club choices

[Lucy]

Wasn't sure where to put this, so I choose here....right here.....:-)

I'm looking at the different aquarium clubs but I'm falling short of knowledge about each club and it is making it a bit hard to decide which one I would like to join....I know I can visit the respective websites for each one (and will), but I would like your opinions and feed back about them.
to help you help me better, here is some of my fishie interests:

don't do salt water, too intimidating....would like a brac tank at some point, maybe.
not big on plants due to lack of knowledge and all my fish tend to shred them.  but I do have a few.....
do like fish....preferrably in water.  most of my stock is a random assortment of tropicals from all over the place ranging from 1" to almost 2' in size.
I own everything from a 5 gal. cutsie tank to my 120gal. beast.
am looking for something that will lead to growth in the hobby and more advanced hobby knowledge (proper nomenclature and perhaps breeding ect.) and perhaps alleviate some boredom   .  

Thanks in advance for the help folks!

[Nickintex]

Re: club choices

I belong to four. The best thing is to attend a club meeting for yourself and make your own judgement. I have great times with HAS, GHAC, TAKO, and HLA. TAKO and HLA are more specialized, killifish and live-bearers respectively. HAS and GHAC are more generalized. You are invited to attend any of our meetings. Just look under events and the posts from the individual clubs for the next meetings. Look forward to meeting you at one of them :)

[armthehomeless]

Re: club choices

I agree with Nick; go to a meeting or an event or two. See what you like. You are more than free to go to any of the club meetings without being a member.

[PhishPhreek]

Re: club choices

The HLA (Hou. Livebearer Assox.) with the help of the ALA (American dito) is Hosting a national convention in San Antonio this weekend.  If you are interested in livebearers you should try to make the event.   A once in a lifetime chance to pickup some super fancy as well as endangered livebearers and pick the brains of some of the "big names" in the hobby.

The HAS (Houston Aquaarium Society) is one of the Oldest clubs in the Hobby,   Even if you only attend the quarterly auctions that they host, the membership is well worth the cost of joining.

BettaHabari (the Houston chapter if the IBC) is all about breeding & showing Betta Splendens as well as breeding endangered species of bettas.

I'm not a member of the others.... but they all have something special to offer,  Try it you'll like it!

[Tiapan]

Re: club choices

I tend to agree with trying them out and see which you prefer.  they all have slightly different styles, and as Nick can attest too sometimes you can have time for a few clubs. we do try to shedule events apart so they dont overlap so often.

[Nickintex]

Re: club choices

FINALLY! People actually are agreeing with me for a change! Thanks guys!

[Tiapan]

Re: club choices

   

[Mzungu]

Re: club choices

 Well, without trying to sound redundant, I agree with Nick! I, too, am a member of four (GHAC, HAS, TAKO, and HLA) and each has its merits. It's really whatever works for your schedule and the amount of time you choose to spend with fish people!!

And, just to reiterate what the others said, every single meeting (unless it's an officers' meeting, which usually won't be posted for the general public) of each club is open to everyone. And if it's for some strange reason a members' only event, all the freshwater clubs that I know of take no more than 5 minutes to join, and that's pushing it!

We're all a pretty casual and welcoming group of people, no matter which club. Predominantly freshwater, as well. Like Nick said (again, lol) watch the various subforums on here, and the calendar events, and check out the individual websites, and come hang out with us, already!  8)  Oh, and bring the fam, too.  :)

[eklikewhoa]

Re: club choices

I try and become a member of just about all the clubs...

[Lucy]

Re: club choices

Thanks for the feedback guys!!  I will definetly be checking out some of the clubs in the near future.  I'll see you guys there!  

[Nickintex]

Re: club choices

Here you go Lucy:

http://houstonfishbox.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=5539