Mfk's that travel for work.

[revkkoolaid]

revkkoolaid How did you get into that job? Thats my dream job...

Honestly it was quite by chance. About two years ago I was working at Petco fulltime while going to college off and on after the military. I had transfered back into a Petco in Houston from the ultramegacrazysuperfish dept Petco in League City, TX. I had been back there busting my butt about 6 months gutting the place and Mike Senske, one of the owners, came in to buy crickets for the panther chameleon in the display paludarium. He was floored by how the livestock and aquascaping looked and wanted to know who was responsible for it. He pretty much made me an offer on the spot.

I peed my pants of course because I was well aware of who ADG was. I was actually planning on possibly trying to work there, or in public aquaria, once I'd finished college. Many of the staff members are marine biologists and never thought about trying to work there until I had my degree. Honestly ADG pays WAY better than public aquaria lol. The owners get cold calls from public aquarium staff all the time wanting jobs.

It's a really fun and exciting job. . . but I will say it's as much a lifestyle as is a job hehe. We all pretty much work 50 sometimes 60 hrs a week. . . .and we're salaried + commision. It's a bit consuming at times but we all are very passionate and driven about what we're doing and where we're going. . . .oh yeah and it's awesome . I get to build, stock, and maintain some of the most balls to the wall privately owned systems in the world so the lack of free time and high stress is kind of a trade off for the weeeeeeeee.

I feel kind of boastful and snobby when I read things I post concerning my job and where I work but I'm very proud to be a part of ADG.

I've had kind of crazy career path. Art Major>Digital Imaging>Computer animation>Web Development>Network Engineering in the USAF>Fish Cutter in Alaska>Petco Aquatics Spec> ADG. Strangely enough I will say I borrow from all my exp. in my different jobs everyday at ADG.

 

[revkkoolaid]

I did do a search in the aro section and majority consensus is 1-1.5 inch per month. I was not disagreeing that some Silver Aro's reach 2ft in the first year, I was disagreeing that 'most' (which translates to more than half, I'm in the field of market research so I'm being nit picky on the word) silver aros reach 2ft in the first year. I'm guessing less than half of silver aros (that MFKers own) reach 2ft in the first year and bet there are 'some' that reach 2ft and more in the first year.

Sorry I know I toss the word "most" around lightly sometimes.

Although if one were get down to brass tacks of such matters MOST aro's on MFK or Arofanatics.com die from the leap-of-death or royal ass whoopin' (or RTC spaghetti action!) in 4' tanks long before reaching 2ft.

I just see Aro's cooped up in wee tanks all the time and it's sad as they are such an active fish. I don't if you've ever seen one turned loose in a 10ft, or larger, aquarium but it is quite breath taking to see the difference in their demeanor and expression. IMO a tank with an 18'' turning radius will very quickly cramp their style.

 

[grunzilla]

Man. I just found out I have to leave in 3 weeks for 4.5 weeks. I gotta get my wife into this quick!

 

[Idealconcepts]

Sorry I know I toss the word "most" around lightly sometimes.

Although if one were get down to brass tacks of such matters MOST aro's on MFK or Arofanatics.com die from the leap-of-death or royal ass whoopin' (or RTC spaghetti action!) in 4' tanks long before reaching 2ft.

I just see Aro's cooped up in wee tanks all the time and it's sad as they are such an active fish. I don't if you've ever seen one turned loose in a 10ft, or larger, aquarium but it is quite breath taking to see the difference in their demeanor and expression. IMO a tank with an 18'' turning radius will very quickly cramp their style.

Completely agree with you.

There is a person on CL in a near by city that is trying to sell a 2ft Aro in a 90g, that has a really messed up face because of being in such a small tank.

 

[revkkoolaid]

Back on topic. . .sorry I know I'm an awful thread derailer.

some of the freshwater tanks our company maintain have auto feeders and the only w/c are performed every 4 weeks. Not to say I prefer this level of unattachment by owners as the potential for disaster is unavoidable but for the most part these aquariums are surprisingly fine. But as others have mentioned on their tanks at home, it helps that these tanks are insanely over filtered and we perform 100% + "flushes" when they receive a w/c.

I think as far as MFKs are concerned i think the best decision one could make if they are going to knowingly be away quite often is choose fish and tankmates (fish pairings) that can deal with sporadic feeding schedules well.

One tip I can give is avoid loading Dainichi cichlid pellets in hopper style autofeeders. The nutrional coating ,coupled with the humidity & splashing from the close proximity to the tank, causes them to clump up and clog quite badly.

 

[Chicxulub]

I'm in the army, so ummm, yeah lol

 

[ldschmdit29]

Nice to see more military on MFK! Sorry about the whole army thing though,j/k.

 

[Chicxulub]

Nice to see more military on MFK! Sorry about the whole army thing though,j/k.

lol yeah

I'll be stationary for the next three years starting in May though. DA select for drill sergeant. whooo.

 

[ldschmdit29]

Ya ,you will be stationary but you won't have any free time on your hands for anything but sleep.

 

[Chicxulub]

Ya ,you will be stationary but you won't have any free time on your hands for anything but sleep.

The hours are about the same as what I'm used to, I've been stuck as a garrison MP in a horribly undermanned unit. My DS friends have more time off than me most of the time. That's bad.