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I'm not sure if this is the right section for this message, since it's not a sanctioned club event-- though it is certainly welcome to become one.

For a while now, I've been wanting to make a trip to Springfield, MO, to see the local shops and, hopefully, shoot some pictures for use in illustrating my books and magazine articles. Is anyone interested in going along?

If you are interested, add a note to this thread listing the best days/times of the week for you. Also, if there are other shops that you'd like to visit, add them to the list below. We'll try to coordinate in a way that allows the most people to participate. I write out of a home office, so my schedule is completely flexible. (Given a choice, though, weekdays are preferable because I'm in the way of fewer customers and there are fewer kids putting fingerprints on the glass.)

Doing a quick hunt on the Internet, here are two places that I want to visit in Springfield:

• Cichlids and Salt Tropical Fish (MON-FRI 12-7, SAT 10-6)

• Petland (MON-SAT 9-9, SUN 10-7)

I know Petland is not a fish-only shop, but Pet Business magazine says it is the largest shop in the Petland chain-- 23,000 square feet!-- and Petland also owns the Aquarium Adventure superstore chain. So maybe this store has a good fish selection. The article does mention that this store has a "20-foot long shark and stingray aquarium." So I'm hopeful!

I have not previously visited any of these stores, so I don't know if they will be a thrill or a disappointment.

Note: I do have to warn you that, for me, shooting pictures is the main intent of the visit. Sometimes shops end up being too skanky to even bother asking for permission to shoot photos. Other times, they have a good selection and I might end up shooting for an hour or more. While I don't suppose that fellow fish geeks would find it an incovenience to hang around an aquarium shop for an hour while I finish shooting photos, any family members that want to come along might want to be warned up front.

If anyone else wants, I'm also open to making other stops-- such as Bass Pro, the Dickerson Park Zoo, or whatever (time permitting).

Mike Wickham

We may be in and out a lot through the end of June, but would be interested if the time is right. Don't schedule around me, but I'll go if I'm available. I'm pretty flexible as far as times, so it will just depend on any appointments I've got. Denny

I'm in if the timing works out. We're pretty busy through the end of June, but will go if it works out. Denny

I would love to go. I'm pretty flexible until around the 24th or so of June, then will be unavailable through until about the end of July.

I'd like to go but it would have to be a Saturday or Sunday, I still have to work(Denny).

I would love to go along. The owner of Cichlids and Salt is a good friend of mine. It is a wonderful store to visit.

Kevin in New Mexico.

WHAT?!? I thought I was your good friend...you mean you have more than one friend? Gah!

Kevin, you forgot to mention if there are days/dates that you are available/unavailable.

It's looking like we can get a pretty good group for this!

Mike Wickham

I'm in but my days vary so much it will kind have to fall into place for me.

Sorry, my days are pretty open for a trip to Springfield. I am off for the summer now.

Kevin

Okay, gang, I'm showing six people as wanting to go:

• Denny
• Kenna
• Corey
• Kevin
• Michael
• me

Since I'd prefer to go on a weekday to avoid the crowds while I shoot pictures, and since my Ford Escabpe only holds five people (and poor Corey isn't available during the week), what say we shoot for Thursday, June 4th?

It's about a two-hour drive to Springfield. I'm thinking we could leave at 9am or 10am. We'd probably stop for lunch, then hit Petland first-- since they open earlier-- then on to Cichlids and Salt. If anyone wants to make other stops, we can take it from there.

What do you all think about the time to leave? Is 9 am too early? I don't know who is an early riser and who is not. I'd probably prefer the 9am start time, but I'm completely flexible.

Where should we meet? You are welcome to meet at my house, or we could meet in the Rogers Mall parking lot across from Exotic Tropicals. I'm in Rogers. I don't know where everyone else lives. It might be more convenient to pick some people up on the way.

I'm willing to drive, but it might be better to have someone else drive-- especially if they have a bigger vehicle and Corey could find a way to make it, or family members want to tag along. I'd be happy to buy gas.

This should be fun!

Mike Wickham

It looks like I may be taking Jesse (my nephew) to the burn unit for a check-up on Thursday. It is in Springfield, so whether I can come along depends on if I am the only person taking him or if I am just going along like I did last week. If I am just going to help, I can drive my own vehicle and catch up with you guys. I believe his appointment is at 11, so the timing should be fine.

Don't worry about me. Unless things go really great in Iowa, we'll still be there or driving back. I'll try for the next time. Thanks. Denny

I'm in.

I won't be able to go. My parents are going to be in town starting on Tuesday. Tell John I said hello.

Kevin

Never mind that last guy who posted, he is a loser, or at least his parents are .

I am available to make the trip. I live an hour from Rogers north in Missouri. What path had you planned on taking to Springfield?

If anyone would like to do some collecting on the way up there or the way back just speak up. I can bring a net or two. I know plenty of collecting places around Springfield.

Kevin

Awww.... Did you 'rents stand you up again? I'll be your mommy, if you need one.

etheonut wrote:I am available to make the trip. I live an hour from Rogers north in Missouri. What path had you planned on taking to Springfield?

If anyone would like to do some collecting on the way up there or the way back just speak up. I can bring a net or two. I know plenty of collecting places around Springfield.

Mapquest has me going up Rt. 37 to Rt. 60, but the path is flexible. (An alternate, but longer path, would take me up Rt. 71.) Where do you live? It seems like we ought to be able to put it on the route. If it's too far out of the way, maybe there would be a place where we could meet up part way to pick you up. It would be great to have you come along.

I'd be open to trying some collecting on the way back, if everyone else is-- just for fun, though. I've got no tank space for natives right now. I assume I'd probably need a Missouri fishing license. Would an Arkansas license also work?

Mike Wickham

If no one wanted to go out of their way at all, a good place to meet Kevin would maybe be at that intersection of 37 and 60. That is where the Monett Park is. I'm still waiting for final plans on my trip but hope I will be able to meet you guys in Springfield.

I will meet you guys in the Northeast corner of the Monett Wal-Mart parking lot. What time should I expect to see you guys there?

Kevin

Can someone pm me their cell phone number so I can get ahold of you guys to meet you in Springfield?

Meeting up at the Monett Walmart sounds good to me. If I leave Rogers at 9 am, I should be there by 10:15 am.

I show Michael and Kevin as planning to meet there, and Kenna meeting up with us later. I'll private message you all with my contact info, in case you need it. PM me if you don't get it. I would also appreciate getting a PM of your cell phone numbers, in case I have problems on the way.

If anyone else still wants to join us, it's not too late!

I am off the hook for taking Jesse to the doctor, but Mattie had her tonsils and adenoids removed today and I don't think I will be able to leave her. If I can, I will meet you guys at Walmart, or call to meet up in Springfield. If not, have fun!

pinkrblu wrote:I am off the hook for taking Jesse to the doctor, but Mattie had her tonsils and adenoids removed today and I don't think I will be able to leave her. If I can, I will meet you guys at Walmart, or call to meet up in Springfield. If not, have fun!

We hope you can make it! In any case, plenty of ice cream for Mattie.

Mike Wickham

Hey guys thanks for the great trip.

Kevin

We had a lot of fun on this day-trip. Mike and Michael drove up from Arkansas and met Kevin and myself at the Monett Wal-mart. From there, Mike chauffeured. We visited Petland then had lunch at Buckingham's Smokehouse. After that, there was some debate about a nap, but we pressed on, visiting our friends at Cichlids & Salt and finishing the trip at Pet Warehouse, where we searched for a copy of a magazine to prove who Mike was...to no avail. The finally let him take pictures. On the way home, we astounded Mike with the sheer enormity of a Route 44 "icy cold beverage" from Sonic.

We saw some pretty interesting fish today. It was great to be able to put a group together so quickly! Can't wait to do it again.

Really sorry we had to miss the fun. Hope we'll be able to go next time. Denny

The trip to visit local fish stores in Springfield, Missouri, turned out really well. We ended up with a group of four. Everyone had a great time.

Our fearless leader, Michael, met me at my house, where I impressed him with my extensive aquatic library and demonstrated how an infestation of red hair algae can make a gorgeous planted aquarium look more like a swamp.

We then drove to Monett, Missouri, to meet up with the Missouri gang in the local Walmart parking lot. On the way, we gabbed about aquariums and fish-- strangely enough-- and wildlife and more. That's right. These two introverted fish geeks never shut up.

Kevin was already waiting for us when we reached Walmart. He was busy reading a paper, which came in handy for swatting ants. Kenna arrived a few minutes later. It was actually lucky that Michael and I arrived on time, because I had forgotten to check the gas tank and we were running on empty. So we loaded up the car with fellow fish geeks, styrofoam boxes, and fuel, and the mission began.

We had some great chat along the way, including talk of a future collecting trip and a future get-together to visit Cane Creek State Park in Arkansas. There's a gigantic lake there that's largely covered with water lilies. They've all seen it. I've been dying to. So we'll have to add that event to our calendar soon.

Our first stop was Petland Springfield. It is the biggest store in the Petland franchise. One feature which drew us there was the 20-ft shark and ray tank (mentioned in a year-old magazine article). I didn't notice any sharks or rays in the tank. In fact, it wasn't impressive at all, but the fish room was beautiful. The walls were lined with gorgeous acrylic displays. All of the aquariums were decorated with rocks and plants and driftwood-- instead of the barren displays used by most dealers (photo below). And the tanks were full of fish.



There was some confusion at first about whether or not I would be allowed to shoot photos, which was irritating because I had called ahead for permisssion. But I sweet-talked the manager and Kenna put him in a headlock. So permission was granted and I took a lot of photos.

I don't hold it against stores, especially chain stores, for being paranoid. The buttheads at PETA are always trying to find ways to shut down the livestock trade, and they hassle chains stores the most. I've only ever had one store tell me no to shooting photos, and it was a chain store.

Anyway, while I sweated and worked hard shooting photos, everyone else browsed, chatted, relaxed, and tortured the staff by quizzing them about Lucania goodei. Yes, they had fun while I worked. Sheesh. Seriously, though, I greatly appreciate everyone's patience. I got a lot of good shots. Actually, Kevin did some work, too. He cleaned the floor with his socks. (I'll let him tell the story.)

But I could hear the stomachs growling over the bubbling aquariums, so we decided it was time to move on to lunch. Kevin steered us to one of his favorite spots, Buckingham's Smokehouse. We ordered, sat down at a table, and yacked-- and I don't mean from the food. The food was good. The company was better. The conversation was lively.

Next, we shuffled off to Cichlids and Salt Tropical Fish. It's not a large store-- about the same size as our local shops-- but the owner was very friendly, knows his stuff, and he has the most cichlids I've ever seen in one place. About half the store was cichlids, including some rare ones. I'm not a cichlid person, but I was very impressed. My camera clicked away. Can anyone identify this cichlid I shot (below)? I didn't catch its name.



Kevin knows the owner well, probably because he used to work there. So the owner stood around chatting with Kevin and everyone, setting a bad example for his staff. We found out, however, that the owner likes Michael better, since he offered him a chance to visit the owner's home aquariums the first time they ever met, and Kevin had never gotten that invitation at all. Kevin was a saint, though, and polished the store floor with his socks, anyway.

Next we headed to a store in the Pet Warehouse chain. The assistant manager gave me permission to shoot photos, but then had second thoughts and called corporate. They said no, but the assistant manager talked to me some more and called them back. Kenna had me remind them that their Springfield competitors had all said yes. So I spoke to someone at corporate and got the okay. I probably spent more time getting permission than actually shooting pictures. There were only a couple of things there that I didn't have shots of. I finally got a shot of a compressiceps. It's not a rare fish, but for some reason, I've never gotten a good photo of one.

They also had some Mexican oak leaf plants (Shinnersia rivularis), which is something you don't see often. I've never kept them before, but Merrill Cohen, the founder of Aquarium Products, used to grow them like crazy in his tanks and bring us the excess to sell. He passed away a couple of years ago, so the plants make a good memory of an old friend and major player in the aquarium trade. Kenna thought they looked interesting and bought a couple, too.

But it was Michael who got the biggest thrill. He found the object of his dreams, his new best friend forever-- the Betta Bowl Buddha!



It was "only 5:00 p.m." or "5:00 p.m already," depending on who you ask. So we decided to call it a day. We made a quick stop at a Sonic to refresh our parched throats. Cichlids and Salt heats the whole store instead of individual tanks. So we got pretty dried out. The sweat was stinging my eyes the whole time I shot photos there.

Michael and I dropped off the Missourians, Kenna and Kevin, at the Walmart lot and headed for Arkansas. I bored him with retailer talk on the way, lamenting how much I want to build a big store again, but doubting that our area has enough people to support it.

I'm looking forward to our next adventure!