Two Days of Expert Insights:

From Aquascaping to Fish Breeding and Beyond

Dan Hodnett - Owner of Dan’s Fish

“How to Ship Fish so They Arrive Alive 99% of the Time”

Dan Hodnett is the owner of Dan's Fish, a thriving business he built by turning his lifelong passion for fishkeeping into a successful venture. With years of hands-on experience, he offers valuable insights into best practices for safely transporting fish. In his presentation, Dan will share his expertise, helping others navigate the intricacies of fish care during transit while pursuing their own passion for aquatics.

Gary Lange - Rainbowfish Guru

 “The Most Amazing Rainbowfish”

Gary Lange is back by popular demand after missing FIN-DIG 2024 due to a family emergency. With a passion for fishkeeping that began at age 10, Gary has been deeply involved in the organized hobby for 39 years. He has made seven trips to West Papua, where he collected over 15 undescribed species of rainbowfish. Currently, Gary maintains 90 aquariums, housing more than 65 species of rainbowfish and blue-eyes. His extensive experience and dedication to the hobby make him a true expert and a beloved figure in the aquarium community.

Lowell is the creator of Lowell’s Fish Lab, a YouTube channel dedicated to documenting the reproductive behaviors of aquarium species and sharing methods to facilitate successful breeding. With a lifelong passion for aquatic animals, Lowell’s journey into fish breeding began unexpectedly and has since become a dominant focus of his free time. In his talk, Practical Methods for Breeding Fish, he shares valuable insights and techniques to help hobbyists understand and successfully breed various fish species.

Lowell Dunnaway - Host of Lowell’s Fish Lab

“Practical Methods for Breeding Fish”

Hiep Hong - Professional Aquascaper

“Working in a professional Aquascape Gallery”

Hiep Hong is a professional aquascaper living in Houston,TX where he recently began working for the world renowned Aquarium Design Group. He has competed in several online and live aquascape competitions, winning several podium finishes in the United States and Europe over the years. His most notable achievement was his #4 ranking in the IAPLC in 2018, making him the first American aquascaper to place in the top 10 in the history of the contest. Recently, his focus is to inspire and educate new hobbyists through various forms of aquarium related art, photography, and even venturing into a more abstract scaping style.

Ecology of Fishes Laboratory at Sacramento State University

The Evolutionary Ecology of Fishes Laboratory at Sacramento State, led by Dr. Ron Coleman, focuses on understanding the evolutionary and ecological aspects of fish behavior. The lab primarily studies cichlid species, exploring topics like parental care, reproductive biology, and hybridization.
Below are brief introductions to some of the lab's promising researchers, who will be presenting their work at FIN-DIG 2025:

  • Jacynda Fernandez

    Jacynda is a fourth-year Environmental Studies student researching breeding color variation and hybridization patterns in Amatitlania cichlids across different Costa Rican river systems. Her work also explores fieldwork experiences in Costa Rica.

  • Alyse Lacey

    Alyse is a senior Biological Science student studying ways to predict the weight of live cichlid fish with minimal handling. Her research focuses on finding the best measurement methods to estimate fish weight accurately in both lab and field settings.

  • Desiree Thomas

    Desiree is a second-year Biological Sciences student who is investigating the best body measurements for predicting fish weight. She is also the leader of the lab’s “Cichlid Fry Project” and has gained hands-on field research experience in Costa Rica.

Amaru Gillmore (Local Child Prodigy)

“The Terrific Technicalities of Taxonomy"

14-year-old Amaru Gillmore has bred more fish than most FIN-DIG attendees—join him for "The Terrific Technicalities of Taxonomy".
Amaru Gillmore is a 14 year old hobbyist and President of the Ukiah Shamrock 4-H Club. He started keeping fish with his father when he was eight years old, and their hobby has now expanded into an operation with countless aquariums with a focus on conservation breeding