FEBRUARY 2004 MEMBER SPOTLIGHT - TAD & JUDI

[DarkDiscus]

Hi Tad and Judi, it is time to get our Valentines Special Spotlight underway! I have been procrastinating, so it seems it will be after Valentines day by the time we post it, but we'll do the best we can, right?

What I would like to do is to have both of you answer the questions without letting the other one know - so we can test you guys a little bit and make it more fun for our readers. Just get me your responses when you can and I'll get them ready to go!

Thank you both in advance!

Q - So, how did it all begin? How did you meet, were you both already into fish and when/how did you get into discus?

Tad - How did it all begin LOL that is a great question. Well We met in the year 1997 in a Yahoo chat room called 'culture and society', I was cruising the different rooms watching some of the dialogue and noticed a person named Oodi who was having a conversation about the loss of a husband and the impact that it had on her life. Since I have also had the loss of a spouse I could really relate to what she was saying and thus sent her an IM of condolences. She responded and we did share how such a tragic event had influenced our lives and the lives of our children. A friendship was born out of tragedy. Over the next 4 months we would privately chat to some extent a few times a week and got to know each other quite well. In the Spring of 1998 we decided to meet in her hometown of Fresno California. Our first date was to a play fundraiser put on by one of her organizations that supported the Police Dept of Fresno. Imagine being surrounded by 100 Cops LOL. Judi and I hit it off extremely well and decided to continue seeing each other and decided to marry. I think I probably proposed 3 or more times, even asking her father for his blessings but formally asked on a romantic get away to Monterey California at Lovers Point on the beach in a full moon. We married later that year in September In Las Vegas at the famous 'Tunnel of Love' drive-up wedding window in our tee shirts and shorts!

Judi has always been the pet fan in our family as she always had dogs, and birds but no fish. In fact the only fish that we both shared prior to getting into the hobby is served with Wasabi! Discus entered our menagerie in the 2002. I received a gift from Judi of an Eclipse 6 for Christmas and what I recall it never housed a single fish. When I was a kid I did have many aquariums, in fact I think I had as many as 6-7 tanks going at one time raising different cichlids and tetras and even tried a salt-water tank. I kept aquariums, all through high school but ended my hobby when I started the University. It was from this childhood love of aquatics that I said to Judi, I am not going to be the Eclipse 6 Guy and needed a real aquarium. One week later we were the proud owners of a new 60-gallon with hood and stand. When it came to choosing the inhabitants we did discuss this for quite a long time and decided to find the hardest freshwater fish to raise. Thus our introduction into the wonderful world of discus.

Judi - We met in Yahoo Chat in November of 1997. An online friend of mine sort of threw us together. So to Deb, wherever you are- THANK YOU!!! Our first in person meeting was March 15, 1998, and we married September 17, 1998. Between us, we have 5 kids ranging in age from 16 to 22.

I had kept fish as a kid, but it had been more than 30 years (BOY, have things changed!!!). As for the fish, that began in early December of 2001. My son has had saltwater tanks for a few years, and was working in a local pet store in Fresno. I was in Fresno one day, and happened to stop by the shop. My son talked me into getting a tank for Tad for Christmas. I agreed on a 5-gallon tank, even though he was trying to talk me into a larger one. Eight days after Christmas, Tad and I were in Fresno, and again stopped by the shop my son worked at for a quick visit before we made the trip home. Three and a half hours later, we walked out with a 60-gallon tank and stand. We then visited every pet store within a 50-mile radius, to look at setups, etc., and did a lot of research on the Internet before we decided on Discus. Why Discus? Because all the info we had at that time (before we found the forums) said they were difficult to raise.

Q - Please tell us more about your 'real' lives. What do you do? Where are you from? All the good stuff!

Tad - I am originally from the Central Coast of California, grown up in a small rural area between the coastal cities of Santa Cruz and Monterey. Moved to the Central Valley in 1970 to attend the University, graduated and planned on attending Law and business School in San Diego. I had big plans to become a corporate attorney working for a big 8 firm in Copenhagen, however, I was presented with an opportunity to become a firefighter with the City of Turlock FD which I accepted on a 1 year contingency. I have been a career firefighter going on my 26th year attaining the rank of Battalion Chief. I did make the right career choice even though Copenhagen is still on my mind!

Judi - I was born and raised in Fresno, CA. I had lived there all my life until our new home was completed towards the end of 1999, when 3 of my 4 kids and I moved to Turlock. Yes, we had a long distance marriage for the first year. I worked as an underwriter for an insurance company from 1979 until 1996, and was actively involved with the Fresno Police Department until moving here, serving as Chairperson for the Northeast Fresno Neighborhood Watch Association; Board of Directors of Fresno Police and Neighborhood Watch Association; and Board of Directors of Citizen’s Police Academy Alumni Association.

Q - Please describe your present set up. How many tanks, how many fish?

Tad - Currently we have aquariums spread though out our residence We have a total of 11 currently set up with 9 dedicated to discus only. They range in sizes from 10 gallons, which house Judi’s damn frogs to a 135-gallon, which houses predominately fish from Cary. Plans are for the purchase of another large tank in the 135-gallon range to house wild discus only. I think our discus inventory numbers somewhere around 52 of which 42 are adults and 10 near adults. In all essence our aquariums are part of our eclectic way of furnishing our home.

Judi - Set up??? We don’t have a set up... We just move furniture around to make room for tanks! We currently have 11 tanks throughout the house, and about 68 Discus.

Q - 'About' 68 discus, I see.. Seriously, who does the most work on the fish?

Tad - I do hands down!

Judi - Most work? Or dirty work? I have to suck the hose to get the siphon going and do anything/everything with the CBW’s. Tad doesn’t like worms!!

Q - I imagine tag team tank cleaning could be fun and make things go a lot faster. I keep trying to train my wife to do water changes while I sleep, but it doesn't seem to work... How do you two stay motivated?

Tad - A husband wife combination of raising discus definitely has its pluses and minuses. I can tell you truthfully we do have some good arguments, as I’m a very demanding person when it comes to our discus. I think the kids wonder how can they continue with this hobby when they are always yelling at each other! I think Judi and I just communicate in a different manner since we got discus. Judi does most of the feeding of the fish and I do all of the water production and mixing. We share cleanings and 1ater changes as its so soothing! To answer your original question I would have to say that things definitely go faster with a willing partner and I do have to thank Judi for being such a partner. I do believe motivation is seeing other hobbyist discus and hoping to have fish as good or better. Judi also has Crohns disease and Fibromyalgia, which limits her physical activity, and this is one special way we can share time together with a common interest. Plus she’s a lousy golfer LOL and that is my other passion!

Judi - I have always had animals (I had 2 dogs, 2 Parakeets and 4 rats when Tad and I met), so caring for animals has always been a part of my life. The fish are just different animals than I’ve had in a while.

Q - So.. What are you two doing special for Valentines Day? Something
romantic? Buy some red/whites? Your public wants to know!

Tad - We did have plans to visit a cousin of mine in the Bay Area along with my sister and visit a discus shop of our good friend Phil, but those plans changed due to other family obligations. If I had my way we would spend Valentines Day at our favorite getaway at the Seven Gables Inn in Pacific Grove, or an over nighter in San Francisco, but reservations are surely gone. I guess we will spend time together here at home and I will cook a good meal for Judi. Hopefully I do not get some of those heart decorated BVDs for Valentines day again!

Judi - Romantic?? What’s that?? I might have a vague memory of romance... I think Valentine’s Day falls on tank cleaning day! That is probably what we will be doing.

Q - Tell us, what are your favorite fish right now? And are you working on breeding them?

Tad - My favorites discus are my wilds. I have put together a small collection of wilds from Oliver and from Alberto and plan on adding more over the years. There is something about the wilds that entrances me. Possibly the way they swim or the manner they show their wild instinct. Of our domestics I have a pair currently together of some blue snakeskins from Cary that I am really excited about. As for my wilds I have a beautiful red male Curipera that I have with an Alencer X Golden that have spawned numerous times but with no success. I am really hoping for fry from this pair. Hopefully in the future I will also have some Wild RSGs doing their thing.

Judi - We have some Discus of different strains that have some particular sentimental value to me for various reasons. I’d have to say those are my favorites. As for breeding, if it happens, it happens. We really don’t have the type of setup that is conducive to breeding on a regular basis.

Q - Is there a Tad and Judi hatchery in the works or are you two dedicated hobbyists and have no aspirations to do some major breeding?

Tad - No hatchery is in the plans even though a fish room sounds like the logical progression due to ease of maintenance and the ability to maximize our hobby. If and when I do breed I plan on giving away fry to friends that I have met on the internet and in person.

Judi - Hmmmm. Well, we have become very good friends with the folks that built our pool. They have come up with a design to build a fish room in our back yard. Maybe when we win the lottery!

Q - Lets see how well you know each other. What is your spouses and your own favorite:

A - Food.

Tad - Judi loves Chinese and Mexican food. I love any food LOL but specifically Italian (remember I am Franks twin brother, and I do definitely love Japanese food)

Judi - Tad loves spaghetti! (He is Italian, ya know) As for me, it is a tossup between crab, shrimp, lobster or anchovy pizza.

B - Strain of Discus.

Tad - Judi loves the wilds. I also love the wilds.

Judi - Tad prefers either the Curipera or the RSGs. I am not picky! I like them all!!

C - Drink.

Tad - Judi has been drinking her frozen coffee drinks for a year or more. I think she calls them Javalanches, and she does love colas. I like beer and tequila LOL! Especially Padron! As for a soft drink give me Squirt!

Judi - Tad loves fine wines and Tequila (or To-kill-ya, as Frank would say!) Me: Javalanche.

D - Vacation spot.

Tad - Judi loves the ocean and I have to concur. Yosemite Is one of our loves too. So specifically we love the outdoors.

Judi - Tad really likes Carmel/Monterey/Pacific Grove (for those that dont know, they are all right there together) and Yosemite National Park. We are fortunate enough to live a little more than an hour away from either of these places. Me: Ditto!

Q - Tell us about your best and worst experiences with keeping discus.

Tad - Best was our first pair, which were a Blue Diamond and Cobalt. You can never forget your first LOL. Worst, was culling a 3.5 inch, which I flushed down the toilet and it plugged up LOL.. It took me an hour to unplug! I guess we have been lucky 'knock on wood' as we have never had any type of disease issue except some bacterial outbreak and gill flukes. It definitely pays to watch your discus and keep them in the cleanest environment as possible.

Judi - I would have to say the best experience was raising our first batch of fry. It is awesome and amazing to watch parents care for their young. The worst is trying to dry out carpet/floors after water leaks. We tend to forget that our storage barrels are filling.

Q - Is there anything out there you want to say to the beginning hobbyist that you think would be helpful?

Tad - Definitely! I think that any beginning hobbyist needs to spend countless hours reading the forums like Simply. There is a wealth of information that has been posted and a wealth of experience at your fingertips. I also think a new hobbyist should ask questions and not be afraid to do so as there is no silly question. People on Simply are serious about their passion and their hobby and so many will provide help at a minutes notice. I think that the most important thing to consider for new hobbyist besides learning as much as possible is to purchase from a reputable source, buy quality, keep tanks bare bottomed, feed good and healthy foods, and as my Pal Frank told me long ago 'Clean, Clean, Clean!' The key to success is knowledge, so take the time to learn and learn it right.

Judi - Read, read, read and clean, clean, clean.

Q - And any comments for the hobbyists and Simply readers? Now is your time to get up on the soapbox!

Tad - I do believe that all members of Simply should do all they can to create a network of friends on the forum. Reach out and develop friendships and share a common hobby. I think its imperative that we all show ownership in some manner into the forum either as posters/contributors and even financial help if we can afford it. This site is definitely the best around that provides the most information about our beloved hobby. I also believe that we all share a common goal and that is to be the best stewards of our hobby.

Judi - Well! There is an adage that has had significant importance to me for a great number of years. I shared it with a friend not so long ago, so now I will share it with everyone else. I think it applies in many facets of life:

Where there is honesty, there is understanding.
Where there is fairness, there is peace.
Where there is sharing, there is friendship.
Where there is love, there is fulfillment.

Q - And finally, do you have any future plans, fish related or real world you would like to share with us?

Tad - We hope to attend the ACA meeting in July at Denver. Judi and I are looking forward to meeting so many of the people that we have met online. I think this is the icing on the cake for us to put a voice and a face with so many of our friends. Hopefully when the kids grow up and move out LOL, We will have a dedicated fish room.

As for future plans for the real world, I plan on retiring at the end of 2005 and play with discus and golf everyday!

Judi - There are some folks we have met online that I would like to meet in person someday. There are also many places in these great United States that I would like to see. I would also like to visit the place my father was born and raised, which is Hanna, Alberta, Canada. Hey! Does that make me a Canuck by default??

Happy Valentines Day, everyone!! Give your fish a kiss, but NOT before you kiss your significant others!

Q - Thank you both for your time and brain cells! Have a great Valentines Day!

[M0oN]

Haha, very entertaining spotlight, thanks for putt'n a smile on my face for the day guys and keep it up DarkDiscus, I always enjoy these things.

Jason

[April]

great interview by two great simply members!! thanks guys.
it was fun reading it.
and yes.. Judi..get up here to canada! its worth your while. but make sure you drive through vancouver first..
sure..you couldve had duo citizenship.. you can now say your really a canadian in disguise.. ;D

[ping]

Thanks for another great interview
Tad and Judi, Have a great Valentine day

PS: pictures please ... ;D

Regards,
Ronny

[paulmat]

Great interview John.
I know Tad & Judi and have been to thier house, and met them in Monterey for dinner with my fiance', and will tell you that these two were meant for each other, and that they are wonderful people that Im proud to have has friends !!!!!!!

Paul

Great interview as always. A fairy tale. I envy you both. If I had a chance to meet a girl from the chat room. I know it would be a 90 years old great granny. Lucky devil!!!
Jimmy

[Jeff]

Nice job guys. I enjoyed that. Thank you!!

[henryD]

So it would seem that TAd is the long winded one.....who would hav thought....LOL...

Thanks guys. That was great. As far as I can tell no drawback on having your significant others crazy about fish.

So maybe I should get my wife hynotised.

Henry

[gillyweed]

Nice read up, Tad & Judi!!!

One of the few great people that's instrumental to walk me through my fishy problem was Tad. He walked me through the early days of Discus deases & care. I'm still learning, but the curve has not been that steep as it once was.

Thanks Tad. You & Judi are heros in my book.

gw

[EthanCote.com]

This is a great interview, it puts a smile on my face. Its a great wife/husband tag team interview. It is without a doubt that you two are happily married just from reading your responses. They were quite insightful and light hearted.

You guys made me laff. So thanks!

All the best to you two.


Cheerio,

Chi.

[fcdiscus]

Very Nice! But Henry! You stole my windbag line! LOL, Frank ;D ;D ;D

[paulmat]

BTW, Where are some pics of your fish T & J ???
We would all love to see them

Paul

[Don_Lee]

Great interview, and a great idea for a Valentines Day special!

[Carol_Roberts]

Great interview! Not only a husband and wife team, but a son that works for a fish store in the family too ;D

[discus_nw]