Marina Parha and George J. Reclos

Marina Parha and George J. Reclos

Written by Webmaster Thursday, 16 February 2006 00:00

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We were both born in Greece in the early '60s. With a combined experience of 35 years in fishkeeping we have kept more than 150 freshwater species of fish belonging to different families (Anabantidae, Botiidae, Callichthyidae, Cichlidae, Cyprinidae, Doradidae, Mochokidae, Loricariidae, Osphronemidae, Poeciliidae and Pimelodidae).  Over the years we have successfully bred more than 80 species which include twenty species of loricariids and 50 species of cichlids (amongst them 8 Madagascan species). Our fish enjoy living in a wide range of environments so planted tanks have also been from time to time in the picture. We have kept and propagated more than 50 species of freshwater plants in various tanks ranging from George’s first planted tank housing Lake Malawi mbuna to high maintenance CO₂ injected setups. For a period of time tropical and temperate (Mediterranean) marine species were of interest too; these included fish, Cephalopods, invertebrates and corals.

We currently run 60 tanks of varying sizes with a total capacity of 12.000 lit. Our dream to expand this to 40000 lit. is slowly but surely coming true; the extension of our home, estimated to be completed within 2008, has been mainly planned around the comfort of our fish ...

Our common interests in fishkeeping include breeding different species and the preservation of aquatic life either in captivity or in the wild.  Differences in our backgrounds and personalities are reflected in the way we keep our fish.  Thankfully these result in a synergy benefiting both of us and our fish alike. Marina, whose postgraduate studies and background are in political philosophy and education, is more interested in the behaviour and interaction of the fish she keeps; she places a lot of emphasis on their environmental (including dietary) preferences. George, a pharmacist with postdoctoral research in Immunochemistry, is mainly concerned about water chemistry, fish pathology and medication.

Other interests include seeing new places, photography, reading, music and cinema. We both adore animals and feel very strongly that they should be kept responsibly and treated with respect. Writing is also one of our hobbies (you must have guessed that by the size of MCH); we have contributed articles and photos to a good number of publications including TFH, FAMA, Sydney Cichlid Aquarium, Amazonas, Bundbarsche bulletin and Paradise Press. We are currently members of the British Cichlid Association, British Catfish Study Group and Association Francaise Cichlidophile.

Along with the rest of the MCH team we hope you will find MCH Portal both informative and enjoyable.  

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