Ran into Brian Torreano (BTDarters) at a GCCA (Greater Chicago Cichlid Association) swap meet a couple of months ago. I have kept fish most of my 40 years. I am involved heavily in our local club IAA (Iowa Aquaria Assoc.), am a member of GCCA, EIAA (Eastern Iowa Aquaria Assoc.) and ACA (American Cichlid Assoc.) I have been on the board of IAA for 5 years and am currently the treasurer.

I mostly keep and breed Malawi cichlids but dabble in plecostomus and guppies. I have collected and kept natives off and on for much of my life. I am fascinated by the diversity, behavior and color of local stuff that most have no clue exists.

When I ran into Brian I became interested again. He had some spectacular rainbow darters and other natives. Nobody ever brings natives to GCCA swaps. I'm glad Brian did. He is a great representative of NANFA and native fish-keepers.

He convinced me to check ot NANFA. I did and joined.

Ran into Brian again recently at a GCCA swap and instantly bought a trio of rainbow darters and black-striped top-minnows. I had hoped I'd run into him and had already secretly dedicated one of our grow-out tanks to natives. It is spring and I was itching to get the seine out and collect some natives. When I saw his stuff it was all over.

I have poked around the forum a little and felt it was time to post an introduction. I hope to find seining partners close to Davenport (Quad Cities) and do some trading. I am also interested in Maybe attending the convention if things go right. Thanks Brian! Thanks NANFA!

Welcome Fishwhisperer,

Very happy to have you here. I'll be in the Quad cities next week! If that's too soon don't worry since I'm there quite often.

let me know if you want to get in the water soon and I'll make sure and give you some notice as to when I'll be in town.

PM me and we'll exchange information.

I grew up in the small Wisconsin town of Hazel Green, right across the river from Dubuque, IA. If only college hadn't called me away, I'd hit the streams with you in a heartbeat. I went through high school as a lone sailor behind a seine and dipnet.

Travis