If a dream came true...Managuense,Umbee,Red Terror,Green Terrors,Devils in my dream 10,000 gallon sounds like loads of fun!
Stan thanks for your comments. Yes life is very temporary. I think we are all too aware of that due to life in 2020, but as George Harrison said - all things will pass. So you might as well enjoy the ride for as long as it goes. I think Jags are great to! Thanks for your insight. Take care.
@@GuapoteMel I remember my older brother playing the brand new Harrison album and My Sweet Lord was iconic from first hearing. We old timers have stuff to offer...we used inside box filters,then were made to sound like fuddy duddys..until they made a comeback. Metaframe tanks,UG filters,Ozonisers,seen it all.
True I’ve been looking into them for the past 6 months an you giving us your history was a sign for me to get some am loved the video keep giving us content like this
Thank you for this video it take me back to my childhood I am from Detroit we live downtown and my father uses to go to Belle Isle to work out and he let me go in the aquarium while he jog around the track I remember seeing them at a very young age but I couldn't pronounce the name I used to call them super Jack Dempsey's LOL but that's what got me hooked in this Hobby like you I use to seek out the rarest cichlid and breed them to help keep them in the hobby thanks for sharing
Interesting comments. I have been to Belle Isle aquarium too. It's a small but very cozy and interesting place. I designed my fish room from places like that and the old Steinhart aquarium in San Francisco. Thanks for watching
A+++ and I really wished we had the technology then like we have today, actual videos of when/where you found it in Nevada would have been great to see!
An absolutely amazing history of the Umbi. I do appreciate you taking the time to make and share this video. It was like list to an old friend despite us not knowing each other. This was really cool 👍🏽! Thank you 🙏🏽
Great info mel ,an i thank this is the direct reason we've been so ahead of the game with cichlids in the northwest. Iam almost 40 now an i rember getting dovii, an beani, all those fish back in the late 80s. Pet an pond ,an clear water out on Farmington rd. Then when steve opend wet spot, he still has that beani line to this day. An the dovi as well too. Iam going to ask next time i see steve but id bet my bottom dollar alot of the lines he breeds were yours originally from 80s.
@@GuapoteMel it's small world. Whens the last time you drove down to cichlid exchange? Is shawn armentrout still in the hobby? That guy had 1 dovi like 8 years back that was a monster.
Also I could listen to you talk all day so don't worry ! Can we ask the little Dovi you showed from the 70s (your first one) was he the father or grandfather of the really Big Dovi you had in the thousand that died a few years ago. I believe you said he was something like 27 inches long and 18 inches high? Thanks so much
Gotta ask who was the boss of your first large aquarium the 200 gallon plexiglass tank? I'd imagine the festea or red devil. I really appreciate the photos from back in the day!!
GuapoteMel I think there’s a lot of people who would disagree with that , have you got any pictures of the 1000 gallon when you first got it ? Or it being delivered set up?
I enjoy watching your journey in the hobby. It's really informative and it's representation I believe is needed. I think any info that predates the internet is very important. I for one, could watch and listen for hours. However that's just me. Your photo collection is excellent. Anyone who has taken photos of their fish, especially before digital cameras, will really appreciate that. Also, the levels of patience required is tremendous. Will their be Polaroids? Do cichlids avoid eating quiche in 2020? The real ones anyway. Thank you for the videos.
Yes some have been on line. My friend Jef and I started a web site in the late 1990's (I think that's the right timeline). It was called Real Cichlids Don't Eat Quiche. It hasn't been updated for years and I think Jef finally took it down.
I hate african cichlids..well with the exception of west african like buttikoferi , fasciatus and elongatus ..but to be fair they're more like centrals in behaviour and being substrate spawners.
Any time that you share any information on the hobby - from husbandry, breeding, species-specific information and history of fish keeping in general is not just welcome and appreciated, but also incredibly important to the hobby as a whole. Thanks for taking the time to share your experience, and I hope that you continue to do so!
Thanks for your feedback. I appreciate it!
Hey Mel.. Keep the videos Coming man. Spread the knowledge. You're a legend.
Thank you. I will keep them coming for now
Really remarkable! Thank you for sharing! Great to hear all the story's, anymore past info would love to hear!
Thanks for the feedback. I am glad you enjoyed the video.
Great history mel,,very interesting subject that most sa/ca cichlid keepers will really like
Thanks
Love seeing the evolution of the hobby!! Thanks Mel!!😊
You're welcome. I am glad you enjoyed it
This is such a great video. I thoroughly enjoyed the entire thing
Thank you. I am glad you enjoyed it
Love the history lesson! Really appreciate you taking the time to share your knowledge. It's so interesting to hear from an early pioneer in the hobby.
I am glad you liked the video
I've kept tropical fish my entire life and planted aquariums with small tetras and guppies for over a decade now. I most recently started a small reef tank and am hooked. I've never had much interest in cichlids, but I watched the interview Cory from Aquarium Co-op did with you and now can't stop watching your videos. You are fascinating to listen to and I thank you for sharing your lifelong passion for these fish and history of the hobby. I hope you continue to post videos and share your knowledge and love for your hobby! I'm glad you finally got your hand on some Red Dovii!
Daniel, thank you for your kind reply. I am glad you enjoy the videos. I love all kinds of fish and find tetras quite interesting. Reef tanks are a real challenge and I am sure you will enjoy that aspect of the hobby.
Those Umbriferum cichlids were spectacular lots of freckles.
Yes they were
Thoroughly enjoy the history lesson and seeing these big fish. It had to be so much fun discovering these guys.
It was and my wife was pretty cool about it!
Dovii and Umbee kings! Asian red tail catfish up there also Mel ,thanks for the vid!
Yeah thank Catfish is pretty interesting too. Thanks for watching.
More history please! I absolutely love listening to you talk about these fish. It’s fantastic and I apparently you.
Thanks Scott
Watching this video now is like finding gold. This is the single most educational video I've ever watched about these cichlids.
I wish you were still active on RUclips, this content is all incredibly interesting and helpful.
I'm glad you found it worthwhile. It's nice to know people are still enjoying these videos. Thanks for letting me know.
I totally love this type of content! Please keep sharing! I want to learn more! Thank you.
Thanks for the feedback
First and foremost Thank you for the highly informative video...and more importantly a big thanks for taking the time to share your admiration of the the umbee and it's history as well as all your tanks and fish you owned in the hobby, greatly appreciated brother👍
Thank you!
What a fantastic video, fascinating to see an absolute pioneer showing off some stunning fish. Keep these coming mel 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Thanks very much Matt. I will try to do these types of videos from time to time.
Just incredible. What a story. I would love to see more of these videos.
Thanks for your feedback and for watching!
Mel, it's awesome that we now know the background how Umbee got into this hobby world. And because of you, I fall into Dovii and Umbee and keep both now in my tanks. Please keep telling us more story and sharing videos. I really love to see them.
Thank you. I plan to continue doing them. I am glad you and others seem to enjoy them.
Mel, this is a priceless historical/archival view of the hobby. I was 15 in 1985 and full bore in Central and South American cichlids. I remember the Umbee quite well, and wanted one very badly. As a young teenager, not enough funds for the size of the tank needed to properly care for a pair. Never did get that Umbee, but now that I older and financially sound enough, I may indeed do just that. Thanks for planting the seed again! :D
Thank so much for your interesting comments. I appreciate them. I hope you get that Umbee. It is a wonderful animal to take care of. All the best.
you are a wealth of knowledge and i LOVE hearing you talk fish !!
Thanks very much!
Awesome history Mel. It's important you are doing these videos. And for us old guys, it a trip down memory lane.
Trip down memory lane for me to doing them. Thanks for watching.
Love my umbee. Wish I could find more. I would love to have a pair again. Love your vids mate. Always makes me want more centrals!
Thanks!
Always wanted to learn about the umbee story, thanks for this video Mel
I am glad you enjoyed it
I absolutely love this style of video. There's not many people with the knowledge you have I'd love to see any other fish hobby history related anything!
Thank you. I am glad you enjoyed it
Excellent job Mel great video I like this one alot
Thanks Coop!
Yes! Keep dropping knowledge! Awesome video!
Thanks for your feedback. I intend to continue making them for awhile
Another great video Mel, it’s good to see your videos keep popping up.
As long as the virus is around and I am stuck inside I will keep doing them. I am glad you and others find them fun to watch
No it's all very interesting Mel and thank you for taking the time for telling us. Some times good things always come just by chance, same with me and my Frontosas. A chance buy 13 years ago and I still have them. I love hearing the history of your own hobby as it's fascinating to me, and the photos were just fab!
I Love the content Mel. Please share more knowledge with us.
Will do. Thanks
Great video - keep them coming and stay safe
Thank you. You too!
Awesome Mel! Always have some interesting videos. I like learning from people who learned before the internet. You are the reason i keep the fish i do. Thank you!
Thanks very much for your reply. I am glad you enjoyed it
Loved it!! Absolutely interested in the history.
Thanks for the feedback. I am glad you enjoyed it.
I would like you to keep these kind of vids. I like the history of central american cichlids. Because of how rare they are in the hobby, even now. My profile pic is the umbee I had purchased from tommy. Not knowing even what it was I went to him for a female festae he threw in splendida both times I went to his house the 2nd time was for his fenestratus And he told me stories of keeping fish in the past I spent hours in his garage just talking fish. So definitely love these kind of videos but never seen a bad one from you either (you and andy woods) and I will always be envious of your aquariums. Thanks and have a wonderful day
Thanks for your feedback. I am glad you liked the video
Awesome video cool to see the history of your fish and your first Umbee 👍
I am glad you enjoyed it 😊
just for the record, im new to this channel,and i love this sort of thing, thank you much for sharing your photos
I am glad you like them. Welcome to my channel!
Keep em coming Mel !!!
Okay!
Your reminiscing of the pictures was pretty cool and you're a thousand gallon red devil take Is Awesome
Thank you
My fish photos from the late 70's and into the 80's ...some are losing color too-ha. It's all temporary Mel. One day when we are gone,somebody will toss the last of our photos in the trash and that's that.
I always thought the P.managuense was king of Cichlids..with that silver and black and dash of blue.. a pair is worth a huge aquarium. I myself won't be keeping large cichlids again Mel,as I know to really enjoy them takes at least a 500 gallon..or else its watch them do circles like kids in a hot rod in a smaller tank.
But! If a dream came true...Managuense,Umbee,Red Terror,Green Terrors,Devils in my dream 10,000 gallon sounds like loads of fun!
Stan thanks for your comments. Yes life is very temporary. I think we are all too aware of that due to life in 2020, but as George Harrison said - all things will pass. So you might as well enjoy the ride for as long as it goes. I think Jags are great to! Thanks for your insight. Take care.
@@GuapoteMel I remember my older brother playing the brand new Harrison album and My Sweet Lord was iconic from first hearing.
We old timers have stuff to offer...we used inside box filters,then were made to sound like fuddy duddys..until they made a comeback. Metaframe tanks,UG filters,Ozonisers,seen it all.
Yeah me too. I've seen the various swings the hobby has had. Just like fashion and most other things everything old is new again.
I enjoyed it you got me looking to buy umbees now
Yeah that happens, but you could do a lot worse then buying Umbees. They are a great fish!
True I’ve been looking into them for the past 6 months an you giving us your history was a sign for me to get some am loved the video keep giving us content like this
Very nice.
Thank you
This video and the video on the history of the red dovii are my favorite videos on RUclips. For sure.
That's very nice of you to say
Awesome video, very informative.
This guy loves his pet fish! 👍
Quilty!
That’s what I’m talking about great stuff !!!! Bro preach!!! History
Thanks I am glad you liked it!
Really look forward to ur videos ..
I am glad you enjoyed it
Thank you for this video it take me back to my childhood I am from Detroit we live downtown and my father uses to go to Belle Isle to work out and he let me go in the aquarium while he jog around the track I remember seeing them at a very young age but I couldn't pronounce the name I used to call them super Jack Dempsey's LOL but that's what got me hooked in this Hobby like you I use to seek out the rarest cichlid and breed them to help keep them in the hobby thanks for sharing
Interesting comments. I have been to Belle Isle aquarium too. It's a small but very cozy and interesting place. I designed my fish room from places like that and the old Steinhart aquarium in San Francisco. Thanks for watching
Great video bro love it keep it coming also I love the umbee and and dovii the most
Yes they are two of the very best fish.
👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿
A+++ and I really wished we had the technology then like we have today, actual videos of when/where you found it in Nevada would have been great to see!
Yes that would have been nice. Thanks for watching.
Love your historical perspective on large cichlids! Please continue to share!
Thank you. I will
An absolutely amazing history of the Umbi. I do appreciate you taking the time to make and share this video. It was like list to an old friend despite us not knowing each other. This was really cool 👍🏽! Thank you 🙏🏽
So glad you like it!
Great video!
Thank you
Great info mel ,an i thank this is the direct reason we've been so ahead of the game with cichlids in the northwest. Iam almost 40 now an i rember getting dovii, an beani, all those fish back in the late 80s. Pet an pond ,an clear water out on Farmington rd. Then when steve opend wet spot, he still has that beani line to this day. An the dovi as well too. Iam going to ask next time i see steve but id bet my bottom dollar alot of the lines he breeds were yours originally from 80s.
It's possible. Kevin and Steve go way back. I have personally driven down to Steve's old operation with fish years ago.
@@GuapoteMel it's small world. Whens the last time you drove down to cichlid exchange? Is shawn armentrout still in the hobby? That guy had 1 dovi like 8 years back that was a monster.
keep this kind of video coming, realy nice! i would love o see this to oscar an geophagus
Thanks I am glad you enjoyed it
Thanks for posting this
You're welcome
WOW! love the video! I've had a pair of umbee for several years now. Mine is about 17".
That's a very good sized fish. I hope the pair continues to do well!
Also I could listen to you talk all day so don't worry ! Can we ask the little Dovi you showed from the 70s (your first one) was he the father or grandfather of the really Big Dovi you had in the thousand that died a few years ago. I believe you said he was something like 27 inches long and 18 inches high? Thanks so much
Yo this was littt keep it coming
Thank you. I will
Gotta ask who was the boss of your first large aquarium the 200 gallon plexiglass tank? I'd imagine the festea or red devil. I really appreciate the photos from back in the day!!
Once he was added and grew over a foot the male Umbee
Awesome video, i'm thinking about getting one after my Red Dovii passes on
Thank you. I am sure you would enjoy the fish.
Super cool
Great video as always very interesting keep them coming
And stay safe 👍
Thank you I will. You do the same
always wanting to learn for a legend on the hobby!! ans fish facts !!
Thank you!
Have you ever kept large Beani with other CA/SA cichlids?
Yes for many years
Best video you ever made 👍
That's not saying much!
GuapoteMel I think there’s a lot of people who would disagree with that , have you got any pictures of the 1000 gallon when you first got it ? Or it being delivered set up?
@@liamwalters5029 I don't but Kevin might. I bought it from his store and he helped set it up. He has a picture of him sitting in it!
I enjoy watching your journey in the hobby. It's really informative and it's representation I believe is needed. I think any info that predates the internet is very important. I for one, could watch and listen for hours. However that's just me.
Your photo collection is excellent. Anyone who has taken photos of their fish, especially before digital cameras, will really appreciate that. Also, the levels of patience required is tremendous. Will their be Polaroids? Do cichlids avoid eating quiche in 2020? The real ones anyway. Thank you for the videos.
Thanks for your awesome and entertaining comments!
You can get red dovi at all the local shops ( Portland)now for 35.00 bucks apeice there about 3 inchs.
Cool
Great video I'm on stay at home because of the virus and this made the day keep doing the videos
I am glad you enjoyed it. I am staying at home for the same reason
Some of those photos I’ve seen online, didn’t know you were the owner!
Yes some have been on line. My friend Jef and I started a web site in the late 1990's (I think that's the right timeline). It was called Real Cichlids Don't Eat Quiche. It hasn't been updated for years and I think Jef finally took it down.
What size tank was the umbee in Mel and was he able to grow to full size ?
He was in a 200 gallon tank. It was 8 feet long by 24 inches wide and 20 inches tall. Yes he grew to well over 20 inches
@GuapoteMel that is awesome as we speak im working on getting a 240
Can you make some more viideo whit your old pictures 🤙🤙❣❣
I am taking a bit of a hiatus from making videos. Perhaps down the road...
@@GuapoteMel I hope you're doing good, please do a video like this but with the subject being about the Parachromis Dovii when you get a chance
@@awakenedanarchism4202 I already did that last year with my Red Dovii update
Thanks Mel
Whats a sos eye you confused it with? Uk fan here had only 29 had dovii years we dont get proper names of fish or a big variety here
That's Kraussi. It is one of the basketmouth Cichlids like Myersi.
@@GuapoteMel thank youu, hopefully i can find some in england already found some red dovii :) never seen a stalbergi over here though
Great video. From your experience, how long do you think you can get away with having a single Dovii in a 90 gallon tank?
Depends on the tanks deminsions more then gallons. If the tank is 18 inches wide then till the fish is about 10 inches.
GuapoteMel it’s 4’ x 18”. I know it depends on a few things, but generally how long do you think it will take to get to 10”? About a year?
I wish I could find an umbee
Keep looking. They will turn up.
@@GuapoteMel I got my jags and dovii now just need the umbee
Nice videos you have any babies for sale
Not right now
Hi Mel i wonder if Kevin has a RUclips channel
No he doesn't but he could do it if he wanted. He had years in the retail aquarium business and still keeps them.
GuapoteMel hope he does, way more interesting to hear his experience being one of the original keeper the fish we love
I hate african cichlids..well with the exception of west african like buttikoferi , fasciatus and elongatus ..but to be fair they're more like centrals in behaviour and being substrate spawners.
i feel the same way and i only like the same African cichlids you mentioned
Your the best man
Thanks