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"MY LIFE LONG HOBBY"

I got my first aquarium when i was 16 years old, if memory serve me right. I was living in Digby at the time. There was a pet shop in the local mall at that time. I live in Digby for about one year. I brought every aquarium i could get my hand on. They went in size from two gallon up to a 15 gallon aquarium. I almost live at the local pet shop, i was there everyday, sometimes two or more times. I think i had around 25 aquarium, set up with fish, while i was living here.

At that time i did not know much about keeping tropical fish. I also brought every fish book i could get my hands on. Most of the fish i had while i was in Digby was fancy guppies, swordtails, platys, mollies, betta and some angel fish. There may of been others types, but i can not remember. But then i got done what i was in Digby for, so i ended up moving back home for awhile.

Then mom and dad sold their place and we moved out south of where we were. So i got a job out there. Then i started setting up my aquarium again. I ended up with about 40 aquarium set up with fish in them. And it was while i was living here, that i got my betta to spawn. The young grew up and i sold them to the pet shop in Bridgewater.

But then i decided i wanted to see the country, so i left and went to Ontario. I live in Ontario for a few years. Where ever i was, i had at least one aquarium set up with fish in it.

But then i starting traveling around alot. So that mean, no fish tank for me. I was from one end of Canada to the other end of Canada. I also was in many different places in the great USA. Oh the stories i could tell of some of those trips.

But then i decided to come back to Nova Scotia and stop moving around. So i brought five arces of woodlands for only $1000.00. And i build my own house, the one i am living in now. I had been here for about 22-23 years now. I am done moving around, i think. But with that said, i still get out and see parts of N.A. now and then.

At the present time i got over 125 aquariums, but not all of them is set up.

Wrote By R.W.Hill

March 30, 2008

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LOCAL HOBBYIST TURNS HIS PASSION INTO A BUSINESS

UNCLE ROLLIE SAYS FISH MAKE GOOD COMPANIONS

BY CAROLYN SLOAN (THE SPECTATOR )

WEEK OF NOVEMBER 9, 2004

"You can actually teach goldfish to jump through hoops", says Uncle Rollie, as he tours his aquariums. "Some of the big ones have personalities. They know me when i walk by".

Seven months ago, raising and breeding fish was a 30-year hobby for "Uncle Rollie". Since then it has become his business, selling tropical fish, gold-fish and aquarium supplies right from his Round Hill home. Rollie says most people that come into the store hear about it through word of mouth. "I"ve been in it so long most people know about me", he says.

In order to open up his new business, Rollie became one of 150 participants, from Kentville to Yarmouth, in the WVDA"s Loan and Save pilot project. The project gives low- income earners four dollars for every dollar they save. Rollie had been saving for 3 years and received $4500 to start his new business, the maximum amount of funding given to participants.

Rollie originates from Hilltown in Digby County, although he has lived all over the Annapolis Valley since the age of 11. He"s traveled through out much of Canada and the United States, learning his craft from top experts.

"I"ve met some of the biggest names in tropical fish," he said. Rollie even takes in sick fish for family and friends and restores them back to health.

The aquariums that fill the small store contain fancy goldfish, platies, guppies, angelfish, barbs, snails and other varieties of brightly coloured tropical fish. There is one fish however, that stands out above the rest. Uncle Rollie "baby" is one very large catfish from Digby, with razer sharp spikes that protect it from larger predators.

"You eat him, you"re dead," Rollie says, dipping his finger into the tank as the big fish surfaced to greet him. "He"s not for sale," Rollie explains. "I"ve had him for two years. When kids come they want to see my big catfish."

With new varieties and colours of fish to choose from, Rollie never seems to lose interest in his trade.

"You would"t believe it," he says, " but they are finding hundreds of new types of fish they didn"t know existed."

He also likes not knowing who will walk into his store from day to day. "Some days nobody comes," he says. "Other days there are so many they can"t fit in the house. You never know who"s going to stop by."

Uncle Rollie says fish make good companions. "You can keep them in the house. I do not have to go outside," he says. :They"re quiet and they"re supposed to help calm you down."

Nonetheless, keeping the business running and the fish happy is a lot of work. "You have to feed them evertday, change the light bulbs and the water everyday," says Rollie. "You also have to make sure there aren"t any dead fish in the water and treat any that are sick."

When asked which fish he likes best. Rollie doesn"t play favorites. "I like them all," he says. "I like big fish, but it would be very hard for me to pick one." Luckily, he doesn"t have to.

The End.

"How I Got Into Keeping Fish"

One of the teachers in school, give one of my sisters, some fancy guppies.

This was the first time anyone in the family, ever had fish of any kinds.

Mom and dad got her a tank and everything she needed.

The fish live for awhile, and then they die.

So then i decided, i wanted some tropical fish.

I got myself, some tanks, filters and what not.

Set it all up, and look at me now.

Got my own tropical fish store.

Also my own tropical fish website and forums.

And all of this, is because a teacher, give someone some guppies.