Beginnings:
A Memoir Of My Early Days In The Hobby by JOSEPH FERDENZI
y serious involvement in the tropical fish where we lived — Coral Gables Pet Shop on hobby began at the very non-serious age Junction Boulevard (just north of 37th Avenue) in of about 12. It was during the 1965-66 Jackson Heights (Queens). At that time, I had no academic year (sixth grade) at Our Lady of idea that "Coral Gables" was a city in Florida — I Sorrows (that is not a made-up name) Grammar thought it was just a reference to a fish house made School that I made friends with Michael Graziano, of coral. who was to become a lifelong influence and friend. After buying the tank and glass You see, Mike not only went to school thermometer (no filter, as I didn't have enough with me, but he lived up the block from me. So, money for that), I carried the tank home and filled naturally, we would spend a lot of time in each it with water. From Mike, I learned that I had to other's homes. Well, Mike had his own room, and wait a while before I put any fish in it. In the his parents let him keep five (!) tanks in it (the meantime, he and I enthusiastically discussed what largest of which I now know to be called fish I would buy for my new aquarium. Of course, "20 gallon Highs" — he had two of these). Now, this tank was of the then common stainless steel you have to imagine what it was like for a kid like frame with slate bottom variety. Therefore, even me to see this. To begin with, I lived in a three without gravel, it didn't look so bad to me because room basement apartment where my "bedroom" of the natural slate bottom. consisted of a convertible couch in the livin groom. My first tropical fish purchases were a The bathroom was in a common hallway outside pair of Zebra Danios (very inexpensive) and a pair the apartment. Therefore, M i k e ' s of Neons (slightly more expensive). Frankly, I bedroom/fishroom seemed don't remember much about what I did with them, how long very impressive to me — mliR^:r- ;f^lP>-S soon, I too wanted fish tanks (I they lived, and so forth. I have knew that having my own a vague recollection of thinking room was out of the question). they were just very pretty. When I told my Soon thereafter, I found a "10 parents that I wanted a fish gallon Long" that someone had tank, they sort of indulged me placed next to their garbage like so many parents who cans. Wow! I found a spot for simply sigh and regard it as this in the hallway, and I bought another passing fancy that they some more Zebras. have to temporarily put up By then, my interest with. However, my mother was pretty much established. laid down one rule: "no tanks Mike and I would regularly in the apartment." If I could | walk to Coral Gables to look at find space in the common the fish, buy live food, and an hallway, and the landlady occasional magazine. Because didn't object, I could keep a of the ads in these magazines fish tank or two. (Tropical Fish Hobbyist and I scouted the hallway The Aquarium), we learned of and concluded that there was the Aquarium Stock Company space for at least one small in lower Manhattan. On some tank. While I remember that Saturdays, we would take the Exotic Aquarium Fishes 19th Edition hallway as though it were only Revised, the "yellow Metaframe edition" subway there. What a place! It yesterday, I no longer recall was "Fish Heaven" — a store a exactly where I found the space for that first tank. whole block long, stocked with everything a But, suffice it to say that I was very happy to be budding aquarist could want. able to join Mike as a fishkeeper. We went other places as well. You see, Somehow, I saved up enough money to Mike's parents, who were (are) very kind and enable me to buy a 5 1/2 gallon tank — that was lovely people, would take Mike and me (they also the largest I could afford. The next stop would be had a car!) to various other aquarium venues. I the only pet shop within easy walking distance of remember going to the Saxon Plastics
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Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S. (NY)
June 2004