BROOKINGS The Brookings Wildlife Federation will host Dylan Geraets, owner of a local business called The Fish Keeper. Geraets will talk about a hobby that became a business rearing tropical fish.
Geraets presentation will be at the federations infolunch on Nov. 1 at noon at the Brookings County Outdoor Adventure Center, 2810 22nd Ave. S.
A buffet lunch will be available for a free will donation.
Geraets said, Since I was a young boy, I have had a profound interest in all things aquatic. I spent a large part of my childhood fishing with my grandfather at my grandparents lake home on Lake Poinsett. I wanted to see all of the different kinds of fish, from big northern pike to bait fish such as the common shiner.
Geraets will take the group on several recent fishing trips to local waters, and then talk about the tropical fish business that he has taken beyond the ordinary hobby aquarium.
He has mastered methods for natural aquariums, which provide natural aquatic environments that promote the complete fish life cycle.
Environmentalists/conservationists have these same goals for natural lakes and streams.
He says The health of the tank and its inhabitants is my first priority when it comes to creating an underwater ecosystem.
And, his business goes beyond common tropical fish. He breeds aquarium fish from all over the world. He says As of today I have kept, bred, and raised the fry of about 100 different fish species. He is also interested in species conservation, because some ornamental fish species are becoming endangered. He has bred several endangered fish species; the individuals are worth hundreds of dollars in the aquarium trade.
Another branch of his business is creating and maintaining aquariums in both residential and commercial applications. He maintains 1,000-plus gallon systems for public aquariums.
Federation members usually hear reports from Game, Fish and Parks about large fish culture programs like spring walleye netting where millions of walleye eggs are harvested, or about the salmon spawning station on Lake Oahe, or about the rearing tanks, raceways and ponds at Blue Dog Lake fish hatchery. Geraets will describe similar fish rearing methods, but on an aquarium scale with very different fish species.
The 150-member group is affiliated with the South Dakota Wildlife Federation and the National Wildlife Federation. The BWF is in its 44th year of supplying conservation information and activities to the Brookings community.
BWF activities include the annual Kids Fishing Weekend in Brookings, awards to SDSU wildlife students, public informational meetings, a monthly newsletter, state and federal policy watch, and support for local conservation activities such as the Youth-in-the-Outdoors program.
For more information, contact BWF President Bob Kurtz at 605-695-1361.
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