Cookie Policy
We use cookies to help improve the experience you have on this site. You can find out more here.
Alex Tranter
Assistant Manager
at
Wimborne
How long have you been a Maidenhead Aquatics Team Member?
2 and a half years
How long have you been keeping fish?
About 10 years
What was your first aquarium and what fish did you keep in it?
Jewel 180, tropical community
What was it that got you hooked on fishkeeping?
As a child I got brought up with them all around me with my parents being fish keepers as a result it made me want to learn myself.
What was it that made you decide to turn your fishkeeping hobby into a career?
The need and want to learn more about it.
Which species do you most enjoy keeping and why?
My most enjoyable was keeping rainbow fish the reason for this is because of all the different bright and vibrant colours they come in, also because they are great in a large community tank.
Which species was the trickiest or challenging for you to keep and why?
The trickiest so far would be marines due to all of the different water parameters to get right.
Which species haven’t you had a chance to keep yet but dream of having one day?
Koi
What pearl of wisdom would you give to first-time Fishkeepers?
For words of wisdom I would have to say patience would be the main thing when setting up a new aquarium, also never listen to what you read on the internet talk to a member of staff from one of our branches or a member of staff from a creditable or recommendable retailer.
What would be your dream aquarium?
A 1000ltr live planted fish tank with a co2 unit running on it and a big shoal of discus.
What was your most memorable fishkeeping experience?
My most memorable experience would be building my 750ltr pond designed to put rescue turtles in.
What’s the most interesting thing you’ve learned since joining Maidenhead Aquatics?
A high percentage of my knowledge has come from working at maiden head aquatics, but the most interesting thing for me would be learning about the different species for fish needing specific requirements.
What’s your favourite aspect of your work at Maidenhead Aquatics?
My favourite aspect for me would be talking and engaging with customers and finding out at their fish keeping experiences and giving them the knowledge I have been taught.
What question do customers ask you most often?
For me doing this for 2 and a half years I have found that most customers ask the question what fish are best and most compatible to live together happily.
What’s your favourite/most useful piece of fishkeeping equipment and why?
Aquarium pure balls, the reason for this is because they are great for any occasion in the fish keeping world such as using them for ammonia an nitrite spikes, they are also really benefit when doing water changes and adding in new fish into the tank as a bacterial guard.
What’s your top tip for customers taking their first plunge into marine fishkeeping?
Patience would be my number one bit of advice there also listening to recommended retailers and going by what they say and not to listen to the internet as that can sometimes give you mixed or false information.
Which aquatic habitat, like the Amazon or the Red Sea, would you most like to visit?
Amazon.
What’s the best customer you ever had and why?
Had a customer come in looking to buy a tank to put tropical fish in it, I gave this customer the best advice I could as a result he went away with his new tank very happy.
What’s the most rewarding experience you’ve had at Maidenhead Aquatics?
For me the most rewarding experience is having customers coming in and saying that the information I have provided has been really good and helpful.
What species would you recommend for a child’s first aquarium?
I would recommend either temperate fish or small tropical community.
What’s the most unique species you’ve ever cared for at Maidenhead Aquatics?
Lion fish
Describe the trickiest fishkeeping problem you were ever able to solve for a customer
I needed to help someone out with working out the measurements of their pond and what liner and filter would be best.
Which of the fish in your store has the most character?
Lion fish
Do you, or have you had a pond? If so, what is/was the best thing about it?
I do not own a pond with fish in however I do have a turtle donation pond… the best thing I find about it is maintaining and looking after them to ensure that they have the best life possible.
Which wild species do you find the most bizarre, interesting or impressive?
Sting rays/ manta rays
What’s your secret fishkeeping “top tip”?
Never buy from anyone who is not a creditable retailer.
What do you think is the future of fishkeeping and what developments would you most like to see?
I would like to the chances of more different types of fish size permitting to be able to be kept in aquariums.
What’s your best tip for building a pond?
Make sure you have extra liner as it’s easier to cut some of rather than to add it on or have to start all over again.
How many aquariums do you currently keep at home, and what are these? (please submit photos of these).
At current time I only have a turtle tank.