Killifish: Small, Secret Gems of the Aquarium World
Killifish are beautiful, small-bodied fish found in many areas around the world, including in the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Europe. They are, as a group, one of the aquarium industry's hidden gems with only some of the hundreds of brightly colored species sold in local aquarium shops. In nature, some of them live in tiny puddles of water, where their eggs must survive dry periods. One species can reproduce, literally, on its own, from just one fish! All have fascinating life histories.
Our guest today, Charlie Nunziata, has been an active aquarium hobbyist for more than 45 years. Charlie is a life-long member of the American Killifish Association, through which he has been awarded numerous honors. He has founded local societies in New York and Florida, and is currently a Board of Trustees member and chair of the Killifish Conservation Committee. He also is very active with the North American Native Fishes Association. Join us, as Charlie teaches us more about the fascinating and unique killifishes--and how to find them and keep them successfully!
BIO:
Charlie Nunziata has been an active aquarium hobbyist for more than 45 years, specializing in killifish and North American native fishes. A founding member of the Long Island Killifish Association (NY) and the Suncoast Killifish Society (FL), he is a life member of the American Killifish Association, and has been honored by that organization as a Fellow, Distinguished Member, Conservationist of the Year and Killifish Hobbyist of the Year. Charlie has served terms as head of the Judging Committee, Secretary, Treasurer and Chairman of the Boast of Trustees. He currently serves as a BOT member and the chairman of the Killifish Conservation Committee.
Charlie is also active in the study and conservation of native fishes, founding the Central Florida regional group of the North American Native Fishes Association and currently heading the NANFA national outreach program.
An active author, Charlie has published many articles in the Journal of the American Killifish Association (JAKA) and other national killifish journals, American Currents (NANFA) as well as commercial publications. He currently edits the Suncoast Newsletter and coauthored the Florida Collecting Guide.
In his spare time, Charlie, who received his Bsc. from Adelphi University and his MBA from Long Island University is Vice President and General Manager of a guidance and control components manufacturer specializing in motion and pressure control products for military, space and industrial applications. Married for 50 years, two children and Dude, a very active cat that is always interested in helping out in the fish room.