Chet
11-05-2002, 02:43 PM
Just thought I would share a little about my recent stop over in New Braunfels at the OHI showroom. For those of you who weren't aware, I graduated from Trinity University in San Antonio, which is about 30 from the home of Armke's cichlids. My wife and I made a detour on the way back from our alumni weekend in San Antonio, so I could visit the Mecca of African cichlid lovers. My wife and I were both rather suprised to pull into a little independent store front, with the parking lot full of used cars for sale. Even more interesting was the front half of the store itself, which was lined with beer steins and other Wurstfest paraphenalia. The back half of the store consisted of several rows of fairly large tanks and several huge show tanks full of beautiful African cichlids. Most prevalent were the aulonocara species and other haps, including several outstanding specimens of O. Lithobates and the ever popular Taiwan Reef. There were also all different kinds of fronts, both six stripe and seven stripe, in various color morphs and intensities, and ranging in size from an inch or so up to an impressive 8-9 inches. Leleupi, sexfasciatus, all kinds of shellies, julies, and several species of fish I was not familiar with. It was great seeing all of these fish I had dreamed of owning swimming before me, rather than just seeing their picture on my computer. This story does have a tragic ending though. Apparently, although the store was open on Sunday, the fishroom was not open and noone was there who could sell me some fish on the spot. Consequently, I had to leave these fish I wanted so badly behind. I guess I'll just have to mail order them in the near future. I just wish I could have toured the hatchery facility, where they have the vast majority of their fish stock. Well, just thought I would share. :D