Andrew has been fascinated with aquatic life from his childhood when his father kept an aquarium with incompatible fishes (African butterflyfish with neon tetras) and blue gravel.  His own first aquarium was kept while overseas in Pakistan, where the fish store ironically stocked New World staples like guppies, mollies and tetras, despite the incredible local diversity of fishes.  Later in college he kept a goldfish in a plastic Tupperware bowl, until finally his roommate gave him an old 20-gallon tank which he stocked with his own incompatible fishes (baby oscars and neon tetras) and blue gravel. 

In 1996 Andrew had his first fish spawn, the dwarf honey gourami.  He attended his first PVAS auction in 1998, joined the club and was immediately drafted into service.  He served as Delta Tale editor, at-large board member, Vice President and finally President of the club (twice). Around the same time, he began work for a custom aquarium installation and service company. As President of PVAS he envisioned an event to set the club apart and attract aquarists from all over the world - the All-Aquarium Catfish Convention.  Andrew later opened and closed an aquarium store and was determined to walk away from the aquarium hobby until he met Jeanette, who fatefully asked him how many aquaria would fit into “that space under the stairs.” Now they maintain around ten low-tech aquaria and periodically breed some of their favorite fishes.