Dr. Paul Loiselle Passed Away

[HUKIT]

I received the newest issue of Amazonas and there was a well written article to Dr. Paul Loiselle passing away last month. His presentations were absolutely brilliant while very articulate to listen to and I was able to get quite a few books signed over the years. His contributions to the world of fish keeping from being a founding member of The American Cichlid Association, the CARES preservation program, to his efforts with Madagascar endangered cichlids, and many more will be sorely missed.

 

[jjohnwm]

RIP to one of my aquarium-world heroes.

 

[Fallen_Leaves16]

He passed away about a month and a half ago.
A truly monumental influence in the development of the cichlid-keeping hobby as it is today...
I unfortunately never got to meet him, but a few fellows in the fish-club I am in had in years past, and had nothing but great things to say about the man.

His contributions will never be forgotten, I am sure. Even today his books and writings are still held in good regard.

RIP to a legend.

 

[Sassafras]

Very saddened to hear this news. Dr. LoiselIe's contribution to the hobby simply can't be overstated. He was a tremendous man.

I can't claim to have been a friend, colleague or even a frequent attender of his lectures or presentations, but I would like to share my brief exposure to this larger-than-life legend of a scholar/hobbyist. Back in the 1970's, I was a high school senior working at my first job in a local Southern California fish store. One day a large framed, dark-haired, relatively young gentleman came into the shop to browse our stock and purchase some live food. I stayed close in case he decided to make a fish purchase or needed some help. He immediately, and very authoritatively, began to challenge/correct the labeling of several of our cichlid species. He wasn't rude or obnoxious about it, just explained why the species name wasn't correct and expounded on the salient characteristics that verified the identification. He bought a portion of live brine shrimp, which in those days was netted out of our large shrimp barrels and measured out in a one ounce medical cup and emptied into a bag of salt water and sold for $0.45, and left the store. When the boss came back later, I described the fellow and said that he had taken exception to some of our cichlid identification. The boss said, "That was Paul Loiselle, he is working a degree at U.S.C. and he really knows his stuff, especially African cichlids. We'll go with his identification and relabel the fish". After that he came in from time to time, always bought live food, brine shrimp or tubifex, and always made a tour of the shop to see what we had. I could have listened to him talk fish all day long as he had done collecting and study in several countries, but he always seemed to be rather in a hurry. I'm sure he kept a busy schedule as even back then he was contributing to scholarly journals and magazines. I truly respect the man and consider myself fortunate that our paths crossed in life, however briefly.

 

[Caperguy99]

Wow, truly one of the greats.

Sad to see an entire generation of the hobby starting to pass through.

It’s interesting how much has changed - I’d say the only ones who compare to Loiselle in the hobby now are the “Fish-tubers.” The medium has totally changed - from magazines and scholarship to online entertainments.

 

[Sassafras]

I’d say the only ones who compare to Loiselle in the hobby now are the “Fish-tubers.”

Hmmmm, not to disrespect this opinion, but comparing the original and innovative research, publications in journals and magazines, at least one book, the founding of the American Cichlid Association, conservation work, collection of new species, support and participation in ICUN and CARES, and more. Comparing Paul Loiselle to "Fish-Tubers" is like comparing a WWII general directing the invasion at Normandy to a security officer patrolling the parking lot at the local mall. Fish-Tubers are "standing on the shoulders of giants" using their platform to repeat and make available to the public what they have learned. A valuable service, but Paul Loiselle was one of the "giants"

 

[HUKIT]

It’s interesting how much has changed - I’d say the only ones who compare to Loiselle in the hobby now are the “Fish-tubers.” The medium has totally changed - from magazines and scholarship to online entertainments.

I don’t agree with that statement as I’m not terribly impressed by most “fish tubers” and there are still a lot of people in the field such as Dr. Michael J. Pauers from Wisconsin His major research interests are the evolution and behavior of fishes, especially the cichlids of Lake Malawi, Dr. Sven O. Kullander is a Swedish biologist as his primary research is the cichlids of south and Central America, and Dr. Jay Richard Stauffer, Jr who has some interesting theories on how fish feel and react to pain. I can list dozens more but I hope it gets the point across. So no I don’t compare anyone on YouTube to these ichthyologist. Maybe I’m missing all the good creators on YouTube but most I don’t find interesting so if I’m missing some please share your thoughts. Here are two of my favorite channels.

Hans van Heusden, with cichlids in the wild.

My name is Hans, and I am in the hobby with cichlids for more than 40 years. But I have expanded my hobby to film cichlids in their natural habitat. And that's why I created this Channel, to show you how your beloved cichlid lives in his natural habitat. So you can learn more about his habitat...

www.youtube.com

Project Piaba

Conservation via Aquarium Fisheries For decades, home aquarium fishes have been collected from regions of biological importance across the globe. While resource extraction usually elicits concerns of over-exploitation, in many developing countries the home aquarium trade has instead provided...

www.youtube.com

 

[danotaylor]

Comparing Paul Loiselle to "Fish-Tubers" is like comparing a WWII general directing the invasion at Normandy to a security officer patrolling the parking lot at the local mall.

Classic comparison, couldn't agree more!

 

[Caperguy99]

Oof! No offense meant -

I just mean that in the 80s -2000s the major players in the fish hobby were actual scientists/scholars. Loiselle, Demason, Konings, etcetera. They were the biggest names in the hobby, were present at the trade shows, and in all the magazines and so on.

Cichlid Room Companion and other magazines and organizations like that are sort of keeping this tradition alive, but I still struggle to think of the next generation of 30-40 year old scientist-hobbyists who are publishing, collecting, and so on like the early greats were.

If anything, it seems that now these figures have been replaced in the hobby by “Fish Tubers” who focus far more on the entertainment element rather than the science of classification, breeding, collecting, and habitat.

 

[dogofwar]

Dr. Paul Loiselle was a wonderful, brilliant, quirky human being without whom there probably wouldn't be a cichlid hobby. A true legend and mensch for the organized aquarium hobby. He wrote - my opinion - the best book on cichlid care ("The Cichlid Aquarium") and was omnipresent and available to help with a presentation, judge a fish show, identify fish or just answer questions. The losses of Paul and Wayne Leibel, another legend, are massive. I was at a used book store and ran across some old (early 80s) FAMA magazines...with articles by both.

The fish hobby has always been a mix of science and practical experience. Back in the day, LFS, magazines, books and in-person aquarium club meetings used to be the main sources of info for other hobbyists. Then, when LFS were largely replaced by chains, and the internet, forums like these arose. And over time, YouTube and social media have really taken over.

In reality, we as hobbyists have more access to experts and scientists than ever before. Back in the day, to see pictures of new fish, you'd need to attend - in person - an ACA annual meeting and go to a talk by someone like Ad Konings or Laif DeMason. It's almost all online now, including the next generation of scientist / hobbyist folks like Dr. Michi Tobler, Dr. Sam Borstein, and others.

As a former president, VP, board member and longtime member of fish clubs, it's a struggle to educate and entertain in ways that engage members and bring in new ones. The people with large YouTube followings are the strongest draws for many people - they put butts in seats for meetings and conventions. And get massive numbers of views online. There are some good ones (my faves: KeepingFishSimple, Chris Biggs/The Mad Aquarist, Hans Van Heusden) and lots of clickbait nonsense and theatrics.